The Power of a Bold Prayer

The Power of a Bold Prayer (Prayer)

John 15:15 NLT; Exodus 32:11-14 NIV/NLT

September 26, 2022 – Christopher Newport University: Fellowship of Christian Athletes

INTRODUCTION

Glad to be here… my name is Corey Hise, campus pastor of Waters Edge Church – NN campus…services; lunch

(Intro myself) – love Jesus, Ashley, Dallas Cowboys, Ruby, country music… love college students!

Commissioned w/ preaching on prayer… huge topic…didn’t know where to start, so I thought I’d share with you the three important truths I’ve learned about prayer… bc not too long ago, I sat where you sit- and I thought prayer was boring, felt like God never answered my prayers, and I felt like I had to be so perfect when I talked to God…I felt like everyone else was great at praying & I was just a bad pray-er…anybody ever felt like that? Today I want to fix that

Prayer Starts with Relationship

Illustration about awk things w/ ppl you don’t like – riding in car, family reunion, group presentation, asking for a ride, talking about finances/politics, eating a meal… relationships are important! Before doing anything/asking someone something/accomplishing anything, relationship comes first… same w/ prayer… the first important truth about prayer is that Prayer Starts with Relationship…

GOSPEL = RELATIONSHIP… John 15:15 NLT: I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

Prayer at its core is a conversation with your Creator who loves you so much

Prayer was never meant to be a chore, lucky charm, ritual… prayer is a conversation with your best friend/savior/lord

But Jesus doesn’t just want to get to know any version of you, he wants to get to know the real you…

God Can Handle My Honest Prayers

Illustration about Mason/track… the second important truth about prayer is the God Can Handle My Honest Prayers

Often we put on the best version of ourselves when we pray; we act like everything’s great & we pray for “world peace”…but not only does God know who we really are, Gods big enough for our anger/hurt/sorrow- David in Psalms

In fact, God desires your authenticity… He loves you for you… he designed you, and he wants to grow close to the real you, flaws/failures/mistakes and all… Jesus wants to hear from the real you… Jesus wants you

So I encourage you, be real with Jesus and let Jesus know the real you… but it doesn’t stop there…

There is Power in Bold Prayers

The third important truth about prayer is that There is Power in Bold Prayers…

We were never meant to pray wuss prayers – we have a relationship with the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and he is listening to everything we ask of him, we were not meant to ask him for better food at the DSU/more $/ smoother tan/favorite team to win… we were designed to pray bold/dangerous/audacious prayers

Exodus 32:11-14 But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’” 14 So the Lord changed his mind and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened…

There is power in bold prayers! Moses changed the mind of God! Prayer changes things/prayer has the power to transform lives/break chains/bring freedom/end addictions/restore families/change narratives/ revolutionize our world/reshape history… and God has given us that power! He has given you that power!

So here’s my challenge- no more wuss prayers… not more meaningless/useless/bc I have to prayers… let’s pray prayers of power/meaning/significance/impact… God is searching for bold prayers to answer… God has given you direct access to his mind and to his mighty work… he wants to change the world through you, let’s start with prayer!

APPLICATION

So how do I pray bold prayers?

ACTS – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication

CONCLUSION

I know prayer may sound scary, complicated, and nerve-wracking to you, but if you’ve given your life to Jesus, then you serve a God who loves you so much that he simply wants to get to know you… Prayer is simply a conversation with someone who unconditionally loves you and cares about you

So start with relationship, be honest & pray bold prayers- bc God wants to answer your prayers, he wants to change people’s hearts and lives through you…he wants to transform your world, but he’s waiting on your bold prayers. Pray

KNOW (BOTTOM LINE): God answers bold prayers.

DO: Pray ACTS

FEEL: Encouraged

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