Where Do I Go From Here? 8

Exercising A Powerful Prayer Life

Text: Acts 12:1-17

Introduction

Illustration — Prayer is not like those gifts to when you really try to show appreciation for it, but inside you are saying, “Ill never use this or never wear this.” Prayer is a gift that will never cease to impact your life!

Sometimes I believe we read or hear about these powerful and amazing prayer stories and then think to ourselves, “I wish I could have a story like that.” The truth of the mater is God has opened the door wide enough at Calvary for all to come to Him for salvation and for help in time of need.

I want to take you through some scriptures today that will help you better understand the God you are to approach in prayer, the ways God invites you to approach Him, and the real experience that flows from such an intimate time of fellowship with Him.

Who here desires a powerful impact from God through your own prayer life? Let’s open God’s Word and our hearts and dig in together…

1) Joy Is Experienced

The church has someone more powerful than man, more loving than man, more faithful than man, they could turn to!!!

Philippians 1:4 “4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,”

What we learn hear is that the believer can enter God’s throne consistently with heart felt requests with a real and lasting joy.

“of mine” — This was a man who claimed the “worst sinner” award and yet because of Jesus, he was welcomed to approach God in this way.

LISTEN…No matter if it’s you spouse, son, parent, neighbor, friend, etc., you can joyfully go to God in prayer for them!

Philippians 4:6 “6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

God disposes of all your anxieties when you approach Him in light of His true character.

He is a faithful, loving, merciful, graceful, and forgiving God.

What area of my prayer life can be emptied of anxiety and filled with thanksgiving?

Quote: “Before we pray that God would fill us, I believe we ought to pray Him to empty us.” — D.L. Moody

Prayer = a request

Supplication = a request with the nature of urgency.

I think a heart of thanksgiving is the power tool to remove the anxiety from your heart.

Colossians 4:2 “2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”

Is God not aware of my needs or burdens until I make them known to Him? NO NO NO!

Making them known to God is not an effort to keep Him informed, but rather to increase your faith.

Quote: Faith is to prayer what the feather is to the arrow: without it prayer will not hit the mark. — J.C. Ryle

Quote: Faith starts prayer to work—clears the way to the mercy-seat. It gives assurance…that there the High Priest awaits the prayers and the pray-ers. — E.M. Bounds

God is NOT for you bottling up everything that will sooner than later darken your heart and bring you to a point of self-destruction.

2) Boldness Is Available

The church had a LARGE request to be made on behalf of Peter!

Take your eyes off the size of the request and set you eyes upon the strength of your God!

The Devil is always trying to bluff you away from approaching God in prayer!

Hebrews 4:16 “16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

I am always amazed at the invitation to come BOLDLY to God’s throne!

All humanity has fallen from God’s glory, yet God invites us to enter His throne room where all His glory is present. How can this be?

Jesus the Savior is also Jesus the high priest (v14-15)

Jesus offered up Himself to be the ultimate offering for your sin!

Jesus bridged the gap back to union and fellowship with God.

Illustration — When I am in my study or visiting with someone, I put my phone on “Do not disturb mode.” During that time only my wife or those caring for our children can reach me. I never deny my family access to me. Their needs are my top priority!

Hebrews 10:19 “19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,”

This boldness is given to you and remains with you!

Illustration — It’s like having a key to your own home. You always have the right and means to access your place of rest and security!

God desires for you to feel at home when you enter His throne room.

You are not there because you deserve to be! You are there only because of the sacrifice of Jesus!

Hebrews 13:6 “6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

Jesus has the power and the experience to assure you of the kind of help He can give you!

3) It’s Impact Is Universal

1 Timothy 2:1 “1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;”

It didn’t matter if it was Peter or anyone else in that church, PRAYER SHOULD ALWAYS BE ACTIVE on their behalf

No one should be left out of your prayer life!

Keep running lists!

Family, sicknesses, church family, enemies, critics…

Conclusion

Access to the Father begins with Jesus!

Jesus said in John 14:6 “6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

A — Adoration

C — Confession

T — Thanksgiving

S — Supplications