Principles for a Powerful Prayer Meeting. Part 1

Acts 4:23-31 – 23 As soon as they were freed, Peter and John found the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. 24 Then all the believers were united as they lifted their voices in prayer: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them – 25 you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor King David, your servant, saying, ‘Why did the nations rage? Why did the people waste their time with futile plans? 26 The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’ 27 “That is what has happened here in this city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. 28 In fact, everything they did occurred according to your eternal will and plan. 29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give your servants great boldness in their preaching. 30 Send your healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After this prayer, the building where they were meeting shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. And they preached God’s message with boldness. (New Living Translation)

Principles #1: ___________-____________________

Why begin with focusing on God?

▸ God is more ______________________ than getting our needs met

▸ It is proper and fitting to ______________________ God

▸ Focusing on God causes us to see from God’s _________________

What does focusing on God do in our prayer meetings?

▸ We are able to _____________________ with God

John 15:5, 7 – 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. . . . 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! (New Living Translation)

How do I connect with God?

▸ Move from self-orientation to __________________________

▸ Getting God-orientated usually begins with my ____________ and is completed when it sinks down into my _____________

Principle #2: Respond from the _________________

The importance of responding from the heart

▸ What is the basis?

Jeremiah 29:13 – If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. (New Living Translation)

Matthew 5:8 – God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. (New Living Translation)

Hebrews 10:22 – let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. (New Living Translation)

▸ God’s response to us is based on the ______________________ of the heart

Psalm 66:18 – If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. (New Living Translation)

2 Chronicles 34:27 – You were sorry and humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this city and its people. You humbled yourself and tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord. (New Living Translation)

How can I have such a heart?

▸ Have a habit of remembering and reviewing the _______________ of God

Psalm 100 – 1 A psalm of thanksgiving. Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. 3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. (New Living Translation)

▸ God’s word, a testimony, or something that leads to a __________________ ___________________

▸ Practice a lifestyle habit of _________________________ to God