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Introduction
The truth about prayer
Most people pray.
Many prayers go unanswered.
Most prayers lack two critical ingredients:
First, many do not know God’s Word.
So, we pray out of ignorance, rather than from a firm foundation in God’s truth.
John 14:
“In my name” refers to praying prayers that are in full alignment with God’s character and His will.
So, the second reason why many prayers go unanswered is that we do not take the time to know God’s Will.
In other words, we do not ask God what He intends to do—we assume—and many times, we assume wrong.
Knowing God’s Word and knowing God’s will are essential elements in a productive prayer life.
But, I want to take it one step further.
Our prayer life needs proper motivation.
What should motivate us to take the time and effort to pray?
The answer centers on our relationship with God.
A genuine Christian demonstrates the evidence of their relationship with God in two essential ways:
Loving God.
Loving People.
John 13:3
Illustration: Lloyd Olson (when he was diagnosed with blood cancer and the church came together to pray for him on a Sunday night.
When someone is in need, the church must rise together and intercede on their behalf.
Paul knew first hand the importance of prayer—especially intercessory prayer.
Paul faced such hardship and pain, he was convinced that death was just around the corner.
But, it was through his experience that he recognized a critical principle in the life of the church: Intercessory prayer.
2 Cor 1:
Why?
It is because of intercessory prayer!
How can intercession make the difference?
Intercession emphasizes reliance on God.
In our culture, we emphasize self-reliance: If you want to get something done, then you need to do it yourself.
Or, have we bought into this false teaching: God help those who helps themselves?
In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, he states a fundamental truth that a believer must embrace:
Seeking God for everything—including the needs of others establishes the necessity of relying on God completely!
Do we truly believe that God is greater than our problems—and do we truly believe God is willing to demonstrate His power to help us in our problems—and do we truly believe that through God’s power He will be glorified?
God is calling us to be intercessors—and rely on Him completely.
Intercession invites the believer to participate in God’s agenda.
Intercessory prayer is God’s invitation for us to join Him in His work.
That invitation to join Him includes prayer.
God uses prayer to enact His work.
One of the benefits of being a believer in Christ is to join God in His work—and experience His power to deliver.
Illustration: The first time I discovered this principle, it what when I enlisted in the Air Force (Bill Hinkley).
When you engage in God’s agenda in prayer, you and others will experience a powerful attitude adjustment:
Intercession encourages gratitude.
2 Cor 1:
Do you want to develop an attitude of thankfulness in your life?
What about see those around you becoming for thankful?
Then enter into that prayerful activity of intercession.
As you pray according to God’s will—and as you begin to experience your prayers being answered—and as those you pray for experience answered prayer—then those around you will become more thankful.
Attitudes will change.
Your attitude will change when you pray for others.
Those that you pray for—their attitudes will change.
And, when you surround yourself with thankful people, your life will become much more enjoyable.
This leads us to another principle Paul identifies with intercessory prayer:
Intercession results in God’s blessings.
Paul experienced God’s blessings because of the prayers of others.
There is a direct correlation between prayer and blessing.
When God’s people pray the prayers that God directs, God will demonstrate the value of prayer through blessings.
Paul was blessed because people prayed!
The people who prayed were blessed because of answered prayer.
If you want to experience the blessings of God, then engage in intercessory prayer.
Conclusion
Prayer changes things!
The church—if it is going to be pleasing to the Lord—must wholeheartedly embrace intercessory prayer.
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