Power of Prayer

Power of Prayer – I Kings 17/18 (Turning Back to God; TITLE – I want you to title the message this morning and I want you to tell me the title sometime today. Tell me, text me, mail me, call me. Key Verse: 18:37 “Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.” What is the implication of the word “again”? Biblical examples of the power of prayer – I cannot preach them all today… 1. Hannah for a child – and God heard her and gave her Samuel. 2. Hagar for the wellbeing of her unborn child and again for her teen child - and God answered her both times. Nehemiah; Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah; and others. 3. Elijah for rain – I Kings 17:1- 18 / James 5 (17:1 rains stops / 18:1 rain returns) a. Recall that Elijah had to live through 3 years of drought just like everyone else. The difference was that God sustained him through the drought. If you are here this morning, drought or not, you have been sustained by God. b. Not only did God sustain Elijah, HE sustained those closest to him; (widow woman & son). i. Even raising the child from death – 17:21-23 ii. Elijah stayed and prayed 3 times, until he got the answer he desired. c. Elijah understood that it was God’s will to send the rain. (See I Kings 18:1) Nonetheless, Elijah prayed fervently until he saw the answer. Elijah knew that sometimes an answer doesn’t come immediately. He knew that he must pray until he saw the breakthrough. And, he was committed to it; he was in for the long haul. d. I Kings 18:41, with confidence Elijah said to the King, “Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” e. Elijah didn’t start praying for rain until GOD led him to pray for rain! Remember, if you are praying about it then God is already working on it. He didn’t stop until God answered! i. Has God told you to throw in the towel? ii. Has HE told you to stop praying for your spouse, 1. Your child, your parents, your loved one? 2. Your marriage, your home, your church? iii. Has HE told you to stop praying for anything? Then why have you stopped? 4. It is not God’s will: a. That any should perish. (Child, spouse, loved one) – II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” b. It is not God’s will that you marriage be torn apart – Matthew 19:6 “…What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” i. That means you as well. c. It is not God’s will that you live in poverty – Malachi 3:10 “…prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing…” HE said “prove me” for crying out loud! d. It is not God’s will that you be bound in a sin of addiction – Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” e. How do I know? Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” 5. Strongman / Strong hold: a. And yet, “how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.” (Matthew 12:29) b. “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)” II Corinthians 10:4 i. Christ is our deliverer and our weapon is prayer! ii. Satan must be bound; his strong hold in your life must be torn down. iii. Our weapons, His Word, through the power of God, pulls down the strong hold. 6. The rest of the promise – Jeremiah 29:12-14 a. 29:12 – “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD:” The promise! b. Some of y’all are not searching… The Bible says the battle is the LORDs. How long will you go on fighting God and giving way to the devil? Oh you thing you are fighting the devil, but you are out matched. Your only option is to surrender to devil or surrender the battle to God. Sadly, we all too often surrender to the devil. In spite of your wickedness HE still died for you (even while you was yet a sinner). In spite of your wickedness HE still intercedes for you. In spite of your wickedness HE is still willing to use you. In spite of your wickedness HE still loves you. In spite of your filth! He still wants you. Name ONE PERSON in your life that is willing to do that! To love you through it all. If you can, you had best hang on to them; they’re probably the only person really praying for you. In spite of whether you believe in Him or not, HE still believes in you. HIS HEART FOR YOU HAS NOT CHANGED! Oh, but if you never turn to him, if you never surrender to him, there will be a day of judgment and you will be cast into an everlasting fire. Conclusion: Has God been working to turn your life back to HIM again? If so, “How long halt ye between two opinions?” Either believe God or believe the devil, but know this, the power of prayer changes things and one of those things can be your LIFE! GIVE IT TO GOD. Power of Prayer – I Kings 17/18 (Pulpit copy) TITLE – Name this message. (Turning Back to God) Key Verse: I Kings 18:37 “Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.” What is the implication of the word “again”? Biblical examples of the power of prayer – I cannot preach them all today… 1. Hannah for a child 2. Hagar for deliverance 3. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah - deliverance 4. Nehemiah prayed before the King – everything 5. God said it shall not rain for 3 years; I Kings 17:1 a. Elijah did not pray for rain 6. God sustains through the droughts of life! a. God sustained him, brook Cherith b. God sustained the woman and child 7. Elijah prayed for a dead child – 17:21-23 a. God raised the dead child 8. God said it will rain: I Kings 18:1 a. Elijah prayed for rain, until God answered 9. Has God told you to stop praying? For anything? a. Then why stop? b. 7 times or 70 times 7 times; pray on! It is not God’s will: 7. That any should perish. (Child, spouse, loved one) – II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 8. It is not God’s will that you marriage be torn apart – Matthew 19:6 “…What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” a. That means you as well. 9. It is not God’s will that you live in poverty – Malachi 3:10 “…prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing…” HE said “prove me” for crying out loud! 10. It is not God’s will that you be bound in a sin of addiction – Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” 11. How do I know? Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Strongman / Stronghold 12. And yet, “how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.” (Matthew 12:29) 13. “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)” II Corinthians 10:4 a. Christ is our deliverer and our weapon is prayer! b. Satan must be bound; his strong hold in your life must be torn down. c. Our weapons, His Word, through the power of God, pulls down the strong hold. The Rest of the Promise a. Jeremiah 29:12 – “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD:” The promise! b. Some of y’all are not searching… The Bible says the battle is the LORDs. How long will you go on fighting God and giving way to the devil? Your only option is to surrender to devil or surrender the battle to God. Sadly, we all too often surrender to the devil. • In spite of your wickedness HE still died for you • In spite of your wickedness HE still intercedes • In spite of your wickedness HE is still willing to use • In spite of your wickedness HE still loves you. • In spite of your filth! He still wants you. Name ONE PERSON in your life that is willing to do that! To love you through it all. In spite of whether you believe in Him or not, HE still believes in you. HIS HEART FOR YOU HAS NOT CHANGED! Conclusion: Has God been working to turn your life back to HIM again? If so, “How long halt ye between two opinions?” Remember these: Key Verse: I Kings 18:37 “Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.” II Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Matthew 19:6 “…What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Malachi 3:10 “…prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing…” Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” “how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.” (Matthew 12:29) “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)” II Corinthians 10:4 Jeremiah 29:12 – “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD:”