NJ - Our Victory through Prayer

NJ - Our Victory through Prayer

Nathan Jones / General

Make Common What is Uncommon - Prayer

Our Victory through Prayer

Introduction: Over the past weeks we have been studying prayer, “Make common what is uncommon - Prayer”. We have learned the importance of having an intimate relationship with God, we know that prayer makes the difference. Last week we heard from Ps Peter Patterson teaching us on the things of prayer and being deliberate on what we meditate on. Today we will be looking at “Our Victory through Prayer”.

1. It begins with us - discipline ourselves.

2. We need to ask - we need to go to God and ask in Jesus name.

3. Commit to prayer and Fasting - we will look at some of the people in the bible that were committed to prayer and fasting to see their breakthrough come from God.

Lets Open in Prayer:

Father we thank You for Your Son Jesus and through Him we have personal victory. We pray for Your wisdom and understanding as we study and pray that we will walk in all that You have called us to. Amen.

Point 1

It begins with us

Personal victory begins with us, our desire for personal victory will determine the discipline we have to chase after all that God has for us.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

• It begins in the heart – David knew how to humble himself and cry out for victory.

Psalm 42 NLT

For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah. 1 As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? 3 Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” 4 My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration! 5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and 6 my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. 7 I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. 8 But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. 9 “O God my rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” 10 Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?” 11 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!

• We need to seek God for personal victory

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

1. It begins with us

Point 2

We need to ask

We need to ask in prayer and be specific about the things we are seeking God for. Believing by faith in the name of Jesus.

• Ask in Jesus name

Matthew 21:22 NKJV

22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

• Be detailed in your prayers

• Have faith that you will receive what you have asked for. - The Centurion knew he would receive what he was asking Jesus for.

Matthew 8:5–13 NKJV

5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” 7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

1. It begins with us

2. We need to ask

Point 3

Commit to prayer and Fasting

As we commit to prayer believing for personal victory, we need to discipline our lives so that we can push through the status quo. Sometimes praying for personal victory requires: prayers of warfare, prayers of supplication and times of Prayer and fasting.

• The weapons of our warfare are not carnal

2 Corinthians 10:4 NKJV

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

• Those who wait on the Lord

Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

• Personal, Prayer and fasting

Joel 2:12 NKJV

12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”

Here are a few people from the Bible who fasted and prayed. Followed by the result of their fast and prayer.

• Jesus: Began his earthly ministry after fasting for 40 days

• Moses: After a 40 day fast received the 10 commandments

• Daniel: After a 21 day fast God blessed Daniel with wisdom beyond that of anyone else in the empire

• Esther: Haman called for the annihilation of all Jews. Esther called for a 3 day fast for all the Jews in her city. The result- the Jews were spared and Haman was hanged on the gallows he built.

• Hannah: Could not bear a child. She “wept and did not eat”. God heard her plea and the prophet Samuel was born.

• Paul: God called him and shared the assignment for his life during a fast. Acts 9:7-9

• Peter: Was fasting on a rooftop when God gave him a new revelation and called him to take the gospel to the Gentiles. Acts 10

• Jehoshaphat: Needed to know the Lord’s plan to defeat an Army. Through a fast God’s plan was revealed and the Army was defeated.

• Elijah: The word Elijah received during his fast affected even the next generation

• Joseph: Fasted in prison. When released he became fabulously wealthy and was put over all the money of Egypt. (Gen. 41:39-45)

Conclusion:

1. It begins with us

2. We need to ask

3. Commit to prayer and Fasting

As we conclude this part of our service, we have seen how we can have personal victory through prayer. We know that it first starts with us in humbling ourselves and seeking the kingdom of God. We need to ask in faith not doubting that God will do it, Jesus said about the centurion that He had not seen anyone with such great faith. And we need to persist in our prayer and fasting knowing that it positions us to hear from God.

Opportunity to receive Christ