You Have Authority

Introduction

“Are we a church that prays or a praying church”

The book by Craig Groeschel, Dangerous Prayers

Body

James 4:3–6 NKJV

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

This Scripture is hard but it speaks to a very real problem in the world today. There is a difference between living in the world and being of the world. Who are we trying to be friends with, whose yearning jealously is working on our compassion the hardest?

It says at the end of Scripture that “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Are our prayers those of pride or those of humility. Are we concerned more with who is listening and what they think of us, or are we giving them up completely to the Lord.

When we ask others to pray with us, do we pray like we do when we are in the private places or do we cover our faults and shortcomings to make ourselves sound more like our Facebook page and less like our autobiography?

The Spirit wants to be our best friend and yearns for us jealousy, all of us.

Romans 12:12 NKJV

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Do we get excited with others successes?

Do we lift others up when they are down?

Do we look to those things that are hopeful and desire for kindness and respect and worth?

Speak kindly to those around you encouraging them in the Lord and letting them know you are there for them.

Don’t be deceived into thinking it doesn’t break the Lord’s heart when we struggle and we are in tribulation.

Be patient, He is working alongside of us and showing us the path and the way out.

Talk about parenting

Never cease to pray, it is the most powerful thing we can do.

It is so undervalued in society today and seen as something that is done when in need or a ritual that Christians participate in.

Conclusion

Return to the book Dangerous Prayers

Discuss praying with authority

“What would happen if you were told that everything you prayed for came true?” What would you pray for and who would you pray for?

“What would happen if you were told the only things you would have tomorrow is the things you prayed for today?” How much time would you spend praying and how important would it be?” Would we pray short in passing or would we take ourselves to a private place and give it all we had?

Church we have hope in prayer. We have been given the authority. We are told that whatever we ask in the name of Jesus, He will do!

John 14:13–14 NKJV

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

Church let us look to the things hopeful! Let us encourage others with hope! Let us ask on the behalf of others with hopeful desire understanding our authority in the Lord!