PRAYER CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING

This is the only thing that the disciples ever asked Jesus to teach them. Why? It is because they knew that Jesus placed a great emphasis on the subject.

Some people want to know what position is the best for prayer. It is more important to have the heart right than the position. A man was real concerned with position of prayer. He did not like to get on his knees because his pants to lose their creases. He did not like to stand because it caused his legs to hurt. He thought sitting and praying was irreverent. One day, he fell into a hole headfirst. I wonder if he thought of position as he prayed that day.

Let see seven important truths about prayer that should help us in our daily time of prayer.

I. PRAYER IS A SIN-KILLER

No one can sin and pray. For prayer will either make us cease from sin, or sin will cause us to cease from prayer.

Matthew 26:41 AV

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

How many times have you prayed and them deliberately sinned? It is rare. I know that most of the time I act on impulse instead of being in a mode of prayer. It seems that I sin and then I feel the need to pray.

Prayer will help you drive sin out of your life. Prayer will give you determination for in the midst of your prayer life you will be given conviction and desire to overcome sin. What if Jonah, Samson, Lot, Peter, King Saul, or Demas had prayed in the time of their greatest temptations?

II. PRAYER IS A POWER-BRINGER

James 5:16 AV

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Prayer is where the victory is won. Consider Elijah, Daniel, Jacob, etc. It seems the Scriptures teach us that prayer in Christ’s life meant power. Prayer in Paul’s life, and Daniel’s life meant having God’s power upon them.

The early Church knew the power of God because of their prayer life. Ten days before the power of the Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples in the Upper Room, they had spent that time in prayer. Prayer in the first church so moved God, that He shook the building in which they had been praying. They had asked the Lord for boldness to witness. This must have pleased the Lord. They left the prayer meeting and had boldness in their witnessing.

Ford Porter, the author of the tract “God’s Simple Plan of Salvation”, said this about prayer:

”No prayer, No Power

Little prayer, Little Power;

Much prayer, Much Power.”

It ought to be a part of our regular prayer request to ask God for power to witness, power to preach, and power to live the way He wants us to live. Then after we pray, we get off our knees and go and do those things that we asked the Lord give.

III. PRAYER IS A VICTORY-GIVER

Hebrews 5:7 AV

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Revelation 12:10 AV

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Bunyan’s Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress found that the weapon of “all prayer” was sufficient to wound and defeat the adversary, who would stop him in his progress as a pilgrim.

Failure to pray means a loss of contact with our Lord. Failure to pray means defeat in the battles of life and it means defeat in the marriage, the home, with the children, and in our service.

Will we have victory over worry, fear, anxiety, sins of the thought life, in our attitudes or actions deeds, decisions of the will without a strong prayer life? The answer is without hesitation: NO.

IV. PRAYER IS A HOLINESS-PROMOTER

1 Thessalonians 3:10 AV

Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

1 Thessalonians 3:13 AV

To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Prayer is like the gentle dew, which falls upon the thirsty plants and causes them to be refreshed and to bring forth fruit. We must be like those thirsty plants. Jesus promised fill that desire:

Matthew 5:6 AV

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

We are commanded to be holy.

1 Peter 1:15–16 AV

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

The meaning is, that since God is holy, and we profess to be his followers, we ought also to be holy.

How can we be without a fervent prayer life without a desire to be holy? We are to build a godly home; can we do that without a fervent prayer life that includes holiness?

We have to take times of self-examination. It requires a time alone with God and letting guide us to the places that are killing us spiritually. This is what David asked the Lord do for him.

Psalm 139:23–24 AV

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

David was the bravest man in the Bible. He faced a lion, bear and giant. He faced all of the enemies of the nation of Israel with courage. But the bravest thing ever was opening his life to the Lord. He showed that he wanted to be a man after God’s own heart. A man after God’s own heart must desire holiness and holiness can be in a man’s life with prayer.

V. PRAYER IS A DISPUTE-ADJUSTER

Mark 11:24–26 AV

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Luke 17:3–4 AV

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Let any two brethren who are in a dispute with each other get on their knees and ask the Lord about the disputed matter and they will find the Lord saying to their troubled spirits, “peace, be still,” and “forgive one another their trespasses.”

Disputes in the home are quickly settled when those are at conflict with each other are willing to pray together, and humbly seek the Lord together. Disputes with any person will quickly melt away if those involved will honestly seek God’s face together.

VI. PRAYER IS AN OBSTACLE-REMOVER

Acts 12:5 AV

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Peter found this was true when an angel came in answer to the prayers of the saints and delivered him from the prison of Herod’s hate. Peter also found out that being in a spirit of prayer a trance also the Lord brought to his life in his prayer time the Spirit could prepare him and lead him to go to a Gentile’s house to bring the message of salvation.

What obstacles have God removed as you sought His face, His glory and honor? What has the Lord taught you about seeking His face?

VII. PRAYER IS A CHRIST-REVEALER

Jeremiah 29:12–13 AV

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

To clarify our vision, and to enable us to see the unseen -- we must spend time in unhurried prayer. “Looking unto Jesus” is to have our eyes upon Him for it is more than a casual look... it is to gaze intently upon Him.

How do you expect the Lord to be made real to your heart? Through the Word and through your prayer life is the only way. How do we “really know Him”?

Philippians 3:10 AV

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

"Oh God! May I live each day as in thy Holy presence!

May I walk each day expecting Jesus to come!

May I act each day as though this were the last act of my life before I behold Him face to face!

May I try to win souls about me each day of my life!

And keep the vision of lost people in Hell fresh upon my mind so that my life might be a burning passion for the souls of men." — AMEN!

PRAYER CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING

Luke 11:1-4

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