Unleashing the Potential and Power of Prayer

Text: Matthew 7:7-11

Introduction:A few weeks ago, we began our series on prayer by looking at the model for prayer that Jesus gave for us (The Lord’s Prayer.) Jesus understood the attitude and application of prayer, and he provided a pattern for us to follow in attitude and application.

Jesus also taught us about the potential and power of prayer.

Go to the text (Matthew 7:7-11):

7. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

8. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

9. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?

10.Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11.If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Jesus understood that when we pray, God takes action. Jesus teaches that when we ask in prayer, it is the Father’s desire to answer our prayers. Just as our parents here on earth want the best for us, so our Heavenly Father wants his best for us.

God desires to give His children good gifts as we pray and believe (Matthew 7:11.) But are we really tapping into the power of prayer? Do we really believe that God answers prayer?

Prayer is the church’s secret weapon, and it is waiting for us to unleash it and receive its full potential.

(Tell a few stories of physical healings and miracles that I have witnessed.)

Thesis: Prayer has the potential to change the world around us if we tap into its potential and believe by faith in God’s promise to answer prayer.

Transition: Let’s look at the power of prayer

I. Prayer Changes the World

a. The New Testament church changed the world.

i. They began in prayer and remained in prayer (Acts 1)

ii. Acts 17:6 “those that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.”

b. During 1830 Charles Finney began preaching in thousands of cities. Over 10,000 souls were saved in one year. He attributes it to partnering in prayer. He said of his prayer partner Abel Clary “Mr. Clary continued as long as I did and did not leave until after I had left. He never appeared in public but gave himself wholly to pray.”

c. In 1872 a bedridden girl who had heard of DL Moody prayed that he would come to her church in England. He came and in ten days 400 people were saved.

d. CH Spurgeon said “Whenever God determines to do a good work, he first sets His people to pray.”

e. Our prayers make a difference in the world and in the lives of the people around us.

In today’s society, we are so used to people not bending at the gospel. We must first labor in the place of prayer and ask God to send the labors. (Matthew 9.) When we are sent people will bend!

“Prayer is a strong wall and fortress to the church; it is a goodly Christian weapon.” – Martin Luther

II. We must believe by faith in God’s promise to answer prayer

a. Jesus said “ask, and it shall be given to you…”

i. Martin Luther “All who call in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired.”

b. To partake in the full power of prayer we must believe by Faith that God will fulfill his promise.

c. Jesus taught about the power of faith in Matthew 17:20

d. Story of the paralytic who was healed by faith (Matthew 9:2)

e. Story of the woman who believed she could be healed by by just touching Jesus’ garment (Matthew 9:21-22)

f. Paul spoke about faith not being of the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Cor 2:5)

i. Martin Luther “Faith must trample under foot all reason, sense and understanding.”

g. God is gracious enough to answer prayers even when we lack faith.

h. However, we unleash the full power of prayer when we have faith in God’s promise to answer it.

Close: Let us unleash the power of prayer by realizing its power and believing in God’s promise to answer prayer.