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Prayer – What It Does?

Prayer – What It Does?. Consistent and Effective Communications With God. James Example Of Elijah – James 5:13-18 (NKJV).

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Prayer – What It Does?

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  1. Prayer – What It Does? Consistent and Effective Communications With God

  2. James Example Of Elijah –James 5:13-18 (NKJV) • 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess [your] trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

  3. Who Is Praying In James (1) • Individual at prayer – Verse 13 • 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. • Elders at prayer – Verse 14 • 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

  4. Who Is Praying In James (2) • Friends at prayer – Verse 16 • 16 Confess [your] trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. • Prophet at prayer – Verse 17 • 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.

  5. Prophet At Prayer - Elijah • Elijah was a man of prevailing prayer (James used Elijah as an example) • Ordinary man with faults, failures, etc. • Acts 14:15 (NKJV) and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them • Obedient man –rightly related to God and His Word • Observant man – saw a nation in their departure from God and at the bottom of the moral ladder

  6. Elijah’s Manner Of Prayer –Characteristics • Fervent (desperate) coming to a boil, intense – knocking with persistence (Verse 16) • Definite – earnestly that it not rain (Verse 17) • Focus Your Prayer – be specific • Determined – it is always to soon to quit, pray again (Verse 18) Be Focused - Specific

  7. A Look At “Much” In Verse 16 • . . . The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. • Triumph over the enemy – the evil one can’t stand it when Christians truly pray • Triumph over drought – showers of blessing will fall on our dry parched spiritual lives • Triumph over death – dead sinners all around us will only come to life through Jesus Christ and your prayers for the Holy Spirit to open their eyes so they can see the glorious gospel of Christ

  8. “Righteous” Man In Verse 16 • . . . The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much • We who our in Christ are righteous • 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin [to] [be] sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. • So we can expect God to answer if we don’t ask amiss • James 4:3 (NKJV) You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend [it] on your pleasures.

  9. Jesus’ Example – Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV) • 9 "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as [it] [is] in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. • This prayer sets forth God’s interests • This prayer sets forth our interests

  10. Some Thoughts FromJesus’ Prayer In John 17 • Jesus Prayed • That we would have preservation from the evil one • That we would be sanctified in the Truth • That we would have UNITY we the Godhead and each other • That Christ is glorified in us • Christ joy is fulfilled in us

  11. What Prayer Does • Releases Divine power • Resists Satan’s power • Repairs the vengeance of your soul • Relaxes the soul before God • Reveals the Truth of God’s Word Prayer Is A Maximum Ministry

  12. General Comments About Prayer (1) • Old Testament Saints were men of prayer • New Testament enlarged prayer – i.e., Jesus in John 17 • Prayer was exemplified by Apostles – i.e., Paul • Prayer is expected of every believer • Prayer re-enforces and prepares believers for ministry • Prayer is not getting God to do what we want but to get us ready to do what He wants Pray With Confidence

  13. General Comments About Prayer (2) • Our prayers should be in all areas of life – withhold nothing from God • They should be • Prompted • Promoted • Prevailing • Purposeful • Be in tune with God’s Spirit who lives within you • To pray to Christ is the stay of the Christian life (Philippians 4:6) • Remember no answer is an answer

  14. General Comments About Prayer (3) • Reaping what you sow also applies to answers to prayers • Would your life be changed if you stopped praying? If not, why bother praying at all • The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything. Love and peace be with you forever, Amen

  15. Take Heed, Watch And Pray • Vigilance is commanded by Christ till He comes. “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. [It] [is] like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming--in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning-- "lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!" (Mark 13:33-37)

  16. Why Don’t Christians Pray More? • Iniquity of our hearts – we don’t believe that God will do as He says • Ignorance of our minds • Infirmity of our bodies • Invasion of our time (We must be disciplined and TAKE the time) • Influence of our adversary

  17. 5 Things To Pray Everyday For Ourselves • Slay Me – hate the old man and love the new • Cleanse Me – clean hands and heart before God • Fill Me – power to live victorious life • Guide Me – in the paths of righteousness • Use Me – to further God’s kingdom

  18. How Shall I Approach The Mercy-Seat • Believing God - Matthew 21:22 • Obeying God - Hebrews 5:9 • Loving God - Galatians 5:6 • Depending on God - James 1:17 • Looking to God - Hebrews 12:9 • Yielding to God - Romans 6:13 BOLDLY

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