Saturday Motivation: March is for Miracles! Winners and the power of Prayer
March 7th 2020
Saturday Motivation!
Topic: March is for Miracles! Winners and the power of Prayer! Let`s Glow!
Text:
James 5 v 16: The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Matthew 21 v 22: And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive if you have faith
John 14 v 13-14: Whatever you ask in my Name, this I will do that the father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my Name, I will do it.
Philippians 4: 6-7; Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Mark 9 v29: This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.
Ephesians 6 v 18: Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance making supplication for all the saints.
Introduction
Today`s motivation is an interactive session. Please feel free to participate.
What`s prayer?
Prayer can be described as talking to God. It is an act of worship that glorifies God and reiterates our need for Him. Prayer is power and strength which influences God to act on our behalf.
Why should we pray?
• We are commanded to pray: So many times in the bible, we are advised to pray without ceasing. Example is in 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18: Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God`s Will for you in Christ Jesus! Luke 18 v1: The story of the unjust judge and the widow. Jesus told the disciples this parable so that they can always pray and not give up.
• Prayer helps us face and overcome all types of struggles: In Matthew 26 v 41, Jesus tells Peter to pray for strength in overcoming temptation. Also in Luke 6: 12-13, Jesus demonstrates the importance of prayer in making major decisions
• Prayer delivers our requests to God: If we ask according to God`s Will, He will give us our heart desires. Mathew 7 v7says; Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and you will find, knock and it shall be opened unto you
• Prayer helps us discern God`s Will; By staying in constant communication with God, we can begin to understand His Will for us when we pray continuously to Him for guidance.
Our prayer does not change God, rather it changes us. We are encouraged to pray for everything with a thankful heart. When we open up to God, He will protect us with His peace.
How should we pray?
Romans 8 v 26 says; we do not know what we should pray for as we ought to, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered.
As Winners, the Spirit intercedes on our behalf during prayer. When we draw near to God, He will draw near to us.
Our prayers should reflect the relationship we have with God. It is a beautiful thing and a privilege that we are given the ability to communicate with God; anywhere, at any time, in good and bad times, we can thank Him, ask for His Strength, discern His Will and become more like Him.
• We must pray with authority because whenever we hit the prayer button in faith, things happen in the Spirit realm. God remembers every prayer we pray and every one of them prayed through the Holy Spirit has effect on earth. Our prayers are never forgotten and answers to them are never late.
• To see people`s lives changed all over the world before Jesus return to earth, we need the right tools to do it. That tool is prayer. We can only get the job done through prayer. There is strength and power in prayer and it can change the world.
• The power of prayer is waiting for you and I to ask and receive. God has provided everything for us. If we pray, we can have all we need. There is power in prayer and all we have to do is reach out in faith and ask God to touch our lives, our cities, and our nations. When we tap into God`s resources by faith and pray, miracles happen.
Does God really answer prayers?
Literally, we pray because we want something to change. When we pray for a blessing, we want to be blessed. When we pray for protection, we want to feel safe afterward. When we pray for deliverance, we want our problems to go away as soon as possible.
Sometimes when change does not occur, some might conclude that praying does not work. The key to answered prayers is in the motive and attitude of the person who prayed.
The power with which God answers prayers belongs only to Him but God wants us to trust Him even when it seems like our requests are taking too long to be granted. We must wait because for every prayer request, there is a waiting period.
There is no prayer that God cannot answer, and so today I implore all of us to pray with new understanding this week.
If we go back to the scriptures, we will see several examples of people who prayed and received answers to their prayers. These examples and our own personal experiences as winners make usconclude that God really answer prayers.
Biblical examples of times where prayers changed lives in the Bible
• Prayer of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 v 11; Hannah was the unfortunate barren wife who was ridiculed and humiliated by the wife who easily bore children. She therefore pleaded with God for a son with a promise to give him back to God. As a result of her prayer, her son Samuel became the greatest prophet in Israel`s history who maintained direct communication with God throughout his life. Hannah`s gift to God made God bless her with three more sons and two daughters. When we are willing to give God our best, He blesses us with more.
• Prayer for Peter in Acts 12 v 5: Peter had been thrown into prison by Herod for preaching the gospel. The church prayed earnestly for his release. While they were still praying, an angel released Peter from prison through doors and past guards. This shows us that God can sometimes answer our prayers so fast that it will surprise us.
• Prayer of King Hezekiah in 1 Kings 19 v 20: King Sennacharib had laid siege on Jerusalem but King Hezekiah told his people to keep their faith in God. King Hezekiah prayed to the Lord to deliver them from the hands of their enemies. That night, the angel of the Lord killed 85,000 Assyrian soldiers which compelled the rest of the army to return home without a fight. This shows us that as winners, when we follow God`s plan, He wages war on our behalf.
• Prayer of Jairus in Mark 5 v 23: Jairus exercised his faith by asking Jesus to come and lay hands on his daughter so that she might live. Jesus tested his faith by stopping along the way to his house and healing a sick woman. Jairus daughter was already dead when they got to his house but Jesus brought her back to life. The interpretation of this is that God wants to exceed our heart desires. He wants to resurrect our faith. No matter what might seem dead in our lives right now, God is ready to bring them back to life. They shall live again. Our dry bones shall rise again
• Prayer of Moses in Exodus 33 v 18: Through daily communication with God, Moses earned God`s trust and friendship. In a divine encounter, Moses petitioned God to show him his glory. God responded by enveloping Moses into a cleft on Mount Sinai and covering his view so he could view God`s form from the back. From thereon, Moses became overwhelmed with God`s glory and radiance that he had to wear a veil over his face. As winners, God can envelope us with His presence if we dare to worship like Moses.
• Prayer of King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20 v 3: Due to illness, Prophet Isaiah told King Hezekiah that he would die. Hezekiah prayed to God and this immediately changed the mind of God. Before Prophet Isaiah left the palace, God instructed him to return with a new message. The message was “I have heard your prayers, I will heal you, I will add 15years to your life”. (I don’t know who you are right now, but God says that I should tell you that you shall not die but live to declare the works of the Lord!
• Prayer of Jesus in Luke 22 v 42: Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal. He said, Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done. This means we need the mercy of God when we face dire situations. And as we work in God`s Will, He works out the best solution for us.
• Prayer of Daniel in Daniel 2 v 17– 18: Daniel prayed to God to save his life and the lives of his friends by asking God to reveal King Nebuchadnezzar`s confusing dream as well as the interpretation. God answered his prayers and Daniel as well as his friends became a force to reckon with in a pagan country. Daniel also became a spiritual influence to three powerful Kings. As winners, do not be weary in doing the right thing. You will be surprised where God will position you if you are willing to identify yourself as a praying believer who expects God to answer when he prays.
• Prayer of Elisha in 2 Kings 6 v 16: When Elisha and his servants were surrounded by the enemy, Elisha prayed for God to reveal His power. He also prayed for God to blind the enemy. He led the enemy army away from Elisha. The interpretation of this verse of scripture is that faith can move mountains.
• Prayer of the thief that was crucified alongside Jesus on the Cross in Luke 23 v 42 – 43: The thief on the cross asked Jesus to save him before he dies. He asked for forgiveness. Jesus responded by saying, “today you will be with me in paradise”. Jesus forgave the thief during his dying moments. This shows us that there is hope for every sinner. It is never too late for transformation.
Does God answer all prayers?
We serve a prayer answering God. However, God does not answer all prayers. God will deny prayer request for those who;
• Ask amiss
• Regard iniquity in their hearts, Psalm 66 v 18
• Live in sin, John 9v31
• Offer unworthy service to God Malachi 1 v 7-9
• Forsake God
• Reject the call of God
• Are deaf to the cry of the poor
• Are blood shedders• Are hypocrites; Job 27 v8
• Are proud; Job 35 v 12
• Are self-righteous
• Are enemies of the saints
• Cruelly oppress the saints;
Examples of unanswered prayers in the bible;• King Saul in 1 Samuel 14 v37: He prayed for guidance but God did not answer him. King Saul had pronounced a curse on any of his army who ate before evening. Jonathan unaware of the curse ate. In 1 Samuel 28 v 6-7, King Saul prayed to God for help and guidance. Because he had moved so far away from God, God did not answer him.
• David`s prayer in 2 Samuel 12 v 13-23; David prayed for the life of his son but the son died because of his sin with Bathsheba. The lesson from this is that sin has its consequences.
• Elijah`s prayer for death in 1 Kings 19 v 4:It was not in God`s plan that Elijah should die as he had more work for Elijah to do. So God did not answer his prayers. It the end Elijah did not die but was caught up to heaven.
• Jonah`s prayer in Jonah 4 v 3 : Jonah wanted God to take his life as he no longer wanted to live. God refused to grant his petition because he hadn`t yet completed the work that God sent him to do.
• King Zedekiah`s prayer in Jeremiah 21 v 2: The Lord failed to answer King Zedekiah`s plea in defeating Nebuchadnezzar due to the sins of Israel.
Let us pray!
May the Lord give us the grace to use the gifts and talents that He has given each and every one of us and a clear sense of understanding of where, when and how to apply them. May we all fulfill God`s will because being in the calling which he has designed for each one of us gives him joy.
May the Lord heal our World during these perilous times.May there be a solution to the problem of Covid-19 in Jesus Mighty Name! Amen! Trillion Amen!
Others: Psalm 91, Prayer of Sanctification into our water. Luke 11 v2; The Lord`s Prayer,
Halleluyah! Glory to God! Amen!
Shalom!