1) Prayer is the strength of Christians and works in many ways such as during difficulties, seeking God's favor, or developing a relationship with God. Through prayer, God listens, answers, and moves in response. 2) The Bible tells Christians to pray continually and for others as well as themselves. Prayer is a way to communicate with God and protects against Satan's deceptions by keeping believers alert. 3) The power of prayer comes from God, not people. God invites people to pray to Him with faith, thanksgiving, and in accordance with His will. He hears prayers and promises to answer according to His perfect timing and will.

1. The Powerof Prayer – 14th
May 2017
“
And pray inthe Spiriton all occasionswithall kinds ofprayers and requests. Withthis inmind,be
alert and alwayskeep on prayingfor all the Lord’s people.”(Ephesians6:18).
The powerof prayeris the strengthof the Christian.Ourprayerworks inmany differentways.Atatime
of difficultyandorhardship, whenseekingGodsfavour,oreventodeveloparelationshipwithGod,we
require Prayer.We can learnfrom James 5:16-18, “The prayer ofa righteousperson is powerful and
effective. 17
Elijahwasa humanbeing,even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it wouldnot rain,and
it didnot rain on the landfor three anda halfyears. 18
Againhe prayed, andthe heavensgave rain,
and the earth produced itscrops.”We can learnthat God mostdefinitelylistens toourprayers, He
answersprayers,and He movesinresponse toprayers.
Whenwe read Ephesians6,we can see that Paul addsthe Powerof Prayerto the Full Armorof God as
statedin Ephesians6:18,"And pray in the Spirit onall occasionswithall kindsof prayers and requests.
Withthis inmind,be alert andalwayskeep on prayingforall the Lord'speople." But our Prayersare
NOT a weapon forattackingthose whohave harmedus, but on the contrary Jesusrequiresusto “love
and pray forour enemy.”We can learnfrom Matthew 5:43-45 “Youhave heard that it wassaid,‘Love
your neighborandhate yourenemy.’ 44
But I tell you, loveyour enemies and pray forthose who
persecute you, 45
that youmay be childrenof your Father in heaven.” Prayeris a weaponthat we need
withus to successfullyovercomethe attemptsof Satan thathe uses to dissuade usfromGods presence,
throughsinand sinful thoughts.Whenwe are bombardedwithsuch sinfulthoughts,we needtospeak
to God throughprayerthat will certainlyhelpustoovercome these onslaughtsof Satan.
Prayeris ourcommunicationopenwiththe Commander.GodhascommandedHisordersfor us,
throughHis Word andthe promptingsof the HolySpirit.PrayerisourcommunicationwithGodand
Satan hatesitwhenwe pray. He knowsprayerstrengthensusandkeepsusalertto hisdeceptionand
that knowledgeprotectsusfrom beingledastray. We can readthat Paul cautionsus to pray notonlyfor
oneself butforothersaswell. We can readin Ephesians6:19-20, “Prayalso for me, that whenever I
speak, wordsmay be given me so that I will fearlesslymake known the mystery of the gospel, 20
for
whichI aman ambassadorinchains.Pray that I may declare it fearlessly,as I should.” Thereforeas
Christianswe needtobearinmindthat withthe Full Armorof God, we can be readyfor whateverthe
Enemythrowsat us.
The ideathat powerisinherentinprayerisa verypopularone.Accordingtothe Bible,the powerof
prayeris,quite simply,the powerof God,whohearsand answersprayer.Considerthe following:
1) The Lord God Almightycandoall things;there isnothingimpossibleforHim.We can read from Luke
1:37, “For no wordfrom Godwill ever fail.”
2) The Lord God AlmightyinvitesHispeople topraytoHim. Prayerto God shouldbe made persistently
as statedin Luke 18:1,“Then Jesustold hisdisciplesa parableto show them that they shouldalways
pray andnot give up.” Prayershouldbe made withthanksgivingasstatedin Philippians4:6,“Do not be
anxiousaboutanything,butin every situation,by prayer andpetition,with thanksgiving,presentyour
requests to God.”Ourprayersshouldbe made inFaith asstatedin James1:5, “If anyof you lacks
wisdom,youshouldask God,who givesgenerouslyto all withoutfindingfault,andit will be givento
you.” Our prayersshouldbe withinthe willof God. God isnot there togive us all whateverwe askof
Him. It isHiswill andas He desires: “…yourkingdomcome,yourwill be done, onearth asit is in

2. heaven.”(Matthew6:10). Itis alwaysforthe gloryof God as we can learnfrom John14:13-14, “And I
will do whatever you ask inmy name, so that the Father may be glorifiedinthe Son. 14
Youmay ask
me for anythinginmy name, and I will do it.” Importantlyourprayershouldbe coming froma heart
rightwithGod as statedin James5:16, “The prayer of a righteouspersonis powerful and effective.”
As Christianswe needtosteadfastlyknow thatthe Godhearsthe prayersof His children. Fromthe bible
we can learnthat He commandsus topray, and He promisestolisten. The Psalmistsays:“Inmydistress
I calledto the LORD; I cried to my Godfor help. From histemple he heard my voice; my cry came
before him,into hisears” (Psalm18:6). He answersprayeras saidin Psalm17:6. “I call on you,O God,
for you will answer me.” But we get a clear requirementasthe Psalmistsays: “Therighteouscry out,
and the LORD hears them; he delivers them fromall their troubles” (Psalm34:17).
The powerof prayerdoesnotflowfromus; itis not special wordswe sayor the special waywe say
themor evenhowoftenwe saythem.The powerof prayer isnot basedona certaindirectionwe face or
a certainpositionof ourbodies.The powerof prayerdoesnotcome fromthe use of artifactsor iconsor
candlesor beads.The powerof prayercomesfromthe omnipotentOne whohears ‘all’ ourprayersand
answersthem.Prayerplacesusincontact withAlmighty God;itenhancesourrelationshipwithHim…we
getcloserto Him and thusare protectedfromthe fallaciesof Satan,the greatdeceiver.Throughour
faithwe shouldexpectalmightyresults,whetherornotHe choosestogrant our petitionsordenyour
requests. ItisHisdecisionandNOTours. Whateverthe answertoour prayers,the God to whomwe
pray isthe source of the powerof prayer,andHe can and will answerus,accordingtoHis perfectwill
and timing. Thereforewe are advisedin Romans12:2,“ Do not conformto the pattern of this world,but
be transformedby the renewingof your mind.Then you will be able to test andapprove what God’s
will is—hisgood,pleasingandperfect will.”