THE POWEROF PRAYER

 

     Today we are going to look at a very powerful concept of prayer.  Let me give you the background  behind this verse in Genesis 17, God made a promise that Abram and told him that he was going to be the father of many nations, the sign would be circumcision and his name was changed to Abraham.  Next in Chapter 18-19, God visited Abraham by the great trees of Mamre, told him that him and Sarah would have a boy next year.  Sarah laughed then lied when confronted.  Abraham was told of the impending doom of Sodom and Gomorrah where he pleaded for their souls.  Sodom and Gomorrah could not be saved but Lot was rescued but later committed incest with his daughters and set up future confrontation for Israel.  Next, Abraham and Sarah move down to Gerar or Philistia where he deceived Abimelech by saying that Sarah was his sister and she was taken into his household.  Now get this Sarah is 90 years old when this happens.  She was an outstanding beauty.   God warns Abimelech in a dream about the situation and he gives Sarah back and gives a king’s ransom to get Abraham to avoid God’s judgment.  Then they move back to Hebron where Sarah becomes pregnant and they bear Isaac when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90.  What an Amazing story and background. 

 

Romans 4:17

New International Version

17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[a] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

 

1.      Today we are going to learn about the power of prayer.  Abraham was a great example for us to learn from.  First, he stood on God’s promises.  There are more than 10000 promises in the Bible.  Each one is back up by God’s word.  Psalm 132:8 states this.    1 Cor 1:20 says the promises of God are yes and amen.  So when you pray you can believe and trust God’s promises.  Often I will quote the promise to God in my prayer time. 

 

a.      Abraham also believed.  The definition of belief is, “accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of.”  Hebre 11:1, that faith is substance of things hope for and the evidence of things not seen.  It goes further in Heb 11:6, that you believe that God exists and is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.  That is what Abraham did. 

b.      He believed that God could bring life to that which is dead.  In this case himself and Sarah.  Remember God told Abraham it was going to happen.  Sarah laughed and you would too.  Abraham believed enough to actually try again for another baby.  He may have said to Sarah.  “what have we got to lose. “  What Abraham did was believe and called into being things that were not.  He released the divine resources of heaven. 

c.      I love Phil 4:19 where Paul says that God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory.  What does all mean, “All.”  Your physical such as food, shelter, clothing and transportation.  You spiritual, mental, emotional, financial and family.

 

2.      Now this week I heard a powerful teaching about the two track system of prayer from Charles Stanley.  He said that you cannot receive God’s promises without also obeying the principles of God.  One side of the track is promise the others die is prayer.  God will not give you his promises if you violate His principles.  God is a God of balance.  Today so many people have demoted God to a sugar daddy or bubble gum machine.   They have no concept of the love of God.  They believe that love means you can do anything you want and there are no consequences and preachers who teach this are liars and false teachers.  There are six things t will share with you that will stop the promises of God in their tracks.

 

a.      Ps 66:18, says if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me.  The principle is regarding iniquity.  Iniquity means habitual unconfessed sin.  You ignore, justify, excuse, blame it on others.  The Lord will not hear your prayers.

b.      Mark 11:26, tells us that if we cannot forgive others, the Lord will not forgive us and will not hear our prayers.  This often stops the promises of God.

c.      In 1 Pet 3:7, it states that if we mistreat our spouse our prayers will be hindered and not answered. 

d.      James 4:2, says that we have not because we are asking or selfish reason or wrong motives and God is too good to allow this to happen. 

e.      Not abiding in Christ.  John 15:7, Jesus said, “If we abide in Him and us in Him we can ask what we will and it will be given unto us.

f.       Unbelief.  Simple if you do not believe you will not receive.  Abraham believe God and it was credited him as righteousness.

 

3.      We are the children of Abraham through Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ has secured us all the benefits and resources of heaven.  I want to give your some thoughts on how in prayer to secure what Paul was talking in here in this verse and also in Phil 4:19, to call those things into being which are not.

 

a.      Prayer is the avenue in which we create a natural reality from the supernatural.  In prayer God lays something on our heart and it becomes a burden of prayer.  Let me give you two examples from my life.  One was actually a desire that became a reality.  My 1984 Buick Limited.  My current position at Am 930 the light.  I love this phrase. pray on it, pray over it, pray through it.  God uses the authority we have in prayer.  Jesus said in Matt 18:18, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

b.      In prayer we are claiming the promises of God.  We have not violated the principles of prayer, we are abiding in Christ and we are walking in faith and we are speaking God’s promises to Him. 

c.      In prayer you are taking what God has promised and releasing it into your world by prayer.  Your faith and trust in his character of truth, His unfathomable love and his immutable essence secures the benefits and resources into your world.  Abraham had been told a child was coming.  He believed God.  He pray on it, over it and through it until it happened.  We must do the same. 

d.      By faith you see the promise of God in the bible, you release it by faith from the supernatural realm into the physical realm because God told you it was yours.  You secure it through prayer and faith.   

e.      I believe it is time as the people of God we call those things which are not into prayer.  We have the power, authority enablement and ability in the name of Jesus Christ.  We can agree with others in prayer because Jesus said where two or three gather in my name I am in the midst and where two or three agree on anything in shall be done for them.  Matt 18:19

f.       What is it you need today go get it today in prayer and we will agree with you.  I will close with a great example was Elijah on the Mount Carmel

 

QUOTES FOR SEPT 1, 2026

 

POWER TO CHANGE

 Power to Change

Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”                                                 Slide One

 

Change means:  to make different in some particular : ALTER: to make radically different : TRANSFORM 

 

In the case of a Christian you have been transformed.  Your change is from the inside out.  Slide 2

 

Here are five reasons people don’t like to change.

 

1.      People fear being different--especially when there's no precedent.  We're creatures of habit. For the most part, we love routine and procedure.

       2.    People feel overwhelmed or stressed, people may resist change simply because they're tired.

       3.    People fear a departure from the status quo, 62% of people don’t want to change, don’t feel

              they need to change or fear change. 

       4.   People know change brings a new set of possibilities and problems.  Many people prefer for

              things to stay the way they are.  How many have you heard the old saying if it aim broke, don’t

              fix it.

        5.  People don’t trust the one encouraging the change.                                        Slide 3

 

Here are seven reasons why embracing change can be a very good   

 

Change helps you grow. ...

Change teaches you to be flexible. ...

Change can challenge your values and beliefs. ...

Change reveals your strengths. ...

Change makes you more compassionate. ...

Change breaks up routines. ...

Change offers opportunities.                                                                                                  Slide 4

 

Here are some Biblical characters where change was for the best.

 

Abram left Ur to Haran than to Canaan.  He later became Abraham the Father of the faithful.  He was the Father of the Israelites through Isaac.  Through him all nations have been blessed. 

 

Jacob when he left and found Leah, Rachel, he had 12 boys who became the 12 tribes of Israel.  Had his name change to Israel which means Prince with God.

 

Joseph, was a Prince of Israel, sold into slavery by his brothers, end up as a slave and then in prison for 13 years.  In one day went from prisoner to Prime Minister and saved the then known world from Calamity.

 

Daniel was taken in captivity by the Babylonians.  He became a high ranking official in the Babylonian and Medo-Persian empire.  Influenced a number of rulers.

 

Esther was taken from her home to the harem of the King, won his heart and eventually saved her people from the sinister minister Haman.  ``                                                                Slide 5

 

Change is an opportunity to renew, retool, and re-imagine what’s possible.  Change is the ultimate opportunity for transformation.  It’s a chance to do a reset.  It’s a chance for a fresh start.  It’s a chance to let things go.  It’s a chance to create a vision for the future.  It’s also a chance to reinvent yourself, which many times means bringing out more of who you are.                                              Slide 6

 

One man wrote:  Change is good.   But only if you embrace it.   Change is a chance to stop doing what’s not working, start doing things that would work better, and keep doing the things that work well

 

Change is good.   But only if you embrace it.   Change is a chance to stop doing what’s not working, start doing things that would work better, and keep doing the things that work well

 

     As a Christian we embrace change.  The Bible says the mercy of God are new every morning.  Great is his faithfulness.  Peter states in 1 Pet 3:18, that we are to growth in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

 

     God demands and makes changes.  He loves us to much to leave us as we are.  God change and  process us.  God is always at work in us.   His ultimate goal is to make us like Jesus.  Our job is to work with Him and let Him change us.    The agents of change are as follows, the word, prayer, circumstances, other people and life in general. 

 

LETTERS TO DAVID

 

Dear David.

     It has been a while since I wrote an article on prayer because I have been renovating my condio and house.  I wish to Now it is time to get back into talking about the most important ministry of all.  The reason it is the most important ministry is because Jesus is doing it right now.  James writes that we have not because we ask not.  In James 4:2, James reminds us that the reason we do not have from God is because we do not spend time with Him.  The comedy network has as it slogan, time well wasted.  Prayer is time well wasted.  When you come to God in prayer it is more than releasing your bucket list to God.  It is a time of intimacy and love.  You are spending time with the creator of the universe.  You are communing with the one who can meet everyone of your needs. 

     I am always amazed how people refuse to pray.  They have a thousand excuses of why they cannot pray.  The reality is you cannot afford to not pray.  Prayer is the one avenue in which you can and will receive everything you need in life.  Prayer is greater than anything else because God himself is standing behind every prayer.  You have not because you ask not.  We need to ask and then by faith be ready to receive.  God is waiting to spend time with us.  He wants to minister to every need, want and desire.  He has a great plan and purpose for our lives.  So often we live for far below our potential is is almost sickening. 

     It is time we reach out in prayer.  Let us today take time and commune with God.  Let us make sure that everyday we set time aside to pray.  It is greater than any yoga exercise, work out plan or actvity.  Prayer is life itself.  It is life everlasting.  It is abundant life.  It brings joy, peace, patience and victory.  Let us pray and let us receive when we ask.

Dear David

     I want to spend some time talking to you about the most powerful Old Testament people.  This of course is Noah.  Noah was the Great Grandson of Enoch and Methuselah.  Noah lived during a time that was so sorrupt that the Lord determined to destroy the entire world.  We are almost in that time ourselves.  We live in a time where right has become wrong and wrong has become right.  Noah was the only righteous man of that generation.  The amazing thing about Noah was his ability to hear God.  This was because he was a man of prayer.  Prayer gives you the ability and opportunity to hear and know God.

     Noah heard the word of the Lord and was obedient to that word for 100 years.  I wonder how many of us hear the word of the Lord and then obey it.  In Noah's case he became the laughing stock of his generation.  Tha ark has often been called Noah's folly.  One thing prayer does is helps us to be true to the task.  When circumstances scream you are in over your head.  Prayer says stay in there you are walking in God's agenda and not your own.  Prayer keeps us focused and on track.  Prayer keep you in the right direction and keeps you from going the wrong way.

     True people of prayer hear from God and then walk in obedience to the word of the Lord they have heard.  Noah would take this message to a world that did not want to hear it.  The reality was that he was right and every one else was wrong and in time all lost their lives.  Prayer is life and death.  You fight for the lives of others and in turn can keep them from death.  Today we must take prayer for what it is, life and death.  You are in a war with the devil and he takes no prisoners, his agenda is rob, kill and destroy.  He does not care about you.  He shows no mercy, gives no reprieve and attacks all the times.  He will never give up until he destroys you and everything you stand for.  So today be like Noan in your generation.  Stand in prayer and do everything you can to save and heal you world through prayer, 

David

    You know what I love about Noah and his prayer life.  It was so one on one.  God could tell Noah to do anything and without question he would do it.  Each step of Noah's journey of life was mark by prayer and his response to God.  When God told him to build a boat on dry land, he did.  It took him one hundred years to do the task but in the end it was his obedience that got the job done. 

     Noah was a preacher of righteousness.  You cannot be a preacher of righteousness without being a prayer of righteousness.  Righteousness is right standing with God and man.  It is the ability to hear from God and then do his right thing.  You cannot even try to be righteous without God.  You need to hear, know and be what God wants you to be.  That only comes from spending time with Him which Noah did.  Noah's testimony in his world was that he was a righteous man.  Oh, how we need people like him today.  Right thinking, words, attitudes, motives and action.  Hear from God and then doing it.  Obedience is the greatest testimony a person can have.  Noah was an example of all of these. 

     We need more Noah's today.  It is becoming like the days of Noah in Canada but this is not the end of the story.  There is a Noah ready to emerge.  This person will come forward when as they spend time with the Lord.  John Wesley emerged when England was in its darkest hour.  John Knox come forward during the dark days of  Bloody Mary.  William Wilberforce came when slavery was destroying the British empire.  God has his person.  My question is are we williong to pay the price?  Noah stayed the course for 100 years.  Will we stay the course for how ever long it takes?  Through prayer we will.

 

David

 

     A moment is prayer can change everything.  In that moment you invite the Lord into the situation.  Paul tells us to bring everything to God in prayer.  We do not have to carry one burden ourselves.  I am always amazed how like too many others will worry, fuss and carry burdens and then when everything is too much then I cry out to God.  The real secret of abundant living is turning everything over to God as soon as the need arises.  Immediately prayer can change a situation around quickly.  It can shorten a lesson or circumstance.  Also if the problem persists you will receive strength and wisdom to work and walk through it. 

     I am sometimes so slow in reaching out to God.  I suppose that there is an independent streak in all of us.  That part of us that says, “Its ok God I got this.  The problem is we don’t got it.  The world, the flesh and devil are better at what they do then we often are.  They live the spiritual realm and we do not.  They attacked at our point of weakness and often we do not even know the weakness exists until it too late.  That is why we are encouraged to be anxious for nothing but with prayer and supplication to make our request be known to God. 

     The Christian life is moment by moment, event by event.  So today do not live as if you have all the time in the world and that you can handle everything.  Bring everything to the Lord no matter how large or small.  Ask for divine intervention and the promise is that you will receive it.