Why Prayer Matters
When God's People Pray • Sermon • Submitted
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Watch DVD Intro
Question to Think About
Why is it so important - for us as well as for those for whom we pray - that we continue to intercede for people even when we don’t feel like it or when their situations seem to get worse the more we pray?
God continues to want to hear from us. Even when we think he may not be listening, He is. Even when we get discourage, the Spirit is waiting on us to call on Him to give us strength and to help us know what to pray. This is an opportunity for us to grow in our prayer life.
DVD Teaching Segment #1
Think of these things while we are listening to this segment.
Intercessory prayer: a Christlike ministry
The heritage of intercessory prayer in the Scriptures
The power of intercessory prayer
Goes Straight into Prayer Story
Group Exploration #1
Discussion
To what extent have you considered intercessory prayer to be a vital ministry of the church?
I have always felt prayer was a huge part of anything we’ve ever done at the church. I’ve seen things that we have tried to accomplish that really had no way of getting done, but it happened. God blessed. We need to have more of it. I really think there are times we would be a different church if we prayed more.
In what ways has what you have seen today expended and inspired your view of the ministry of prayer?
It has only convinced me more that we need to have more prayer within the church. We are great about praying for others, but I think we could have so much more power if we prayed, actively prayed, for each ministry in our church. If we prayed for the rooms where these ministries take place. There is so much more God could accomplish through us if we would only be more obedient in our prayer life and what he could do through us as we surrender more to him.
As you consider what Jim’s teaching and Vanessa’s story, why do you think intercessory prayer is so powerful and pleasing to God?
I think when we spend that time in prayer, and we are so passionate about what we are praying about, we forget about ourselves, and rely on the power of God to help us to accomplish what he wants to do. We put aside our own thoughts and wants, and we are more concerned about others and what and how God can use us and other people to accomplish his will in others’ lives, as well as our own.
When believers commit to pray earnestly for other people, what can be the impact not only on those who are the recipients of their prayers but on those who pray, on the church, on other in the community?
Once again, it strengthens those who are praying for God to move. It also will get out about what is happening at the church, and the results of big prayers are big answers from God that can only be explained by saying, “It was God.” We need to pray bigger, believing that God is going to accomplish great things.
Bible Discovery
The early Christians not only believed in the power of (and need for) intercessory prayer - they thrived on it. And when they prayed, God responded in amazing ways. Read the following passages and take note of the many needs for which early Christians prayed.
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
Praying for the people of Samaria to receive the Holy Spirit.
that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,
Praying that Paul would be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea.
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
Praying for God’s power to be given to his people. To also give them wisdom and knowledge.
Ephesians 3:
that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Once again to give them power, but also that they would be grounded in love and understand the depth of Christ’s love.
Eph
and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Praying for God to give him to words to preach to people so they could understand the love of God, and that He would share it boldly.
To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,
That God would fulfill His plan in these people.
and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
That while he was sharing his faith, that it would help people come to the knowledge of Christ.
How important do you think intercession for these needs was in the life of the early church? How important is intercession for these (and similar) needs today?
It was important then and still is today. I think we think we are so smart, and we are so far advanced, that we don’t need to depend on God the way the early church did. I think we think things have changed so much from the days of the early church, that things don’t apply the same way. Sin is sin, and Satan is still using the same things to attack our weaknesses. Maybe we need to be in intercessory prayer even more today than they were back then due to all that is available to us.
What has been your experience in praying for needs such as these?
I have seen God work in amazing ways. I’ve seen God heal people. I’ve seen people come to the Lord (In some of these instances, it took YEARS of prayer, but God was faithful.).
What do you think God will accomplish in you church if you take seriously the need for intercession in these areas? In what ways do you think your church will change as people exercise the privilege and responsibility of intercessory prayer?
I once again keep thinking we are on the cusp of something great. I think with intercessory prayer, it could push us over the edge. I look for the day when the snowbirds come back from Florida or wherever they may travel, and they will be amazed at what God has done in the short time they’ve been gone. God is capable if we only ask, we call out to Him. O what a day that will be.
DVD Teaching Segment #2
Listen for these things as we go through this segment:
Never give up on prayer.
Overwhelmed by the battle but never without hope.
Nothing is impossible with God.
Group Exploration #2
Discussion
When we pray according to our moods, it’s easy to give up on prayer when God’s answers seem slow in coming. If we’re committed to persevering, intercessory prayer, on what do we need to base our prayers so we can remain strong during the battle?
Hope. God’s Word. His promises.
If you feel comfortable doing so, share things that have discouraged you in intercessory prayer.
What did you do to fight against Satan’s discouragement?
What restored your faith and confidence in approaching God in prayer?
Jim shared a story that gives us a glimpse of the hope he has because he serves a God who never changes, who will never back down from his promises. In what ways does the faithful, unchangeable nature of God’s character influence your hope and how you pray?
I really liked what he said about how the power of God never changes. He has the same strength today as he is going to have tomorrow. He has that strength when he is telling us to wait. He isn’t waiting for more strength to answer our prayer. He already has it. Pretty cool stuff.