“Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20 – King James Version) My genuine hope and primary purpose for the Ephesians 3:20 Faith Encouragement and Empowerment Blog is to assist all people of faith, regardless of your prism of experience, to grow spiritually toward unconditional self-acceptance and develop personally acquiring progressive integrity of belief and lifestyle. I pray you will discover your unique purpose in life. I further pray love, joy, peace, happiness and unreserved self-acceptance will be your constant companions. Practically speaking, this blog will help you see the proverbial glass in life as always half full rather than half empty. I desire you become an eternal optimist who truly believes that Almighty God can do anything that you ask or imagine.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

The Power of Prayer - Part One


The Power of Prayer – Part One


Unfortunately, many persons in the Church seemingly underestimate the power of prayer.  Our rational, scientific and technologically advancing age discourages prayer’s worth and necessity.  Pejoratively, some equate prayer with religious superstition.  Others do so out of tradition and ritualism.  They don not approach this ever-important spiritual discipline with genuine faith; thus, they fail to access the power of prayer.

The book of Acts depicts prayer as the foundation of great miracles, monumental preaching and tremendous evangelistic campaigns in the early Church.  Consider how diligently the saints in the New Testament Church pray.  Essentially, prayer is the source of their power.  In Acts 12, Peter is on death row awaiting execution just after the religious holidays.  The Church gathers and prays for his release.  An angel of the Lord frees Peter in the middle of the night.  The apostle Paul and his missionary companion are praying and singing hymns at midnight when an earthquake occurs in Acts 16.  There are many other examples throughout the book in which prayers are the foundation of the apostles’ accomplishments in the name of the Lord.

In the gospels, the Lord Jesus faithfully devotes Himself to prayer.  He rises early in the morning and retreats to a quiet place to pray (Mark 1:36).  Before He raises Lazarus from the dead, the Lord Jesus pauses and prays.  He thanks God the Father for always hearing Him.  He asks that the forthcoming miracle will aid the observers in believing God the Father sent God the Son (John 11:41-42).  On the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus goes to His favorite prayer spot, the Garden of Gethsemane, where He prays for the final time to receive divine strength to meet the challenge of Calvary (Matthew 26:36-46).  In fact, He is arrested shortly after praying for fulfillment of the will of Almighty God.  Consequently, if the Lord, Himself, has to pray, how much more do current disciples have to do so?

The Bible is replete with wonderful prayers.  I highly recommend a study of prayers in the Bible.  In Genesis 18:16-33, Abraham intercedes for Sodom.  He appeals to the righteousness of Almighty God to spare the “righteous” within the twin cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.  In Daniel 9, the prophet implores the Name of God to graciously yield God’s mercy to Israel.  Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:9-18 fervently prays for a son.  After Samuel, the first prophet in Israel, is born to her, Hannah returns to the Temple and offers a prayer of thanksgiving in 1 Samuel 2:1-11.  The prophet, Elisha, prays that God opens the eyes of his attendant and remove his fear of destruction (2 Kings 6:8-23).  To a great extent, the entire book of Psalms is an immortal collection of prayers.  Evidently, David taught Solomon the importance of prayer.  As Solomon ascends the throne of Israel, he prays for wisdom to lead the people of God correctly.  Then, Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the Temple remains one of the most outstanding prayers ever offered to Almighty God (1 Kings 8:22-53).  In John 17, the Lord Jesus offers the “High Priestly Prayer” in which He prays for the Church of today. 

Furthermore, prayer is a major motif in many memorable biblical accounts.  Samson asks the Lord for one last bit of strength to defeat the enemies of Israel.  Hagar appeals to the Lord in the midst of the wilderness for her son’s survival.  Mary, the mother of our Lord, treasures the blessings of the Lord in her heart and prays the “Magnificant” jubilantly.  Paul and Silas’ midnight prayers and hymn singing become the catalyst for the salvation and baptism of the household of the Philippian jailer.  Cornelius’ daily discipline of prayer causes the Lord to send the apostle Peter to Cornelius.  Thus, the Gentiles receive the gospel and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  In essence, prayer undergirds divine actions.

Prayer is not magic!  It is the act of lifting one’s heart’s desire to the light of Almighty God’s face.  It is done with the “full assurance of faith and a sincere heart;” according to Hebrews 11:6, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.  Anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.”  Moreover, prayer is a period of personal empowerment.  As we ask God to resolve our daily challenges, He gives us wisdom, knowledge, courage and persistence to overcome all adversities.  He directs us to the appropriate persons whose hearts are favorable toward us.  These people are God’s vessels of love and encouragement as we triumph within our circumstances. 

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