The Power of Prayer

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

The last two days was rest days from writing. They were day of reflection and meditation in our Ten Days of Prayer. Some of you have asked the question over these last few days. Why should we pray and what is its power in my life? The late Charles Spurgeon once said, "Prayer is the best response to hatred. It is well said that neglected prayer is the birth-place of all evil. Prayer is an art which only the Spirit can teach us. He is the giver of all prayer. No man can progress in grace if he forsakes prayer. He who knows how to overcome with God in prayer has heaven and earth at his disposal."

Others have said, “Prayer is as vital to the spiritual life as breathing is to the physical. We must “pray without ceasing,” just as we must breathe without ceasing. In either case death is the certain result of willful negligence or stubborn disobedience to the laws that govern our spiritual and physical beings. The penalty is not an arbitrary sentence, but rather the operation of natural law with its self-imposed judgment and punishment.” The person, who refuses to breathe, brings upon himself the sentence of physical death. Likewise the person, who neglects or refuses to pray, cuts off the source of spiritual life and the means of maintaining it.

Jesus taught, "…I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17:20). 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they are divine to demolish the devil and his strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." The Bible urges us, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:18

The power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power resides in the God who is being prayed to. 1 John 5:14-15 tells us, "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him."

In today’s civilization, the evangelization of the world is a super human task. But it requires divine power and practical ways to capture the attention of the world like Jesus did. Jesus loved all, and we must do the same. John 5:6. In other words, when the church starts to meet the needs of the community, then the church will begin to attract people. When Jesus gave the gospel commission, He made it clear that if the disciples would preach the message, He would furnish the power, which will be unlimited.

The Father had placed all the power of heaven and earth in Jesus hands, that He might dispense it to the disciples for their world embracing task. The keeping and witnessing power required for their work was to be obtained from Christ for the asking. This omnipotent power would be sent through the agency of the Holy Spirit. The asking began in the upper room, and the power was given on the day of Pentecost. The power came “as of a rushing mighty wind.” Acts 2:1-21

On a later occasion, “when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together.” Acts 4:31. The prayers of Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail brought “a great earthquake” that opened the prison doors. Wind and earthquake are two of the greatest powers of nature. Prayer has cyclone and shaking power. It moves and changes things touched by its influence. Prayer is one of the chiefest of those spiritual weapons that “are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5

The prayers of the apostles not only shook the place where they prayed and the prison where they were confined but also shook kingdoms. Pagan bulwarks and evil strongholds fell before their prevailing prayers. No barrier could stand before the triumphant march of the soldiers of the cross as they “went forth conquering, and to conquer.” “The gates of hell” could not prevail against them. Most of the wonderful answers to prayer recorded in the Scriptures came as the result of the supplications of one godly man or woman. Some of these prayers changed the course of human history. Israel was many times saved by the prayers of a single man of God.

Joseph prayed, and God delivered him from the Egyptian dungeon, made him governor of the empire, and thus saved both Egypt and Israel during the time of famine. The prayers of Moses delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage and made of them a great nation. His prayers delivered them from destruction by the warlike Amalekites and again later from the wrath of an offended God at Mount Sinai. The prayers of Elijah defeated the purpose of Jezebel and saved Israel from a terrible apostasy and possible extinction. The prayers of Asa brought defeat to an Ethiopian army of one million men with three hundred chariots, the ancient tanks.

The earnest petitions of King Jehoshaphat brought victory to the small army of Israel when it was attacked by overwhelming allied forces. The prayers of Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and others delivered Israel from Babylonian captivity and restored the nation in the homeland. It was the power of prayer that wielded the sword of the Spirit in the great Protestant Reformation and thus changed the history of the world.

The prayer of faith is the great strength of the Christian warrior. Nothing else so enrages Satan or so surely prevails against him. He hates the name of Christ and is always alarmed when we call on Him for help against his devices. Earnest, fervent prayer causes Satan’s whole host to tremble and retreat. Though we belong to a defeated race, Satan our conqueror is a defeated foe. He has been defeated by Christ on every battlefield, and the victories of Emmanuel are promised to those who seek in faith. Every child of God should learn to say with Paul, “Thanks be to God which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57

This triumph by faith is promised to the Christian “always” and “in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14. “Satan dreads nothing more than to see a praying child of God. The church that void of God, is the people who are full of good works, and no prayer. Their social activities are multiplied that meditation may be ousted. Their organizations and business meetings are increased that prayer may have no chance. This leads to souls being lost in good works as surely as in evil ways. The one concern of the devil is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.”-S. CHADWICK.

Prayer is the very soul of the Christian religion. Without it, profession becomes a hollow and lifeless form and religious experience a valley of dry bones. Ezekiel 37:1-14. It is prayer that gives religion its vitality, and spirituality its radiant glow. There are many religious practices, but only praying to God in Jesus name gives answers from God to the soul. It takes the worshiper into the holy of holies of devotion, the inner sanctuary of spiritual experience. It is the secret of the beauty of holiness. R.A. Torrey said in 1924 that there is freedom, peace, and security available through communication with God through prayer. Why not come before Him in prayer today.

Song of the Day: Power of Prayer

Thank you for your prayers for this ministry, and may the blessings of the Lord rest on you, and your family always. If you have a comment, write to tuccigardenministry.gmpost.blogger.com    

Blessings, Blessing, Blessings

Garden Ministry Devotionals are written by Chaplain Kevin Santucci

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