Pray First: The Power of Prayer

James 5:16-18 (NLT) The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. 

James 5:17 (NLT) Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly…

“To the question, ‘Where is the Lord God of Elijah?’ we answer, ‘Where He has always been—on the throne!’  But where are the Elijahs of God?  We know Elijah was ‘a man of like passions as we are,’ but alas!  We are not men of like prayer as he was!  One praying man stands as a majority with God!  Today God is bypassing men—not because they are too ignorant, but because they are too self-sufficient.  Brethren, our abilities are our handicaps, and our talents our stumbling blocks!”  —Leonard Ravenhill

Matthew 21:12-13 (ESV) And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer…

Acts 1:13-14 (NIV) When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying.  Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Phillip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. 

Acts 2:1-4 (NIV) When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 

Acts 4:23-24 (NIV) On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.

Acts 4:31 (NIV) After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 

Acts 12:4-7 (NIV) After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded… Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains… 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell.  He struck Peter on the side and woke him up.  “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off…

The church took responsibility for their personal prayer time AND for corporate prayer.

“God does everything by prayer and nothing without it.”  —John Wesley

“Six Different Types of Prayer”

Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) 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 Lord’s people. 

1.  General — focuses on our communion with God. 

2.  Supplication — aimed at a specific need.

3.  Thanksgiving — heart-felt expressions of gratitude towards God. 

4.  Intercessory — stand in the gap and fight on the behalf of another.

5.  Warfare — stand against the attack of the enemy, as well as get on the offense.

“Whoever is first in the field and awaits the coming of the enemy, will be fresh for the fight; 

 whoever is second in the field and has to hasten to battle will arrive exhausted.”  —Sun Tzu 

6.  Declaration — declare and pray out loud the Word of God by faith. 

“Four Essential Keys to Corporate Prayer.” 

1.  Unified Prayer

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 

Matthew 18:18-20 (NLT) I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. 19 I also tell you this:  If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask [within the will of God], my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.

2.  Scriptural Prayer

1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV) For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God…  

3.  Bold Prayer

Acts 4:29-31 (NIV) Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and to perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 

“God honors bold prayers because bold prayers honor God.”  —Mark Batterson

4.  Consistent Prayer