[Blogger's note: at the beginning of August 2021, we resumed meeting at church on Wednesdays. As such, I've been taking notes for those sermons as well. I intend to post these as well; however, these postings may not be sequential or occur at regular intervals, but they will be here as well.]
Church 8/11/2021
Sermon message: The power of prayer
Prayer is important. Don’t cease praying. Don’t get weary.
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luke 18:1-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%2018:1-7&version=KJV
Point #1: Prayer can change leaders.
God wants us to pray for our leaders.
When in a difficult situation, pray for them. Pray for God to change them or to change them.
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Timothy%202:1-2&version=NKJV
Pastor had a story about working sales for a short while. Gave me encouragement about my job and the challenges of training. Pray for my colleagues and boss.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Timothy%202:3-4&version=NKJV
Bottom line, God wants to change people’s hearts, if they will let Him. That’s His first choice.
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying— a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
1 Timothy 2:5-7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Timothy%202:5-7&version=NKJV
Point #2: Prayer can change nations.
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.
2 Chronicles 7:14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Chronicles%207:14&version=NKJV
John Adams: “Our constitution was written for moral people.”
Point #3: Prayer can change churches.
Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”
Acts 4:1-17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Acts%204:1-17&version=NKJV
Even today, the world is trying to quiet our mouths about Jesus. Just like back in the days of Acts.
So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
Acts 4:18-22 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Acts%204:18-22&version=NKJV
This next verse is critical:
And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
Acts 4:23 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Acts%204:23&version=NKJV
“Can you believe they told us not to talk about Jesus? Of course we’re not going to do that! We’re going to keep talking about Jesus!”
So they prayed:
So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
Acts 4:24-30 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Acts%204:24-30&version=NKJV
They prayed. And they agreed in prayer. They prayed their faith in God. They brought their circumstance to Him. They prayed for boldness.
Point #4: Prayer can change your level of faith
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
Jude 1:20 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Jude%201:20&version=NKJV
As you pray, especially the word of God, it build up your faith.
Praying in tongues, or English, or another language, is an act of faith.
We can pray the word, or in the Holy Spirit, or in our understanding.
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