POWER PRAYER (PART 2)

I am celebrating Easter in Brisbane, Australia. Easter is a wonderful time to remember what Jesus has done for us at the cross. I will be in the Gold Coast, Australia for Easter with my friends from Australia and New Zealand. Below are recent photos of my time in Asia. I hope you will be inspired by a message I wrote called "Power Prayer".

POWER PRAYER

I believe no one wants a powerless prayer! We don’t want our prayers to fall to the ground or vanish into thin air. We want our prayers to make an impact in our lives, family, community and the nations. God is looking for people who can partner with Him to change heaven and earth through prayer. Read James 5:16-18 & 1 King 18:41-45

James 5:16-18 (New International Version)

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

1 Kings 18:41-45 (New International Version)

And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain." 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. "Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "Go back." The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea." So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.' " Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.

I like to share some three principles for Power Prayers

Power prayer involves having a righteous heart

Our prayers become powerful and effective when we maintain a consistent relationship with God. We need to walk closely with God through prayer, bible reading and worship so we can know what the things that please and displease God are. Our sins, wrong attitudes or incorrect motives can block us from receiving the blessings of God. We need to confess our sins to God so the channel of communication with God can flow freely.

God is a holy and sin will separate us from God. The prayer of a righteous person will prevail.

Power prayer involves having faith

Elijah was an ordinary man like us but he had exceptional trust in God’s love and power. He had an intimate relationship with God. Elijah believed in the words of God that famine and rain will come at the appointed time. When it was God’s time to send the rain, Elijah believed and prayed for a miracle. Sometimes, it is difficult to believe in God’s blessings when you experience a drought for a long time. Our past or present experiences can cause us to doubt God’s ability to provide or bless us.

Elijah believed God could do all things and we need to have the same attitude of faith in God as well.

Power prayers involves having persistence

Don’t give up! How often have we wanted to give up praying when we didn’t receive an instant answer from God? Elijah had to pray seven times for the rain to come. Imagine what would have happened if Elijah gave up praying on the sixth attempt? The land would have continued to be drought-stricken and the people will have continued to suffer. Rather, Elijah kept praying on his knees until God answered his prayer. He trusted for God’s timing to answer his prayer.

God is looking for people who will continue and persist in prayer for miracles, breakthroughs and blessings.