Powerful Prayer Basic and Needed

Reading Time 4 min 41 sec - Speaking Time 9 min 1 sec

​What are the traditional Christian activities? Assemble, communion, fellowship, evangelism, and baptism, to name a few. Of all the Christian "things" we do, however, the thing we probably do most often is prayer. We pray when we eat, worship, when we're alone, when visiting sick people, during times of trouble and despair, or when we are pleased.
We probably rack up more time praying than any other spiritual "exercise" we do as Christians. For this reason, the prayer activity sometimes gets a little stale and boring. Like anything else, if you repeat it often enough, it begins to feel old and ineffective.
Never stop praying, and let's consider some reasons why we should persevere. You should persevere in prayer because:

​Prayer is Needed For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
In Ephesians 6:12, Paul tells us that the true struggle in this world is not between countries or economic systems (these only reflect the actual battle). Work is "..against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." The battle is against Satan and his evil forces continually trying to destroy the church and spread the word of God.
Some people have wisdom from below and can only see the small picture of human wars, politics, and power. God has given through His word the ability to see the bigger picture, which is that the battle in the spiritual realm creates the struggle in the physical realm. Some choose to fight with guns and diplomacy and financial wheeling and dealing - the local battles for territory, money, and temporary power. Others choose to fight the war on the first front, the spiritual front against the true enemies, and they fight this battle with the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and prayer.
Paul says that the "wages of sin are death" in Romans 6:23. Peter says that Satan continually prowls around to devour. In other words, he constantly tries to seduce people into sin to create death and its symptoms in their lives. Prayer is needed to counteract his attacks in many ways:

• We need to pray for workers to go out and preach the gospel so Satan will not destroy the ignorant (Matthew 9:38).
• We need to pray for those who suffer the direct and indirect results of sin in their lives:
• • Victims of war
  • Victims of disease/suffering
  • Victims of broken families
  • The list of damage due to sin goes on and on.
  • God tells us to pray for healing, support, and restoration from these things. James 5:15
• We pray that God opens our eyes to see the big picture.
• • Elisha prayed that his servant would see the host of heaven encircling their enemies so as not to be afraid (II Kings 6:17).
  • Paul prayed that the brethren could see the heavenly gifts awaiting those who were faithful to Christ (Ephesians 1:18).

We need to pray for vision, not just things. The Sight to see how we fit into God's picture and what position we will fill in the ongoing battle against those forces in the heavenly places. Every prayer, whether for our breakfast, to restore one from illness, to gain strength, or for vision, is always needed because it is relevant to life.
Continue to pray because it is needed, but also because:

​Prayer is the Basic Ministry of the Church.We know the ministry system in the church: Education, Evangelism, Fellowship, Service, and Worship. These activities allow individuals and the congregation growth. But each of these individual ministry groups needs prayer to be effective. We need to:

• Pray for teachers and their faithfulness
• Pray for our outreach efforts
• Pray that the brethren draw close together
• Pray that God provides the resources and the talents so that we can serve effectively
• Pray that our worship is in spirit and truth
• Pray that our leaders remain wise, faithful, healthy, and focused.

Prayer is essential because no matter your physical or economic limitations, you can make a difference in this church through an intense and persistent prayer life.
Never stop praying because:

​Prayer is PowerfulSometimes I hear people say things like, "We could always pray" or "Let's pray; it can't hurt." Statements like this reveal that we don't recognize the power of prayer. Prayer is not wishful thinking or desperation! Prayer is powerful for several reasons:

1. It is strong enough to defeat our most powerful enemy. Satan is a powerful spiritual being, much stronger than a human. Jesus tells us that prayer is our defense against him (I Peter 5:8; Luke 22:31-32).
2. Prayer is to God, who is all-powerful. The reason prayer is so powerful is because the object of it has all power. A million prayers to an idol are worthless. A zealous prayer with sacrifice without a clean heart is useless. But the smallest voice, the weakest hands lifted to God in Jesus' name, is heard and forever remembered by the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
3. Prayer is powerful because it works. Raise your hands, those of you who have had prayers answered in the past. Prayer works when nothing else does. Prayer works in its own time, way, and purpose - but it does work! Prayer works while we sleep; it works despite us in certain situations.

God can do so much more than we ever imagine - He's always surprising us - and prayer is our lifeline to that power.

​Summary
We have not covered every aspect of prayer, the types of prayers to be made, or examples of how we should pray. This June, we will give more information about renewed faith and prayer - why and how to do it effectively. For now, I remind you not to give up on praying as part of your Christian life and encourage those who do not pray regularly to begin making it part of their daily walk with the Lord because:

• Prayer is necessary for the church and your life. Probably the thing needed the most. We do not just think we should pray; we must take the time to do it.
• It is for everyone in the church. We all need it, and we can also all do it! We can all do it for ourselves, and we should begin doing it for others.
• The power of prayer sustains the church in its work and supports our faith.

Let us pray that humanity will get right with God. Pray that those putting off obeying the gospel will hesitate no more and follow God in repentance and baptism. Then God will hear their prayers for salvation and other matters. Pray constantly that brothers and sisters will have the courage to remove whatever sin or hardness of heart separates them from God or their brethren. Pray with me that the Lord will send us godly people who will want to join our church family.

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