TOPIC: THE REVELATION OF PRAYER
Ø Prayer is not take a chance.
Ø Revelation gives you power of communication and faith.
Ø Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek him. (Heb 11:6)
Ø Ye worship ye know not what. Do you have a revelation of who you worship or do you worship what you don’t know? (John 4:22)
Ø All these are important in the revelation of prayer.
Ø The scenario between Elijah and the Baal worshipers defined it all. Elijah mocked them and said to them call on your God. It is possible he is on transfer – 1 Kings 18:27-29 (MSG)27 By noon, Elijah had started making fun of them, taunting, “Call a little louder — he is a god, after all. Maybe he’s off meditating somewhere or other, or maybe he’s gotten involved in a project, or maybe he’s on vacation. You don’t suppose he’s overslept, do you, and needs to be waked up?” 28 They prayed louder and louder, cutting themselves with swords and knives — a ritual common to them — until they were covered with blood. 29 This went on until well past noon. They used every religious trick and strategy they knew to make something happen on the altar, but nothing happened — not so much as a whisper, not a flicker of response.
Ø There must be a knowing before the exploits – Dan 11:32 (KJV) “…but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
Ø Jesus prayed earnestly in a time of agony and He overcame.
Ø Luke 22:39-46(NLT)39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40 There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” 41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. 45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”
Ø He encourages us to rise and pray. Don’t give up, don’t give in! – Luke 18:1-8 (TLB) One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes. 2 “There was a city judge,” he said, “a very godless man who had great contempt for everyone. 3 A widow of that city came to him frequently to appeal for justice against a man who had harmed her. 4-5 The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she got on his nerves.”‘I fear neither God nor man,’ he said to himself, ‘but this woman bothers me. I’m going to see that she gets justice, for she is wearing me out with her constant coming!'” 6 Then the Lord said, “If even an evil judge can be worn down like that, 7 don’t you think that God will surely give justice to his people who plead with him day and night? 8 Yes! He will answer them quickly! But the question is: When I, the Messiah, return, how many will I find who have faith [and are praying]?”
Ø When you are in a state of confusion, pray earnestly, declare your position.
Ø Pray effectively, then you will see God doing the impossible.
Ø Jonah 2:1-10 (TLB)Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish: 2 “In my great trouble I cried to the Lord and he answered me; from the depths of death I called, and Lord, you heard me! 3 You threw me into the ocean depths; I sank down into the floods of waters and was covered by your wild and stormy waves. 4 Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have rejected me and cast me away. How shall I ever again see your holy Temple?’ 5 “I sank beneath the waves, and death was very near. The waters closed above me; the seaweed wrapped itself around my head. 6 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains that rise from off the ocean floor. I was locked out of life and imprisoned in the land of death. But, O Lord my God, you have snatched me from the yawning jaws of death! 7 “When I had lost all hope, I turned my thoughts once more to the Lord. And my earnest prayer went to you in your holy Temple. 8 (Those who worship false gods have turned their backs on all the mercies waiting for them from the Lord!) 9 “I will never worship anyone but you! For how can I thank you enough for all you have done? I will surely fulfill my promises. For my deliverance comes from the Lord alone.” 10 And the Lord ordered the fish to spit up Jonah on the beach, and it did.
Ø There is no other method or instrument God has given to us except the instrument of prayer .
Ø 1 Sam 1:26-28(NLT)26 “Sir, do you remember me?” Hannah asked. “I am the woman who stood here several years ago praying to the Lord. 27 I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and he has granted my request. 28 Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life.” And they worshiped the Lord there.
Ø ‘Give yourself to pray’ , that was the statement of the Apostles in Acts 6:2-4 (kJV)Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Ø Develop the energy, strength and spirit of prayers and witness the wonder that follows .
Ø 1 Chron 4:10(KJV)10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
Ø You are not just throwing out words, God answers prayer.
Ø Ps 34:6(kJV)6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Ø Ps 3:4 (KJV) I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.
Ø God is willing to grant us our petitions. We are not wasting our time. Matt 8:1-4 (NLT)Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. 2 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.
Ø Prayer is the life -changing -weapon – Ps 40:1(TLB) I waited patiently for God to help me; then he listened and heard my cry.
Ø Ps 37:7(TLB)7 Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for him to act. Don’t be envious of evil men who prosper.
Ø Be resilient and courageous – Ps 27:14 (KJV) Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.
Ø The only way to be strong in the Lord is to remain in prayer -.
Ø Rom 4:17-25(KJV)17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Ø 1 Cor 16:13(MSG)13 Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute.
Ø We must have what we are praying for – Gen 32:26-28(NLT)26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”27 “What is your name?” the man asked.He replied, “Jacob.”28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”
Ø This time around , it is not fasting as usual, our whole heart is in it . Prov 3:5-6(KJV)5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths
Ø Do you know that God answers prayer?
Ø Do you know that the prayer you are praying is working?
Ø Can’t you see it in the atmosphere of this country Nigeria?
