THE POWER OF PRAYER

Acts 1:14

Morning Meditation 12/25/2013

"These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."

Prayer was a vital part of the ministry of the early Church. Jesus did teach His disciples to pray and taught them that prayer was powerful. Let's notice,

THE CONDITIONS OF POWER IN PRAYER

1. The will of God is a condition to power in prayer. Prayer is not a means of promoting our selfish causes. It is of primary importance to carrying out the task the Lord has given us. 1 John 5:14-15, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." God is actively engaged in the lives and ministries that are being carried out by His praying people.

2. The name of JESUS.. John 14:13-14, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." This is a great revelation. It is amazing that those of us who believe in Him are so negligent in making use of this promise in prayer. God works through His people and will continue to do so during this church age. We have the great commission and only by His power can we accomplish the task given us.

3. The ministry of the Holy Spirit. When we do not know how to pray as we ought, the Holy Spirit Himself makes intercession for us (Rom. 8:26).

4.. The faith that emerges from the depths of our hearts is a condition of power in prayer. James 1:5-6, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

Mark 11:24, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

There is great joy in answered prayer. This is brought out in John 16:24, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." It gives hearts great assurance when we see God answering prayer. We may not be able to see Him but we can certainly see what He does in answer to prayer.

HINDRANCES TO EFFECTUAL PRAYER

Here are some of the hindrances that are common:

1. Selfishness. James 4:3, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." Man wants the flesh gratified. James deals with this. It is asking amiss to be consumed on one's lusts that God will not answer prayer. James says, "Ye ask and receive not. . ."

2. Secret sin. Psalms 66:18, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:" 2 Chronicles 16:9, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars." When one imagines that secret sin is not known of God, he insults the truth of His omniscience. Remember, if no one else knows, God knows. And this will always be in the equation when one goes to God in prayer.

3. Unbelief is a hindrance. Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." God answers to faith and we receive by faith. Great good is gained by the believer who develops faith and exercises it.

4. Formality is a hindrance to the power of prayer. Someone has said, "We may end our prayers with, "For Christ's sake, Amen," when there has been nothing for Christ's sake in the prayer."

5. An unforgiving spirit is a hindrance to the power of prayer. Mark 11:25, "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." There is no use praying if one is harboring a grudge against anyone. Colossians 3:13, "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

6. Impatience or fainting is a hindrance to answered prayer. This is brought out in Luke 18:1-8, "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? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"

In Christ

Bro. White