Introduction

Today we look at the Power of Prayer in the life of the believer. Prayer may well be the most powerful weapon God has given to His people. Prayer is a mighty force, a prevailing power, a gateway to heaven. Through prayer we can experience God's Power, God's Presence and God's Peace. Prayer is not merely a religious ritual, it is a gift from our heavenly Father, an open channel of communication, a force by which we might bring heaven's blessings down to a broken world. Throughout the New Testament, prayer is emphasized as a vital prerequisite for experiencing God's power. As we delve into the topic, we will discuss the importance of prayer, the role of perseverance in prayer, and how prayer is a response to God's promises.

The Vitality of Prayer

Prayer is not reserved for those who have their heads in the clouds; it is for the pragmatic and those who want to invest their lives wisely. Philip Hughes aptly describes prayer as "a vital prerequisite for the release and experience of God's power". Samuel Chadwick goes further to say that: 

“The one concern of the devil is to keep the saints from prayer. Our enemy fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray. Prayer turns ordinary mortals into men of power. It brings fire. It brings rain. It brings life. It brings God. There is no power like that of prevailing prayer."

The Power of God's Promises

When we come to God in prayer, we can come with confidence, knowing that He is faithful to fulfill His promises. As Charles Finney, a revivalist, once said, 

"I come with Thy faithful promises in my hand, and I cannot be denied."

The Bible is filled with promises that assure us of God's provision, guidance, and blessings. Jesus Himself taught us in Matthew 7:7, "Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you." These promises give us the assurance that when we pray according to God's will, He will answer our prayers.

Persevering in Prayer

Andrew Murray highlights the importance of persevering in prayer. 

“Oh what a deep and heavenly mystery this of persevering prayer. The God who has promised, who longs, whose fixed purpose is to give the blessing, holds it back. He trains us, in the school of answer delayed, to find out how our perseverance really does prevail, and what the mighty power is we can weald in heaven if we but set ourselves to it.” (Andrew Murray)

Many of us throw up prayers to God, and then move on with our lives with no expectation that He will answer us according to our prayers. We must learn, as Elijah the prophet modeled for us and Jesus commanded us - to persevere in prayer. As D.A. Carson puts it, "We're like the naughty boy who rings the doorbell and runs away. We don't even stick around long enough to see if He answers."

When we persistently come to God with our prayers, we learn the power of perseverance and experience the mighty power that can be wielded in heaven. There will be days when we feel discouraged, but we must continue to come before God's throne with His promises in our hands, asking Him to move in our lives.

Aligning with God's Will

When we pray, it is essential to align our hearts and minds with God's will and purposes. Prayer is not about primarily about getting what we want from God, but about getting God Himself. The Lord's Prayer, as taught by Jesus, emphasizes the importance of revering God's name, desiring His kingdom to come, and submitting to His will. When we pray according to God's will, there is power in our prayers.

Prayer is not meant to be a passive waiting game. When God's promises are revealed in our lives, we are called to actively lay hold of them through prayer. In the book of Daniel, we see the example of Daniel setting himself to seek the Lord when he realized that the 70 years of exile were coming to an end. He didn't sit back and wait for God to fulfill His promises; instead, he gave himself to 21 days of prayer and fasting (cf Daniel chapter 10). Daniel's persistence in prayer led to the release of an angel who brought him a message from God.

Similarly, Elijah, in his pursuit of God's promise of rain, didn't just sit idly by. He went up the mountain, fell on his knees, and prayed seven times for rain. On the seventh time, his servant saw a cloud the size of a man's hand, and soon after, the rain came pouring down. These examples teach us that when we pray according to God's promises, we can expect to see His power and provision in our lives.

The Impact of Prayer

Prayer is not just a religious duty; it has the power to bring about transformation in our lives and in the world around us. Prayer has the power to bring revival, salvation, healing, and deliverance. It is through prayer that we can experience the fullness of God's blessings and see His kingdom come on earth.

Pastor Yonggi Cho said this of the power of the believers prayer: 

“In prayer the Christian enters into the priestly function of providing an earthly base for God’s Heavenly interests. This age has become the battleground of two opposing forces, but God has a group in the foreign land that it is able to bring the influence of the age to come into this age. The way that the world experiences the dominion of Christ in this present world is through the exercising of the church’s authority, particularly in prayer.” – Yonggi Cho 

Or as Andrew Murray said, “Christ actually meant prayer to be the greatest power by which his church should do its work and that the neglect to prayer is the greatest reason the church does not have great power.” - Andrew Murray

As if that weren’t enough, let us look at the words of the early church Father Chrysostom,  “Prayer is the root, the fountain, the mother of a thousand blessings.” - Chrysostom

Friends, there is no greater power to be wielded on heaven or on earth than the prayers of God’s people. God has given you access to His throne, as a child has access to His Father’s presence so God has invited you in. He has invited you to enjoy the fellowship of His presence, and to ask that His power be released both in and through your life. And the means by which He has appointed for both of these to occur, is through prayer. 

Conclusion

Prayer is a powerful tool that allows us to connect with God and experience His presence, power, and peace. It is not a passive waiting game but an active pursuit of God's promises. When we align our hearts and minds with God's will, there is power in our prayers. As we persevere in prayer and seek God's face, we can expect to see His power and provision in our lives. Prayer has the ability to bring about transformation, revival, and the fulfillment of God's promises.

As we continue in our 21 days of prayer and fasting, let us not grow weary or discouraged. Let us press on, knowing that every day of our fast matters. Just as Daniel's persistence in prayer led to the release of an angel and a message from God, our prayers have the potential to bring about supernatural breakthroughs in our lives.

Let us also remember that prayer is not just about getting something from God, it is about getting God Himself. It is about aligning our hearts and minds with His will and purposes. When we pray according to God's will, there is power in our prayers.

In this article, we have explored the vitality of prayer, the power of God's promises, the importance of perseverance in prayer, and the impact of prayer in our lives. Prayer is not just a religious ritual; it is a means of experiencing God's presence, power, and peace.

So, as we continue in our journey of prayer and fasting, let us be encouraged to press on, knowing that our prayers are not in vain. Let us seek God's face, align our hearts with His will, and expect to see His power and provision in our lives. May prayer be a constant and vital part of our relationship with God, and may it bring about transformation and revival in our lives and in the world around us.

May we be a people who are known for our fervent and persistent prayers, trusting in the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father. And may we see His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.