Lesson: Prayer Changes Lives
Author: Mark Stusek
Date: 7/20/08
We as Christians must make prayer a priority. It’s a must if we want to know the
heart of God and witness the power and benefits of this Christian life.
Jesus Christ was devoted to prayer. He met with God early in the morning, sought Him in the midst of busy, difficult days, and slipped away for night-time chats. Jesus Christ’s actions testify to the central place prayer is to have in the lives of believers.
Prayer seemed to come naturally to Jesus Christ, but most of us will have to
work at it—become more disciplined to maintain a consistent prayer life.
How important is it to maintain a consistent prayer life?
I. Devoted to Prayer
COL 4:2-4
1. To be consistent and vigilant in prayer will take sacrifice
on our parts.
Maybe less sleep, give up a favorite activity (TV), use our
lunch hour to pray instead of eat.
2. We must remember we live in a spiritual war zone.
Every time we get on our knees, we are doing business
with God, but we are also doing battle with the devil.
What’s the result? Interference and harassment.
Satan knows that a devoted prayerful person is dangerous.
ROM 12:10-12
3. When we are serious about prayer, our intimacy with
the Lord begins to grow. We get better at hearing and
speaking to Him. As this happens, we begin to view the
world from a divine perspective.
The ways and thoughts of God will become our priorities
and concerns; i.e. diligent, Holy Spirit-driven, serving
the Lord, hopeful, patient in trials, devoted in prayer.
II. Praying with Power-Effectiveness
1. Our posture in prayer should be on our knees when possible.
2. Our prayers should be humble in nature, not superior
by knowledge or articulation. Not repetitive in nature.
No place for pride or prideful heart.
3. Paul or you and I should not be the center of the
conversation. The focus should always be the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit.
4. Paul asked God to do something for the Ephesians that
was matchless in power and capacity.
The most powerful action we can do on behalf of
another is pray for them. This type of prayer raises
the effectiveness.
JAMES 5:13-18
5. Our prayers will be effective and answered when we
strongly desire for God to intervene.
6. Determined to pray through every barrier that Satan erects.
7. Stop only when God answers or when the Father makes it
clear that the request is outside His will.
III. Benefits of Prayer
EPH 3:17-20
1. If we feel weak, it’s not because we don’t have
sufficient power to tap into. The power that created
the universe and raised Jesus Christ and others from
the dead is there for us if we pray and believe!
2. God loves to surprise His faithful people with answers
to prayer far exceeding anything they had imagined.
EXODUS 14:10, 13, 14
Do not be afraid—He has promised to save and deliver
us.
II CHRON 20:5-27
No fear—seek the Lord with whole heart and pray.
What Satan intended to do to Israelites, God did to
enemy armies.
ACTS 12:5-17
God loves to perform miracles in response to corporate
prayer.
SUMMARY
II KINGS 20:1-5
Hezekiah, the king of Israel, is ill and near death. The prophet, Isaiah,
tells Hezekiah to get his house in order, for he will die soon
The king prays to God: “Remember how I have walked faithfully and
with whole hearted devotion, and done what is good in your eyes.”
Then he weeps!
God responds: “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will
heal you.”
God hears and sees the faithful, those damaged, ill and in need of repair.
God mends them!