The power of prayer.

 

Text   

 Proverbs 15: 8.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

 

INTRODUCTION:

a.     Bad Prayers.

b.     Good Prayers.

 

BAD PRAYERS.

 

     I.        Prayers that are Abominable.  Proverbs.  15:8

8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

II.               Prayers that are selfish. James 4:3

 

3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts

 

III.           Prayers that are Proud.   Luke 18 12.

12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted

 

IV.           Prayers that are Stuck. Deut. 28:23.

23And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.

 

GOOD PAYERS.

 

I.                  Prayers that Prevail. James 5:16

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much

 

A.      Prayers that are effective

1.        Must begin with confession.

2.        Must continue with love.

B.       Prayers that are fervent  James 5:17-18.

Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.   18And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

 

I Kings 18:

41And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.  42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, 43And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.  45And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 46And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. 

 

C.      Prayers that avail

1.        The prayer of Job.

2.        The prayer of Hanna.

3.        The prayer of  Hezekiah

4.        The prayer of Jacob.

5.        The prayer of JESUS

 

II.               Prayers that Praise and give Thanks  Ps. 100:4.

 

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

 

THANKSGIVING. (Ps. 95:2) todah (toh-dah); Strong’s #8426: Thanks, thanksgiving, adoration, praise. This word is derived from the verb yadah, “to give thanks, to praise.” The root of yadah is yad, “hand.” Thus, to thank or praise God is “to lift or extend one’s hands” in thanks to Him. Todah appears more than thirty times in the Old Testament, a dozen of these in the Psalms (50:23; 100:4). Todah is translated “sacrifice of praise” in Jeremiah 33:11.

 

A.      Thanksgiving is a choice.

Illust.  The story of Matthew Henry – Robbed on a city street.

“We cannot deny the diagnosis but we can defy the verdict”.                         Dr. David Jeremiah.

 

B.      Thanksgiving is a catalyst

1.    A catalyst is a substance added to a solution to accelerate a desired result.

               a.   Add it to your Prayers.  Phil. 4:6

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

b.      Add it to your memories. (II Tim 1:3-5).

I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day

c.     Add it to your life. Col. 3:17.

17And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him

 

C.      Thanksgiving is a command   I Thess 5:18

18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you

 

CONCLUSION:

An exercise in thanksgiving for the entire congregration.