Praying to God with Power

Theme: Basic Principles of a Prayer and its nature as Lord teaches us in the Bible.

Today blog topic:  Praying to God with power:

Bible verse: Acts 12:5 - "Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant[a] prayer was offered to God for him by the church".
Footnotes: [a]. Acts 12:5 NU-Text reads constantly (or earnestly)

One of the most relentless questions that we asked in our Christian life is:

How to pray with power?

At times, we believe that to pray with power is to pray with a powerful voice in which we emphasize with vibrant voice our petitions.  Perhaps making feel inferior the brother who perhaps is of less powerful and perhaps short voice in expressing himself.  In other words, prayer has no power base if it is pronounced in a strong or softer voice.  It has its foundation deeper than any vocal chords.

In the book of Acts chapter 12 of the Apostles, we have the story of a prayer that prevailed with God and produced large results. To see what led to this prayer, we must go back in chapter 11 of Acts; here we read that many believers were being persecuted and were scattered to many different places (Acts 11:1). Now in verse 26 of Acts 11- “… for a whole year they assembled themselves as a church in Antioch, and taught much to people. And the disciples were called Christians".  (They were a church - The body of Christ).
 
Now entering Acts chapter 12 – King Herod decided to hurt few of the church leaders. He arrested Peter and James the brother of John.  In front of the Jews, King Herod  used his sword and killed James. As this pleased the Jews who were present, he then placed Peter in prison with intensions to be executed after the days of unleavened bread (Acts 12:1-4).  Now in verse 5 of chapter 12 of  Acts, we found the answer of how to pray with power, let’s read the second part of this verse:

 -  “…but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”

 
I. The first thing we notice in this verse is the consistence expression “to God”
It does not matter how you express yourself one way or the other. Strong vibrant voice or in a softer tone. It doesn't matter how the body feels, what is important is the state of your soul.  Still, some of you may argue: Aren’t all prayers directed to God?  No necessary, I'll explain.

Much of what is call prayer; private or public is not to God.  For a prayer to be truthful directed to God, there must be a conscious and definite approach to God upon praying.  In many prayers, God is not in the thoughts of those intending to pray. That is to say, many times upon praying, we are thinking more in our own needs than in our Almighty and loving Heavenly Father, to whom we must direct our prayers. (Remember? -"Our Father in Heaven").

Often, we don’t even think on our needs or to whom we are praying to. There is no power in that type of prayer. When in reality we see him face to face in the place of prayer. When in truth we seek the things we desire of Him, then there is power in the prayer.  (Remember? "Thy Kingdom come")

Therefore, if we want to pray effectively, the first thing that we need to assure ourselves would be in the following three things:
1. Believe that God is attentive to our prayers and that we are in His presence. In Hebrew 4:16 said – “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”.

2. Before offering our petitions, we should feel defined and strongly that we are speaking with God.

3. Not only believe firmly that our petitions are heard by God and He is going to grant us what we ask Him according to His will.


II. The Second Secret in Praying Effectively: 
     We find it in verse 5 “…constant prayer…” (Constant or earnestly = without ceasing).

This is, not as extensively as if intensely. This represent to the soul with ardent and intense desire that continues constant in its prayer. In Luke 22:44 (NKJV) describes Jesus praying – “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” This type of prayer prevails with God, is the one that expresses the sincere yearning of the soul being extended towards God intensely from the deeper of our soul.

-“Out of the depths, I cry to You my soul” Psalm 130:1

Many modern prayers are powerless because they are not coming from the heart. 

• This is because we rushed to the presence of God.
• Here is a list of requests.
• We got up hurriedly and ran out.

If someone asked us an hour later about what things we prayed, frequently we would not be able to recall. If our petitions are presented with so much lightness is not strange that God does not take much effort to answer them.
 
How to obtain is intensity in the prayer?
If we like to pray effectively with intensity we have to let the Spirit of God to guide us and teach us to pray.
Here is a TIP:  PAUSE BEFORE PRAYING - FOCUS ON GOD (“Let His Kingdom Come”) - THEN PRAY

III.  The Third Secret in Praying Effectively: Is also found in the same verse 5 –
                                          

  “…constant prayer was offered by the church”

There is power in the unified prayer – the Church – Us – Body of Christ

- God delights in the unity of His people –

He increases it anyway, so His promises are a special blessing to the ones that pray in unity. Corporate Prayer has more power then an individual prayer.
In Matthew 18:19-20 we read; - “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them.”

- This is Praying to God with Power –

Acts 12:6-10 - God answered the church prayer by sending His Angel to rescue Peter from prison.

- There is power in a unified prayer by the church –

God Bless

Your brother in Christ

Moises Miranda

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