One Prayer

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One Prayer
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The power of a living faith is found in prayer.

• The hand of the Lord is powerful and available to
  men. (Jer 3217)

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The power of a living faith is found in prayer.

• Jeremiah 3217 (NKJV) - Ah, Lord GOD! Behold,
  You have made the heavens and the earth by Your
  great power and outstretched arm. There is
  nothing too hard for You.

4
The power of a living faith is found in prayer.

• To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
  (Jn 1238 Isa 531)

5
The power of a living faith is found in prayer.

• John 1238 (NKJV) - that the word of Isaiah the
  prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke
  Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom
  has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

6
The power of a living faith is found in prayer.

• It is through Jesus Christ the Messiah that Gods
  power if found.
• Mans response must be a life that is directed by
  a living faith. (Heb 116)

7
The power of a living faith is found in prayer.

• Hebrews 116 (NKJV) - But without faith it is
  impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God
  must believe that He is, and that He is a
  rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

8
The power of a living faith is found in prayer.

• What does it mean to diligently seek God?
• Our seeking of God must never be described only
  as a past action. (Jer 2913)

9
The power of a living faith is found in prayer.

• Jeremiah 2913 (NKJV) - And you will seek Me and
  find Me, when you search for Me with all your
  heart.

10
The power of a living faith is found in prayer.

• Where do we fit in Jesus parable about prayer?
  (Lk 181-8)

11
The power of a living faith is found in prayer.

• Luke 181, 8 (NKJV)Then He spoke a parable to
  them, that men always ought to pray and not lose
  heart, 8 I tell you that He will avenge them
  speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man
  comes, will He really find faith on the earth?

12
The power of a living faith is found in prayer.

• What if the answer to the question in verse 8 was
  no? Does this mean there would be no one
  confessing Christ?

13
The power of a living faith is found in prayer.

• We can allow the immediate demands of this life
  to crowd out real prayer.

14
The power of one prayer

• God tells us of the power of one prayer. (Jas
  516-17)

15
The power of one prayer

• James 516-17 (NKJV) - Confess your trespasses to
  one another, and pray for one another, that you
  may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a
  righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man
  with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly
  that it would not rain and it did not rain on
  the land for three years and six months.

16
The power of one prayer

• King Ahab learned the hard way of the impact of a
  single prayer.
• You must never underestimate what a single
  request to God can do.
• Consider three Old Testament examples of this.

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The power of one prayer

• The battle between the prophets of Baal and
  Elijah. (1 Kings 1836-39)

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The power of one prayer

• 1 Kings 1836-39 (NKJV) - And it came to pass, at
  the time of the offering of the evening
  sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and
  said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
  let it be known this day that You are God in
  Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have
  done all these things at Your word.

19
The power of one prayer

• 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may
  know that You are the LORD God, and that You have
  turned their hearts back to You again. 38 Then
  the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt
  sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the
  dust, and it licked up the water that was in the
  trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they
  fell on their faces and they said, The LORD, He
  is God! The LORD, He is God!

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The power of one prayer

• Contrast what the prophets of Baal did verses
  Elijah.
• It was a simple question of who had the hand of
  the Lord.
• The request of a young Solomon for wisdom. (1
  Kings 35-9)

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The power of one prayer

• 1 Kings 35-9 (NKJV)- At Gibeon the LORD appeared
  to Solomon in a dream by night and God said,
  Ask! What shall I give you? 6 And Solomon said
  You have shown great mercy to Your servant David
  my father, because he walked before You in truth,
  in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart
  with You You have continued this great kindness
  for him, and You have given him a son to sit on
  his throne, as it is this day.

22
The power of one prayer

• 7 Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant
  king instead of my father David, but I am a
  little child I do not know how to go out or come
  in. 8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your
  people whom You have chosen, a great people, too
  numerous to be numbered or counted.

23
The power of one prayer

• 9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding
  heart to judge Your people, that I may discern
  between good and evil. For who is able to judge
  this great people of Yours?

24
The power of one prayer

• What was Solomon like before this? Gods hand
  powerfully acted upon this young man. (1 Kings
  310-14)

25
The power of one prayer

• 1 Kings 310-14 (NKJV) - The speech pleased the
  LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then
  God said to him Because you have asked this
  thing, and have not asked long life for yourself,
  nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have
  asked the life of your enemies, but have asked
  for yourself understanding to discern justice,

26
The power of one prayer

• 12 behold, I have done according to your words
  see, I have given you a wise and understanding
  heart, so that there has not been anyone like you
  before you, nor shall any like you arise after
  you. 13And I have also given you what you have
  not asked both riches and honor, so that there
  shall not be anyone like you among the kings all
  your days.

27
The power of one prayer

• 14 So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes
  and My commandments, as your father David walked,
  then I will lengthen your days.

28
The power of one prayer

• Where are you and I likely to see the results of
  the hand of the Lord? It will be
  seen in changed lives!
• The mighty Assyrian army and king Hezekiah. (2
  Kings 1914-19)

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The power of one prayer

• 2 Kings 1914-19 (NKJV) - And Hezekiah received
  the letter from the hand of the messengers, and
  read it and Hezekiah went up to the house of the
  LORD, and spread it before the LORD. 15 Then
  Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said O
  LORD God of Israel, the One who dwells between
  the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the
  kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and
  earth.

30
The power of one prayer

• 16 Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear open Your
  eyes, O LORD, and see and hear the words of
  Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the
  living God. 17 Truly, LORD, the kings of Assyria
  have laid waste the nations and their lands, 18
  and have cast their gods into the fire for they
  were not gods, but the work of mens handswood
  and stone. Therefore they destroyed them.

31
The power of one prayer

• 19 Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us
  from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth
  may know that You are the LORD God, You alone.

32
The power of one prayer

• Never say like the world All you have is a
  prayer.
• King Sennacherib no doubt learned about the power
  of one prayer. (2 Kings 1935-37)

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The power of one prayer

• 2 Kings 1935-37 (NKJV) - And it came to pass on
  a certain night that the angel of the LORD went
  out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one
  hundred and eighty-five thousand and when people
  arose early in the morning, there were the
  corpsesall dead. 36 So Sennacherib king of
  Assyria departed and went away, returned home,
  and remained at Nineveh.

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The power of one prayer

• 37 Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in
  the temple of Nisroch his god, that his sons
  Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the
  sword and they escaped into the land of Ararat.
  Then Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

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In truth it is never just one prayer

• There is something all of these men had in
  common.
• They were children of a living God. Prayer was as
  much a part of their lives as
  breathing air is to our physical lives.
• Solomon spoke of foreigners knowing of the hand
  of the Lord and coming to know
  Him. (1 Kings 841-43)

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In truth it is never just one prayer

• 1 Kings 841-43 (NKJV) - Moreover, concerning a
  foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but
  has come from a far country for Your names sake
  42 (for they will hear of Your great name and
  Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when
  he comes and prays toward this temple,

37
In truth it is never just one prayer

• 43 hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do
  according to all for which the foreigner calls to
  You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your
  name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and
  that they may know that this temple which I have
  built is called by Your name.

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In truth it is never just one prayer

• Prayer can do nothing for a man who does not
  posses a living faith.

39
In truth it is never just one prayer

• There were some Jews who thought it was just
  knowing the right words. (Acts
  1913-16)

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In truth it is never just one prayer

• Acts 1913-16 (NKJV) - Then some of the itinerant
  Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call
  the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had
  evil spirits, saying, We exorcise you by the
  Jesus whom Paul preaches. 14 Also there were
  seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who
  did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said,
  Jesus I know, and Paul I know but who are you?

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In truth it is never just one prayer

• 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was
  leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed
  against them, so that they fled out of that house
  naked and wounded.

42
In truth it is never just one prayer

• How many here think this way about prayer? Listen
  to your words. Think!
• If we could only see this point we could have the
  power of god in our lives. (Eph 320)

43
In truth it is never just one prayer

• Ephesians 320 (NKJV) - Now to Him who is able
  to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we
  ask or think, according to the power that works
  in us,

44
In truth it is never just one prayer

• He is able to do
• above all that we ask or think
• abundantly above all that we ask or think
• exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or
  think

45
In truth it is never just one prayer

• When we realize this is God speaking then this is
  hard to grasp.
• Do we have the power or merely an outward form?
• We can have the form without power. (2 Tim 35)

46
In truth it is never just one prayer

• 2 Timothy 35 (NKJV) - having a form of godliness
  but denying its power. And from such people turn
  away!

47
In truth it is never just one prayer

• Or we can allow God's power to be used through
  us. (1 Thess 213)

48
In truth it is never just one prayer

• 1 Thessalonians 213 (NKJV) - For this reason we
  also thank God without ceasing, because when you
  received the word of God which you heard from us,
  you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it
  is in truth, the word of God, which also
  effectively works in you who believe.

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In truth it is never just one prayer

• What does access to God mean to you? Do not tell
  me. How do you pray? (1 Jn 514-15)

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In truth it is never just one prayer

• 1 John 514-15 (NKJV) - Now this is the
  confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask
  anything according to His will, He hears us. 15
  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask,
  we know that we have the petitions that we have
  asked of Him.

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We ought to always pray and not to lose heart.

• It is possible to "faint", "lack courage"
  concerning our effort in prayer.
• What would a person think when they lose heart?
• We need to test and prod ourselves to be
  vigilant and steadfast in prayer.
  (Rom 1212 Col 42)

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We ought to always pray and not to lose heart.

• Romans 1212 (NKJV) - rejoicing in hope, patient
  in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer

53
We ought to always pray and not to lose heart.

• Colossians 42 (NKJV) - Continue earnestly in
  prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving

54
We ought to always pray and not to lose heart.

• Jesus example stimulated his apostles to ask to
  be taught about prayer. (Lk 111)

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We ought to always pray and not to lose heart.

• Luke 111 (NKJV)- Now it came to pass, as He was
  praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that
  one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us
  to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

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We ought to always pray and not to lose heart.

• Jesus prayed at His baptism in the beginning of
  His ministry. (Lk 321)

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We ought to always pray and not to lose heart.

• Luke 321 (NKJV) - When all the people were
  baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was
  baptized and while He prayed, the heaven was
  opened.

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We ought to always pray and not to lose heart.

• Jesus at times prayed all night. (Lk 612)

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We ought to always pray and not to lose heart.

• Luke 612 (NKJV) - Now it came to pass in those
  days that He went out to the mountain to pray,
  and continued all night in prayer to God.

60
We ought to always pray and not to lose heart.

• Jesus prayed three times in the course of one
  hour. (Mt 2636-44)
• For many this kind of praying in unknown, why?
• Because they fail to distinguish between public
  prayer and private prayer.
• We should look at our motives and manners in a
  public prayer. (Mt 65-7)

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We ought to always pray and not to lose heart.

• Matthew 65-7 (NKJV) - And when you pray, you
  shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love
  to pray standing in the synagogues and on the
  corners of the streets, that they may be seen by
  men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their
  reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your
  room, and when you have shut your door, pray to
  your Father who is in the secret place and your
  Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

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We ought to always pray and not to lose heart.

• 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions
  as the heathen do. For they think that they will
  be heard for their many words.

63
We ought to always pray and not to lose heart.

• Many Christians repeat in their private prayer
  the same kind of prayer they hear in public.
  Why is this lacking?

64
We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• He is a God with a mighty hand but also a very
  gentle one.
• The coming of the Messiah was a display of Gods
  mighty arm. (Isa 5210 531)

65
We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• Isaiah 5210 (NKJV) - The LORD has made bare His
  holy arm In the eyes of all the nations And all
  the ends of the earth shall see The salvation of
  our God.

66
We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• Isaiah 531 (NKJV) - Who has believed our report?
  And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

67
We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• That same hand will be used to nourish and
  protect us. (Isa 4010-11 421-3)
• Who do you feel comfortable in opening your heart
  to? Until you know God like this,
  your prayers will have little meaning.

68
We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• What do you think God will do with your prayer?
  (Mt 77-11)

69
We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• Matthew 77-11 (NKJV) - Ask, and it will be
  given to you seek, and you will find knock, and
  it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks
  receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who
  knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there
  among you who, if his son asks for bread, will
  give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish,
  will he give him a serpent?

70
We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good
  gifts to your children, how much more will your
  Father who is in heaven give good things to those
  who ask Him!

71
We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• Are there things you have ceased asking God
  about? (Jas 42-3)

72
We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• James 42-3 (NKJV) - You lust and do not have.
  You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight
  and war. Yet you do not have because you do not
  ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you
  ask amiss, that you may spend it on your
  pleasures.

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We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• Do you know the impact that one prayer can have
  on your life and those precious to you?

74
We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• We need more intercession in the church. (2 Cor
  111)

75
We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• 2 Corinthians 111 (NKJV) - you also helping
  together in prayer for us, that thanks may be
  given by many persons on our behalf for the gift
  granted to us through many.

76
We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• Hezekiah also asked for help in prayer. (2 Kings
  193-4)
• To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
  (Isa 531)
• How will you fight the battle? (2 Chron 328)

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We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• 2 Chronicles 328 (NKJV) - With him is an arm of
  flesh but with us is the LORD our God, to help
  us and to fight our battles. And the people were
  strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of
  Judah.

78
We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• There can be no help from God without your
  repentance.
• Listen to the words of Moses. (Deut 47-8)

79
We need to have a clearer view of the God that we
pray to

• Deuteronomy 47-8 (NKJV) - For what great nation
  is there that has God so near to it, as the LORD
  our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call
  upon Him? 8 And what great nation is there that
  has such statutes and righteous judgments as are
  in all this law which I set before you this day?