45 – The Power of Prayer
Matthew 18:18-20

Jesus conferred the same authority to his disciples in chapter 16, the same authority he had on Earth.

Jesus taught his disciples what was important through repetition.

Power of prayer is underutilized. It is misused and abused.

When there’s conflict with another:
Go to the brother
Go get two witnesses
Bring it before the church

Prayer has:
Divided seas
Turned rocks into water
Shut the jaws of lions
Stopped the course of the moon
Burst open iron gates
Conquered
Controlled the raging passions of men
Brought a man from the bottom of the sea
Soothed crying babies
Guided surgeons hands
Saved marriages

But we still don’t know how it works

You have an expectation that when you pray, God will hear you

Surely if you can have faith that a cell phone will work, you can have faith in Jesus

Binding and loosing
We have limitations on prayer. Has to be within His will.

Don’t think of heaven as a place but as a space.

Prayer is the bridge that locks us into that sphere we call heaven

Heaven can be controlled by what we do on Earth. You can connect with me in this sphere if you ask me to.

Heaven is not just future, it is present. You have power through prayer.

Jesus has given all of us the authority to bind and loose through prayer. We are not using it. Because we live under the power of Grace so evil cannot prevail.  Romans6:14

I. Prayer is Powerful but mysterious

II. Prayer is greatly multiplied by unity – why we need to be in a fellowship of believers (right thinking folks); one of you can chase 1000 but two can chase 10,000. We exponentially empower when we’re together.

Agree-stand together
To sound together-to harmonize

III. The true power of Prayer is
God the Son
Praying to God the Father
In the power of God the Spirit and the prayer room is your heart.

Tamala R. Maddox, Ph. D.
Principal
R. F. Bumpus Middle School

45 – Lifeline: Experiencing God’s Power Through Prayer.

Mr. Big Stuff

Disciples only asked Jesus to teach them how to pray

Luke 18:10-14

There’s a right and wrong way to pray effectively.

Pharisee thought he was Mr. Big Stuff. God wants us to love Him.

Arrogant – Insulting attitude; thinking you are better, smarter or more important than others

Tendency to measure your worth when comparing yourself to other people.

Are you comparing yourself to others?

All Pharisees in scripture aren’t bad. Just this one.

Pharisee – member of Jewish faith set apart to maintain and further the divine cause.

Other person was a tax collector. He was as despised as the Pharisee was honored. Seen as extortioners and traitors.

Matthew was a tax collector.

Jesus took negative people and made them the hero. Master of juxtaposition.

Pharisee uses “I” seven times in his prayer. Be careful when you talk about you too much. He’s not really praying…..he’s reading his resume. God wants you to be confident but not boastful or look down on others. He stood in the temple…..bold. Trusting only in himself, not God.

Tax collector hung out in the back of the temple. He had wealth but that doesn’t make you right. He knew he was wrong. He felt unworthy and like a criminal. Still came to the temple though he was despised because he knew that’s where his healing would come from.

Jesus said the tax collector went home justified.

So, what’s the Spirit you pray with?

How should you pray?
Humble yourself
Contrite Spirit
Repentant heart

Luke 18:14
Exalt yourself and you will be humble

Humble yourself and you will be exalted.

Tamala R. Maddox, Ph. D.
Principal
R. F. Bumpus Middle School

45-Lifeline Experiencing A Prayer When I Have Really Messed Up

Psalms 51:1-19

David messed up, not on his rise to stardome, but the David who had claimed success, who had defeated Goliath, the David living in the palace…..this David messed up.  You’re not immune from messing up at any point in your life.  The devil is always busy.  He’s doing his job.  The Lord is greater than the devil.  If you abide in Him, he can keep you.

I. His Problems – Sins; He stopped looking to The Lord but in the mirror
Not talking about the Psalms 23 David….The Lord is my Shepherd; now we have David who is saying….Lord I’m sorry. Sin has gotten between them.
A. Sin #1: Adultery
Bathsheba
started with his eyes; he was a rooftop away; he followed his eyes with his actions by telling someone to go get her

B. Sin #2: Deceit
Wanted her husband Uriah to lay with Bathsheba

C. Sin #3: Murder
Uriah was put in the front of the battle so he could be killed and David could have his wife, Bathsheba

II. His Prophet/Preacher – Nathan came to David with a story; what would you say if a man had flocks of sheep and another had one sheep but instead of the rich man killing one of his own flock for a meal, he kills the man’s one sheep and serves it.  David was livid by this story.  He said surely this man should be killed.  Nathan had the courage to tell David that you are that man….this convicted David.

You need a Nathan in your life.  Nathan is an indispensable witness.  Someone who will tell you when you do wrong.  A Pastor’s job is to tell you when you’ve messed up.
A. Anger (2 Samuel 12: 1-6)
B. Anguish (2 Samuel 12: 7-10)
C. Answer (2 Samuel 12: 11-14)

III. His Prayer
A. A Spirit of Confession (Psalm 51: 1-6) – Be honest; accept it; he acknowledged that what he did was wrong; his heart was good. Sin separates us from God.  Confession allows the healing process to begin

B. A Spirit of Repentance (Psalm 51: 7-11) – Confession is important but the other tool that goes with it…..repentance.  Confession shows it to God, repentance shows you want to change. Leave it there, turn and go the other way.  Not in your direction but in God’s direction.  Leaving it at the foot of The Cross.

C. A Celebration of Salvation (Psalm 51: 12-19) – He’s rejoicing.

Tamala R. Maddox, Ph.D.
Principal
R.F. Bumpus Middle School