Bible Studies

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The Power Of Prayer

Mathew 7: 7-11

The central truth in this message is this: Prayer is powerful.
Prayer achieves the impossible because it relies on the God of the Impossible.


For the Muslim,the call to prayer goes out five times a day!

The first call comes at dawn.

Try calling a prayer meeting in your Church or home group at that time and see what happens.

But, the Prophet Hosea cried out in Hosea 10:12, "It is time to seek the Lord."

Never before in the History of man is this call more needed than today!

Years ago, the popular brand Zanussi coined a phrase which they advertised on national Television, that phrase was, "Zanussi, reliance on science."

A poignant and telling phrase which aptly described then as now, the "Spirit of the age."

For many years now we have witnessed in an unprecedented way, the reliance of man upon himself, his own abilities, strength, ingenuity and prowess to achieve for himself, among other things, a bigger and better future, true greatness and an age of utopia where all is perfect, and where life is so full and complete that men are wanting for nothing!

So then, what of the dream of a utopian age where all is well with mankind, all aspirations and goals have been realised and there is nothing left to be done?

As we end yet another year, We reflect on a year of turmoil, political inconsistency, fierce wars worldwide,and we have sadly witnessed too many soldiers being tragically killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

We have also witnessed freak weather conditions that have never been witnessed before in living memory, billions of pounds will be needed just to recover from the damage never mind the ensuing requirements to build modern flood defences which a decade before would have been unthinkable.

In my neck of the woods here in Northern Ireland sad to say, we have recently witnessed the death of an entire family whose home was burned down by their pedophile father who poured petrol all over the house and locked all doors while the entire family met their fate.

We could recount many, many similar tragedies around this sick world in which we live, but the sad truth stares us once again right in the eye and tells us in no uncertain manner that we are further away from utopia than we have ever been, in fact, if truth be told, our planet is in a state of red-alert!

Surely then in light of these tragedies and catastrophes happening all around us, we, as believers ought to both hear and heed these words from the prophet Hosea,

"It is time to seek the Lord."

If we believe the statement that, "Prayer is powerful, it achieves the impossible because it relies on the God of the impossible," then that statement begs a question.

"Why do we not pray?"

If you are spending hours in front of the television, but you don't spare a few minutes to pray, then, "It is time to seek the Lord."

If you are living comfortably with habits that once troubled you, then, "It is time to seek the Lord."

If you are still speaking words of un-forgiveness and bitterness, then, "It is time to seek the Lord."

If having money and things are consuming so much of your time that there's no time left for your family or for God, then, "It is time to seek the Lord."

If you can read reports of a world spinning out of control and staggering under the weight of sin and immorality and not be touched, then, "It is time to seek the Lord."

Do you believe in the power of prayer?

Prayer is powerful, because prayer achieves the impossible whenever it relies on the God of the impossible.

The story is told of a mother who had a pie baking in the oven. She received a phone call to tell her that her son was sick at school and to come and pick him up.

When she arrived at school, she was shocked to see the condition of her son, he had a fever, his body was trembling and he was dripping with perspiration.

She brought her son home and drove frantically to the Clinic to get him some meeds.
While she was in the Chemist, she realised that she had forgotten to turn the oven off at home, she quickly scurried back to her car only to find that in her panic, she had locked the keys inside the car!

She phoned home in a panic to check on her son,.."Get a coat-hanger mum," came a croaky voice from the other end of the phone.

She ran frantically shops nearby where, after a long search, she managed to find a metal coat-hanger.
When she got back to the car, she finally realised that she didn't know how to use a coat-hanger in order to pull the door-snib up.

She broke down and began to cry, "Oh Lord," she cried, "my boy is sick and he needs his medicine and my pie is in the oven, and now my keys are locked inside the car. I don't know what to do with this coat-hanger, dear Lord, please send someone who knows what to do with it, and I really do need that person now, Amen."

As she was wiping the tears from her eyes. a beat up old car pulled up alongside her.

A young man, about twentyish with a T-Shirt and ragged jeans and long straggly hair and with a beard.

"Young man," she said, "Do you know how to use this, I mean, do you know how to get into a car with one of these?"

He took the coat hanger from her hand, and without a word began to twist and turn it. A couple of twists and turns later and the door was open!

"Oh, the Lord sent you, your such a good boy, you must be a Christian."

"No, " he replied, "I just got out of jail yesterday."

She jumped at him and hugged him, "God bless you, He sent m,e a professional!"


Prayer is powerful, it achieves the impossible, Why? Because it relies on the God of the impossible!

It was E. M. Bounds who said, "Prayer can do anything God can do."

Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary to China recounts the story of a particular part of China where the work was thriving in a tremendous way.


Many souls were being saved and the Holy-Spirit was transforming these lives in a remarkable way.

In fact, when Hudson compared the work with other mission stations in China, he had to admit that this particular place was experiencing a peculiar blessing, in spite of more missionaries being placed in these other places.

This puzzled him until he came home to England for a visit.

It was then that he discovered the secret to this great outpouring.

At the close of one of his meetings, a gentleman approached him, and in conversation with him, Hudson was surprised at the accurate knowledge the man possessed regarding this particular inland China station that was experiencing remarkable results.

"How is it that you are so conversant with this work," Hudson asked?

"Oh, the missionary there and I are old college mates; and for some years now we have regularly corresponded; he has sent me the names of those who were concerned about their soul, and the names of new converts too, and I have taken all these needs daily to God in prayer," he replied.

At last, the secret was found, Here was a praying man, one who prayed definitely, one who prayed daily and one who prayed specifically!

Prayer changes things!

"It is time to seek the Lord."

Prayer is powerful and prayer can achieve the impossible when it relies on the God of the impossible.

Jesus knew all about this subject, the power of prayer.
He too was absolutely persuaded and convinced that when He prayed, prayer would be answered.

Jesus said, "Simon, Satan has desired to sift you as wheat, BUT I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

(Luke 22: 31-32)

Notice here that Jesus did not say, : " IF you turn back," but "WHEN you turn back,"….

Jesus was confident in the power of prayer, "I have PRAYED FOR YOU."

Prayer is powerful and can achieve the impossible when it relies on the God of the impossible.

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