Five Reasons to Pray, Part 2

(See below for Reasons #1 & 2)

Reason #3 Prayer shows God how desperately we want something.

“The effectual fervent (desperate) prayer of a righteous person avails much” (James 5:16). When we pray out of desperation we touch God’s heart and catch His ear. Our prayers show Him how badly we want something. 

As Jesus passed through Jericho, two blind men sitting by the road cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us!” (Matt. 20:30). Even though a huge crowd surrounded Him, Jesus stopped when He heard their cries for help and healed them. On another occasion, a woman who had a hemorrhage for 12 years touched the hem of His garment. While a large crowd was touching Him, Jesus felt power leave Him and she was healed (Mark 5:24-34). What was different about her touch? She was desperate for a miracle.

Reason #4  Prayer is the way we release our burdens to God.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7).

Sheep are not designed to carry burdens. You’ve heard of “pack mules” but you’ve never hear of “pack sheep.” When we pray correctly, we transfer our problems into the Father’s hands. If you are still burdened down after you have prayed, you never let go of your problems!

Reason #5  When we pray, God intervenes in other people’s lives and changes them.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus told us to “pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:28)? Let’s think about that. He told us to pray for our enemies because our prayer releases the Holy Spirit to convict them of their sins and bring them to repentance. Remember, some things will not happen unless we pray. We don’t typically like to pray for those who mistreat us, but if we will pray for the Holy Spirit to convict them we might see some surprising results. www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com   www.makinglifecount.net

CLICK HERE to read the ENTIRE SERMON on “Five Purposes of Prayer” which includes more teaching, stories and illustrations.

NEW PRINTED SERMON: The 5 Purposes of Prayer

NEW BIBLE STUDY: Isaiah’s 38 Prophecies of the Messiah

NEW BIBLE STUDY: Why would a loving God send someone to hell?

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net

Thank you to all who support this discipleship ministry. 

Contributions to Making Life Count Ministries are tax-deductible.

Five Reasons to Pray, Part 1

Imagine a huge building filled with thousands of rooms. Inside those rooms are all the good possibilities for your future—job opportunities, provision of every kind, guidance, and wisdom to make right decisions. The problem is all the doors are locked and you can’t get in. But suppose someone puts a supernatural key in your hand that will open every door. If you don’t use the key, the doors won’t open for you.

That’s a picture of how prayer works. God won’t automatically do everything for us. Instead, He has given us a key to use, which is prayer. Prayer is a privilege God gives us where He lets us participate in His will being accomplished on earth (Matt. 6:10). However, if you don’t use the “prayer key” the door will remained closed for some of God’s blessings. Here are two beneficial reasons to pray.

Reason #1  Prayer is how we develop a relationship with God.

What if prayer didn’t exist? Suppose God didn’t provide any way to contact Him when we’re in trouble. The Lord says, “There’s no such thing as prayer. You cannot talk to Me and I won’t talk to you. I will not intervene in your affairs. If you want help…sorry, you’re on your own!” You would “not have a prayer.” The good news is God does want us to pray so we can get to know Him in a better way. (How often do you pray when you're not in church?)

Prayer is connecting our heart to God’s heart. Prayer isn’t measured by how many words we say because you can talk non-stop but never really communicate with someone. Prayer is having a heart-to-talk with God, letting Him know what’s on your heart. Psalm 62:8 says, “Pour out your heart before Him.”

Reason #2  Some things will not happen unless we pray.

Why should we pray if it makes no difference? James 4:2 tell us “you do not have because you do not ask.” If we don’t use the key the door won’t open. God can change our circumstances if we will call out to Him for help.

Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, was threatening to conquer Jerusalem. King Hezekiah knew he would be defeated unless God stopped Sennacherib. Hezekiah prayed that God would deliver Jerusalem from the Assyrian army. God answered him, “Because you have prayed to Me about Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard you” (2 Kings 19:20 NASB). God came to his rescue because he prayed. If the king hadn’t prayed Jerusalem would have been destroyed. Prayer brought something to pass on earth that would not have happened if he hadn’t prayed.

Prayer can make a difference in what happens in your life. Are you asking Him for help and guidance? Don’t give up. Keep praying and don’t lose heart. God has placed in your hand the key, but it’s up to you to put it in the doorknob.   To be continued (3 more reasons) next week…

www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

*************************************************************

Click here for over 200 Bible Studies

Are you defeating the invisible giants that attack your mind? Read Slaying Your Giants

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net

Thank you to all who support this discipleship ministry.

Contributions to Making Life Count Ministries are tax-deductible.

Did the Bible Predict Television?

God knows everything that will happen in the future and has chosen to reveal some things in His Word. Many prophecies are clearly described while others are in cryptic language or insinuate what will happen. Several Scriptures indicate that the whole world will instantly view certain events taking place in Israel.

During the future 7-year Tribulation Period, two prophets will be killed in Jerusalem and their dead bodies will lie in the streets for 3½ days. The Bible indicates that people from all over the world will watch this event, which would only be possible through TV and the Internet:

Revelation 11:8-10 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

Another future event concerns the invasion of Israel by several nations where God will supernaturally protect Israel and give them victory... To continue reading, click on “Does the Bible Predict TV and the Internet?" 
 www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

READ MORE STUDIES ON PROPHECY: Bible Prophecy Studies 

Worried about the future? Read The Sure Cure for Worry

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174
Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174
www.makinglifecount.net 
Thank you to all who support this discipleship ministry.
Contributions to Making Life Count Ministries are tax-deductible.

Why Evolution is Impossible

We’ve been told that evolution is a fact, but it’s actually only a theory that’s based on numerous assumptions. Scientists have tried for years to create life in a laboratory and have never been successful. It’s a fact that evolution is statistically impossible. Mathematicians agree that any requisite number beyond one chance in 10⁵⁰ has a statistically zero chance of occurring.

Amino acids have to be formed in an exact sequence (like the letters in a sentence) to form a protein. The probability of a protein of 50 amino acids forming by chance is 10⁶⁵ or 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 to one, which is impossible (without divine intervention).

All life contains DNA and for evolution to be true, the DNA molecules must be arranged in a certain order. R. L. Wysong in The Creation Evolution Controversy says, "This means that 10⁸⁹¹⁹⁰ DNA molecules, on average, must form to provide the one chance of forming the specific DNA sequence necessary to code 124 proteins.” It’s not logical to believe that this happens by chance.

Nor has it ever been proven in a laboratory that life can arise from non-life. It’s more logical to conclude that life came into existence through an Intelligent Designer. God has revealed Himself to everyone through the complexity of His creation. If you look at your watch, you can conclude an intelligent person designed all the parts and put it together so that it functions accurately—even though you have never seen that person. When you examine the amazing complex human body, you know there had to be an intelligent designer to make all body parts function together. 

The Apostle Paul writes, “That which is known about God is evident within them, for God has made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20). www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com  www.makinglifecount.net

MORE STUDIES on Creation vs. Evolution: Living Fossil Discovered

Quotes by Evolutionists

More Studies on Creation & Evolution

Making Life Count Ministries

P.O. Box 680174

Prattville, Alabama 36068-0174

www.makinglifecount.net 

Thank you to all who support this discipleship ministry. 

Contributions to Making Life Count Ministries are tax-deductible.