(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.
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
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Contributions to Making Life Count Ministries are tax-deductible.
