Prayer Power

Introduction: ask how many participated prayer &

fasting. Quick review of the titles of evening
messages.

1. True repentance
2. The benefits of prayer & fasting
3. Prayer burden
4. Pray without ceasingly
5. Stand on our knees
6. Seek Him with all your heart

This morning we’re going to study the principles on

how to pray. Many of us don’t know how to pray.
How to pray for us and how to pray for other
people. So, what we will be learning today is a
Scriptural prayer.

This prayer was inspired by the Holy Spirit for the

Apostle Paul to pray for his people.

Let’s look at Colossians 1:9-12

Read . . .
Colossians 1:9-12 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to

pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the [a]knowledge of His
will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 11 strengthened with all
power, according to [e]His glorious might, [f]for the attaining of all
steadfastness and [g]patience; joyously 12 giving thanks to the Father, who
has qualified us [h]to share in the inheritance of the [i]saints in Light.
He prayed for three (3) things:

No. 1 The first thing he prayed is to be filled with

the knowledge of His will. V. 9
No.2 He prayed for his walk. Not just knowledge, so
that their walk will match their talk. V. 10

As we obey God we will increase in the knowledge

of God. The Bible is not given for information, it is
given for transformation. By the way, how many
characters in the Bible? Who has an idea?

Many of us are active in the church but the question

is, Is our life are really affected? Well, Paul is saying,
I prayed that you will walk in a manner worthy of
the Lord.

No. 3 Strengthened with all power according to His

glorious might. V. 11

Ladies and gentlemen, many of us again don’t only

need more knowledge. We need power, we need
power to do what is right. It is one thing to know
what to do, it is another thing to do it. (Is it correct?)
Some of us are struggling in sin, vices, bitterness and
anger. Some of us have problems and temptations.

We know what to do, but we just can’t seem to do it.

Well, there’s a good news for us. We should ask for
power, because it is God’s will for us,
No. 1 to be filled with His knowledge
No. 2 It is sure that God wants us to walk properly
No. 3 It is sure that God wants us to have power,
because without power, how can we do what God
wants us to do.

The older we are in faith, the more we realized that

we need His power.
For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to
pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the [a]knowledge of His
will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding

Again, What did he heard?

Their faith & their love (Colossians), so why the

knowledge of His will is important.

“Right thinking will result in right behavior,

wrong thinking will result in wrong behavior.”
Many of us focus on the behavior of people.
(Example: our children or any members of our family)

If we noticed our children not behaving properly,

our focus is on behavior, it is not effective. So, until
we change the mind of their belief system we will
not change the behavior.

So prayed for what? KNOWLEDGE, proper

knowledge.

Therefore, you can be sincere but sincerely wrong.

Another example: The common belief and defense,

“wala namang mawawala”

“lahat naman tungkol, sa Diyos”
“Lahat naman tinuturo para sa kabutihan at tungkol sa Diyos”

The Bible is clear, you will not go to hell because

you’re a sinner, you will go to hell because you have
no Jesus (1 John 5:11-12)

1 John 5:11-12 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal

life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has
the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not
have the life.
You see, what you think will going to affect your
behavior.

Another example: Today live-in is common and

okey. It’s acceptable to many couples now, people
will tell its okey. Everyone is doing it, maybe it’s the
best thing to do. So, you become experimental, to try
whether you and your partner is compatible. This is
totally wrong, it does not obey the biblical mandate.

Many of us today do not see the reality because we

do not know the truth, we have not filled the
knowledge of His will.

Look at 2 Corinthians 4:4

2 Corinthians 4:4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

4 in whose case the god of this [a]world has blinded the minds of

the unbelieving [b]so that they might not see the light of the gospel
of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

The Bible tells us there’s a spiritual warfare on

going, the god of this world has blinded the mind of
the unbelieving, and many believers are affected.
You know what? If you do or work something for
the Lord and the people will still not believe it, it’s
okey, because they are blind.

Example: the blind, Will you be offended? What

would be your reaction?

Therefore, you need to pray for those people that

they will be filled with knowledge of His will. That’s
why that prayer is very important.

Until people will be filled with the knowledge of His

will, they will not know what is right or wrong. So,
their behavior will be in accordance with their belief
system.

Example: Many people would say, bata pa ako pagtanda

ko na saka nako maging seryoso sa Diyos. Pagtanda ko na
mga 60 yrs old saka ko na ibigay sarili ko sa Diyos.
“TAMA BA?” well, he maybe sincere but sincerely wrong.

Not the Bible tells us, you’ll never know the future.
The Bible tells us today, be ready. That reality comes
to my life when I was diagnosed with suspected PTB
in 2005 which deferred me from my job application
with PAGCOR and Philippine Air Force Flying
School Academy.
Don’t worry it’s not communicable. You can be sure
of that my wife and my daughter has no TB.

I got it because of my lifestyle and vices/ and God

allowed it/ for me to realize that I am mortal.

So what must we pray for? The knowledge of the

will of God and how do we get that knowledge?
BIBLE.

“To know the will of God, we have to base it in the

Word of God.”

Next, let’s look at the 2nd prayer request, Colossians

1:10

10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, [b]to

please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work
and [c]increasing in the [d]knowledge of God;

Some. . . most . . . all.

Meaning, knowing God’s will must affect our work.

You know why it’s important?

2 Corinthians 5:9-10
9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or
absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed
for [a]his deeds in the body, according to what he has done,
whether good or bad.

WE MUST ALL appear before the

judgment seat of Christ so that each one may be
recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to
what he has done, whether good or bad.

Illustration: Judgment theology

Satan will accuse but Jesus will defend.

Our Lord Jesus is our Attorney or Counsel.

Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

And

Hebrews 8:12b “FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR

INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.”

“not in a state of amnesia”

It means “I will not use it against you”.
Lastly, we must ask for what? POWER. v.11
Strengthened with all power

Now, do you know why knowing God and power

are interconnected? The story of Elisha

2 Kings 6:16-17
16 So he [f]answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are

more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and
said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And
the LORD opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the
mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Many Christians today, their eyes were closed, they

did not see the reality and vast resources of God, the
reality that God is bigger than their problems.

Here’s an amazing statement: Jim Carrey

A lot of people today think money and relationship

will make them happy. Why people choose this?
They want happiness. However, If that what you
seek you will not be happy, you don’t believe it, ask
Jim Carrey. You know why happiness is crucial?

“For happiness is anyone and anything at all that’s

loved by you.” – Lyrics and sung by Lea Salonga
 “wrong thinking will result in wrong behavior.”

If you learn happiness is found in Jesus, then that’s

the real happiness.

God wants you to experience the power. Now

what’s the evidence of power according to verse 11?

All steadfastness Patience “long suffering” Joyously giving thanks

POWER IS TESTED IN TIMES OF ADVERSITY.

So if you have power, you have all

steadfastness, patience, and joyously giving
thanks

Finally, in verse 12, it says “giving thanks to the Father,

who has qualified us [h]to share in the inheritance of the [i]saints
in Light.”

Notice the grammar. Who has qualified us

Question, How rich are we? Assuming you are one of the
descendants of the richest man of the world.
80B USD x 0.001 = 80M USD vs. Infinity x 0.001 = infinity

Wow! We are very rich, is God bigger than our problems? Yes. Praise God.
Let us pray.