Prayer that has power

You ever heard the phrase prayer changes things? Or maybe you’ve heard the phrase prayer is the key
that unlocks the door to heaven. Well these things are true prayer is a powerful tool in the arsenal of
every believer. It is through prayer that we have access to God almighty, and it brings all of his power to
our disposal. Let’s take a look at prayer: it’s prerequisites, it’s power, and it’s purpose.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual
fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and
he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and
six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. James
5:16-18

1. It’s prerequisites
a. Effectual
i. Effective service; active work
ii. My words: active focused and purposeful
b. Fervent
i. Intent, earnest
ii. My words: serious intense
c. Righteous
i. Capstone of the prerequisites
ii. “ The only prayer God will hear from a sinner is the prayer of repentance”
iii. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: For thou, LORD, hast
not forsaken them that seek thee. Psalm 9:10
2. It’s power
a. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might
not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And
he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. James
5:17-18
b. Source of the power
c. Not in the people praying, but the God they serve
d. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish
much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have
tremendous power]. James 5:16 AMP
3. It’s purpose
a. Simple
i. For God’s power to be poured out on the areas of need so He can show his
power and care and receive the glory.
b. Needs of your life
c. Needs of your brothers and sisters in Christ
d. Needs of the lost

My version of the verse: the serious, intense, focused, and consistent prayer of a person whose heart is
right with God, gives them access to the power of God being poured out on the situations of their lives
Don’t ever forget that we have access to the power of God. If you want to see God move pray. If you
have a need, pray. If your brother or sister is struggling, pray. Prayer is the greatest tool we have in our
arsenal. I close with this

https://ministry127.com/resources/illustration/asking-in-faith

When Hudson Taylor was sailing to China to begin his missionary work, his ship was in great danger. The
wind had died, and the current was carrying them toward sunken reefs which were close to islands
inhabited by cannibals—so close they could see them building fires on the shore. Everything they tried
was to no avail. In his journal Taylor recorded what happened next: The Captain said to me, “Well, we
have done everything that can be done.” A thought occurred to me, and I replied, “No, there is one
thing we have not done yet.” “What is that?” he queried. “Four of us on board are Christians. Let us
each retire to his own cabin, and in agreed prayer ask the Lord to give us immediately a breeze.”

Taylor prayed briefly and then, certain that the answer was coming, went up on the deck and asked the
first officer to let down the sails. “What would be the good of that?” he answered roughly. I told him we
had been asking a wind from God; that it was coming immediately. Within minutes the wind did began
to blow, and it carried them safely past the reefs. Taylor wrote: Thus God encouraged me ere landing on
China’s shores to bring every variety of need to Him in prayer, and to expect that He would honour the
name of the Lord Jesus and give the help each emergency required.

Knowing that our prayers touch the heart of our loving Father in Heaven and that He can meet any
need, we should be confident that He will hear and answer when we cry out to Him.