1. What is Prayer ?
2. The Power of Prayer
3. Acceptable Prayer
4. Questions about Prayer
Shield to the soul = protects
Scourge to the devil = destroys
Sacrifice to God = pleases God
POWER
THE
OF Prayer
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous
man availeth much.” James 5:16
To have force to be active, efficient
“The prayer of a good man is full of power in
its working.” B.B.E.
“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous
man avails much.” NKJV
Examples from the Old Testament
Abraham - Gen. 20
Abimelech - king of Gerar
Abraham Claimed Sarah as his sister
“So Abraham prayed unto God: and God
healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his
maidservants; and they bare children.”
Gen. 20:17
Examples from the Old Testament
Hannah - 1 Samuel 1
Elkannah - Hannah and Peninnah
Hannah was barren
Eli said: “...Go in peace: and the God of
Israel grant thee thy petition that thou
has asked of him.” 1 Sam. 1:17
Examples from the Old Testament
Elijah - 1 Kings 17:17-24
Widow and son living in Zarephath
Son died
Elijah prayed to God - son revived
His prayer was powerful
Examples from the Old Testament
Elisha - 2 Kings 4:1-37
Spare bedroom for Elisha
No children - Next year had son
Died - called for Elisha
Prayed to God - Son restored to life
Examples from the Old Testament
Hezekiah - 2 Kings 20
About to die - set house in order
Prayed to God - given 15 years
Wanted a sign to show it was true
Shadow went backward 15 degrees
Examples from the Old Testament
Joshua - Joshua 10:12-14
Israel was in battle with Amorites
Joshua prayed to God
Sun and Moon stood still about a day
God answered his prayer
Examples from the Old Testament
Moses- Numbers 21:4-9
People murmured
God sent fiery serpents to punish
People asked Moses for help
“Moses prayed for the people”
God answered his prayer
Examples from the Old Testament
Elijah - Jas. 5:17-18 ~ 1 Kings 17
Ahab and Jezebel worshipped Baal
Elijah prayed that it not rain
Contest with prophets
Elijah prayed that it start raining
Prayer Does Avail Much
“Elias [Elijah] was a man subject to like
passions as we are,” Jas. 5:17a
“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours,”
NKJV
Acts 14:15 “we are men of like passions”
Prayer Does Avail Much
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous
man availeth much.” Jas. 5:16b
Persistent, active
Righteous man
Availeth much - has great force
Prayer Does Avail Much
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much.” Jas. 5:16b
“The prayer of the righteous have a powerful
effect.” Moffatt
“Tremendous power is made available through
a good man’s earnest Prayer.” Phillips
Prayer Does Avail Much
“Pray without ceasing” 1 Thes. 5:17
Matt. 7:7-8 “Ask and it shall be given you:”
“More things are wrought by prayer than
this world dreams of.”
If you will live as you ought [righteous]
and pray as you should [without ceasing
and according to God's will] then your
prayers will be powerful.
POWER
THE
OF Prayer
Sermon by Arthur Pigman
Evans Church of Christ
515 Gibbs Road
Evans, Ga. 30809
706-855-1249
arthurpigman@cybrtyme.com
Sunday Evening October 8, 2006