PASTOR ZANDERS' BIBLE STUDY
"WEDNESDAY IN THE WORD"
~ Discovering the Power of Prayer III ~
"When Doing All You Do Isn't Enough"
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."
Jeremiah 29:11-12 (NIV)
Read: Psalm 62:8
PASTOR ZANDERS' OPENING POINTS:
V Understand that God loves you and is crazy about you! He wants to hear from you! Your voice matters to Him and He takes your concern seriously: God listens!
V How often do we use the Power of God only enough, just to light our own strength and not the strength of others?
Read:
Zechariah 4-6
V Pour out your heart to God–He is your refuge! Pray just as you breathe: naturally!
Ephesians 1:19
V The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power we have available to us!
V The same hand that pushed back the rock in front of the tomb is the same hand that can keep us from temptation and other situations.
V Incomparable power –for the believers– that is the power that raised Christ from the dead!
Acts 12:1-5
V The enemy doesn’t care about you being a member of the church; he wants you to believe you are unimportant and that God doesn’t care anything about you!
V Peter had sixteen guards around him when they put him in prison; Herod knew the life they were living was going to rub off on others; they were trying to stop them! The church was praying to God for Peter.
THE LESSON POINTS:
V When should you pray?
-When the challenge(s) is (are) greater than you are
V Don’t give up and get discouraged – give it to God
V Behind every problem is a miracle –between every problem and miracle is a season of prayer– invite God’s participation in the situation: don’t go to people, go to God
V Remember to pray TO GOD –not to people to do things for you– only God can bring it to fruition; He knows how to orchestrate what He wants to take place in our lives
V God will always answer prayer; He may not answer the way you want Him to, but He will always answer to your best benefit
V It doesn’t say what they were praying in v.5... only that it was earnest prayer; who are you earnestly praying to God for? Or, is it always about you and yours?
V Our pride stops us from submitting to God
V How should you pray?
-As if your future depends upon it or as if your life depends on it
V Let God know, if He doesn’t do it, we are through!
Mark 4:14-15, 26-29
V Satan doesn’t want the Word to take root in your life
V The seed is being scattered... “let it do what it does” – the Word will change
V The Word of God is not dependent upon human manipulation
V Put it out there and know when it’s time to harvest...
V James 5:16 – availeth: produces power and effectiveness
V You have to believe and KNOW that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him
Read: Acts 12:6-10
V Why should you pray?
1. So that the Lord can or might bring you comfort!
2. So that the Lord can wake me up into the possibilities I have in Him; through the resources I have available through the Holy Spirit
3. So that the Lord might deliver you
PASTOR ZANDERS' CLOSING POINTS:
V Praying should give you a peace that surpasses all understanding!
V God is real and a God of impossibilities – He can do anything but fail!
V God brought Peter out of prison and God allowed them to go the rest of the way on their own...
V Peter thanked God with his own personal praise party; then he had to go tell it! Tell others what God had done in your life –TESTIFY!!!
V Prayer is about your heart and your posture –you can pray ANY where!
V Peter went back to where the people were praying
V God gives us exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ever think, ask or imagine
Previous Lesson: "Discovering The Power of Prayer II: Persistence in Prayer"
V Take an online Spiritual Gifts Inventory-visit: churchgrowth.org.
- There are no right answers; print your results, discuss with others
- Discover your gifts - discover your purpose - walk in God's grace!