The Power That's Found In Prayer

In the New Testament is the book of Philippians. The theme of the book is "encouragement". It was most likely written from Rome in AD 62 while Paul was in prison. Paul wanted the Philippian Christians to know that Christian growth comes primarily through the patient practice of love and service versus mystical insights. Paul's first order of the day was to bring encouragement to the Philippians through prayer.

God hears our prayers and there is power in prayer. God is our ability to have effective prayer. Sometimes people search after gifts ~ speaking in tongues, etc ~ instead of waiting patiently for the pathway of prayer. Paul and Silas were thrown into jail. Through them, the jailer was saved. Joy is gladness of heart and that's what motivated Paul. Joy is connected to grace.

• Prayer is open to every Christian.
• Prayer is a path to encouragement.
• Prayer is critical for Christian growth.
• God wants us to know why we pray.

Philippians 1:3 ~ 4 “I thank my God every time I remember you." v.4 ~ "In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy."

• Paul was very thankful for all of the Philippian Christians.
• Paul also prayed for them with joy.

Here are some points to think about:

• Let your feelings of thanks for others become a motive to pray for them.
• Respond to the joy of the Lord and pray with an even greater confidence.

Philippians 1:6 ~ "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Paul recognized his partnership with the Philippian Christians.

Philippians 1:5 ~ "Because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now."

Paul had a deep affection for them.

Philippians 1:7 ~ 8 ~ "It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me." v.8~ "God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus."

Our partnership begins with God. He wants us to partner with Him in prayer. Partnership is a powerful thing. Paul deeply cared for and prayed for them in Phillipi and Rome where he was a prisoner in both places.

We don't turn on others when things go sour. We partner with them and pray. And in so doing, we have a prayer partner. We all need a prayer partner. Husbands and wives need to pray together. Are all of us on cloud 9 all of the time? No way! Sometimes we are up, and sometimes we are down. When we are down, we have someone to lift us up, and vice versa.

Some points to think about:

• You have heard it said, "The family that prays together stays together."
• The church is, also, your family.
• Would you be willing to have a prayer partner?

Philippians 1:9a ~ "And this is my prayer."

Paul prayed that they would grow in love.

Philippians 1:9b ~ "That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth in insight."

Paul prayed that they would discern what is best and have wise actions. He also was praying that they were on fire for God. The difference between a red hot church and a lukewarm church is... God. The red hot church is measured by love. The lukewarm church is measured by no love.

Paul prayed that they would discern what is best and have wise actions.

Philippians 1:10 ~ “So that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ."

Paul prayed that they would increasingly become like Christ.

• That they would have a red hot love that burns within them for God and the things of God.
• For them to have discernment.
• To strive to be more like Jesus.

Points to think about:

• Through prayer we see God help others gain insight and knowledge that can come in no other way.
• Through prayer we see God help others make wise decisions and know what God wants them to do.
• Through prayer we see God help others discover what Jesus wants them to do.
• Pray that God helps you to love.
• Pray that God helps you to have discernment.
• Pray that God helps you in making decisions in life.
• Pray that God helps you to be more like Jesus.

Is it possible we are living below the appropriation what God wants to give us because we don't pray? Yes. Do you have a prayer partner? You need to get one. There is so much power in prayer. Please learn to pray spontaneously throughout the day. Whether you are doing laundry, washing dishes, walking, enjoying a sunrise/sunset... the list just goes on and on. Take the time to pray. You will be glad you did! God answers prayer!