The Power of Our Prayers
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Intro: Last week I preached on “Our Perspective of God”, with the hope that we would realize that how we view God will determine the actions of our faith.
Perception- the way we view things; a way of regarding, understanding or interpreting something; a mental impression formed
This morning I want to preach on the subject of, “The Power of Our Prayers”, which is tied to the Perception of Our God.
The way that we perceive God is going to determine not only the way that we pray, but also the power of our prayers!
James 5:16 (NKJV)
16 … The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
Text; 2 Chron. 14:9-15
9 Then Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.
10 So Asa went out against him, and they set the troops in battle array in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11 And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, “Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!”
12 So the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled.
13 And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar. So the Ethiopians were overthrown, and they could not recover, for they were broken before the Lord and His army. And they carried away very much spoil.
14 Then they defeated all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the Lord came upon them; and they plundered all the cities, for there was exceedingly much spoil in them.
15 They also attacked the livestock enclosures, and carried off sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.
1. Who Is Asa?; 1-5
1. Who Is Asa?; 1-5
1 So Abijah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet for ten years.
2 Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God,
3 for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images.
4 He commanded Judah to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment.
5 He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him.
Asa was a man who sought to do right in the sight of the Lord, regardless of his home life!
Asa was the son of King Abijam of Israel, who was a very wicked king.
3 And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him; his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.
Asa’s grandmother, Maachah, was even worse. She had a bad influence on Abijam and was caretaker over Asa when Abijam was killed.
13 Also he removed Maachah his grandmother from being queen mother, because she had made an obscene image of Asherah. And Asa cut down her obscene image and burned it by the Brook Kidron.
Too many people claim the “victim card” in our society, because of a failed home life, or being born without a silver spoon in their mouth! Hogwash!! You choose who you want to be!
Benjamin Franklin dropped out of school at age ten because his parents couldn’t afford to keep him in school. But that didn't stop him from learning. He taught himself through eager reading, and eventually went on to invent the lightning rod and bifocals. Oh, and he became one of America's Founding Fathers.
Oprah Winfrey gave birth at age 14 and lost her child. She is one of the most successful and richest people in the world today, but Winfrey didn't always have it so easy. She grew up in Milwaukee, Wis. and was repeatedly molested by her cousin, uncle and a family friend. But Winfrey's tragic past didn't stop her from becoming the force she is today. She excelled as an honors student in high school, and won an oratory contest which secured her a full scholarship to college. Now the entrepreneur, author and TV personality has the admiration of millions and a net worth of $2.9 billion.
Colonel Sanders {KFC} is without a doubt one of the most recognizable and rich food businessmen in history but before that he used to be filthy poor and homeless. His father died when he was only five and his mother quickly remarried. When he was ten the colonel decided to leave his house because he couldn’t take his stepfather’s constant beatings and abuse. He remained homeless for a really long time and did many jobs in his life until he came up with his own “secret” recipe and became the founder of KFC.
King Asa came out of a wicked home environment, yet he turned out to be one of the great kings of Judah because he chose to be! And that choice proved to be the difference between success and failure not only for himself, but for the kingdom of Judah.
2. Asa’s Problem; 9-10
2. Asa’s Problem; 9-10
For ten years the land of Judah was quiet and without war. Asa had made many changes for the good in the land and the people were following the Lord. But now an army of a million soldiers and 300 chariots are marching upon the land to destroy it. Really!!
This goes to show us as christians that we are not immune to hard times, trials and temptation.
3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
Just like the Israelites last week that saw the giants in the land, and now Asa sees an army of 1 million marching towards him, we all have potential problems in our life as well.
How many have lost your jobs through layoffs, plant closings, or the bosses son needed a position?
How many have had their world turned upside down through the death of a family member or the onset of a major health issue?
How many families have been broken up by sin, or your stance against SIN that the rest of the family tolerates?
When these things happen, it feels like the weight of the world comes down on you [a million man army]
You can either play the “victim card” or you can face your problems and overcome them in the Lord!
3. Prepare and Pray; 6-8, 10-11
3. Prepare and Pray; 6-8, 10-11
Two things that Asa did is what we need to do today, for that million man army is on somebody’s horizon.
[6-8] Prepare- during the 10 years of peace, Asa was building up the defenses of Israel for a day when peace was no more.
He fortified the cities and developed a depleted army into 580 thousand warriors.
When we are in times of peace and quiet, we need to enjoy those times but also we need to prepare for what’s ahead, those rainy days and vehement storms.
7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Luke 6:48 (NKJV)
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
Asa got his troops together and went out to meet his problem head on. And when he got there he PRAYED!!
Asa has a confident perception of the power of God and he prays like it!
[10a] First, Asa cried out to God. In his distress, he did not turn to pagan idols, or friends, counselors or his own strategies or strength. He knew that the only way out of this situation was to consult God, to plead his cause before the Almighty.
[10b] Second, Asa knew the power of God is the only power that could help the few against the many. You are never outnumbered when you are standing with God. [Elisha prayed for servants eyes to be open 2 Kings 6:13-17]
[10c] Third, in his plea for help, he conveyed his trust in God alone.
[10d] Fourth, he reveled in the power of the name of God (the character and reputation). It was God’s fame on the line in this struggle against evil. Although there was a million man army before them, God’s greatness trumps the mightiest army.
[10e] Fifth, he reminded God that the people of Israel were his. They followed him. They staked their lives on him. They loved and needed him.
Asa stood in faith, being outnumbered nearly 2 to 1, believing that God could do the impossible against seemingly impossible odds. The power of his prayer was based on his perception of God!
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
4. God’s Answer; 12-15
4. God’s Answer; 12-15
God heard the cry of His people and came to their aid!
God will never leave us in the midst of a battle nor will we have to enter one without the Lord!
We are going to lose a job, we are going to have our world turned upside down by sickness, death and things beyond our control. Sin will continue mar our families, society and our culture. But we never have to face these battles alone!
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the Lord.
Not only was Asa delivered by the hand of the Lord, God gave them the boldness to pursue, carry the battle to the enemy territory and then gain all the spoils.
I don’t know how many times in the scripture we can read how Israel was outnumbered by their enemy and God delivered them and enriched them by it!
Usually after every battle we come through in the Lord, we are strengthened in our faith and enriched in our spirit. And often God does bless us with material prosperity as well!
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
Luke 11:9–10 (NKJV)
9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Close;
Remember when I opened this message I told you that “The Power of Our Prayers” is tied to Our Perception of God. Well it is and Asa has proved that to us this morning.
But too often we don’t get these results in our life, and here’s the reason why?
God is in control, but He doesn’t expect you to lean on a shovel and pray for a hole.
We have to put feet to our prayers and be involved with God!