Speaker: Dr. Michelle Corral, Elder - Breath of the Holy Spirit

“ Prayer of Power”

This Lent, we seek the holy face of our Lord Jesus and embark on forty days of repentance. We need effective and powerful prayers. We need PRAYER OF POWER!

The four principles of Prayer of Power have been modeled after the life of Jesus: Posture of Prayer, Places of Prayer, Persistence in Prayer, and Passion in Prayer.

1. POSTURE OF PRAYER

“ Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane , and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.'” (Matthew 26:36). “He advanced a little and fell prostrate in praying.” (Matthew 26:39). He prayed a second time [verse 42], and a third time saying the same thing again [verse 44].

The physical posture of praying prostate with face to the ground is a model of the humility of Jesus.

The act of praying is Jesus' example of being humble, meek and lowly. As God, He did not have to pray but as man He humbled himself by praying and prostrating himself in submission to the will of his Father. Let us imitate the humility of Jesus who “humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on the cross.” [Philippians 2:8]

A prayer of power requires the right posture of the person praying. This “posture” of prayer is humility. We should always pray with humility. We should pray like Jesus, meek and lowly. We should pray knowing that God is our only help!

2. PLACES OF PRAYER

The prayer of power requires the right places of prayer. These may be special, quiet, and solitary places where you can be alone with God. These may be any place where you and the Lord can be in spiritual union.

Jesus had many places of prayer. Among them are the following places written in the Gospel:

a. A deserted place – “Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.” (Mark 1:35 )

b. Mountain – After curing the sick, breaking the loaves and multiplying the fish to feed the five thousand, Jesus “went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone.” (Matthew 14:23)

c. Lonely places – “The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and be cured of their ailments, but he would withdraw to lonely places to pray .” (Luke 5:15-16)

d. Mount Tabor – Jesus frequently prayed in Mount Tabor, a mountain in Northern Galilee , where his transfiguration took place.

e. Gethsemane – Everytime Jesus was in Jerusalem , He prayed at the same time and at the same place in the Garden of Gethsemane . He prayed to his Father always.

When you are alone with God and when you have prayer of power – heaven stops. Healing comes out of your body. Your children are freed from drugs. God multiplies your food. Everything can happen through prayers. Prayers can change many things.

In order to have prayer of power , pray like Jesus prayed . “But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” (Matthew 6:6)

3. PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER

Jesus wants you to pray all the time, to pray without ceasing – never to give up.

Be persistent in praying that the words that comes out of your mouth be words of kindness and humility. Be consistent in being alone with God and in humbling yourself before the Lord. Be prepared to die to yourself spiritually. Practice acts of humility.

Jesus told Peter: “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own fault may not fail…” (Luke 22:31-32).

Jesus also said to Peter: “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Matthew 26:41).

Peter was asleep. He did not pray. He did not seek God. He had no power to resist the devil who was after him. As a result, he denied three times that he knew Jesus. [Matthew 26:69-75]

“After withdrawing about a stone's throw from them and kneeling, he prayed , saying, ‘Father if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.'” (Luke 22:41-42). Jesus prayed to his Father three times. He was persistent. He would not leave until He had the strength to go to Calvary . As a man, He had to pray for strength to carry the Cross.

When you pray, be persistent like Jesus. When you are in constant prayer, Satan cannot take advantage of you. Don't get up from your prayer place until you move the mountain. Don't settle for less – pray like Jesus!

4. PASSION IN PRAYER

To have prayer of power, there should be passion in prayer.

Jesus was praying passionately. His whole being was praying. “In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12). At Gethsemane , “He was in such agony and he prayed fervently.” (Luke 22:44)

Pray to God with passion. Pray persistently. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. God knows when you are praying. Pray until your prayer is answered. God will let you know when it is accomplished.

THE PRAYERS OF JESUS

Jesus is our High Priest who gave his precious blood for us. He is living in heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father – interceding for us. “He is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25).

Jesus has three prayers for us:

1. Jesus is asking the Father to give us the Spirit of Truth. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate [Counselor] to be with you always, the Spirit of Truth.” (John 14:16-17).

He is praying for us to be close and sensitive to the Holy Spirit. He prays that we become yielded, surrendered and dependent on the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of God.

2. Jesus is praying that you will not fall into temptation. “…but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail.” (Luke 22:32).

Keep on serving God. Be faithful so that your faith in God will not falter when the devil attacks you.

3. Jesus prays that when you go through trials, you will come out victorious.

Jesus prays for all of us. “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours.” (John 17:9). “I ask …that you keep them from the evil one.” (John 17:15).

There is a reason for our trials. Our faith is being tested and strengthened. We should stand firm in going through trials. The devil will pay us seven times what he has taken from us.

If we are faithful, Jesus will carry us through the trials. He does not want us to come out of the trials but to go through them and be victorious!