Prayer Releases God's Power

Scripture: James 5:16 The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

"Prayer" said C. Samuel Storms, "in and of itself possesses no power." I was astounded by that statement, and I didn't understand it until I read what Storms said next: "Prayer is powerful because God is powerful, and prayer is the means through which that divine power is released and channeled into our lives" (Reaching God's Ear, pg.223). In other words, all the power in prayer is really God's power activated by prayer.

When you pray for another person, there is nothing that flows from you to them, no vibes, no force, no energy. Instead, your prayers go heavenward, and the power of God moves from Him to the ones you pray for.

When the Bible says "prayer...is powerful and effective," it means God acts powerfully and effectively through the prayers of His people. Prayer is the instrument by which God has chosen to have his power directed in the universe. Ole Hallesby provides something of a mental picture of how this works: "This power is so rich and so mobile that ll we desire to have this power applied, and He, the Lord of this power, will direct the necessary power to the desired place" (Payer, pg.63). What a surprising arrangement - God partnering with human beings to accomplish His purposes!

R.A. Torrey, enthralled by the enormity of this power, states, "Prayer is the key that unlocks all the storehouses of God's infinite grace and power. All that God is, and...has is at the disposal of prayer. Prayer can do anything that God can do, and as God can do anything, prayer is omnipotent. (the Power of Prayer, pg.17).

Prayer can do what political action cannot, what education cannot, what military might cannot, and what planning committees cannot. All these are impotent in comparison.

Prayer can move mountains. It can change human hearts, families, neighborhoods, cities and nations. It's the ultimate source of power, because it is the power of Almighty God.

This power is available to the humblest Christian. It was "a man just like us" who prayed "that it would not rain," and God stopped the rain in Israel for three and half years. Where will the power of your prayers be felt today?

REFLECT

* Where do you think God would like some of His power directed through your prayers today?

* What do you think God would like to do in your neighborhood or workplace in response to prayer?

PRAY

* PRAISE God for the great power by which He moves in our world and governs the affairs of all people.

* THANK God for his willingness to hear our prayers and to direct His power to places and persons through them.

* CONFESS if you have failed to make use of this great privilege to advance God's cause in this world through prayer.

* ASK God to help you become a powerful and effective pray-er in the future.

* INTERCEDE for those who live or work near you, releasing God's power and grace into their lives.

Be blessed,

Pastor Dr. Ron Short