The Power of Prayer John 16:23-24

Text: “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My Name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

John 16:24.

Good morning, praying Christian!  At a time when the Prayer Meeting is the worst attended gathering in the universal, evangelical, Christian church - you do well to be found in the private place of fervent prayer.  God loves to hear and to answer the prayerful petitions of His faithful Christian people.

“Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”  (Jeremiah 33:3)

In the above context of this verse from the prophet Jeremiah we have, as it were, God’s telephone number - we call unto Him in prayer, and he promises to answer us via His Word revealed in our Bibles.  God’s Number: J:33:3  (Jeremiah 33:3)

This is a wonderful two way Spiritual fellowship between the redeemed Christian and our Holy Lord God, and all through the Cross of His Son, Christ Jesus, and His onetime Atonement Sacrifice for our sins. 

If we ask our Father for anything in His precious Name; the Father in Heaven promises to ’…answer (us) and show (us) great and mighty things, which (we) knoweth not.’  Hallelujah! What a gracious promise from God!  Thank you, Lord God in Heaven,  Amen.                (2 Corinthians 1:19-20) 

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you;  for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened…If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask him?”       (Matthew 7:7;11)

Our two verse Bible reading for today reemphasizes a vital promise of God repeated many times in Holy Scripture - that the Lord God in Heaven will answer our prayers to Him, and will unleash His Almighty power in response.  Having such power at the point of our feeble tongues - how can we neglect being in the place of fervent prayer? 

There is very real power in the prayers of Blood-bought Christians!  Pray now!

The prayer-life of any professing Christian is a good indicator to that person of the love he/she has for the Lord God.  We always desire to be with the one we love - right?  Therefore, IF we really love the Lord God, then we will deeply desire to be in His Presence; to fellowship with him in prayer; and to talk to Him of the longings within our hearts.

On the other hand, IF we do not desire to spend time in prayer to the Living Lord God, then it is also a good indication of the lack of Spiritual desire in our hearts.  Who wants to spend time in the presence of someone one does not personally know?  Who really seeks to share their inner thoughts; emotions and desires with perfect strangers?

How is YOUR daily prayer-life, professing Christian?  Do YOU love the Lord?  Do YOU long to spend time in His Holy Presence?

Someone once wrote, ’The praying Christian is a powerful Christian.  No prayer-life?  No power!  No power?  No usefulness!  No usefulness to God?  Not much point in practicing a dead, loveless 'religion.’

True Christianity involves having a three-way relationship which is healthy, vibrant, and alive.  We commune regularly with God in prayer, and He communes regularly with us through His Word.  Having communed with the Lord God, we are more inspired to commune with those of ’…like precious faith…’ in Christ Jesus - we are filled with God’s Spirit in order to share the love, truth, and light of the Lord God Jehovah.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”  (Matthew 5:16)

“A new commandment I (Christ Jesus) give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.”  (John 13:34-35)

Furthermore, true Christianity is inspired and commanded to ‘…go the extra mile…’ in loving, not only those who love us, but to love even our enemies who ridicule us and seek to harm us, who slander us, and ‘…despitefully use us…’  That is true revolutionary Christian love!  (Matthew 5:38-48)

Thought:  We only receive the necessary power to love like Christ when we seek to spend time in His Presence; time, in faithful and fervent prayer.  Let us retire to our prayer-closets immediately.