Power in Prayer
Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 01/26/2025
Foundation Scriptures:
Also [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up). Luke 18:1 AMPC
1. Do Not Stop Praying.
a. Pray always.
b Pray when times are tough or when you are going through difficulties or challenges.
c. Pray when times are good, and you feel on top of the world.
d. When people go through hard times, there is a temptation to quit or give up.
e. Jesus told us to not be cowardly, but rather to be persistent in our faith and in our prayers.
f. Do not lose your focus.
g. Galatians 6:9 AMPC –– And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
h. Until we see Jesus face-to-face, keep encouraging yourself and others in the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6).
i. Do not get too comfortable, either, when it looks like things are going well.
j. When people are feeling comfortable, they may let down their guard and relax and neglect the Word and prayer.
k. We must live by faith, and not in constant fear or worry; however, we must also realize that the enemy is also on the lookout to take advantage of any opportunity where he can carry out a surprise attack.
2. Be Vigilant.
a. We must not be ignorant of the devil’s devices—his wiles and intentions—so that he is not able to get an advantage over us (2 Cor. 2:11).
b. 1 Peter 5:8-9a NKJV –– Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, …
c. Be vigilant—awake and watchful.
d. Never drop your guard and always be ready to resist the enemy.
e. How do we protect ourselves from the enemy and prevent him from getting the advantage?
f. James 4:7 KJV –– Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
g. Keep your eyes on the Lord.
h. Live a life submitted to God and His Word.
i. Resist the enemy—do not allow him to goad you into reacting in the flesh or taking matters into your own hands.
j. No matter what the devil tries, do not let it affect your heart attitude and do not step out of love in any area of your life.
k. Pray in the Holy Ghost and listen attentively for the voice and guidance of the Lord.
l. Obey when He speaks to you.
3. Stay the Course.
a. Be clothed with humility, because God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (1 Pet. 5:5).
b. If you humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, He will be able to raise you up and use you for His purposes when the time is right (1 Pet. 5:6).
c. Continue to trust Him with your life, and to cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Pet. 5:7).
d. Give yourself and your whole life to the plans and purposes of God.
e. Your life will be abundantly blessed, and His purposes will be fulfilled through you.
4. We Have a Ministry.
a. 2 Corinthians 4:1 KJV –– Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not.
b. 2 Corinthians 4:1 AMPC –– Therefore, since we do hold and engage in this ministry by the mercy of God [granting us favor, benefits, opportunities, and especially salvation], we do not get discouraged (spiritless and despondent with fear) or become faint with weariness and exhaustion.
c. We have been given a ministry of righteousness, a powerful message, and a responsibility to serve others.
d. We are the Church—the Body of Christ—and we represent Him on earth.
e. We are God’s ambassadors to stand in the gap for all men and to preach the Gospel to them.
f. We are God’s voice and hands and feet—bringing life and liberty wherever we go.
g. Our prayers and faith and bold stand are what hold back the tide of the enemy and the forces of darkness that threaten all of humanity.
h. By God’s mercy we have been empowered, and by His grace we will not quit or give up, till we win!
5. Your Prayers Are Powerful.
a. Our fervent prayers are heard in Heaven, and they are powerful (James 5:16).
b. As we pray God’s Word, we see Him move.
c. For the rest of this month, we will continue to fervently pray for America.
d. We will continue to pray for President Trump and the leadership of our nation.
e. Even throughout the next four years, we cannot relax or let down our guard.
f. We—the Church—are what holds back the tide of darkness.
g. Let us not give up, or back off, but let us keep up the pressure in the spirit and see God’s Kingdom come and His will be done, throughout the whole earth.
h. Matthew 24:13-14 KJV –– But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.