Active Faith: The Power of Prevailing Prayer
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the often misunderstood concept of God's intervention in our lives, particularly focusing on the phrase "God will work it out." While this statement can offer comfort, it can also lead to a passive approach to our faith and prayer life. We explored the idea that God desires to work things out in our lives, but He requires our active participation and invitation. The notion that everything that happens is God's will was challenged, emphasizing that our choices and actions have significant consequences. We discussed how our decisions can either align with God's will or open doors for the enemy to wreak havoc in our lives.
We also examined the importance of prevailing prayer, which goes beyond casual or crisis-driven prayers. Prevailing prayer is an active, fervent, and persistent form of communication with God that involves wrestling with spiritual forces and standing firm in faith. This type of prayer requires us to be vigilant, earnest, and proactive, not just reactive. It is through prevailing prayer that we can see God's will manifest in our lives, communities, and nations.
The sermon highlighted the need for a shift in our mindset and approach to prayer. We must move from a passive, "God will work it out" mentality to an active, engaged, and fervent prayer life. This involves understanding the different types of prayer and recognizing that not all prayers are equal. Prevailing prayer is about partnering with the Holy Spirit, understanding the spiritual battles we face, and taking authority in prayer to see God's will done on earth as it is in heaven.
### Key Takeaways
1. Active Participation in God's Will: God desires to work things out in our lives, but He requires our active participation and invitation. Our choices and actions have significant consequences, and we must align ourselves with God's will to see His plans come to fruition. This challenges the passive mindset that everything that happens is God's will. [07:03]
2. Prevailing Prayer: Prevailing prayer goes beyond casual or crisis-driven prayers. It is an active, fervent, and persistent form of communication with God that involves wrestling with spiritual forces and standing firm in faith. This type of prayer requires vigilance, earnestness, and a proactive approach. [23:34]
3. Spiritual Authority and Responsibility: We have been given authority and responsibility to rule and reign on earth as God leads. This means we must take an active role in prayer and spiritual warfare, understanding that our prayers can disarm principalities and powers. [31:04]
4. Proactive Prayer: We must be proactive in our prayer life, discerning and responding to the Holy Spirit's leading. This involves being vigilant and watchful, recognizing the spiritual signals and acting upon them to prevent catastrophes and align with God's will. [41:15]
5. Community and Intercession: Our prayers have the power to shift nations and bring about significant change. We must come together as a community, praying earnestly and fervently for God's will to be done in our lives, communities, and nations. This collective effort in prayer can lead to miraculous outcomes and divine intervention. [52:11]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:19] - Introduction: God Will Not Work It Out
[04:21] - The Reality of Tragic Outcomes
[07:03] - Consequences of Our Choices
[09:23] - Misconceptions About God's Will
[11:25] - Parental Guidance and Spiritual Authority
[13:17] - The Deception of Temporary Pleasures
[15:34] - The Fear of the Lord and Spiritual Authority
[17:42] - The Role of Prayer in Our Lives
[19:34] - Prevailing Prayer Defined
[21:17] - Colossians 4:2 and Vigilant Prayer
[23:34] - Characteristics of Prevailing Prayer
[25:43] - The Power of Prayer in Changing Situations
[27:06] - Exercising Dominion Through Prayer
[29:09] - Wrestling Prayer and Spiritual Warfare
[31:04] - Taking Authority in Prayer
[32:46] - The Need for Fervent Prayer
[34:47] - Disarming Principalities Through Prayer
[37:02] - The Importance of Intercession
[38:47] - Being Earnest and Vigilant in Prayer
[41:15] - Proactive Prayer and Spiritual Discernment
[44:33] - Responding to the Holy Spirit's Leading
[46:09] - Testimony and Call to Prayer
[47:13] - Praying for Healing and Miracles
[49:25] - The Power of Collective Prayer
[52:11] - Praying for Nations and Individuals
[54:22] - Sending Off the Honduras Team
[56:03] - Closing and Call to Evening Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Colossians 4:2-4 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak."
2. 1 Peter 4:7 (ESV): "The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers."
3. Galatians 6:7-8 (ESV): "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Colossians 4:2-4 instruct believers to do in their prayer life? How does this align with the concept of prevailing prayer discussed in the sermon? [21:17]
2. According to 1 Peter 4:7, what should believers be mindful of as they pray? How does this relate to being vigilant and proactive in prayer? [41:15]
3. In Galatians 6:7-8, what principle about sowing and reaping is highlighted? How does this principle challenge the idea that everything that happens is God's will? [07:03]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the instruction to "continue steadfastly in prayer" in Colossians 4:2-4 challenge a passive approach to prayer? What does it mean to be "watchful" in prayer? [21:17]
2. What does it mean to be "self-controlled and sober-minded" for the sake of prayers as mentioned in 1 Peter 4:7? How can this mindset impact our prayer life and spiritual vigilance? [41:15]
3. How does the principle of sowing and reaping in Galatians 6:7-8 apply to our daily choices and their consequences? How does this understanding affect our view of God's will and our responsibility? [07:03]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current prayer life. Are there areas where you have been passive, expecting God to "work it out" without your active participation? How can you shift to a more proactive and fervent prayer life? [17:42]
2. Think of a recent situation where you faced a challenge or crisis. How did you approach it in prayer? Did you engage in prevailing prayer, or was it more of a casual or crisis-driven prayer? How can you improve? [23:34]
3. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to exercise spiritual authority and responsibility. How can you take an active role in prayer and spiritual warfare to see God's will manifest in that area? [31:04]
4. How can you be more vigilant and discerning in your prayer life? Are there specific signals or checks in your spirit that you need to pay more attention to? How can you act upon them to align with God's will? [41:15]
5. Consider the role of community and intercession in your prayer life. How can you engage more with your church community to pray earnestly and fervently for God's will to be done in your lives, communities, and nations? [52:11]
6. Reflect on a time when you experienced the consequences of your choices. How did it affect your relationship with God and your understanding of His will? How can you make better choices that align with God's will moving forward? [07:03]
7. How can you cultivate a mindset of prevailing prayer in your daily routine? What practical steps can you take to ensure that your prayer life is active, fervent, and persistent? [23:34]
Devotional
Day 1: Active Participation in God's Will
God desires to work things out in our lives, but He requires our active participation and invitation. Our choices and actions have significant consequences, and we must align ourselves with God's will to see His plans come to fruition. This challenges the passive mindset that everything that happens is God's will. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of making decisions that align with God's desires and purposes. By actively seeking God's guidance and making choices that reflect His will, we can experience the fullness of His plans for our lives. [07:03]
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (ESV): "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."
Reflection: Think of a recent decision you made. Did you actively seek God's guidance in that decision? How can you ensure that your future choices align with God's will?
Day 2: Prevailing Prayer
Prevailing prayer goes beyond casual or crisis-driven prayers. It is an active, fervent, and persistent form of communication with God that involves wrestling with spiritual forces and standing firm in faith. This type of prayer requires vigilance, earnestness, and a proactive approach. Prevailing prayer is about partnering with the Holy Spirit, understanding the spiritual battles we face, and taking authority in prayer to see God's will done on earth as it is in heaven. [23:34]
Colossians 4:2 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."
Reflection: Reflect on your current prayer life. Are you engaging in prevailing prayer, or is your prayer life more casual and crisis-driven? What steps can you take to develop a more fervent and persistent prayer life?
Day 3: Spiritual Authority and Responsibility
We have been given authority and responsibility to rule and reign on earth as God leads. This means we must take an active role in prayer and spiritual warfare, understanding that our prayers can disarm principalities and powers. By exercising our spiritual authority, we can influence the spiritual realm and bring about God's will in our lives and communities. This requires a deep understanding of our identity in Christ and the power that comes with it. [31:04]
Ephesians 6:12 (ESV): "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Reflection: How do you perceive your spiritual authority in Christ? Are there areas in your life where you need to exercise this authority more actively?
Day 4: Proactive Prayer
We must be proactive in our prayer life, discerning and responding to the Holy Spirit's leading. This involves being vigilant and watchful, recognizing the spiritual signals and acting upon them to prevent catastrophes and align with God's will. Proactive prayer is about being ahead of the curve, not just reacting to situations as they arise. It requires a deep sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and a commitment to act on His promptings. [41:15]
1 Peter 5:8 (ESV): "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
Reflection: Are you proactive in your prayer life, or do you find yourself mostly reacting to crises? How can you become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading in your daily prayers?
Day 5: Community and Intercession
Our prayers have the power to shift nations and bring about significant change. We must come together as a community, praying earnestly and fervently for God's will to be done in our lives, communities, and nations. This collective effort in prayer can lead to miraculous outcomes and divine intervention. When we unite in prayer, we amplify our spiritual impact and create a powerful force for God's kingdom. [52:11]
2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV): "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
Reflection: How can you contribute to your community's prayer efforts? Is there a specific issue or need that you feel called to intercede for with others?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "I think somebody needs to hear that this morning, that he's not mad at you. I want to deal with a subject that I've been talking about for some time. I want to just stay in the vein of prayer. want to mention something. The title of this message is, God will not work it out. God will. will not work it out." [02:19] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "People feel that since that I'm God's child, that our lives are on a slide rail and life just happens. And by that, I mean that everything that happens to me is from God, of God, and is God. I believe not everything happens to you and me are just God things. I think there's a devil on the loose that wants to kill, steal, and destroy. Come on, talk to me." [07:03] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Prevailing prayer is the Holy Spirit himself who makes intercession through me, and the Holy Spirit invites us to rigorously participate with him in this type of praying. Do you hear what I'm saying? Now, I'm going to advance you from this level of praying, and we're going to take a giant step forward this morning. I'm going from polite praying to prevailing praying." [23:34] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "There are times that God will leave it up to me on whether or not a situation will work itself out. All right. I'm going to come over here. There are times that God leaves it, leaves it up to me on whether or not an issue is going to be worked out or not. All right. That's better. Are y'all okay?" [25:43] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God's raising us all up higher. I don't know how to pray. Welcome to the club. I've said it a thousand times. You're never going to learn at home. You learn a lot by watching. And you learn a lot by listening. Sometimes I just watch people pray. I know all of you by your feet. By the way. I kid you not. I know all of you by your feet." [50:29] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I think I've lived long enough, and I've studied humanity long enough to realize that there are a lot of situations that come to a very tragic end. I'm talking about catastrophic. Anybody? You know what I'm talking about. And I don't think God worked it out. I think he wanted to work it out, but he didn't work it out. And it's not his fault. He wants to work it out. But in too many cases, we don't allow him the freedom to work it out." [04:21] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "See, in your scriptures, it teaches us that our life choices have consequences. We reap what we sow. Now, that's Galatians. How many of you believe that? Now, we like to believe this when it's good things. I sow love, I get love, right? All right. I sow time, I get time. Press down, shaking together, and running over. But your Bible says in Galatians 5 that if I sow to my flesh, I reap destruction. Listen to the language. I reap destruction." [09:23] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Prevailing prayer is not prayer when you're only in trouble, which you can pray prevailing prayers when you are in trouble. Prevailing prayer is not isolated to when you're in a crisis or you need protection or you need God to come through for you. I'm not talking about you've not prayed and all of a sudden now you're at the bedside of someone that is passing and now you're throwing up some Hail Marys, so to speak, to the Lord." [21:17] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Prevailing prayer is wrestling prayer. And this is a type of prayer we do not like. Oh, Holy ghost, help me here. The apostle said, we do not wrestle with flesh and blood. How do you wrestle with principalities and powers? Through prevailing prayer. It is a weapon that God has given us for the pulling down of strongholds. Listen to me, parents. Listen to me, dads. Listen to me, business owners." [29:09] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "There are demons assigned to certain things. There are demons assigned to certain regions, areas, ministries, families, children. Now, don't act like you don't believe that. And how we've been doing it for the last 60 years has been good, but not great. There is a greater. We've been losing territory rather than gaining territory. We've lost the seven mountains. I don't have time to talk about it." [34:47] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?