Bold Prayer: Trusting in God's Name and Power
Summary
In a remarkable event that took place years ago in South Carolina, I witnessed firsthand the power of prayer and the significance of God's name. During a crusade at Bright Stadium, with 25,000 people gathered, the weather forecast predicted rain. As we prepared for the service, we prayed for God to hold back the rain, but our prayers were cautious, filled with phrases like "if it's Your will." Then, a petite woman named Linda asked if she could pray. Her prayer was bold and direct, appealing to God's reputation. She reminded God that His name was at stake, as we had promised the people they would hear a word from Him. Linda's prayer was not just a request; it was a command in the name of Jesus Christ to stop the rain for the sake of His name.
As the service began, the sky darkened, and thunder and lightning loomed. People started to prepare for the rain, but Linda remained unfazed. In an extraordinary moment, the rain approached the stadium, split in two, and bypassed us, rejoining on the other side. This was not a tale I heard; I was there, witnessing a miracle because Linda understood the power of God's name. She knew that His name represented His character and appealed to it with confidence. This experience challenges us to deepen our understanding of God's name and His passion for His reputation. We often pray without fully grasping the authority and character behind the name of God. Let us learn to pray with the same boldness and faith, knowing that God is deeply invested in His own reputation.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Bold Prayer: Linda's prayer was not timid or filled with doubt. She prayed with boldness, understanding the authority in the name of Jesus. This teaches us that our prayers should reflect our faith in God's power and character, not just cautious requests. [01:34]
2. God's Name and Character: Linda's appeal to God's name highlights the connection between His name and His character. When we pray, we should remember that God's name embodies His attributes, and He is passionate about upholding His reputation. [03:35]
3. Witnessing Miracles: The miraculous event of the rain splitting around the stadium serves as a reminder that God is capable of performing wonders when we trust in Him. Our faith can lead to extraordinary outcomes when aligned with God's will. [02:52]
4. Understanding God's Passion: God is deeply invested in His own reputation. Our prayers should reflect an understanding of His desire to be glorified and His commitment to His promises. This perspective can transform the way we approach prayer. [03:35]
5. Faith Beyond Circumstances: Despite the ominous weather, Linda's faith remained unshaken. Her confidence in God's ability to control the situation challenges us to maintain our faith even when circumstances seem unfavorable. [02:14]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:28] - Setting the Scene
[00:59] - Linda's Bold Prayer
[01:34] - Commanding in Jesus' Name
[02:14] - Approaching Storm
[02:52] - The Miracle Unfolds
[03:35] - Understanding God's Name
[04:00] - The Power of Faith
[04:30] - God's Passion for His Reputation
[05:00] - Lessons in Prayer
[05:30] - Conclusion and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- James 5:16 - "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
- John 14:13-14 - "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
- Psalm 23:3 - "He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake."
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the initial reaction of the preachers to Linda's bold prayer, and how did it differ from their own prayers? [01:34]
2. Describe the weather conditions as the service began and how the crowd reacted to the approaching storm. [02:14]
3. What miraculous event occurred at the stadium, and how did it impact those present? [02:52]
4. How did Linda's understanding of God's name influence her prayer? [03:35]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Linda's prayer reflect the teaching in John 14:13-14 about asking in Jesus' name? What does this imply about the nature of prayer and faith?
2. In what ways does the story illustrate the concept of God's name being tied to His character, as seen in Psalm 23:3? How does this understanding affect one's approach to prayer?
3. Considering James 5:16, how does the story of the rain splitting demonstrate the power of a righteous person's prayer? What does this suggest about the role of faith in prayer?
4. How does the sermon challenge common perceptions of prayer, particularly in terms of boldness and confidence in God's promises? [03:35]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you prayed cautiously, like the preachers in the story. How might your approach change if you prayed with the boldness and confidence that Linda demonstrated? [01:34]
2. How can you deepen your understanding of God's character and His name to enhance your prayer life? What steps can you take to learn more about His attributes?
3. Think of a situation in your life where circumstances seem unfavorable. How can you maintain faith and confidence in God's ability to control the situation, similar to Linda's unwavering faith during the storm? [02:14]
4. Identify an area in your life where you need to trust in God's reputation and promises. How can you align your prayers with His will and character?
5. How can you incorporate the practice of praying for God's glory and reputation into your daily prayer routine? What specific prayers can you offer that reflect this focus?
6. Consider a current challenge you are facing. How can you apply the lesson of witnessing miracles through faith, as demonstrated in the sermon, to your situation? [02:52]
7. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your prayers are not just requests but also declarations of faith in God's power and character?
Devotional
Day 1: Boldness in Prayer Reflects Faith
In the story of Linda's prayer, we see a profound example of boldness in approaching God. Her prayer was not filled with hesitation or doubt but was a confident appeal to God's power and character. This teaches us that our prayers should reflect our faith in God's ability to act, rather than being cautious requests. When we pray with boldness, we acknowledge the authority in the name of Jesus and trust in His power to intervene in our circumstances. [01:34]
Isaiah 65:24 (ESV): "Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear."
Reflection: Think of a situation where you have been hesitant to pray boldly. How can you approach God with confidence and faith in His power today?
Day 2: God's Name Embodies His Character
Linda's prayer highlighted the deep connection between God's name and His character. When we invoke God's name, we are calling upon His attributes and His commitment to His promises. Understanding this connection can transform our prayer life, as we realize that God is passionate about upholding His reputation. Our prayers should reflect an awareness of God's character and His desire to be glorified through His actions. [03:35]
Psalm 9:10 (ESV): "And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."
Reflection: Consider how you use God's name in your prayers. How can you deepen your understanding of His character and let it shape your prayers today?
Day 3: Faith Leads to Miraculous Outcomes
The miraculous event of the rain splitting around the stadium serves as a powerful reminder of what God can do when we trust in Him. Our faith, when aligned with God's will, can lead to extraordinary outcomes. This story challenges us to believe in God's ability to perform wonders in our lives and to trust Him even when circumstances seem impossible. [02:52]
Mark 11:23 (ESV): "Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him."
Reflection: Identify a "mountain" in your life that seems insurmountable. How can you exercise faith in God's power to move it today?
Day 4: God's Passion for His Reputation
God is deeply invested in His own reputation, and our prayers should reflect an understanding of His desire to be glorified. When we pray with this perspective, we align ourselves with God's purposes and His commitment to His promises. This understanding can transform the way we approach prayer, as we seek to honor God and His name in all that we do. [03:35]
Ezekiel 36:23 (ESV): "And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes."
Reflection: Reflect on how your prayers can honor God's reputation. What specific prayer can you offer today that seeks to glorify His name?
Day 5: Unshaken Faith in Unfavorable Circumstances
Despite the ominous weather, Linda's faith remained unshaken. Her confidence in God's ability to control the situation challenges us to maintain our faith even when circumstances seem unfavorable. This story encourages us to trust in God's sovereignty and His power to intervene in our lives, regardless of the challenges we face. [02:14]
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."
Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you demonstrate unshaken faith in God's ability to work through this situation today?
Quotes
A few years ago, I told you about a situation that happened to me a number of years ago in South Carolina. I was doing a crusade at Bright Stadium, the football stadium of the University of South Carolina, and the weather report said there was rain coming. There were 25,000 people that had gathered in the stadium. And so we wanted to pray before the service that God would hold back the rain. And we prayed, "God hold back the rain, hold back the rain." And you know, we were doing safe prayers. "If it's Your will" and "Lord, You know, if You don't want it to rain..." [00:10:00]
And there was a little, teeny short lady named Linda. Linda asks, after all of the professionals prayed—after all the preachers. After all the preachers prayed, Linda stood up. She said, "Do you mind if I pray?" Linda opened up the prayer and said, "Lord, Your name is at stake. We told these people that if they would come, they would hear a word from God. If they come and you let it rain, and You control the weather, then You look bad, cause we told them You wanted to say something to them. So if we told them You wanted to say something to them and You don't keep back what You control so it could be said to them, then Your name is bad." [00:59:25]
And then she threw a line that caused everybody to look at each other. She said, "Therefore, right now, I command You in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to stop the rain for the sake of Your name." The preachers just started looked at one another with one eye, and we just said, "Woah!" We went up on the platform. The sky is now getting black behind us. A guy was in touch with the weather bureau, and they said, "The showers are coming, a heavy thunderstorm, and they're coming right at you." We're now hearing at 7 o'clock the music begins to play to begin the service, and there is thunder and lightning right behind us. [01:05:14]
People start to stir in their seats. Some start to get up. Some start to open umbrellas. Linda was on the stage. This man opened up his umbrella over Linda. She said, "That's okay. I don't need it." I've only seen this happen one time. The rain came to the stadium and split. Half of it with this way, half of it went that way and then met again on the other side of the stadium. Now, this is not a story somebody told me. I was there. I was there. A whole bunch of other people were there, and we saw a miracle right in front of my eyes cause a little lady knew His name. [01:47:55]
She knew His name. She understood that His name represented His character, and she appealed to that. Why don't we appeal to that name? Because we don't know that name. We do not understand how passionate God is for His own reputation. [03:35:00]
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