Empowered Through Prayer: Finishing the Year Strong
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound importance of prayer as we approach the end of the year. We are reminded that prayer is not just a ritual but a powerful tool that prepares us for the challenges and victories ahead. As we reflect on Jesus' example in the Garden of Gethsemane, we see the necessity of both individual and collective prayer. Jesus, knowing the trials he was about to face, prayed earnestly, demonstrating that even the Son of God relied on prayer to sustain and prepare himself for the cross. This serves as a powerful reminder that we, too, must engage in fervent prayer to navigate our own life's challenges.
We are encouraged to finish the year strong through prayer, not waiting until the last moment but starting now to seek God's guidance and strength. The message emphasizes that prayer is essential for bringing our desires and goals to fruition. It is not enough to simply quote scripture; we must actively engage in prayer to see our expectations fulfilled. The call to prayer is both personal and communal, as we are urged to pray for ourselves and for others, recognizing the power of collective prayer in overcoming obstacles.
The story of Peter's miraculous escape from prison, as recounted in Acts 12, illustrates the power of corporate prayer. Despite being heavily guarded and imprisoned, Peter was freed through divine intervention, a testament to the church's unceasing prayers. This narrative encourages us to pray for divine intervention in our own lives, trusting that God can break chains and open doors that seem impossible to move.
As we prepare for the new year, we are invited to create a prayer list, much like a shopping list, to ensure we cover all areas of our lives in prayer. This practice helps us stay focused and intentional in our prayers, allowing us to track God's faithfulness as we see prayers answered. We are reminded that God is dependable and faithful, and through prayer, we can experience breakthroughs and victories that defy human understanding.
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of Prayer: Prayer is a vital tool for preparing ourselves for life's challenges and victories. Jesus' example in Gethsemane shows us that even He relied on prayer to face the cross, highlighting the necessity of prayer in our own lives. [40:45]
- Individual and Collective Prayer: Both personal and communal prayers are essential. While individual prayer allows us to focus on our specific needs, collective prayer brings a powerful force that can help us overcome greater obstacles. [46:08]
- Divine Intervention: The story of Peter's escape from prison demonstrates the power of corporate prayer and divine intervention. No matter how dire the situation, prayer can bring about miraculous changes and open doors that seem impossible. [01:06:34]
- Creating a Prayer List: Having a prayer list helps us stay focused and intentional in our prayers. It allows us to track God's faithfulness and see how He answers our prayers, encouraging us to remain steadfast in our faith. [54:52]
- Finishing the Year Strong: As we approach the end of the year, we are encouraged to engage in fervent prayer, seeking God's guidance and strength to finish strong. Prayer is not just for the last moment but should be a continuous practice to prepare us for the new year. [01:10:11]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[28:50] - Lift Up Your Heads
[31:12] - Love Divine
[32:59] - The Heart of God
[35:57] - The Importance of God's Love
[40:45] - Praying to Finish Strong
[46:08] - Individual and Collective Prayer
[47:35] - Go a Little Further
[54:52] - Creating a Prayer List
[59:34] - Repeating Prayers
[01:02:18] - Satan's Opposition
[01:06:34] - Divine Intervention
[01:10:11] - Prayer Opens Doors
[01:14:56] - Protection and Victory
[01:20:17] - Fasting and Prayer Announcement
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 26:36-46
2. Acts 12:1-10
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#### Observation Questions
1. In Matthew 26:36-46, what was Jesus' approach to prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and how did He involve His disciples in this process? [40:45]
2. How does the story of Peter's escape from prison in Acts 12:1-10 illustrate the power of corporate prayer? [01:06:34]
3. What specific instructions did Jesus give to His disciples regarding prayer in Matthew 26:41, and why were these instructions significant? [46:08]
4. According to the sermon, what role does a prayer list play in maintaining focus and intentionality in our prayer life? [54:52]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane demonstrate the importance of aligning our desires with God's will, and what can we learn from His example? [48:01]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that individual and collective prayers serve different purposes in a believer's life? [46:08]
3. How does the narrative of Peter's miraculous escape from prison challenge our understanding of divine intervention and the power of prayer? [01:06:34]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between prayer and experiencing breakthroughs or victories in our lives? [01:10:11]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current prayer habits. How can you incorporate both individual and collective prayer into your routine to strengthen your spiritual life? [46:08]
2. Consider a challenge you are currently facing. How can you apply the lesson of fervent prayer from Jesus' example in Gethsemane to seek God's guidance and strength? [40:45]
3. Have you ever experienced a situation where collective prayer led to a significant change or breakthrough? How can you encourage your small group to engage in corporate prayer for each other's needs? [01:06:34]
4. Create a prayer list for the remaining weeks of the year. What specific areas of your life do you want to focus on, and how will you track God's faithfulness in answering these prayers? [54:52]
5. As the year comes to a close, what steps can you take to ensure that prayer remains a continuous practice in your life, rather than a last-minute effort? [01:10:11]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you need divine intervention. How can you commit this area to prayer, trusting that God can open doors that seem impossible? [01:06:34]
7. How can you support someone in your small group or community who is struggling, by including them in your prayer list and praying for their needs? [01:06:02]
Devotional
Day 1: The Transformative Power of Prayer
Prayer is a dynamic force that equips us for life's trials and triumphs. Jesus' example in Gethsemane illustrates the profound reliance on prayer, even for the Son of God, as He prepared to face the cross. This highlights the necessity of prayer in our own lives, not as a mere ritual but as a vital tool for spiritual strength and guidance. As we approach the end of the year, we are encouraged to engage in fervent prayer, seeking God's guidance and strength to finish strong. Prayer is not just for the last moment but should be a continuous practice to prepare us for the new year. [40:45]
"And he said to them, 'Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.'" (Luke 22:46, ESV)
Reflection: What specific challenges or victories are you currently facing that you need to bring before God in prayer today?
Day 2: The Synergy of Individual and Collective Prayer
Both personal and communal prayers are essential in the life of a believer. Individual prayer allows us to focus on our specific needs and build a personal relationship with God. However, collective prayer brings a powerful force that can help us overcome greater obstacles. The story of Peter's miraculous escape from prison, as recounted in Acts 12, illustrates the power of corporate prayer. Despite being heavily guarded and imprisoned, Peter was freed through divine intervention, a testament to the church's unceasing prayers. This narrative encourages us to pray for divine intervention in our own lives, trusting that God can break chains and open doors that seem impossible to move. [46:08]
"Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19, ESV)
Reflection: Who can you partner with in prayer this week to seek God's intervention in a specific area of your life or community?
Day 3: Experiencing Divine Intervention through Prayer
The story of Peter's escape from prison demonstrates the power of corporate prayer and divine intervention. No matter how dire the situation, prayer can bring about miraculous changes and open doors that seem impossible. This serves as a powerful reminder that we, too, must engage in fervent prayer to navigate our own life's challenges. As we reflect on Jesus' example in the Garden of Gethsemane, we see the necessity of both individual and collective prayer. Jesus, knowing the trials he was about to face, prayed earnestly, demonstrating that even the Son of God relied on prayer to sustain and prepare himself for the cross. [01:06:34]
"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." (Jeremiah 33:3, ESV)
Reflection: What seemingly impossible situation in your life can you commit to praying about, trusting God for a breakthrough?
Day 4: The Intentionality of Creating a Prayer List
Having a prayer list helps us stay focused and intentional in our prayers. It allows us to track God's faithfulness and see how He answers our prayers, encouraging us to remain steadfast in our faith. As we prepare for the new year, we are invited to create a prayer list, much like a shopping list, to ensure we cover all areas of our lives in prayer. This practice helps us stay focused and intentional in our prayers, allowing us to track God's faithfulness as we see prayers answered. We are reminded that God is dependable and faithful, and through prayer, we can experience breakthroughs and victories that defy human understanding. [54:52]
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6, ESV)
Reflection: What specific areas of your life do you need to include in your prayer list to ensure you are covering them in prayer?
Day 5: Finishing the Year Strong through Prayer
As we approach the end of the year, we are encouraged to engage in fervent prayer, seeking God's guidance and strength to finish strong. Prayer is not just for the last moment but should be a continuous practice to prepare us for the new year. The message emphasizes that prayer is essential for bringing our desires and goals to fruition. It is not enough to simply quote scripture; we must actively engage in prayer to see our expectations fulfilled. The call to prayer is both personal and communal, as we are urged to pray for ourselves and for others, recognizing the power of collective prayer in overcoming obstacles. [01:10:11]
"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4:2, ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate a daily practice of prayer into your routine to ensure you finish the year spiritually strong?
Quotes
"Jesus realized there was the need to pray. I don't know what your goals are, what your aspirations are, and what your plans are for the coming year or for the days ahead of you, but it can only happen by prayer. It will not happen by accident or by mistake. You have to pray through to break through, to see your heart desire fulfilled." [00:39:54] (26 seconds)
"And Jesus, our Lord and Master, did pray as an example for us. He was called, yet he prayed. Amen. He prayed. You need to pray. We need to pray individually and we need to pray collectively. Amen." [00:40:45] (20 seconds)
"Individual prayer and collective prayer. Because I have my needs, you have yours. There are times that you need to focus and pray on your own. And there are times that we need to come together and pray so that my prayer can help. You know, can help." [00:41:10] (17 seconds)
"Maybe it's not about a sort of good soul, but maybe it's about a job, maybe it's about your immigration, maybe it's about your family, whatever it is, take it to the Lord in prayer. Hallelujah. Take it to the Lord in prayer. Because our God is a dependable God. You can depend on him. You can trust him. Hallelujah. He's too faithful to fail. Praise God. Praise God." [00:45:54] (27 seconds)
"Maybe you are too comfortable where you are. Go a little further. Maybe, you know, you are becoming too relaxed. Go a little further. Maybe there are some things that is becoming a distraction. Some things that are happening that is giving you excuses. And you know, you are, you know, you are comfortable. You don't have excuses. So that you don't pray." [00:47:35] (23 seconds)
"Get a journal and make a prayer list it works that's right remember we did some before it works so make your prayer list and then because sometimes you when you start to pray you get to a point you don't even know what to pray about but when you have a prayer list you'll be amazed how long you will pray because maybe prayer list about your family about yourself your final whatever it is put it there and once you have that journal every day you can keep updating once something comes in your mind you put it there once something comes in your mind you put it there and then you keep praying praying praying praying through them and as you keep praying god begins to answer them you begin to check them off you begin to check them off then you will see the amazing things god is doing in your life it will make you very appreciative because sometimes if we don't do that we are not able to measure what god is doing in our life so i will encourage you to have a list a prayer list amen tell somebody have a prayer list because as we are entering christmas some people have their shopping list i want you to begin with your prayer list before you get into your shopping list amen may god help may god help us hallelujah" [00:50:23] (78 seconds)
"Watch and pray lest you enter temptation jesus was with them so they were too comfortable they felt jesus was probably praying for us but jesus was about to go to the cross hallelujah so it is for they are never going to deal with jesus' absence that moment that jesus was going to be on that moment that isen was going to be on the cross and in the grave jesus had a unfinished business in the in the grave that he had to go and accomplish amen so jesus is praying for himself and they they were supposed to pray for themselves they should begin to think god jesus already told them that just to tell them i am going to die jesus told them already so if what was expected of them was that hey our master was going to it's going to be taken away what are we going to do that must be their prayer point god help us in in that period that jesus will not physically be with us because we don't know what will come our way praise the lord you don't know what the enemy may have under his lips against you scripture says that jesus said that pray lest you enter into temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak amen the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak again a second time he went away and prayed jesus was not done a second time he went away and prayed what that means is that you know while you are determined to pray if you are encouraging somebody to pray and you are not" [00:53:09] (104 seconds)
"That's what's individual prayer is important and equally corporate prayer is important. Peter is kept there. He doesn't know what is going to happen. They have news that James had been killed. So at the end of the day, nobody knows what was going to happen. But the church prayed. Amen. Tell someone the church prayed." [01:05:20] (21 seconds)
"The church prayed for Peter. Let us pray for ourselves. Amen. So as you make your prayer list. Have some people. Have some people on there that you are going to pray for also. Have some people on there. Please put me on your list." [01:06:01] (16 seconds)
"The prayer brought divine intervention. The prayer brought about divine intervention. As you pray, may God divine intervene in your affairs. May God divine intervene in your situation. May God divine intervene in your life. May God divine intervene in each other. As we pray. Amen." [01:06:34] (23 seconds)
"Prayer will break chains. Prayer will open doors. Hallelujah. Doors for your freedom. May financial doors be open. Amen. May the healing doors be open. May... Any door that you are looking for, may it be open." [01:09:57] (21 seconds)
"May the healing doors be open. May... Any door that you are looking for, may it be open. In the mighty name of Jesus. I pray that your breakthrough will happen. In the next few days. In the next few weeks. Somebody is due for a dreamlike breakthrough. I say somebody is due for a dreamlike breakthrough. God is going to give you a breakthrough. It will be like a dream." [01:10:11] (32 seconds)
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