A Life-Changing Prayer
Sunday, September 20th, 2009
Today as I was watching a sermon Dr. Charles Stanley was preaching on television, I felt compelled to share his sermon with all of you. Today’s sermon was regarding “Life-Changing Prayer”. I consider myself to be a very “in tune” Christian; a Christian who is very attentive to God’s Word and constantly seeking God’s will for my life. Even though I have these Christian qualities, I am sorry to say that there has been something lacking in my prayer life. Yes, I do pray each and every day, and most days several times a day, but for the most part, I feel that my prayers lack substance. After listening to Dr. Stanley, it finally dawned on me what my prayer life is actually lacking. It is lacking consistency and a set direction. Believe me when I say this, my prayers are all over the place! Because I found Dr. Stanley’s sermon today so stimulating, I would like to share with you what I feel are the important points of the sermon regarding a life-changing way to pray. This type of prayer can be for yourself or for someone else, keeping in mind that you are requesting that you or the person you are praying for, will see life from God’s viewpoint. Please note that a good part of what I write will be direct quotes from Dr. Charles Stanley and not my own personal views.
**If you would like to watch the sermon yourself, please click on this link so that you can hear word for word directly: (http://www.intouch.org/site/c.cnKBIPNuEoG/b.5462719/k.4F0E/A_LifeChanging_Prayer.htm). Again, it is entitled “Life-Changing Prayer”. The program was aired on 9/20/2009 in case you need to find it in the following archives: (http://www.intouch.org/site/c.cnKBIPNuEoG/b.4943225/k.9234/Audio_Archives.htm).
Today’s Scripture (Sunday – 9/20/2009): Colossians 1:7-14
Colossians 1:7-14 (New International Version)
7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Quoting from Dr. Charles Stanley’s Sermon outline, here is the introduction:
I. Introduction: How do you respond when people ask you to pray for them? Do you know how to lift them up before the Lord? In the first chapter of Colossians, the apostle Paul has given us a powerful model for intercession. We can have confidence that God will answer this life-changing biblical prayer.
Life-Changing Prayer (How your prayers can make a difference in yours or someone else’s life)
- Request direction for that person’s life (“Be filled with the knowledge of His will”).
- Request for them to walk in a manner worthy of Christ’s name (“In all spiritual wisdom and understanding”).
Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
- Request that their life will make an impact (“Bearing fruit in every good work”).
- Request for them a desire to know God (“Increasing in the knowledge of God”).
Colossians 1:10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God
- Request that they will be given strength by the power and knowledge of God (“Strengthened with all power”).
- Request they will have the right attitude about life, joyously giving thanks to God (“Joyously giving thanks to the Father”).
Colossians 1:11-12 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
When you pray, pray in confidence that God the Father will have heard your prayers and that you trust He will answer your prayers.
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