When you’re praying for victory in a spiritual battle in your life, does it matter how long or how intensely you pray?
What are the primary ingredients in prayer?
This week’s message dealt with prayer that happens to overcome spiritual battles in your life, drawing from the story of Moses in Exodus 17. See the outline and the message below!
PRAY-ER—Prayer & Victory
Exodus 17:8-13 “8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.’ 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.”
BIG IDEA: We are engaged in a spiritual battle.
Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
3 Ingredients of Effective Prayer
1. Humility (I need You)
2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2. Faith (I trust You)
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
3. Love (Intimacy with You)
Psalm 63:1-2 “You, God, are my God earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuaryand beheld your power and your glory.”
3 Lessons from Exodus 17:8-13 about the Power of Prayer
- What is happening on the hill determines what happens down in the valley.
- The length of prayer is tied to the strength of the victory.
Isaiah 62:6-7 “I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest,7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalemand makes her the praise of the earth.”
3. The depth of prayer is connected to its effectiveness.
Exodus 32:32 “But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”
Lamentations 3:48-50 “Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed. 49 My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief, 50 until the Lord looks down from heaven and sees.”
ACTION: What victory will you begin to see in intense, persevering prayer?