The Power of Prayer

 

 

Philippians 1:19, “I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance.”

 

When the apostle Paul was in prison, he wrote to the Philippian church and said that he knew his deliverance would be the result not only of the Holy Spirit’s help but also of the prayers of God’s people. Whether he meant deliverance from his immediate hardships or the ultimate deliverance that would bring him into Christ’s presence, Paul wanted his Christian friends in Philippi to know that he was dependent on others’ prayers to sustain him during his ministry.

 

This was not unique to this congregation. When Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome, he said the same thing in Romans 15:30-31, “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered.” 

 

He longed for them to strive together and be refreshed. He desired that his service would be helpful to the saints. He wanted to be delivered. And all of this, he told them, could be accomplished through their prayers! 

 

As the great Victorian preacher C.H. Spurgeon once said, “prayer is the rope that rings the bell in the belfry of God. Under God’s providence, it unleashes His pattern and plan and power.”

 

Cry out to God—that is what Paul is urging us to do. If we want to see the Spirit of God move in a way that can only be described as supernatural, we must first be willing to pray earnestly, humbly, and continually. Paul’s words tell us that as we rally with other saints, we can support them in their weaknesses. We can ask that they be granted courage. We can play a role in their deliverance.

 

Prayer transcends mere religious practice; it's a sacred privilege and potent spiritual discipline. In prayer, we foster intimacy with God, synchronize with His will, and gain divine strength to live out our faith boldly. Let's recognize the transformative might of prayer and its profound influence on our lives and the world.

 

So, who do you know who need your prayers? Will you pray for them—diligently, boldly, and persistently? And who do you know who does not appear to need your prayers? Well, they do! Will you pray for them in just the same way?

 

Pastor Steve

(Excerpts taken from Pastor Alistair Begg)