The Unlimited Possibilities of Prayer

Title: THE UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES OF PRAYER Text: Jeremiah 33:3 Introduction:  One of the most glorious prayer-promises in the Bible is in Jeremiah 33:3.  It shows how much God is willing and waiting to answer our prayer when we come humbly before Him  Psalm 81:10! We ask for a little, when He is inviting us to ask Him for a lot! Body:  There are two sides to every prayer – the human and the divine  Man’s side is the asking and God’s side is the answering  There are two persons involved in prayer – the one who prays and the One who answers.  It also means that prayer is conditional: the answer to prayer is conditional upon our praying.  Look up and consider Matthew 18:19; James 4:2. 1. MAN’S PART: THE ASKING SIDE OF PRAYER  It is not a difficult and complicated process  Man-ward side of prayer is contained in the three words “Call to me…” : Prayer is calling upon God  These three words tell us three things about prayer:(1) The source of prayer. Where does it begin?  Prayer begins with God. He takes the initiative.  Romans 8:26 : The Holy Spirit He makes man the channel of the petition

(2) The simplicity of prayer. Could anything be simpler than just to ‘call’?  Look up Genesis 4:26; 2 Samuel 22:4; 1 Chronicles 4:10; Job 12:4; Psalms 4:3; 50:15; 53:4; 91:15; 99:6; 102:2; Isaiah 55:6; Jonah 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:22. (3) The scope of prayer. How far does prayer reach? What are the limits of prayer? The answer to these questions is :  ANYONE can pray (Romans 10:12-14)  ABOUT ANYTHING (Mark 11:24)  ANYWHERE (Matthew 18:19-20) and at  AT ANY TIME (Psalm 55:17; Daniel 6:10; 1 Thess. 5:17). 2. GOD’S PART: THE ANSWERING SIDE OF PRAYER  God immediately responds when man ‘call’  It is impossible really to pray and not to have an answer, for God says, ‘You call, and as surely as you call I will answer.’ What kind of an answer does God give? (1) A CERTAIN ANSWER – “I will answer…”  God guarantees answer and We should take God at His word (1) The answer may be DIRECT - Isaiah 65:24. (2) The answer may be DIFFERENT - 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. (3) The answer may be DELAYED. ‘Wait! I am going to answer your prayer in my time.’ (4) The answer may be a DENIAL - 1 Kings 19:4 Sometimes God says ‘No!’ and it is for our good.

(2) A PERSONAL ANSWER – “I … you”.  2 Corinthians 12:7-9  In receiving a revelation from the Lord and the promise of the sufficiency of His grace, Paul received a far more wonderful answer to his prayer than if God had removed the ‘thorn’; and just as God’s answer to Paul was a personal one, so His answer to you and me is personal. (3) A VISIBLE ANSWER. - “tell you” (or “show you”),  Matthew 6:6.  We can say, ‘That is the answer to my prayer. (4) A MIGHTY ANSWER. “great and unsearchable” ‘inaccessible things’, ‘hard things’  Things that humanly speaking are impossible.  Joshua 10:12-14; 1 Samuel 1:10-11 and 20; 1 Kings 17:1; James 5:16-17; 2 Kings 4:3236; Daniel 2:28-30; Acts 12:5-18

(5) AN OVERWHELMING ANSWER - “things you do not know”.  Ephesians 3:20 – God always gives more than all we ask or imagine. Conclusion:  1 Samuel 12:23 - Prayerlessness is Sin Prayerlessness is a sin against God  Because it hinders God’s purposes and prevents Him from accomplishing His mighty works.  Some things can only happen by prayer, and when we do not pray these things do not happen! Prayerlessness is a sin against others  Notice in 1 Samuel 12:23 “…for you.”  The world filled with people who are spiritually and morally broken, not to pray for them is to deprive them of His healing. Prayerlessness is a sin against others ourselves  Prayer changes the pray-er!  Prayer bring blessings to the heart and life of a person