(A praying church is important because prayer is how we seek God’s power, hear His direction,

depend on His presence, and become the people He has called us to be.)

James 5:13–20 13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

“WHAT IF WE COULD SEE WHAT PRAYER IS DOING?”

1. PRAYER IS FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE

17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

“The power of prayer is not the result of the person praying. Rather, the power resides in the God who is being prayed to.”

2. PRAYER IS NOT OUR LAST RESORT — IT’S OUR FIRST RESPONSE

“Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” Corrie ten Boom

3. PRAYER CHANGES THINGS BECAUSE GOD CHANGES THINGS

James 5:16 …..The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

“Prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscle of omnipotence.” Charles Spurgeon

4. WE CAN PRAY BOLDLY BECAUSE GOD HEARS US

Hebrews 4:16 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

5. WE MUST LEARN TO PRAY WITH EXPECTATION

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.

6. PRAYER IS NOT ABOUT GETTING GOD TO DO OUR WILL

7. PRAYER MUST BECOME A HABIT, NOT JUST AN EVENT

1 Thessalonians 5:17:“Pray without ceasing.”

8. A CHURCH THAT PRAYS BECOMES A CHURCH THAT MOVES

“To desire revival and at the same time to neglect prayer and devotion is to wish one way and walk another.” A.W. Tozer

9. PRAYER IS A WEAPON

John 10:10 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

 “WHAT IF NEW HOPE BECAME A HOUSE OF PRAYER?

Jesus said; Matthew 21:13 “My house will be called a house of prayer.”