Today we continue our series entitled, “The Benefits of Prayer and Fasting,” but I will focus on the prayer portion. So, I will call this series of messages, “The Power of Prayer.” Fasting and prayer go hand-in-hand. If you are fasting, but not praying, you might as well say you are on a diet, because what you are doing is not spiritual.
I have taught on prayer before and I like to start with the foundations aspects of any topic. My desire is to teach you the basics of prayer up front. But since we recently looked at the 40-day fasts of Jesus, Moses and Elijah, today I will maintain a connection between these men and prayer. And then, over the next few days I will provide you some foundations truths about prayer.
So what does this mean to you today? Let’s jump into it and look at the impact of some of the prayers these men prayed.
- On the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus was praying when the glory of God was manifested. Jesus’ face changed. It became as bright as the sun. His clothes became as white as light. Moses and Elijah were translated through the annals of time and they were manifested in the New Testament. They too were bright and glorious. The glory of God was shining clearly through all three men. And it all started with a prayer. Jesus was praying, while Peter, James and John were sleeping. One man’s prayer brought two men from the afterworld to this world. One man’s prayer called down the glory of God to the earth. One man’s prayer initiated the most powerful event the disciples ever saw. Never underestimate the power of prayer.
- One day Moses went up to Mount Sinai. He spent time there in the presence of God, receiving instructions for the newly freed Israelites. But since Moses was taking a long time with God, the people decided to build a golden calf and worship an idol. These were people who had just seen God free them after 400 years of slavery. These were people who saw the Red Sea open with their own eyes. These were people who walked across the bottom of an ocean on dry ground. And this very group of people decided to disregard and disrespect God. The Lord told Moses that he was considering destroying them all and starting a new nation with him. But Moses prayed. He interceded. He stood ‘in the gap’ for his people. He pleaded with God. And God heard his prayer. God decided to spare the people. Had Moses not prayed, the story of Israel would be a much different story. One man prayed and an entire nation was spared. Never underestimate the power of prayer.
- Elijah was led of God to pray for it not to rain. It did not rain for 42 months. God then sent Elijah back to confront King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. He had a showdown on Mount Carmel. He was one man, with God, against 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the goddess Asherah. Elijah called down FIRE from heaven and God sent the fire. Afterwards, the false prophets were killed. Elijah then prayed for rain and God provided the rain after 42 months of drought. God used one man to start and end a drought. God used one man to call down fire from heaven. And all of this happened through the vehicle of prayer. Never underestimate the power of prayer.
- God’s original intent with Adam was for Adam to extend heaven to the earth. That intent remains true today. Which is why Jesus told us to pray this way, “Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth, as it is in heaven!” Heaven wants to invade the earth. We are the conduits that enable it to happen. We do this through the vehicle of prayer. Jesus prayed the glory down on the Mount of Transfiguration. Moses prayed mercy down on Mount Sinai. Elijah prayed fire down on Mount Carmel. What are you going to pray down today?
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. I sense, I seek, and I seize every opportunity You place before me in this season. I experience supernatural harvest in every area of my life. I call in a harvest of souls into the Body of Christ. I am a human conduit of the divine. I know heaven wants to invade the earth. I am the bridge between both worlds. I pray heaven down. I pray glory down. I pray power down. I pray favor down. Your Kingdom has come. I declare that Your will shall be done. On earth, as it is in heaven! Wherever I see something in my life that is not lining up with heaven, I pray heaven’s best DOWN into it. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
