5 Examples of Powerful Prayer
In our book Where Heaven Meets Earth (Intimacy and Impact through Prayer) we list 10 examples in Scripture where a child of God exercised their privileged position as God’s representatives here on earth to release His will. As they accepted this wonderful privilege and right, they experienced first hand His power being released as a direct result of their prayer. Below is listed 5 of those examples for your study.
1. It was the will of God to fill the Temple with His glory but Scripture makes note that it happened after prayer.
2 Chron 7:1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
2 Chron 7:11-12 the LORD appeared to him at night and said: I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.’
Our Heavenly Father wants us know to that we have an amazing destiny which involves us inviting and releasing His will on the earth. It’s not another task to be dreaded but a relationship and privilege to be desired.
2. It was the will of God to send rain on the earth, but it happened after prayer.
1 Kings 18:42-45 Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees… Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.
James 5:17-18 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
Elijah had a prophetic word given to him by God, yet he still prayed to see it fulfilled. Too often we receive a prophetic word and then just sit back and wait for it to happen. But the truth is, God wants you to experience His power moving through you to release it!
3. It is the will of God to deliver His people but it happened after prayer.
Dan 9:2-3 I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
Daniel 9:23 While I was still in prayer, Gabriel…came to me…As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given.
Daniel received a truth as well as a time frame right from the Scriptures, yet he understood that he still needed to pray. He was willing to be the vessel Where Heaven Meets Earth for the impact of deliverance brought to a nation.
4. It was the will of God to fill the Disciples with the Holy Spirit but it happened after prayer.
John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor.
Matthew 3:11 Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with Fire.
Acts 1:4 Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised.
Acts 1:8 And you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.
Acts 1:14 They all joined together constantly in prayer,
Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:32-33)
The disciples had a promise from Jesus, yet they still had to pray. We can’t afford to think that when God gives us a promise, we can just sit back and wait. Instead He wants us to experience the intimacy of declaring His promise with the expectancy that it is going to happen as He says.
5. It was the will of God to send His Spirit to the Gentiles, but it happened after prayer.
Acts 10:1a, 2b, 4b,9-10, 44 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius…; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly…The angel answered, ‘Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.‘ Peter went upon the roof to pray…he fell into a trance…While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
Following the example of Jesus and the disciples, the early church continued to meet with God to seek His indwelling power. They knew by example that it was a relationship to be greatly desired.