DEEPER LIFE DECEMBER RETREAT VICTORY SEMINAR The Power in Personal Prevailing Prayer 23 DECEMBER, 2017

The Power in Personal Prevailing Prayer 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Genesis 32:24-28 The Purpose of Personal Prayer (1 Samuel 1:5-10; Psalm 62:1-2): To talk with God, our Father and hear His voice. To seek solutions to peculiar challenges. To ask for guidance and breakthrough in life and ministry. To receive divine strength and comfort to run the Christian race. To claim and confirm the promises in the word of God.

The Pattern of Profitable Prayer (1 Samuel 1:10-15; Luke 11:1-11): It carries a burden or plea: “I have poured out my soul before the Lord”. It derives its strength from the promises of the word of God. It is purposeful, serious and free from distractions. It is earnest, fervent, importunate: it perseveres till confirmation comes. It seeks the fulfilment of God’s will: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done”. It is specific and focused on divine blessings. It is not overly emotional.

The Power of Prevailing Prayer (1 Samuel 1:26-27; 1 Chron. 4:9,10): When we pray in faith, God opens doors of possibility for us. Prevailing prayer enlarges our coast; it brings divine favour. Our spiritual strength is renewed; our ‘inner man’ is empowered. The devil’s stronghold is destroyed. There is freedom and victory. When coupled with fasting, there is extra power to solve difficult problems. Prevailing prayer brings power – power with God and man.

DISCUSSION

QUESTION 1 (a) Why is personal prayer important? Psalm 42:1-3 Matthew 26:41 Jude 20 (b) How often should we pray? 1 Thessalonians 5:17

QUESTION 2 What are the characteristics of scriptural prayer? Matthew 6:6-10 1 John 5:14-15 1 Samuel 1:27 James 1:5-7

QUESTION 3 Give examples of bible characters who prevailed in prayer

QUESTION 4 What is the effect of prevailing prayer? Acts 12:5-8 James 5:17-18 2 Chronicles 7:14

QUESTION 5 What is the added value of fasting to believers? Matthew 17:19-21 Isaiah 58:6-9

CONCLUSION Prayer is the believer’s most formidable weapon. Satan knows this and strives to prevent believers from praying. Talk more to God than to men. Our prayer should not be self-centred but also intercessory. Pray for God’s work, His ministers, the nation, etc. Learn to wait on the Lord. Don’t entertain fear or doubts. Hold on to God’s word. He makes all things beautiful in His time. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”. (James 5:16)