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Prayer That Impacts The World
Brian Mashburn
February 26, 2017
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Prayer That Impacts The World
Do our prayers make a difference?
More specifically, do they make a real and practical difference on world, impacting circumstances or people around us?
I remember hearing about a Bible teacher, in the church I grew up in, teaching that prayer is nothing more than a good mental exercise. While I can affirm that prayer is indeed a good mental exercise, is it limited to that?
Or does prayer enact things on earth that otherwise would not have been enacted had we not prayed? Does prayer move God to impact things other than ourselves?
If you begin with the Bible, which I heartily recommend that you do, the answer is an unequivocal YES. Prayer most certainly holds power and effects things (see James 5:16 for one of dozens of examples).
That's the easy part.
Because, of course, you cannot end with the Bible. You must move on and put what it says into practice. And who among us has done just that - prayed for specific things to be effected in certain ways - and not come out the other side disappointed and confused at best, devastated and questioning our faith (or even God) at worst?
Into this we must walk. My hope for you this morning is that you will leave absolutely convinced that your prayer can impact things, and committed to learning better how to pray (and survive) when they seem like they don't.
If you would like a study on the prayer life of Jesus, there are copies of an excellent resource for you in the lobby. Two locations: South Exit Display Table and Small Group Central.