3 POINTS ON PRAYER

There’s so much on prayer we can talk about; I’m going to focus on the passage Acts 16:16-34 where I’ve picked 3 key points. These points allowed me to see the power of prayer, where things changed immediately.

1.Prayer requires faith
The woman in this passage was a slave both spiritually by the demons using her as a fortune teller and physically by her masters making a profit from her. Paul was annoyed as her cries were hindering his work. Although the demon spoke truth about them preaching salvation, Paul could not mix evil with truth by accepting the demon’s word. He would have appeared to be linking the gospel with demon related activities. So Paul cries out “IN THE NAME OF JESUS I COMMAND YOU TO COME OUT” and at that moment the demon left her.
What was it about Paul’s prayer that something happened at that moment?
#FAITH
When we look at another passage where Jesus’ disciples tried a similar thing and failed, Jesus told them why.

Jesus showed frustration when He responded to the disciples saying “you of little faith”. Jesus had previously granted power for His disciples to cast out demons and here they failed. He tells them all they need is “faith as small as a mustard seed” and that is tiny!

Yet, faith that small could move mountains; basically a minuscule amount of faith can overcome overwhelming obstacles.
Faith is important when we pray, it means we truly believe and trust God to see things through. Paul who continually relied on God, had faith to free the woman from the demon and at that moment she was free.

2. Pray with your mind set above
After Paul had casted the demon out, he was beaten and arrested because the masters had lost their source of income.

Now in jail bloody and chained, Paul and Silas knew that God was with them in that situation so they began to pray and sing.
Imagine the scene:A dark prison cell, full of criminals and outcasts listening to songs of praise. A place usually filled with cursing, groans and complaints was filled with prayers and praise to the most high.
How could they praise God in a prison?

As Christians we are told to look above our situations and that includes our suffering.
Setting our minds above looks like:

• Recognising things are bigger than you

Paul’s struggles helped to give strength to many other Christian’s during his time and ours. He wrote 13 out of the 27 books in the New Testament, helping us understand more on how to live God-centred lives. At the time he was in prison, he couldn’t see the bigger picture but trusted that God was in control to use it for good. He knew it was bigger than him. Jesus knew dying on the cross was bigger than the pain and shame he suffered, as God He knew the bigger picture, He knew his sacrifice would save humanity and reconnect us back to God.

• Choose to listen to God’s voice

There’s so many thoughts and emotions that can keep our minds on situations -Doubt, fear, worry, anger, even complacency and pride. Through prayer we can focus on God’s voice, fully trusting him

When Daniel heard the news that anyone praying to any god or man other than the king would be sent into the lion’s den, he kept his trust in God and continued praying, staying focused on Him. Even when he was eventually sent to the lion’s den, God was with him and shut their mouths, causing Daniel no harm.
Back to Paul in jail, when he focused on God through prayer and praise, suddenly an earthquake caused all the prison doors to open, setting them free. I encourage all of us to pray with God’s perspectives and desires, setting our minds above.

3. Prayer transforms lives of those around us
Due to Paul and Silas’ actions the other prisoners were free and the jailer had an amazing encounter.

When all the prisoners were set free, the jailer knew he was in trouble as he did not keep careful watch. He was prepared to die and Paul said ” don’t harm yourself”. This jailer was an enemy to Paul, paid to keep him captive, but Paul showed compassion and tenderness to him. Inspired by what had just happened the jailor was intrigued to learn more – “What must I do to be saved?”…”Believe in the Lord Jesus”.

Immediately the jailer was saved and baptised and also his whole household including all his servants and their families. All from witnessing Paul and Silas in jail, living faithful lives to God through their prayer and praise. Don’t hide away living prayerful and faithful lives; we can inspire others by living boldly for Christ.
I love the moments in this passage as each had something happen with an immediate effect, showing the power of prayer. The 3 points are so relevant to our prayer lives:
-Have faith even if it’s as small as a mustard seed
-Set your mind on Christ above not your situations
-Transform the lives around you by living a faithful life

Sometimes when we don’t know where to start we can pray about prayer

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