Does Prayer Work?: A Prayer of Hopelessness

May 23, 2021   /   IMPACT Church

Does Prayer Work: A Prayer of Hopelessness

2 Chronicles 20:6-12
Sunday, May 23, 2021

Pastor Chris Laughlin

Introduction

Our struggles are real. Our pain does hurt. Our needs require real solutions. And like many people, we take our struggles to God in prayer. But is God listening? Does He hear our pleas and care about our needs? Are there conditions to whether or not He will hear our prayers and answer them? How do we know prayer works or that God listens? God has gifted us with a direct line of communication with Him through the Holy Spirit, but how do we know we are really connected to God and how do we know His response? This message series will answer real questions you have about prayer.

May 16 – Does Prayer Work: A Prayer of Service

May 23 – Does Prayer Work: A Prayer of Hopelessness

May 30 – Does Prayer Work: A Prayer of Wisdom

June 6 – Does Prayer Work: A Prayer of Deliverance

June 13 – Does Prayer Work: A Prayer of Thanksgiving

June 20 – Does Prayer Work: A Prayer of Sorrow

IMPACT Church 101 E. First Ave. Parkesburg, PA 19365
(610) 857-3887 [email protected]

1.    and acknowledge who God is!

a. He is the God of our

“‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ So he is the God of the living, not the dead.” Matthew 22:32

b. He alone is God in the .

“This is what the Lord says, He who is the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of armies: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.’” (NASB) Isaiah 44:6

c. He is ruler of all the  of the earth.

For the kingdom is the Lord’s And He rules over the nations. (NASB) Psalm 22:28

d. He is and ; no one can stand against Him.

Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle. Psalm 24:8

Notes:

 

Elevate Him to His proper place as “ALMIGHTY GOD”.

2. His promises and past victories.

a. He out the inhabitants of the land.

“‘But recognize today that the Lord your God is the one who will cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire to destroy them. He will subdue them so that you will quickly conquer them and drive them out, just as the Lord has promised.” Deuteronomy 9:3

b. He the land to the descendants of Abraham forever.

“And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.” Genesis 17:8

c. He promised to hear their when faced with any calamity such as war, plague, or famine.

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. Psalm 34:17

The past will give confidence for the future.

3. God’s help.

a. Point out the at hand.

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:14-16

b. Be as and as you can about the issue.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. Romans 8:26

Notes:

 

c. Pour your out for His help.

“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. Psalm 107:6

Come to Him with expectant assurance!

4. the battle is not yours, but the Lord’s.

He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2 Chron. 20:15

5. with trust and obedience, proven by your actions.

a. Worship God in with praise and thanksgiving.

Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.

For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods.

He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains.

The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too.

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, Psalm 95:1-6

Notes:

 

Closing

  • Remember who God is
  • Recount His promises and past victories
  • Request His intervention and help
  • Recognize the battle is not yours, but the Lord’s
  • Respond with expectant faith and thanksgiving

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