Power link (March 8, 2010)

Central Theme: The Unlimited Power of Prayer

Objective Sentence: We can experience the unlimited power of prayer by identifying and eliminating the
Prayer Killers in us

Introduction: Have you ever experience talking with someone on the phone then suddenly all you can hear is
a choppy voice or even hearing your own voice? Sending an important very long text message to an
important person only to see in your screen the words “message sending failed or check operator services”?
Clicking on an important article over the internet and suddenly appears “the page cannot be displayed”? Or
eagerly listening to an important instruction from your professor but you are distracted by the noise around?
Maybe you had. I had too. Its frustrating. Your direct access to an important person/information is hindered
and what you suppose to receive was delayed/stocked in the process.
This reality happens madalas sa ating mga Kristiyano when we pray! We have the sure access to our
Heavenly Father but it is blocked and our prayer becomes powerless. We sometimes begin to doubt how
powerful prayer is and praying becomes the toughest thing to do. This afternoon, we can learn to experience
the unlimited power of prayer if we will identify and get rid off the PRAYER KILLERS..
Lets pray.
I love playing basketball. And one of my favorite part is when the ball hits the bottom of the net after a
shot. Nice! Because that’s the ultimate goal! Easy to do when its between you and the basket alone. But how
about having a defender that would do his best to block you? Now I invite you to join our team lets call it the
PRAYER TEAM and lets study our opponent, the team of PRAYER KILLERS.

1. Unconfessed Sin. He’s probably the most common prayer killer. Its difficult to take a shot over a
defender but it is impossible to make a shot with his hands covering the basket! Sin, ang ating kasalanan is
the greatest blocker between us and God. God is holy and can’t abide with sin and therefore no matter how
eager He is to listen to you and me when we pray, He can’t do anything. As if you are applying in a job and
upon looking to you, wala na. I mean you have no chance.
Psalms 66:18 – “if I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear”..
wickedness means unconfessed sin. If we knowingly tolerate sin in our lives, it pushes God away from us. As
a result it makes our prayers powerless.
Application: So therefore, confess your sins to God! It’s a requirement.. Its not pattern of prayer.. Its
recognizing God’s holiness and our need of His cleansing everytime we come to HIM. Allow Him to search you
and reveal to you through the Holy Spirit what is displeasing to Him.

2. Lack of Faith. Lack of faith has an incredibly negative impact on a Christian’s life. Without faith prayer
has no power! It is when a great player knows he can shoot but begins to doubt because of a defender
whispering to him. I’ve watched an nba game when a great shooter missed a free throw shot in a close game
in the end. When the replay was shown, I saw how an opponent whispers to him. I don’t know what he says,
but I’m sure he was bothered and causes him to miss the shot. Not many times it happens. It is when a
Christian begins to doubt. And God’s Word through James clearly said that we will not receive anything if we
doubt. Lets open that in James 1:5-8.. He said you should not think you will receive anything from the Lord!
Illustration (ordinary person to lend 1 million pesos). When you pray with doubt, God is not pleased. You know
who are you doubting!? Its God, creator of heavens and the earth who promised to give you anything that
you desire. Because if our earthly father (which are not that good) is willing to do his best to give what his
child needs… How much more our loving God, our F ather. Don’t doubt His willingness, His power and His
timing..

Application: Remember its our faith that pleases God. Pray with with faith in complete confidence that He
will give you and He has already given you.. When you start acting as if you already have it, that’s faith..
When Michael Jordan takes the final shot that gave them the 1998 NBA Championship, he did not drop his
hand.. He waited till the ball hits the bottom of the net. And it did. We are God’s children. His promises are
true!.

3. Disobedience. Many times we hear the word obedience and almost all the time we really want to do it.
But sometimes we end up on the other side. Its really hard to score in a game when you find yourself
shooting in your opponent’s goal. Yes you may cross over unconfessed sin and spin around lack of faith but
when you’re in the wrong direction not leading to your goal you can’t have what you want, to score points
and to win ball games. Obedience talks about God’s direction to us. What God wants us to do. When we start
obeying God, we are on the right direction. When we keep obeying Him, we get closer to the basket and our
chances to score points become higher!
When we are praying for something and expecting God to answer it and still up to this time no answers yet..
we will learn that God is also expecting something from us.. Jesus in the book of John, reminds us that what
He wants from us is our obedience. If you love me, obey what I command. If you abide in me, and my words
abide in you (that’s obedience) ask whatever you want and it shall be granted. An John in his 1st book verses
21-22 reminds us God’s faithfulness to give if we will obey His command and do what pleases Him

Illustration..
Do you want to have unlimited power in your prayers? Know your opponents and be sure to defeat them..
Application..