Changing the World Through Prayer Part 2

Good morning to each and every one of you all. In 1963 there started to be some people against the Lord's Prayer in public schools.The U. S. Supreme Court issued two bans. One in 1962 and the second in 1963. Both bans were the result of lawsuits against the teaching of religion and religious practices in public schools. Basically stating that organized prayer in schools was a violation of the separation of church and state. It was decided that publicly funded schools were an extension of the state, and that organized prayer or bible readings were a form of proselytizing. The bans not only banned mandatory prayer in schools but also banned the daily reading of bible passages. The lawsuits were supported by several organizations but the most outspoken supporter for banning prayer in schools came from Madalyn Murray O'Hair, the founder of American Atheists, Inc. If the enemy can take it out schools legally what makes you think he will not attempt to move its importance out our everyday life. Prayer in needed to change the world.

 In an earlier blog I gave a few meanings of the word prayer. In this blog I will give you a few more. I always get my definitions from dictionary.com. The word prayer means as follows;  a negligible hope or chance; that which is prayed for; and an object of worship as in thanksgiving. In Genesis 18:22-33 Abraham prayed Sodom and Gomorrah to be spared all the way up to if there was just ten righteous people. In Psalms 86 David showed that which is prayed for. And In Hebrews 13:20-21 it shows an object of worship for thanksgiving. In the next three paragraphs I will give examples of how prayer changes the world.

In the first example in the Word of God I go Genesis 32:9-12 we see where Jacob has said a prayer but has a negligible hope that his bother Esau will forgive him. Most times as people of faith we pray but do not think that our prayers will be  answered right away or even at all.  In looking further in the chapter in verses 24-29 we see where God not only heard his prayer but also blessed him with a new name Israel and still gave him the promises that he had already made him. Changing the world through prayer.

In the second example in the Word of God I go 1st Samuel 1:10-17. Hannah who is one of two wives of Elkanah has and she cannot bear children. To make matters worse Peninnah, who was the other wife, talked about her like a dog ( verse 6 ). So when Hannah prayed she specifically prayed for something. We can ask of God and he will answer our prayers but we have to pray. In verse 20 Hannah conceived a son because of her prayer life. In 1st Samuel 2:1-10 she prays again to the Lord. You can change the world through prayer.

In the last example from the Word of God I go to John 17:20-26. In this passage Jesus prays to God as an object of worship in thanksgiving for all of us who believe in him. I know it is tough to have a prayer of worship when you need money for bills so you work harder and longer, when it is just you raising children alone or you have health issues. Jesus is the object of our worship and we must provide him with thanksgiving for shedding his blood. Jesus prayed for us and changed the world. When we as believers of him pray we can change the world as well.

In closing I want you all to know that when we come together corporately in prayer there is nothing that cannot be accomplished ( Deuteronomy 32:30 ). In the world today we see where changes need to be and in order to make these changes there HAS TO BE PRAYER AND IT MUST BE ACTIVATED. In the areas of business and government we must have an active prayer life even if it seems to be a negligible hope like Jacob had. In the areas of religion, arts and entertainment and family we must know what to pray for like Hannah. In the areas of social media and education we must have God as our object of adulation for thanksgiving as he sent Jesus to die for us. Without Jacob there would be no Joseph. Without Hannah there would be no Samuel. Without the death of Jesus there would be no sins forgiven and the presence of the Holy Spirit. There are many more examples of what prayer can do from Genesis 20:17-18, Isaiah 33:1-9 and in Romans 8:26-27. Change the world through prayer. I give God all the glory and honor for this teaching. Amen.