prayer

The dynamic power of prayer

The dynamic power of prayer

Powerful prayer works! The original Greek of the Bible often uses a special word for power: dunamis – it signifies miraculous, wonder-working power. From it we get the words dynamo (which generates power), and dynamite (the explosive). If you want prayer to work, to change your circumstances, then it must generate power. Jesus never once in the four Gospels told His disciples to pray for the sick. He said, ‘HEAL the sick!’ (Luke 9&10). He was speaking with authority! Yes, in James 5:14 it says ‘the prayer of faith will save the sick’ – but this is in the church. There is a big difference between the call of the evangelist and ministry within the church.

Faithful to the Calling

Faithful to the Calling

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2). This theme runs right through Scripture, watching, praying – with thanksgiving – faithfulness in prayer! There is a big responsibility for us in this. Paul says here in v3, “Pray for us that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ for which I am in chains.” There must be constant prayer from me and from you – pray! Just like Paul, I need prayer that God will open doors.

What is your ministry and purpose?

What is your ministry and purpose?

What is your ministry? What is the church? The purpose of the Church is that the manifold wisdom of God be made known to the ‘principalities and powers in the heavenly places’! In other words, that the great wisdom of God might not just be revealed to the unbeliever, but to the rulers and authorities in ‘heavenly places’. Paul is revealing in the book of Ephesians that we have to demonstrate the Wisdom, Power and Glory of God, not only on the earth, but to those ‘other powers’, those ‘heavenly powers’, those other spiritual powers. By ‘heavenly’, Paul is not meaning ‘Heaven’, but unearthly, ungodly. Paul writes later in this letter, ‘We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’ These are the powers that you and I must not only to wrestle with, but be witnesses to! We have to witness, through our faith in Christ, through our lives, through the way we live, the Power of God to the devil!

Raised from death to life

Raised from death to life

In October 2003 David was evangelising in Almaty, the commercial capital of Kazakhstan. Someone told David that a missionary friend of his was dying in a hospital there, would he please go and pray? This man, Doug Boyle, an Australian missionary, was dying alone in an intensive care unit. David went to pray with him. 16 years later, who greeted David on arrival in Georgia, but this same man! Watch his dramatic testimony!

The joy of answered of prayer

The joy of answered of prayer

Oh the joy of answered prayer; the relief of burdens lifted and the excitement of new beginnings. We have a God of power, glory and miracles - He is a prayer-answering God. We can all have this relationship with Him. If you are sick, or crippled, in despair, alone, whoever you are, wherever you are - God will hear you, God will answer your prayer like He has answered mine! It is not about religion; it is not about ceremony - it is about finding a new reality, a new relationship with Jesus. I know God is alive and delights in answering our prayers.

Power through difficulties

Power through difficulties

It is only through testings and trials that we learn who God is and what He can do; if we never had a problem, we would never know what faith in God could do. We all pray more when we are in distress; yet it is through difficulties we learn to trust God, to believe for miracles. God will use every difficulty to refine us, so that we become the person He can use for His glory. Lessons from 70 years of ministry: 'For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance.' (Part 6)

Jesus hears every prayer

Jesus hears every prayer

God hears every prayer; He knows what troubles you; God is concerned about you. Jesus said the hairs on your head are numbered, so don't be afraid. God is not deaf, you don't need to shout to be heard. You can speak in the softest whisper and He will hear you. You don't need to be in a big temple or church to be noticed, God will hear you wherever you are.

Jesus forgives every sin

Jesus forgives every sin

Jesus has forgiven every sin: the sins of the past, the sins of today, and the sins of tomorrow. That is the miracle. No wonder Jesus said to the man sick of the palsy, Rejoice, your sins are forgiven! We all have a reason to rejoice today: we are forgiven and redeemed; set free from the curse of sin. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Gap between life and death

Gap between life and death

There is a very narrow gap between life and death; the difference between the two is so small. The Bible says that we walk through the valley of the shadow of death: in life we walk through death, in death we experience life. How do we experience this life? Jesus said He is the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in Him, though he is dead, yet shall he live.

When heaven is shut

When heaven is shut

There comes a time in all our lives when heaven feels shut. We’ve prayed for deliverance, but the situation never improves, or worse, if there is an answer, God says ‘no’. How do we pray in these situations? It is in these times we realise the truth contained in the Lord’s Prayer - He does understand, He does care, He’s our Father.