Medford First Church of the Nazarene

Purpose of Ministry:
God desires to have a vital relationship with each of us. The relationship does not need to be a “one-way” relationship, but one that is vibrant, living, and growing. We grow in our relationship through study of the Bible and through communication with Him – prayer.

How Can We Pray with Power?
            Do you often wonder, like I have many times over the years, if your prayers make a difference, or if you're wasting time? Why do we pray? After all, we could be out doing something. God calls us to be a House of Prayer. He never calls us to be a House of Action, or a House of Doing (even good things). If God calls us to be a House of Prayer, then He will guide us in effective prayer. He will guide us to pray with power. Our task is to seek Him, listen to Him, and then obey Him. The result will be prayer and then service in His power.

Food for Thought
John 1:1-5: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."
•             In the beginning was the Word.
•            Jesus is the Word.
•            The Word is God.
•            In Jesus (The Word) was life and the light of men.

2 Timothy 3:16: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
•             Scripture is given to us by inspiration of God
•             Scripture is profitable.
•             Good for reproof.
•             Good for correction.
•             Good for instruction in righteousness.

Hebrews 4:12: "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
•             The word of God is quick
•             The word of God is powerful
•             The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword
•             The word of God can divide soul and spirit
•             The word of God is a great discerner

John 15:7: "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
•             When God’s word abides in us, we pray with power

Back to my original question, How can we pray with power? We have to know and live by God’s Word. God created us, He loves us, and He has a plan for each one of us. As we read God’s Word, surrender to Him, listen to His guidance, obey His Word, He will direct our minds and hearts in prayer. We can learn to pray Scripture, for we know that is the will of God. Psalm 119:8,9 reads, " I will obey your decrees: Do not utterly forsake me. How can a young man keep his way pure? by living according to your word. "

An example we could pray that prays His Scripture back to Him would be: "Father, let us always keep your decrees, please do not forsake us. Keep us in Your Word that we may be clean."

As I am learning more about praying God’s Word back to Him, I am learning more about God, and His will for me. I am learning to hear Him, and sense growing power in the prayers I pray. A great product of my learning is a stronger relationship with the Almighty God of the universe. He loves, me, He has a plan for me. I have a deeper sense of closeness and abiding joy as I strive to serve Him with humility each day. Commit to draw closer to Him with me. Strive to be your own House of Prayer and then help us grow into a church that is a true House of Prayer.

Pastor Gary Morrison

Web Links for Prayer
National Day of Prayer: www.nationaldayofprayer.org
World Prayer Center: www.worldprayerteam.org
U.S. Prayer Center: www.usprayercenter.org
Navigators: www.navpress.com
Nav Press periodicals: www.navpress.com/Magazines/
Prayer Today: www.prayertoday.org
Praying Pastor: www.prayingpastor.com/index.htm
Global Day of Prayer: www.gdop-usa.com
World Network of Prayer: www.wnop.org