Topical Bible: The Power of God: should be Pleaded in Prayer

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The power of God is a central theme throughout the Bible, manifesting in creation, miracles, and the lives of believers. This divine power is not only to be acknowledged but also actively pleaded in prayer. Scripture provides numerous examples and teachings that encourage believers to seek God's power through prayer, emphasizing its necessity and efficacy in the life of faith.

Biblical Foundations

1. Creation and Sustenance: The power of God is first revealed in the act of creation. Genesis 1:1 states, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." This creative power is a testament to God's omnipotence, which believers are encouraged to call upon in prayer. Psalm 33:6-9 further illustrates this, "By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth."

2. Miracles and Deliverance: Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God's power is demonstrated through miracles and acts of deliverance. In Exodus 14:21, God parts the Red Sea, showcasing His power to save His people. In the New Testament, Jesus performs numerous miracles, such as calming the storm in Mark 4:39, "Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. 'Silence!' He commanded. 'Be still!' And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm."

3. Empowerment for Service: God's power is also given to believers for the purpose of service and witness. Acts 1:8 declares, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." This empowerment is accessed and sustained through prayer.

Prayer as a Means to Access God's Power

1. Intercessory Prayer: The Bible encourages believers to intercede for others, pleading for God's power to intervene in their lives. James 5:16 states, "The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail." This verse underscores the effectiveness of prayer in accessing divine power for healing and restoration.

2. Prayers of Petition: Believers are invited to bring their requests before God, trusting in His power to provide and protect. Philippians 4:6-7 instructs, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

3. Prayers for Strength and Guidance: The Apostle Paul frequently prayed for the churches, asking for God's power to strengthen and guide them. Ephesians 3:16-17 records one such prayer: "I ask that out of the riches of His glory, He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."

Examples of Pleading God's Power in Prayer

1. Moses: In Exodus 32:11-14, Moses pleads with God to spare the Israelites after they sinned with the golden calf. He appeals to God's power and promises, resulting in God relenting from His intended judgment.

2. Hannah: In 1 Samuel 1:10-11, Hannah prays fervently for a child, appealing to God's power to open her womb. Her prayer is answered with the birth of Samuel, who becomes a significant prophet in Israel.

3. The Early Church: In Acts 4:29-31, the early Christians pray for boldness in the face of persecution, asking for God's power to be manifested through signs and wonders. Their prayer is answered as they are filled with the Holy Spirit and speak the word of God boldly.

Theological Implications

The power of God, when pleaded in prayer, reflects a deep trust in His sovereignty and ability to act. It acknowledges human dependence on divine intervention and aligns the believer's will with God's purposes. This practice is not merely a request for personal benefit but a submission to God's greater plan, seeking His glory above all.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 79:11
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you; according to the greatness of your power preserve you those that are appointed to die;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For your is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

True Prayer --True Power!
... given us power in prayer, and yet that power lies still. ... universe was as still as
we are, where should we be ... Oh God, thou givest light to the sun and he shines ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/true prayertrue power.htm

Twenty-Eighth Lesson. Father! not what I Will;'
... He had pleaded God's power and love, and had then withdrawn it in His final, THY
WILL BE DONE.' The prayer that the cup should pass away could not be answered ...
/.../with christ in the school of prayer/twenty-eighth lesson father not what.htm

Order and Argument in Prayer
... If a man should come with the argument of his own ... will use the next with still greater
power, and the ... listened to brethren who have come before God feeling the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 12 1866/order and argument in prayer.htm

My God Will Hear Me
... and trusted to enable us to pray as we should, will be ... we have truly with Christ
given ourselves to God for men ... The power of life and death is in our hands (1 ...
/.../murray/the ministry of intercession/chapter xii my god will.htm

That we Ought to Give Ourselves to God with Regard to Things Both ...
... If God should restore me again to health I have ... What rich and wonderful power was
theirs who had learned the secret of victorious approach to God! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/purpose in prayer/chapter ii that we ought.htm

Prayer Answered, Love Nourished
... TIMELY ANSWERS WHICH: GOD HAS GIVEN YOU TO YOUR PRAYERS, and this should compel
you to ... he is at this very day a living witness of the power of God to answer ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/prayer answered love nourished.htm

Prayer and Desire
... This, it should be remembered, was the central cause ... with an invincible courage and
an all-conquering power. ... praying is, after all, inspired to seek after God. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the necessity of prayer/iv prayer and desire.htm

Hezekiah, the Praying King
... It was that God should reconsider and change His mind. ... and changed his mind, and
Hezekiah lived to praise God and to be an example of the power of mighty ...
/.../bounds/prayer and praying men/vi hezekiah the praying king.htm

Results of Transgression
... of a nation that had been set as a beacon light to the surrounding nations, Solomon
should have used his God-given wisdom and power of influence in ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 4 results of transgression.htm

Prayer Perfumed with Praise
... If we had received our desserts we should not now have ... temple, but we can still go
to our God in prayer. ... substance, but he has not lost his power to supplicate ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 25 1879/prayer perfumed with praise.htm