4 Prayers – ‘A narration from Billy Graham’s sermon’

Praise God! This post is one of the message given by Dr.Billy Graham in his crusade.

One day Jesus was very tired and He asked his disciples to take the boat to other shore and He slept at the back of the boat.

1. Suddenly a storm came and the boat started to sink and the disciples were afraid that they would drown and so peter woke Jesus shouting, “:Lord don’t you care if we are all drown” (mark 4).

         Jesus stood up and said, “Quiet be still!”.

         And the sea became calm and storm stopped; they reached the other shore.

There is demon in the world.

It was in the time of Jesus and it is in our time now.

Our world is polluted now, not with air or water pollution alone, but it is polluted in its spiritual and modest stature.

When we read our newspapers, we no longer see the news of murder,theft and evil in head lines but they have become more common and so they are printed like sports scores in a column like, ‘these many murders, theft took place in such and such a place.’

Movies are full of evil, violence and unclean stuffs, the bible says demons are unclean, foul spirits.

It can be seen in our world today,

And the bible says, we wrestle not against flesh and blood but with principalities and power of the dark world

2. Now when they all came to that shore a man who was demon possessed came

shouting to Jesus

This man had no garment on him and he was living in tombs, and he was possessed with foul and impure spirits (2000 of them)

Like that man in our world there are more people who are full of lustful spirits and with evil thoughts in their minds and heart

and Bible says those who live a sinful life are actually dead in sin like this man who lived in tombs.

demons in that man said,

“What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t                 torture me!”

        “My name is Legion,”“for we are many.”And he begged Jesus again and again not                 to send them out of the area.

Just imagine how dangerous the hell could be if the demons never want to go there,

The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.”

He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs.

Jesus answered demons request, and

The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

In our world business people and rich people say we don’t need Jesus He is for the poor, economists are interested in markets and not Jesus, common man says, i don’t understand Jesus and i do not want Him and like them here in this incident we see,

3. Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the        people went out to see what had happened. 

    When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of         demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

  Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well.

  Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave  their region.

  So Jesus returned to the boat

But there was also another incident where a man named Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus whom he heard has done many miracles and since zaccheus was short and also he was considered an outcast in that city, so he decided to climb a sycamore tree to have a clear view of Jesus face 

But Jesus stopped at that tree and called Zaccheus by name and said “come down, I want to stay in your house.”

He did and was transformed.

4.

But the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go    with him, Jesus did not let him, but said, 

   “Go home to your own people and tell   them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

   So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis, how much Jesus had done for him. 

 And all the people were amazed.

(This is a short narrative from billy’s message)

God bless you.

Prayer with one accord

…being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said

Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness

Acts : 4 : 23-31

Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God.

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger
    or discipline me in your wrath.
Your arrows have pierced me,
    and your hand has come down on me.
Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;
    there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.
My guilt has overwhelmed me
    like a burden too heavy to bear.

My wounds fester and are loathsome
    because of my sinful folly.
 I am bowed down and brought very low;
    all day long I go about mourning.
 My back is filled with searing pain;
    there is no health in my body.
 I am feeble and utterly crushed;
    I groan in anguish of heart.

 All my longings lie open before you, Lord;
    my sighing is not hidden from you.
 My heart pounds, my strength fails me;
    even the light has gone from my eyes.
 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;
    my neighbors stay far away.
 Those who want to kill me set their traps,
    those who would harm me talk of my ruin;
    all day long they scheme and lie.

 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,
    like the mute, who cannot speak;
 I have become like one who does not hear,
    whose mouth can offer no reply.
 Lord, I wait for you;
    you will answer, Lord my God.
 For I said, “Do not let them gloat
    or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”

 For I am about to fall,
    and my pain is ever with me.
 I confess my iniquity;
    I am troubled by my sin.
 Many have become my enemies without cause
    those who hate me without reason are numerous.
 Those who repay my good with evil
    lodge accusations against me,
    though I seek only to do what is good.

 Lord, do not forsake me;
    do not be far from me, my God.
 Come quickly to help me,
    my Lord and my Savior.

                                                                                                     Psalm:38:1-22

Prayer to reconcile with God

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed:

“Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 

 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws. 

 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

“Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame—the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, both near and far, in all the countries where you have scattered us because of our unfaithfulness to you. 

We and our kings, our princes and our ancestors are covered with shame, Lord because we have sinned against you. 

The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him; 

 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. 

 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you.

“Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. 

 You have fulfilled the words spoken against us and against our rulers by bringing on us great disaster. Under the whole heaven, nothing has ever been done like what has been done to Jerusalem. 

Just as it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our sins and giving attention to your truth. 

 The Lord did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the Lord our God is righteous in everything he does; yet we have not obeyed him.

 “Now, Lord our God, who brought your people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and who made for yourself a name that endures to this day, we have sinned, we have done wrong. 

 Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us.

 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 

Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 

 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

DANIEL : 9: 4 -19

Prayer

Lord protect us

Lord, Please! hear me…

Hear my prayer, O Lord,

Listen to my supplications!

Answer me in Your faithfulness, and in Your righteousness.

And do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no man living is righteous or justified.

For the enemy has persecuted me,

He has crushed my life down to the ground;
He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have been long dead.
Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed and weak within me [wrapped in darkness];
My heart grows numb within me.

I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all that You have done;
I ponder the work of Your hands.
I reach out my hands to You;
My throat thirsts for You, as a parched land [thirsts for water].

Answer me quickly, O Lord, my spirit fails;

Do not hide Your face from me,
Or I will become like those who go down into the pit (grave).

Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,

For I trust in You.
Teach me the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.
Rescue me, O Lord, from my enemies;
I take refuge in You.

Teach me to do Your will [so that I may please You],

For You are my God;

Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Save my life, O Lord, for Your name’s sake;
In Your righteousness bring my life out of trouble.
In your lovingkindness, silence and destroy my enemies
And destroy all those who afflict my life,
For I am Your servant.
Amen.
Psalm:143

Remember me, my God

Remember me with favor, my God, for all I have done for these people.

Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me.

Remember me for this, my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.

Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this also, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.

Remember them, my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.

I also made provision for contributions of wood at designated times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me with favor, my God.

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Nehemiah:5:19;6:14;13:14,22,29,31

Paul’s prayer

 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 

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I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit^[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 

 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.

That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,  far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 

 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

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 Ephesians:1:16-23

Prayer of Hannah

 So Hannah got up after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat beside the doorpost of the temple (tabernacle) of the Lord. 

Hannah was greatly distressed, and she prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. She made a vow, saying, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction (suffering) of Your maidservant and remember, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life; a razor shall never touch his head.”

Now it happened as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. Hannah was speaking in her heart (mind); only her lips were moving, and her voice was not heard, so Eli thought she was drunk.

1 Samuel:1:9-13

Prayer of Repentance (Nehemiah)

 And I said,

 “Please, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, 
 who keeps the covenant and loving kindness for those who love Him
 and keep His commandments,

 please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You, day and night, on behalf of Your servants, the sons (descendants) of Israel (Jacob), confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have committed against You; I and my father’s house have sinned.

 We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.

 Please remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying,

‘If you are unfaithful and violate your obligations to Me I will scatter you [abroad] among the peoples;but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered are in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen for My Name to dwell.’ 

Now they are Your servants and Your people whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.

 Please, O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to [reverently] fear Your Name [Your essence, Your nature, Your attributes, with awe]; and make Your servant successful this day and grant him compassion in the sight of this man [the king].”

For I was cup-bearer to the king [of Persia].

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Nehemiah:1:5-11