21 Dangerous Prayers

Scripture Text: Matthew 6:16-18, Genesis 32:22-32

Summary: Take Jacob, for instance, who wrestled with God out of great frustration and the paralyzing fear of meeting his brother Esau. He clung to God in prayer as a wrestler grappling with his opponent—and in the process, he was changed profoundly (Genesis 32:22-32).

Dangerous Prayers:

Mark our lives. As Jacob was humbled physically, he was reminded that he was also changed spiritually (vs.25, 31).

Change our identities. Jacob received a new name, which reminded him that his identity was in God and not in his birthright (vs. 28).

Draw us closer to God. Jacob came face to face with God. As God’s great mercy was revealed, Jacob experienced a deeper sense of intimacy (vs. 30).

Impact the community of faith. This event in Jacob’s life was memorialized to remind us that when the leader is changed, it affects the people they are leading (vs. 32).

Application: When was the last time you prayed dangerously?

Invitation: Over the next 21 days we are going to explore the dangerous prayers that have been prayed by God’s people for thousands of years. We trust God will meet you in a life-transforming manner. We pray that you will not be the same and that your family, neighborhood, workplace, and church will be impacted because you personally have met with God.

Scripture Text: Psalm 139:23-24; Jeremiah 17:9-10

Summary: Confessional prayers allow God to breathe into your life. When you invite His holiness, righteousness, and glory to invade your being, He reveals your needs and any obstacles that are hindering your growth and usefulness in His mission.

There is no room for morbid introspection in the life of a follower of Jesus. Why? Because when we search our own hearts, we can quickly fall into self-deception. Jeremiah wrote, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” He continues, “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds” (Jeremiah 17:9-10). Only God is qualified to search our hearts correctly.

David’s prayer acknowledges God’s searching power, admits that we are so easily deceived, and humbly submits to God’s truth rather than our feelings or perceptions.

Application: When David prays, “see if there is any grievous or painful way in me,” he is asking God to reveal to him those “blind spots” or unknown areas of his life that are hindering him from experiencing the fullness of God in his soul and God’s pleasing path of blessing. Find time today to ask God to search you and show you His way.

Summary: Transformational prayers allow God to shape and mold us. They seek God’s sanctifying power, strength, and grace as we work out the gospel in our lives through confession and repentance. They find God’s leading by submitting to His Word and surrendering to His ways.

Choosing the higher road in relationships can be dangerous. But it is the only way God wants us to live. You cannot control the way people treat you, but you can control how you respond to their treatment.

King David was a man who suffered the ill-treatment of King Saul. At the time of this prayer, he was running for his life by hiding in caves and retreating into the wilderness. David prayed for God to show him the level path and teach him how to walk on it. He prayed that God would reveal the right thing to do in the midst of these unfortunate circumstances. God answered him by saying, “Wait! Wait on me!” (Psalm 27:14).

Waiting on the Lord is courageously trusting God to deal with your enemies. When we learn to wait on the Lord, we find the strength to take the high road in our relationships.

Application: Let’s be dangerous today by asking God to show us how to take the high road in our difficult relationships.

Scripture Text: Isaiah 6:1-8

Summary: Missional prayers align us with God’s purposes. They teach us to rest in God’s power and presence as we advance His mission and promote His Glory. They position us to be usable by God in any way possible.

What happened in Isaiah’s life to make him willingly volunteer to be God’s man in any tough situation?

First, his heart was changed by the presence of God. God engulfed him with His holiness as he worshipped the Lord in the temple (vs. 1-4).

Second, his heart became aware of his sinfulness and his personal need for God’s cleansing forgiveness (vs. 5).

Third, his heart was broken by the condition of God’s people and their need for God’s word (vs. 5).

Finally, his heart was touched by God’s cleansing fire (vs. 6-7).

Accepting God’s assignment needs to be rooted in a profound experience with God. God’s assignments are miraculous in nature, and only God can change a human heart. Only God can cleanse a sinner and bring revival to a human heart and nation of people.

Application: Isaiah prayed this dangerous prayer because he experienced a dangerous and yet merciful God. Take time today to seek the Lord and listen for His specific assignment for you.

Free Sermon Series Package: “Dangerous Prayers”

LifeChurch.TV “Believe your big risks will be rewarded. Believe what you ask for is possible. If you’re ready to see a spark in your life, pray boldly. Pray daringly. Pray with fire. And remember God’s listening to your Dangerous Prayers. This three-week series teaches us to pray bold prayers “.

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