Message Action PlanEXAMPLES OF PRAYER CAUSING RECOVERY
1. WHEN THE ISRAELITES GOT IMPTIENT & REBELLIOUS
" . . . Then the people grew impatient on the way and they began to murmur and complain against God and Moses. Why did you lead us here? . . . We hate where we are, and we hate the food! . . . So God sent poisonous snakes to punish them and many became sick and died from the bites. Then the people confessed 'We have sinned . . . Pray for us!" So Moses PRAYED for them . . . Then God told Moses to make a bronze staff... and when those who'd been bitten looked (in faith) to Moses' staff they recovered!" Numbers 21:4-9
WITH PRAYER WE CAN RECOVER . . . FROM PROBLEMS WE CAUSE BY OUR OWN IMPATIENCE
Action Plan: Set aside even just five-ten minutes every day this week to rest with God. Turn off your phone and get rid of any distrations. Offer the events of your day over to God and seek his will.
2. WHEN JEROBOAM WAS UPSET HEARING A HARD TRUTH
"So King Jeroboam stretched out his hand in anger against the Man of God who had told him the truth and it instantly became paralyzed . . . The king cried out 'PRAY FOR ME!' So the man of God PRAYED to the Lord, and the king recovered the normal use of his hand!" 1 Kings 13:4-6
WITH PRAYER WE CAN RECOVER . . . WHEN WE'RE PARALZYED BY OUR EMOTIONS
3. WHEN HEZEKIAH WAS TOLD HE'D NEVER RECOVER
"In those days King Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. Isaiah the prophet went to him and said, "The Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die. You are NOT going to recover!" BUT Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and he prayed, pleading to the Lord, 'Remember Lord, how I've walked before you faithfully with wholehearted devotion and I've done what is good in your eyes.' And Hezekiah wept loudly as he prayed. Then, before Isaiah had even left the king's court, God's word came to him again: 'Go back and tell Hezekiah 'I've heard your prayer and I've seen your tears. You WILL recover and I WILL heal you . . . I'm going to add fifteen years to your life! ALSO I'm going to deliver you and this city from Assyria's domination.' . . . so Hezekiah recovered." 2 Kings 20:1-7
"After Hezekiah's recovery, he wrote a prayer of praise: . . . You restored my health and I am fully recovered with a fresh infusion of life! But it was good for me to go through all those troubles because throughout them all, you held tight to my life! You never let me tumble over the edge into nothing. But my sins, you did let go of, you threw them behind your back!" Isaiah 38:9-17
WITH PRAYER, WE CAN RECOVER . . . EVEN WHEN OTHERS TELL US IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN!
Action Plan: Take the next step in your journey of recovery by attending Celebrate Recovery. For times and locations near you, click here.
4. WHEN TWO BLIND MEN CRIED OUT TO JESUS
"Two blind men were sitting by the roadside when they heard that Jesus was passing by. So they cried out, 'Lord, have mercy on us!' The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they prayed even louder 'Lord, have mercy on us!' . . . Jesus stopped and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" They said 'We don't want to be blind anymore! Give us sight!' With deep compassion, Jesus touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered theirsight and they followed him." Matthew 20:30-34
WITH PRAYER WE CAN RECOVER . . . OUR VISION AND SEE THINGS WE COULD NEVER SEE BEFORE!
5. WHEN PETER HAD HIS MASSIVE PUBLIC FAILURE
(Predicting Peter's fall) Jesus said "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you just as wheat is sifted. BUT I have prayed for you, Simon, so that your faith may not fail. And WHEN you have recovered, it will be your job to strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:31-32
WITH PRAYER WE CAN RECOVER . . . AND EVEN USE OUR FAILURES TO HELP OTHERS!
6. WHEN JOB LOST LITERALLY EVERTHING
"After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz, "I'm angry with you and your two friends, because you did not speak the truth about me, the way my servant Job did. Now I want you to make a sacrifice . . . and Job will pray for you! Then I will answer his prayer and not disgrace you the way you deserve . . . So Job's 3 friends did what the Lord told them to do, and the Lord answered Job's prayer. Then, when Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored Job's health and prosperity, and Job recovered twice as much as he had before his pain." Job 42:7-10
OUR RECOVERY IS ONLY COMPLETE . . . WHEN WE PRAY FOR THE RECOVERY OF OTHERS
Action Plan: Make it a priority this week to pray for the recovery of others. Make a list of people you can pray for and pray through the list everyday this week.
Jesus announced His Mission on earth by reading from Isaiah 61:1-4
"God's Spirit is on me. He's chosen me
to preach the good news to the poor,
to announce freedom to those held captive,
to give recovery of sight to the blind,
to set the burdened and battered free,
to proclaim that this is the time of God's Favor!"
Luke 4:18 (MES)
The rest of Isaiah's prophesy adds:
" . . . and to heal the brokenhearted . . . to comfort all who mourn . . . and to give beauty for ashes and joy and gladness instead grief! . . . Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will restore the devastated places, and they will renew the ruined cities!" Isaiah 61:1-4 (GW)
Doable Discipleship: If you are interested in learning more about Celebrate Recovery, this week's episode of the Doable Discipleship podcast features an interview with Celebrate Recovery pastor Johnny Baker. To watch or listen, click here.
