“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have DIVINE POWER to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”  2 Corinthians 10:4-5

When Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians, he reminded them that “the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power.” 1 Corinthians 4:20.  And throughout the Bible we have many real life examples of the power of prayer in our arena of life to motivate us to step out in faith trusting in the power of God to see His kingdom come in the world in which we live.

Elijah single handedly challenged 450 prophets of Baal to a contest on Mount Carmel to see whose God was real. After the false prophets failed to get a response all day, Elijah prayed a simple direct prayer asking God to show His power so the people would turn back to Him. Fire fell immediately from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, the wood and the stones, proving God’s supreme power.
1 Kings 18

Joshua was able to defeat the Amalekite army because Moses, with the help of Aaron and Hur, went to the top of the hill and raised his hands to the Lord in prayer as the battle below him raged. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he lowered them, the Amalekites gained the advantage. When Moses grew tired, Aaron and Hur placed a stone for him to sit on and held his hands up – one on each side – until sunset so Israel could be victorious. Exodus 17: 10-16

Paul and Silas, beaten and locked deep inside a Roman jail were praying and singing hymns to God at midnight. Suddenly, a violent earthquake shook the prison foundations, opened every cell door, and loosened everyone’s chains. Acts 16:25-26

These incidents remind us that the prayer power entrusted to the church of Jesus Christ belongs in the arena of the world in which we live.

And I am reminded of the time when the late Pastor Andrew Evans was appointed to our state parliament after pastoring the largest church in South Australia. I was leading a statewide prayer movement called Pray South Australia and Andrew asked if I could arrange for a gathering of people to assemble on the steps of our parliament house to pray when any “anti-Christian”

legislation was being processed in the parliament. On each occasion, up to two hundred people would gather to pray with the power and authority that had been entrusted to them as the parliament debated and voted on the legislation before them.

Sometime later Andrew reported to me that every time that people gathered in united prayer on the steps of parliament house, the “anti-Christian” legislation was defeated. Sometimes quite unexpectedly.

In a similar way, I would gather the pastors in my local community to do likewise with similar results. And in the process our local Mayor witnessed some amazing answers to prayer.
The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power…….prayer power in the arenas of our cities outside the four walls of our church buildings. So go boldly and with great faith for
“Greater is He that is in us, than He that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

Elijah and Moses and Paul and Silas remind us that even one person with God’s help can be a majority in their arena today. In faith Elijah said to the 450 prophets on Mount Carmel, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left.”
God bless you as you go in Jesus’ name. You have permission.