Text: 1 Samuel 1:10, Mark 10:46-52
Theme: When normal prayer is not enough, God responds to desperate prayer
INTRODUCTION
There are two types of prayer:
1. Casual prayer – “God bless me, amen”
2. Desperate prayer – “God, if You don’t answer, I will not leave!”
Desperate prayer is prayer that comes from a broken heart, with tears, with groaning. It’s prayer that refuses to take “no” for an answer.
James 5:16 – “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
The word “fervent” means boiling, desperate, intense.
Today God is looking for men and women who will pray desperately.
1: WHAT IS DESPERATE PRAYER?
Desperate prayer is:
1. Prayer with burden – Romans 8:26 “the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings”
2. Prayer with persistence – Luke 18:1-5 The widow that troubled the judge
3. Prayer with tears – Psalm 6:6 “I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim with tears”
4. Prayer that refuses to quit – Genesis 32:26 Jacob said “I will not let You go unless You bless me”
2: BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF DESPERATE PRAYER
1. HANNAH – 1 Samuel 1:10-15
“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish… out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.”
Result: 1 Samuel 1:20 – God gave her Samuel. A prophet to a nation.
Desperation gave birth to destiny.
2. BARTIMAEUS THE BLIND MAN – Mark 10:46-52
Crowd said “be quiet”. He cried “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” even louder.
Result: Mark 10:52 – “Go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Desperation made Jesus stop.
3. THE SYROPHOENICIAN WOMAN – Mark 7:25-29
Jesus said “it’s not for dogs”. She said “even the little dogs eat the crumbs”.
Result: Her daughter was delivered.
Desperation breaks protocol.
4. JACOB AT JABBOK – Genesis 32:24-28
He wrestled with God all night. “I will not let You go unless You bless me.”
Result: His name changed to Israel.
Desperation changes identity.
5. JESUS IN GETHSEMANE – Luke 22:44
“And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood”
Desperation precedes destiny.
3: WHY GOD RESPONDS TO DESPERATE PRAYER
1. It shows Dependence – Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart”
2. It shows Faith – Hebrews 11:6 “he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder”
3. It moves the Heart of God – Exodus 3:7 “I have surely seen the affliction of My people… and have heard their cry”
4. It releases Power – Acts 12:5 “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church”
4: FOUR KEYS TO DESPERATE PRAYER
1. Have a Burden – Nehemiah 1:4 “when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept”
Don’t pray because of program. Pray because of pain.
2. Be Specific – Mark 10:51 Jesus asked: “What do you want Me to do for you?”
Bartimaeus said: “that I may receive my sight”
3. Be Persistent – Luke 11:8 “because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs”
4. Engage Fasting – Esther 4:16 “Fast for me… and then I will go to the king”
Desperation + Fasting = Breakthrough. Joel 2:12
SIGNS YOU NEED DESPERATE PRAYER
1. When delay has become too long – Proverbs 13:12
2. When the enemy is attacking your destiny – Ephesians 6:12
3. When normal methods have failed – 2 Chronicles 20:12 “we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You”
4. When it’s a matter of life and death
PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS
1. Father, baptize me with the spirit of desperate prayer! Zechariah 12:10
2. Every closed door, open by the fire of desperate prayer!
3. Lord, hear my cry and answer me speedily! Psalm 69:17
4. Like Hannah, I will not be silent until my testimony comes!
5. Every “crowd” telling me to be quiet, I will shout louder in prayer!
PRAYER: Father, we come to You desperately today. We are tired of delay. Tired of dryness. Tired of stagnation.
Psalm 42:1-2 – “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”
Jeremiah 29:13 – “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Maybe you’ve been praying casually. Today, cry out!
The same God who heard Hannah, Bartimaeus, and Jesus in Gethsemane will hear you.
Don’t leave this place the same. Pray until something happens!
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