Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church;
and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;
and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Confess your faults one to another,
and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:13-16.
as definitely as we ought, as earnestly and determinedly as we ought,
for the salvation of the men, and women and children whom we know are unsaved."
R. A. Torrey.
Prayer works! Prayer changes things! And not only does prayer work, prayer IS work! It is the most effective, most profitable work that anyone can do. Effectual fervent prayer is the hardest kind of work there is to do, too! Not only does it "take more out of" a person than any other kind of work, we have to handle ourselves with a strong discipline to make time for effectual fervent prayer.
So now we know that effectual fervent prayer not only allows us to individually grow in likeness to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, but it also brings the power of God into our work, that which we do for the Glory of God. Now there is a third important work that effectual fervent prayer accomplishes: the salvation of others.
However, we need to remember this: prayer is NOT a substitute for witnessing. Allow me to repeat that: Prayer is NOT a substitute for witnessing. God did not give us prayer to cover up our own spiritual laziness. Many think the only thing they have is to utter a few hurried words of prayer and that is the end of their duty. Wherever, whenever possible, we are to be witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ. At no time are we to be ashamed to spread the Good News of Salvation that God has made available to us through His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
If you know of someone who is unsaved and the Lord has laid it upon your heart to pray for them, make it your business to go to that person and present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them. Do NOT assume that someone else has--all the other someones may be assuming that you have! Don't go to them under your own authority--study the Word of God. Ask the Lord to use you as HIS mouthpiece and then share with them what the Lord has done for you. Leave any "better-than-thou" attitudes at home. (Better still, surrender them to the Lord and ask Him to completely remove them from your life!) Go with love and compassion in your heart, remembering when the Lord reached down into the mirey pits of sin and lifted you out.
The world says, "You don't have to beg God for anything." Let me make this ABUNDANTLY clear: Biblical prayer is crying to God out of the depths; it is the pouring out of the soul before God. The world says asking is begging. The world says crying is emotionalism. The world says meakness is weakness. The world says humbleness of spirit is cowardice. No wonder our preachers and teachers won't preach effectual fervent prayer! We had better determine, and that right soon, which way we are going: along with the world or following Christ!
There MUST be a breakdown of self-pride--there MUST a humbling of our spirit--we MUST surrender our will to God's Will in order for Him to work His Will in our life! Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7,8.
In order for our prayers to be effective, in order to get the results we desire, we must (1) be right with God, and (2) we must be earnest and sincere, willing to "pour ourselves out" before God. Sure, we have to provide for our families, but not to the point that we exclude effectual fervent prayer from our lives! There is not a more powerful weapon in a Christian's "arsenal" with which to combat the things that beset us in life than effectual fervent prayer.
There is not a Christian living who does not need time alone with God, E-V-E-R-Y day. A time to "be alone" with God--to shut off the tv, to get away from the phone--to shut out the world and be renewed by spending time with our Father. A time to read the Word of God and find out His Will for our lives. A time of study as we learn the promises of God, and lock them away in our hearts. A time to examine ourselves honestly and say to the Lord, Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me... (Psalm 139:23,24).
A time to spend in prayer for those things in our lives that we are facing, for those of our loved ones who don't know the Lord Jesus Christ as their PERSONAL Savior. The Bible tells us, For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15,16.
Effectual fervent prayer does not demand that we abandon our daily responsibilities, but oh how much easier so many of our lives would be, how much more overcoming power so many of us would have if we but spent some time in earnest prayer every day. How much more submitted our will would be to God. How much more a witness of the Grace of God through salvation we could be--if we would only spend time in dedicated, earnest prayer. How greatly improved our churches would be, if we would spend time in effectual fervent prayer.
Effectual fervent prayer is NOT emotionalism. Fervent prayer is sincere, earnest prayer, that comes from our hearts--not some obligatory words we utter to fulfill a daily duty. How much stronger a relationship we could each have with our Heavenly Father if we would but spend time alone with Him in prayer.
Yes, there will be those times when we do not "feel like" praying. THAT is the time to pray the more fervently. There will be days we are so tired, but oh how precious, how restful, how restoring are the moments we spend with our Father Who loved us so much He gave His ONLY Begotten Son to take on our sins! How much better prepared we are to meet the day when we have spent time in earnest prayer. How much more restful our sleep in the peace of a clean conscience before God, knowing that we have committed everything to Him in effectual fervent prayer.
And finally, how much wiser we all could be, to make better decisions for ourselves and our families: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. James 1:5,6. Promise: wisdom. Condition: ask of God in faith. The effects of effectual fervent prayer far outweigh any "inconvenience" we think might be caused by remapping our agendas. Try it!
"Effectual Fervent" Copyright © 2001 by Patricia Sikes.
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