rjones
Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2007
- Messages
- 314
" . . . The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16).
What is the key to prayer?
Why do many Christians pray and not see the answer to their prayer? The answer lies in this verse, which some principles that are necessary to make our praying dynamic.
James gives us Elijah as the example of effective prayer in action (see verses 17-18). What gave Elijah the boldness and audacity to pray that the rain would stop, and then, at his word, start again? (see 1 Ki. 17:1; 18:41-45).
The key to authority in prayer is to base our prayers on the Wod of God.
Elijah's prayer was BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD!
All of Israel had turned away from the Lord to worship Baal, the idol-god of a cruel heathen religion. Up stands one solitary man, a total unknown, and boldly proclaims to the king that "there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word!'' But his authority was based on a promise and warning found in (Deu.11:13-17).
"So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today - to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul - then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains . . . Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the Lord's anger will burn against you, AND HE WILL SHUT THE HEAVENS SO THAT IT WILL NOT RAIN and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you"
Another example of effective prayer is found in (Daniel 9:3-19). Daniel poured out his heart in prayer before God that his people, who had been taken out of their homeland and held as captives in Babylon, would return to their land. The basis of his prayer can be seen in verse 2:
" . . . I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years''.
The Lord had spoken right at the time when Judah had gone into captivity that they would be in Babylon for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11-12). Daniel, reading the Scriptures one day, came across that promise and realised that the 70-year period was almost completed. However, he didn't just sit back and wait for God to do it. Daniel began to PRAY that what God had promised would be fulfilled. The Lord has chosen to give us the privilege and responsibility of being involved with Him in His purposes on earth. Daniel lived to see his people return!
Effectual prayer, then, is prayer that is based on God's Word. When we know the promises that He has given, and understand His character and the principles by which He works as revealed in His Word, we can pray with confidence and authority, knowing that our prayers will be answered.
What is the key to prayer?
Why do many Christians pray and not see the answer to their prayer? The answer lies in this verse, which some principles that are necessary to make our praying dynamic.
James gives us Elijah as the example of effective prayer in action (see verses 17-18). What gave Elijah the boldness and audacity to pray that the rain would stop, and then, at his word, start again? (see 1 Ki. 17:1; 18:41-45).
The key to authority in prayer is to base our prayers on the Wod of God.
Elijah's prayer was BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD!
All of Israel had turned away from the Lord to worship Baal, the idol-god of a cruel heathen religion. Up stands one solitary man, a total unknown, and boldly proclaims to the king that "there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word!'' But his authority was based on a promise and warning found in (Deu.11:13-17).
"So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today - to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul - then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains . . . Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the Lord's anger will burn against you, AND HE WILL SHUT THE HEAVENS SO THAT IT WILL NOT RAIN and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you"
Another example of effective prayer is found in (Daniel 9:3-19). Daniel poured out his heart in prayer before God that his people, who had been taken out of their homeland and held as captives in Babylon, would return to their land. The basis of his prayer can be seen in verse 2:
" . . . I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years''.
The Lord had spoken right at the time when Judah had gone into captivity that they would be in Babylon for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11-12). Daniel, reading the Scriptures one day, came across that promise and realised that the 70-year period was almost completed. However, he didn't just sit back and wait for God to do it. Daniel began to PRAY that what God had promised would be fulfilled. The Lord has chosen to give us the privilege and responsibility of being involved with Him in His purposes on earth. Daniel lived to see his people return!
Effectual prayer, then, is prayer that is based on God's Word. When we know the promises that He has given, and understand His character and the principles by which He works as revealed in His Word, we can pray with confidence and authority, knowing that our prayers will be answered.
