Much ado is made about prayer, with a new book hitting stores seemingly every day on how to have your prayers answered, or how to have a successful prayer life. Of course, much ado should be made, seeing as prayer is communication with God, and what could be more important?
The disciples never asked Jesus to teach them how to teach or preach, but they did ask Him to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1). Obviously there was something about the manner in which Jesus prayed, and the results that He reaped that caused the disciples to seek Him for instruction.
Jesus taught the disciples to pray for things, both spiritual and material. He instructed them to pray for God to send workers into the harvest field (Matthew 9:38) and to pray for God to remove obstacles from their spiritual path (Mark 11:23). He also told His disciples about how to pray with faith, not doubting in their heart. This prayer was for “what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24).
James speaks of the “prayer of faith” (James 5:15) which will “save the sick” and is the same prayer that Jesus spoke of in Mark 11. He then informs us that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (verse 16). This verse has led many to believe that there is such thing as “praying hard” or “grabbing hold of the horns of the altar”; and that such prayers are answered quicker. The Greek for “effectual fervent” is one word, ‘energeo’ which means “to be operative, to put forth power”. Fervent prayer has nothing to do with yelling or screaming or “getting serious” as some might say, but it has to do with praying the way Jesus told us to pray: with faith.
The Holy Spirit then does something through the apostle James that speaks wonderful encouragement for every believer. He uses Elijah as an example of a prayer warrior, and assures the reader that Elijah was no different than all of us in that he, “was a man subject to like passions as we are” (James 5:17). This means that Elijah shared the same feelings and affections that we do. How can this be considered encouraging? Observe some of Elijah’s “passions” as well as his successes in prayer:
• Speaks a 3 ½ year drought into existence (1 Kings 17:1).
• He calls down fire from heaven with a prayer consisting of less than 65 words (1 Kings 18:37, 38)
• Calls for rain following the drought, and God sends it (1 Kings 18:41).
• Runs from a woman out of fear for his life (1 Kings 19:3).
• Requests that God kill him (1 Kings 19:4).
• Whines that he is the only one actually doing any good (1 Kings 19:14).
Notice that Elijah has many of the same problems that we have, yet he was a prayer warrior. Jesus speaks nothing of short prayers, but He actually comments on loud, long one’s (Matthew 6:5-7), so please understand that there is no formula for the “perfect prayer”. Communicate with God in an open manner and be prepared to receive from Him. Trust that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him and that it truly is His pleasure to give to you the kingdom. Do not disqualify yourself because of “stuff” in your life. If God will answer Elijah, God will answer you!
The disciples never asked Jesus to teach them how to teach or preach, but they did ask Him to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1). Obviously there was something about the manner in which Jesus prayed, and the results that He reaped that caused the disciples to seek Him for instruction.
Jesus taught the disciples to pray for things, both spiritual and material. He instructed them to pray for God to send workers into the harvest field (Matthew 9:38) and to pray for God to remove obstacles from their spiritual path (Mark 11:23). He also told His disciples about how to pray with faith, not doubting in their heart. This prayer was for “what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24).
James speaks of the “prayer of faith” (James 5:15) which will “save the sick” and is the same prayer that Jesus spoke of in Mark 11. He then informs us that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (verse 16). This verse has led many to believe that there is such thing as “praying hard” or “grabbing hold of the horns of the altar”; and that such prayers are answered quicker. The Greek for “effectual fervent” is one word, ‘energeo’ which means “to be operative, to put forth power”. Fervent prayer has nothing to do with yelling or screaming or “getting serious” as some might say, but it has to do with praying the way Jesus told us to pray: with faith.
The Holy Spirit then does something through the apostle James that speaks wonderful encouragement for every believer. He uses Elijah as an example of a prayer warrior, and assures the reader that Elijah was no different than all of us in that he, “was a man subject to like passions as we are” (James 5:17). This means that Elijah shared the same feelings and affections that we do. How can this be considered encouraging? Observe some of Elijah’s “passions” as well as his successes in prayer:
• Speaks a 3 ½ year drought into existence (1 Kings 17:1).
• He calls down fire from heaven with a prayer consisting of less than 65 words (1 Kings 18:37, 38)
• Calls for rain following the drought, and God sends it (1 Kings 18:41).
• Runs from a woman out of fear for his life (1 Kings 19:3).
• Requests that God kill him (1 Kings 19:4).
• Whines that he is the only one actually doing any good (1 Kings 19:14).
Notice that Elijah has many of the same problems that we have, yet he was a prayer warrior. Jesus speaks nothing of short prayers, but He actually comments on loud, long one’s (Matthew 6:5-7), so please understand that there is no formula for the “perfect prayer”. Communicate with God in an open manner and be prepared to receive from Him. Trust that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him and that it truly is His pleasure to give to you the kingdom. Do not disqualify yourself because of “stuff” in your life. If God will answer Elijah, God will answer you!
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