EFFECTIVE PRAYER

Hebrews 4:16: Let us therefore come boldly not the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

When something is effective, it is successful in producing a desired or intended result.

Prayer is a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God on an object of worship. It refers to the multifaceted communication of believers with the Lord in addition to the words of prayer and praying.

This activity is described as:

·       CALLING ON THE LORD: Psalm 17:6: I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

·       LIFTING ONE’S SOUL TO THE LORD: Psalm 25:1: Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.

·       SEEKING THE LORD: Isaiah 55:6: Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.

REASONS FOR PRAYER:

Believers are commanded by God to pray. The command comes from the lips of:

·       PSALMISTS: 1^st Chronicles 16:11: Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

·       PROPHETS: Amos 5:4: Thus, saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, seek ye me, and ye shall live: vs 5: But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought. Vs 6: Seek the LORD, and you shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel.

·       APOSTLES: Ephesians 1: 16: Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: vs 17: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: vs 18: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what i8s the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.

·       THE LORD JESUS HIMSELF: Matthew 26:41: Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Brothers and sisters, our Heavenly Father desires our fellowship with Him. But many times, we allow things to get in the way of giving Him quality time in prayer.

Prayer is the necessary link to receiving God’s blessings and power to receive the fulfillment of His promises. What promises?

Perfect PEACE – Isaiah 26:3: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

His sustaining PRESENCE – Isaiah 41:10: Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Guidance and Counsel – Psalm 32:8: I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

Strength in Weakness – 2^nd Corinthians 12:9: And he said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness”. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Vs 10: Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Amongst so many others, this is just to name a few of the promises.

I believe many things will be accomplished in the Kingdom of God through intercessory prayer.

Intercessory or intercession can be defined as holy, believing persevering prayer whereby someone pleads with God on behalf of another or others who desperately needs God’s intervention. Jesus, who is our example, prayed for the lost He came to seek and save through intercession. He prayed for His disciples, both individually (Luke 22:32) and as a group (St. John 17:6-26). He even prayed for His enemies while hanging on the Cross (Luke 23:34). His intercession is essential to our salvation. What about our intercession for others.

Talking about “effective prayer”, when praying, we need the Holy Ghost’s assistance because as we’re praying with our natural words we may give out of words to say. Without repeating the very thing you’ve prayed for concerning a person, a circumstance or situation, we need the Holy Ghost! But when we pray in the Holy Ghost, He makes intercessions for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (sounds made with one’s voice) (Romans 8:26-27). The Holy Spirit intercedes according to the will of God.

Romans 8:26: Likewise, the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:

Likewise, meaning, in the same way also; in a similar manner. Helpeth is from the Greek root word which means joint help. It is the assistance afforded by any two people to each other, who mutually bear the same lead or carry it between them.

Infirmities are physical, mental, or moral weaknesses or flaws. But Jesus took and bore all those things for us!

·       Matthew 8:16: When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: vs 17: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Vs 26: For we know not what we should pray for as we ought:

For: we would make many mistakes in prayer if the Spirit did not inspire us with proper desires and help us fulfill those desires in the will of God.

But the Spirit itself (Himself, for He is a Person) maketh intercession (applies oneself to intercede for another) for us with groanings (stenagmos’) [an unutterable gushing of the heart] which cannot be uttered. To “utter” is to make a sound with one’s voice. This “groaning” denotes a deep inarticulate sound conveying pain or pleasure.

Vs 27: And he (Christ) that searcheth the hearts (kardi’a) [thoughts; feelings (mind)] knoweth what is the mind (5427-phron’ema) [(mental) inclination or purpose); exercise; disposition] of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Intercession is to intercede; to act as an agent or manager in all phases of salvation and dealings with God.  Intercession in Matthew 8:26 is to apply oneself to intercede for another.

There are requirements of “effective prayer”. When we pray, we must:

BE Sincere (1506-eilikrines’) [tested as genuine and pure]: and Believe (4100-pisteu’o) [have faith in; committed to; trust].

·       St. Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I say unto you, what things whatsoever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them and you shall have them”.

·       St. Mark 9:23, Jesus said unto him (the father of a demon possessed boy), “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth”.

Even James encourages us when asking to ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed (James 1:6). Vs 7: For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.

HAVE AUTHORITY (the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience).

Remember, the “authority” is in Jesus’ name, the name above every name. Jesus Himself expressed this principle when He said in St. John 14:13, “And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son”: vs 14: “If you shall ask anything in my name, I will do it”.

Our prayers should align with the person, character and will of our Father!

MUST BE IN HARMONY (agreement) WITH GOD’SWILL AND WORD:

·       1^st John 5:14: And this is the confidence (trust; belief; faith) that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.

When Jesus prayed in Matthew 6:10, He said “Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven”. He said the same thing in Luke 11:2, when the disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. We can be sure that any prayer based on the Word of God and Hi8s promises, can know for certain, your prayers are “effective”!

Elijah was certain, he knew beyond a shadow of doubt that God would answer him by fire (1^st kings 18:21-24) and later with rain (vs 31-46). He was fully confident that God was greater than any of their pagan gods.

WE MUST BE LIVING IN HARMONY WITH HIS WILL:

·       Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you.

What things? What you shall eat, what you shall drink, and wherewithal you shall be clothed. Matthew 6:32b: For your (our) heavenly Father knows that you (we) have need of all these things.

2^nd Chronicles 7:14, If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways: then, will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

WE MUST PRAY AND FAST:

·       Matthew 17:14: And when they were com to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying: vs 15: Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falls into the fire, and oft into the water. Vs 16: And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Vs 17: Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall Ibe with you”? “How long shall I suffer you”? Bring him to me. Vs 18: And Jesus rebuked the devil, and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Vs 19: Then came the disciples to Jesus apart and said, “Why could not we cast him out”? vs 20: And Jesus said unto them, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Vs 21: Howbeit this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.

WE MUST BE PERSISTENT IN PRAYER AND FAITH:

·       Luke 18:1-8 (The widow was persistent with the Judge): vs 2: There was in a city a judge wh8ich feared not God, neither regarded man: vs 3: And there was a widow in that city, and she came unto him saying, “Avenge me of mine adversary”. Vs 4: And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, though I fear not God, nor regard man: vs 5: Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

This sounds like perseverance to me!

Jesus Himself said, Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it shall be given you; see, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”. Vs 8: For everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

Elijah, even after getting a prophetic word that rain was coming, he yet persisted in prayer until the rain came (1^st Kings 18:41-51).

LASTLY, METHODS OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER:

Methods are forms of procedures for accomplishing or approaching something, especially systematic or established ones. Therefore, to pray effectively, we must:

adore and praise our Father:

·       Psalm 150: Praise ye the LORD. Praise Godin his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.

·       Romans 15:11: And again, praise the Lord all you Gentiles: and laud (epaine’o) [applaud; commend; praise] him all you people.

WE MUST GIVE THANKS:

·       Philippians 4:6: Be careful of nothing: but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Supplication is the action of asking begging for something earnestly or humbly.

WE MUST PRAY FERVENTLY (enthusiastically; passionately) FOR OTHERS:

·       Luke 22:31: And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you like wheat: vs 32: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

How are we to pray?

What is the condition of your heart? Are you praying out of duty or sincerity? Empty words will not be heard. We found that out at Mt. Carmel when Eljah challenged the false prophets in 1^st Kings 18.

Prayer should never be boring because there are so many ways to pray. I used to believe I had to be on my knees every time I prayed. Believe me, there is nothing wrong at all with being on your knees, but I realized through the Word of God, there are more ways to pray, and our Father still hears us.

·       We can pray silently: 1^st Samuel 1:13: Now Hannah, she spoke in her heart: only her lips moved but her voice was not heard therefore, Eli thought she had been drunken.

·       WE CAN PRAY ALOUD: Nehemiah 9:4: Then stood up upon the stairs of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebniah, Bunni, Sherebaiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.

Ezekiel 11:13: And it came to pass when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face and cried with a loud voice and said, “Ah Lord GOD! Wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?

We can pray in our own words or use the words of Scripture. We can pray with the mind or we can pray with the Spirit or tongues.

·       1^st Corinthians 14:14: For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. Vs 15: What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Vs 16: Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understands not what thou sayest? Vs 17: For thou verily give thanks will, but the other is not edified. Vs 18: I thank my God; I speak with tongues more than you all.

We can even pray by groaning, not using any human words at all, knowing the Spirt will surpass our human words.

·       Romans 8:26: Likewise, the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

SINGING is another method of praying to the Lord:

·       Psalm 92:1: It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most HIgh: vs 2: To show forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.

·       Colossians 3:16: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom: teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Earnest (sincere; intense conviction) prayer to the Lord will at times be accompanied by fasting:

·       Ezra 8:21: Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.

·       Daniel 9:3: And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: vs 4: And I prayed unto the LORD my God and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love h8im, and to them that keep his commandments.

·       Matthew 6:16: Moreover, when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. Vs 17: But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face. Vs 18: That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father which see in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Besides the many ways to pray, there are no limits on posture. The bible records:

·       praying while standing: 1^st kings 8:22: And Solomon STOOD before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel and spread forth his hands toward heaven.

Nehemiah 9:4: Then STOOD up upon the stairs of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebniah, Bunni, Sherebaiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God. Vs 5: Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashbaniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Sheaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “STAND UP and bless the LORD your God forever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise”.

·       PRAYING WHILE SITTING: And David the king came and SAT before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto”?

Luke 10:13: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, SITTING in sackcloth and ashes.

·       PRAYING WHILE KNEELING: Daniel 6:10: Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he KNEELED upon his knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Acts 20:36: And when he had thus spoken, he KNEELED and prayed with them all.

·       PRAYING LYING ON A BED: Psalm 63:5: My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness: and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: vs 6: When I remember thee upon my BED and meditate on thee in the night watches.

·       PRAYING WITH UPLIFTED HANDS: Isaiah 1:15: And when you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you: yea, when you make many prayers, I will not hear: your HANDS are full of blood.

1^st Timothy 2:8: I will therefore that men pray everywhere, LIFTING UP HOLY HANDS, without wrath and doubting.

Brothers and sisters, there are all ways of communication with our Father – in tongues with our own words, with groaning, praying in tongues, singing to our Father, and all can be done while STANDING, SITTING, KNEELING, LYING IN A BED, and with UPLIFTED HANDS.

But just know, it’s not the POSTURE of the body, but the condition of the heart that matters!!!

·       1^st Corinthians 13:1: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (love), I am become as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.

Evangelist Mary Woodard