LESSON 5; KEYS TO EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER
Keys To Effectual Fervent Prayer.
James 5:16 “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.”
A. Introduction
The words “effectual” and “fervent” are the translation of one Greek word energeo meaning to be operative, be at work, put forth power, to effect, show one's self operative. It has the prefix en which means “In” “inside” or “within” so the emphasis is what is going on within our own soul.
Also, energeo is present tense and middle voice. This kind of praying is ongoing or continuous and is done personally and with much involvement. It is doing something in and to the one praying. This kind of praying is not cold or even lukewarm, not formal but personal, not indifferent but importunate.
This quality of praying “avails much.” Here the word means to be strong, to have power as shown by extraordinary deeds.
“Some translate the word ‘inspired,’ the Spirit of God breathes into men the breath of spiritual life, and they live, and being quickened by him, they breathe; and prayer is the breath of the spiritual man, and is no other than the reverberation of the Spirit of God in him; and such prayer cannot fail of success: it may be rendered ‘inwrought.’
True prayer is not what is written in a book, but what is wrought in the heart, by the Spirit of God; who is the enditer of prayer, who impresses the minds of his people with a sense of their wants, and fills their mouths with arguments, and puts strength into them to plead with God, and makes intercession for them according to the will of God; such prayer is always heard, and regarded by him: this has great power with God; whatever is asked, believing, is received; God can deny nothing prayed for in this manner.”
B. This quality of praying was manifested when:
1. Elijah prayed earnestly Ja 5:17 “Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months.”
2. Moses prayed pleadingly Ex 32: 11-13 “And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.”
3. Daniel prayed intensely Dan 9:17-19 “Now therefore, O our God, hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies' sake. O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God, because thy city and thy people are called by thy name.“
4. Paul prayed agonizingly Rom 15:30 “Now I beseech you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;“
5. Jesus prayed persistently Mat 26:39-44 “And he went forward a little, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again a second time he went away, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, thy will be
done. And he came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. And he left them again, and went away, and prayed a third time, saying again the same words.”
C. How to Pray Effectively
1. Pray Secretly in the closet of communion. Ma 6:6 “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Lk 9:18
2. Pray Watchfully in the alertness of wakefulness.
• Ma 24:42 “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
• Mat 26:41 “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
3. Pray Believingly in the simplicity of faith.
• Ma 21:22 “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
4. Pray Unceasingly in the continuance of well-doing.
• 1 Thes 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”
5. Pray Abidingly in the will of God and in Christ.
• Jn 15:7,8 “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
6. Pray Directly in the pointedness of definite petition.
• Jam 5:17,18 “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”
7. Pray Effectually in the power of the Spirit.
• Jude 20 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,”
• Rom 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
D. The ingredients of effectual fervent prayer.
1. Claim His attributes –
Plead His justice, His mercy, His faithfulness, His wisdom, His longsuffering, His tenderness.
Abraham pleaded for God’s justice when he prayed for the city of Sodom. He asked for the city to be saved and at the closing of his prayer he said, “Shall not the judge of all earth do right?”
Ge 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of ll the earth do right?
2. Claim His promises.
When Jacob was waiting on the other side of the brook, when his brother Esau was coming with armed men, he pleaded with God not to destroy the mother and children, but the main reason he used for pleading in this prayer was:
“And thou said, surely I will do thee good.”
Ge 32:12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
3. Claim the Great Name of God.
Moses did this in his prayer on one occasion when he was praying for
Israel. “What will thou do for thy great name? The Egyptians will say,Because the Lord could not bring them into the land, therefore he slew them in the wilderness.”
4. Claim mercy for our unworthiness –
David prayed, “Lord, have mercy upon mine iniquity, for it is very great.” Ps 25:16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.
5. Claim the sufferings, death, merit and intercession of Christ Jesus.
Jesus himself said, “If you need anything of God, all that the Father has belongs to me; go and use my name.”
Col 1:12-14 “giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins:”
E. Introduction to Intercessory Prayer:
“I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men;”1 Tim 2:1
If we are really interested in others we will pray for them. But, the fact of the matter is that, most of our praying is for ourselves. Even when we pray for our family and friends it is, in part, a form of praying for ourselves.
a) Intercession means “to go to or meet a person, especially for the purpose of conversation, consultation, or supplication, to pray, entreat.”
b) To “interceed” is to go to God for someone and ask for their benefit.
c) The highest form of prayer is intercession for others, and the most effective ministry is that which we exercise for other’s benefit.
The following are a few cases of noble intercessors who prayed for blessing upon others.
1. Moses, the self-abnegator, who was willing to be blotted out from the Lord’s book so long as Israel was spared.
Exod 32:30-32 “And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto Jehovah; peradventure I shall make atonement for your sin. And Moses returned unto Jehovah, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin-- and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.”
2. Samuel, the faithful prophet, pleaded for Israel.
1 Sam 7:8,9 “And the children of Israel said to Samuel,Cease not to cry unto Jehovah our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt-offering unto Jehovah: and Samuel cried unto Jehovah for Israel; and Jehovah answered him.”
3. Daniel, the humble statesman, pleaded for the nation of Judah when in captivity by identifying himself with the sin of the nation.
Dan 9:4-6 “And I prayed unto Jehovah my God, and made confession, and said, Oh, Lord, the great and dreadful God, who keepeth covenant and lovingkindness with them that love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned, and have dealt perversely, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even turning
aside from thy precepts and from thine ordinances; neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, that spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.”
4. Epaphras, the loving pleader, interceded for the saints at Closse that they might stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Col 4:12,13 “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness, that he hath much labor for you, and for them in Laodicea, and for them in Hierapolis.”
5. Paul, the intense intercessor, pleaded for the Church at Ephesus, that they might have God’s unparalleled riches.
Eph 1:17-19 “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,”
3:16-20 “that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts throughfaith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled unto all the fulness of God.”
6. John, the loving disciple, who prayed for his friend Gaius, that he might have soul prosperity.
3 John 2 “Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
7. Christ, the gracious Lord, who prayed for Peter that his faith not fail.
Lk 22:31,32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat: but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren.”
The wonderful intercessory prayer as recorded in Jn 17 is a sample of how the Lord is interceding for His people now. “Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb 7:25
F.Intercessory Prayer: Who and What
a) “This kind of prayer is perhaps the noblest of all. It draws the believer out of himself into the lives of others,
b) It enlarges his own soul, expands his interest and increases his sympathies.
c) It brings him very near to Christ, for He was constantly giving of Himself to others, serving others and praying for others.”
G.The Three Intercessors are:..who
1.The Lord Jesus
a) Jn 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever.”
b) Jn 16:26 “In that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you;”
c) Jn 17:9,15,20 “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; for they are thine... I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one...Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word;”
d) Ro 8:34 “It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
e) Jesus prayed for Peter Lk 22:31
f) “Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb 7:25
2.The Holy Spirit
a) Rom 8:26,27 “And in like manner the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered; and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
3.The believer
a) 1 Tim 2:1,2 “I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, be made for all men; for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.”
Abraham, the Father of the Faithful, is interceding for Lot and a wicked city in
a) Gen 18:23 “And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou consume the righteous with the wicked?”
what
1.Intercessory Prayer is praying for the kingdom of God:
Jesus taught us to pray for the kingdom.
a) Lk 11:2“And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Father, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.”
b) Lk 10:2 “And he said unto them, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest,that he send forth laborers into his harvest.”
c) Ps 122:6 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: They shall prosper that love thee.”
2.Intercessory Prayer is for other’s holiness:
a) 2 Co 13:7 “Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is honorable, though we be as reprobate.”
b) 2 Co 13:9 “For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting.”
3.Intercessory Prayer is for others spiritual maturity:
a) Php 1:9 “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;”
b) Col 1:9 “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,”
4.Intercessory Prayer is praying for those who treat us wrongfully:
a) Mt 5:44 “pray for them that persecute you.”
b) Lu 6:28 “bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you.”
c) Job 41:8 “my servant Job shall pray for you; for him will I accept, that I deal not with you after your folly; for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.“
5.Intercessory Prayer is getting for others what God wants to give:
a) 3 Jn 1:2 “Beloved, I pray that in all things thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
6.Intercessory Prayer is what we ask of one another:
a) 1 Th 5:25 “Brethren, pray for us.” Jas 5:16 “Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another.”
7.Intercessory Prayer is the preaching of the Word of God:
a) 2 Th 3:1 “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also it is with you.”
What an awesome privilege and responsibility it is to be an intercessor.
H. Intercessory Prayer: The Test of our Praying
“If Petition is prayer relative to our personal need, Intercession is prayer relative to the need of others, for we can never intercede on our own behalf.
1.In all intercession at least three persons must always be concerned:
a) the one who speaks,
b) the one spoken to, and
c) the one spoken for or against.
2.And at least three things must always be presumed:
a) need on the part of the one spoken of;
b) power, on the part of the one spoken to and
c) contact with both these persons, on the part of the one who speaks.
In worship, confession, and petition there need only be two persons involved, but in intercession there can never be less than three.”
I. Why intercede:
1. Obeys the command of our Lord.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34,35
To love means “to choose the object to love and sacrificially dedicate oneself to its well being.”
a) Our Lord “commands” this, it is not optional for us to love each other. “This I command you, that you love one another.” Jn15:17
b) It is a sin not to obey His command. Praying for each other may be the easiest way to exercise the love we are to have for one another.
c) If this is the case, then, not to pray for one another is the greatest way to sin against our brothers and to disobey our Lord.
d) “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you.” 1 Sam 12:23
2. Follows the example of our Lord.
a) “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;” Heb 3:1
b) A priest is one that goes between two parties, or intercedes.
c) “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Heb 7:25
No one could pray more genuinely than our Lord as He prays in Jn 17.
a) In v 1-8 He prays for Himself,
b) in 9-19 He prays for His own,
c) in 20-26 He prays for the world.
3.Evidences the validity of our profession.
To say we love the brethren and not to pray for them puts a question on our profession. But the Scripture goes further, “You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Pet 2:5 Believers are a priesthood, and priest are to be intercessors. If we are not doing the work of a priest, then our priesthood is in question.
The principle of Mat 12.34“For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” applies to prayer. Most of our praying is for ourselves. Even when we pray for our friends and family, it is a form of praying for ourselves. The content of our prayers reveals where the care of our heart is. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Jn 14:15 To not love our brothers and pray for them is to evidence that we do not love our Lord.
4.Exercises our relationship to the world.
“ I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus;” 1 Tim 2:1-5
Here the Scripture commands us to intercede for the unsaved and even wicked rulers of the world. Sometimes God wants to change the way governments are being run and He want us to have a part in that by seeing and feeling the need and asking Him for that change.
5.Advances the Kingdom of God.
“And He was saying to them, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Luke 10:2 We are to pray for labors. Advancing the Kingdom of God is hard labor and it has eternal results. Our Lord said “labors” not hired professionals. God will give the wisdom and provisions, that is not to concern us. It is laborers with warm hearts and flexible wills that get the job done. Paul ask “Brethren, pray for us.” 1 The 5:25 Paul was always asking for the Christians to be praying for his missionary efforts. “The power of the Church truly to bless rests on intercession--asking and receiving heavenly gifts to carry to men.”
IN CONCLUTION; “Let us all unite in praying to God that He would visit our souls and fit us for that work of intercession, which is at this moment the greatest need of the Church and the world. It is only by intercession that power can be brought down from Heaven which will enable the Church to conquer the world. Let us stir up the slumbering gift that is lying unused, and seek to gather and train and band together as many as we can, to be God's remembrancers, and to give Him no rest till He makes His Church a joy in the earth.
Dr. Tg Badia
