PRAYER AND POWER

“The effective, fervent PRAYER of a righteous man avails much” – James 5:16b

PRAYER and POWER are inseparable! There is a direct relationship between Prayer and Power. Prayer is the generator of Power! Divine Power is a product of Prevailing Prayer. The Altar of Prayer is the spiritual factory where supernatural power for a life of dominion is manufactured on the earth. A Praying Person is both a reservoir and carrier of divine power. If you must be in ready command of power to fulfil life’s purpose and accomplish life’s assignment, you must be absolutely given to prayer. James 5:16b says, “The effective, fervent PRAYER of a righteous man avails much.” The word ‘effective’ in the Greek is the word from which the word energy is derived. The energetic empowered prayer of a righteous man has a tremendous impact. Elijah was a man with like passions, or with a nature like ours. He was just like we are. He was just human. He had similar passions as we do. He suffered like we suffered. He was hungry (1Kgs.17:11). He was afraid (1Kgs.19:3). He was tired from battle (1Kgs.19:4). He was just a man.

Elijah’s humanity did not however dampen his fervency and persistence in prayers: “he prayed earnestly that it would not rain…he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain…” (vv.17-18). One man – Elijah – controlled forces of nature of nature on his knees! He prayed with prayer. Some people pray but they don't really pray. They talk to God as if He was a divine waiter and they were just giving Him an order. Or as if He was a divine secretary and they're just dictating. But Elijah really prayed. Power answers to aggressive, agonising, heartfelt, and prevailing prayers. It was at the instance of prayer that power descended in a fiery form on Mount Carmel, consumed wood, dust, sacrifice and stones, and licked the water that was poured on the sacrifice (1Kgs.18:36-38).

The hour of praying is the hour of power. It was when Peter and John were going into the temple at the hour of prayer that they accessed and released the power that terminated the forty years old paralysis of the beggar at the beautiful gate (Acts 3:1-10). Consider also the example of the Early Church: having made a demand on the Power of God, “when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). The testimonies of the saints over the ages teach us that deep spiritual influence for the good of sinners and the glory of God comes from men and women who give themselves to prayer and meditation.

In summary: No Prayer, no Power! It is true for individuals as well as for churches: No prayer, no power! The Lord Jesus, referring to demonic powers of darkness, declared: “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mk.9:29). His disciples asked, “Why could we not cast it out?” Jesus revealed that their inability was hinged on their prayer life. He probably didn’t mean that they hadn’t prayed over the demonized boy, but that they had not lived in prayer. They had been caught in a prayer-less period of life. Notice: Jesus cast out the demon without praying: “You dumb and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter him no more” (Mk.9: 25). But Jesus had prayed. He lived in prayer. He was ready when evil came. But the disciples had become weak and negligent in their praying. And they were powerless in the face of strong evil forces.

The Church is meant to invade and plunder the strongholds of Satan. Without persistent prayer we have no offense. The same is true of defense: “Watch and PRAY, lest you enter into temptation” (Mk.14:38a). Lack of vigilance in prayers is the short-cut into temptation. Our defense and offense as believers is persistent, earnest, believing prayers! Beloved, let us call upon our Prayer-answering God: Lord, baptise me afresh with Your fire, set me aglow and ablaze for You; keep me hot and vibrant for Your Glory.