Great Power!

(James 5:16) “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

If prayer is such a precious weapon for the Christian, what must the enemy achieve to hinder its progress? This is then today consideration and it is crucial we explore this with some accuracy and then peel away hopefully with a clearer understanding equipping us with a freedom to march forth with even more power than before.

A group of men that meet on a Saturday morning with the intention of being equals and encouraging one another in the faith have now decided to lock hands in prayer as they begin to consider their brother’s needs. At 5am on most mornings of the week they phone one another to remind each other of their commitment. Prayer is often a very selfish endeavor, but as soon as we put some structure to our prayers it helps us find strength through prayer. Let me explain; it is a good thing to put time aside, to prioritize and then to stick to that resolution come what may. Why is this necessary? It is a tool, by which we are trained up in the ways of righteousness, it teachers us to be self-controlled (longsuffering - to stick with something even when it would be a lot easier to throw in the towel), which is a fruit of the Spirit.

How, for so many years I resisted this type of structure, thinking that I must be Spirit lead, not allowing any man-made programs to influence my thinking. If we remain faithful to our God even in the smallest of things, He will always honour that and will never deny Himself, He will always bless faithfulness! He longs as a Father to bless His children, but we must apply ourselves to the pattern He has left us and prayer is a vital part of that design.

We must be Spirit lead and it is often through prayer that we are lead spiritually, look at what Paul teachers; “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27): - Pray we must!

I then suggest that you put time aside, habitually if you like for prayer, set a specific time aside for prayer and then come what may by the grace of God stick to it. The baby may cry, the earth may move and life may seem to fall apart around us, but only for a time. We all have hectic lives, some more hectic than others but this I will say we have all been given the same amount of time in any one day, 24 hours for all, not only some and it is what we do with it that will count in eternity.

Our late brother Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a man that was undoubtedly Spirit lead and yet he was the most structured man if we examine his example and lifestyle. It is not a program that we must be faithful too, but our commitment and relationship to God. All we need do is set time aside and the let the greatest of teachers lead us; Gods the Holy Spirit will guide us. Nevertheless we must be clay that is pliable in God’s hands. It is imperative that we present ourselves to Him as willing vessels so that He may mould us into the image intended for us from before the beginning of time.

Who then will want to stop this process in our lives? Satan and his ministering spirits! Sin that so easily besets and the lust of our very own flesh; “For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world.” (John 2:16)

We must see the truth for what it is and not pretend that these enemies are not real, it is only the ostrich that look to bury its head in the sand when looking to elude obvious danger. Let us be sober when considering these truths…

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)   

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1Peter 5:6-10): - This portion of scripture ends with a promise from God; “will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.” (2Corinthians 10:3-4)   

The Lord Jesus set aside specific times to pray! How much more should we do exactly the same?

What will hinder our progress when we commit to a time of prayer? Sin is one of the great destroyers; “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” (1Peter 2:11): - But it is through prayer that we are able to call out to God and to seek forgiveness. How are we able to buy eye salve for our eyes if we remain silent? God help us to constantly cry out to Him and let us remember that there is no locked door to the throne room of grace. Our great Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ has opened that door. All of God’s children have been afforded the opportunity to approach it with boldness and to seek out its grace and therefore obtain mercy in time of need.

My conclusion then, remember that prayer is a great weapon, let us therefore learn to use it skilfully, resolve to put time aside. Out of it will flow rivers of living water!

Lastly let us remember to be open and honest with one another, why? So that we may pray for one another with purpose; “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16): - But in order to do that we need to be committed to other believers, if you are out there somewhere and you feel you stand alone, you are not alone, drop me a prayer request and I will be sure by the grace of God to pray for you.

Signing off

Tyrone