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Praying Effectual Fervent Prayers

I. DEFINITION OF TERMS

A. Effectual (adj.)

• That which is capable of producing an intended effect. So, we get synonyms like: achieving, adequate, decisive, fulfilling.

B. Fervent (adj.)

• Having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm, etc. So, we get synonyms like: animated, ardent, burning, earnest, fiery.

C. Prayer (noun)

• Conscious communication with God that expresses:

      • Love and reverence for His divine perfection.

      • Gratitude for His mercies.

      • Penitence for our sins.

      • Hope in His forgiving love.

      • Submission to His will and authority.

      • Confidence in His care.

      • Desires for His favor and blessings.

II. PRAYER IS REPEATEDLY COMMANDED IN THE SCRIPTURES

  1. “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

  2. “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (1 Timothy 2:8)

  3. “1I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.” (1 Timothy 2:1-3)

  4. “16Confess 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. 17Elias 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. 18And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” (James 5:16-18)

  5. “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” (Luke 18:1)

  6. “1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples to pray. 2 And he said unto them, when ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” (Luke 11:1-2)

III. BROAD ELEMENTS OF PRAYER

The eight expressions covered previously can be compressed in these four elements:

A. ADORATION: This comprises very deep feelings in view of His greatness and glory.
B. CONFESSION: This comprises deep feelings in view of our sins and sinfulness.
C. THANKSGIVING: This comprises deep feelings in view of His goodness.
D. SUPPLICATION: This comprises deep feelings in view of our needs.

IV. EXAMINATION OF AN EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER

The Prayer of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1)

  • He adored God for His sovereignty, love, faithfulness and ability to see all that is going on.
    “I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe hiscommandments.” (v.5)

  • He includes the confession element. Note the word “we.”
    “Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night; for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned.” (v.6)

  • Thanksgiving is expressed in Nehemiah’s review of God’s promises.

    ”8Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: 9But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. 10Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.“ (v.8-10)

  • Supplication was expressed in Nehemiah’s desire to fear God and to prosper, as well as to obtain mercy for the king.
    “O, Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.” (v.11)

V. WHY DID GOD INSTITUTE PRAYER?

A. To enable us to always keep in view God’s sovereignty, love, power, and faithfulness, and His ability to act in miraculous ways. In doing so, we admit our human weaknesses and inabilities.

B. Through prayer, God communicates to us the life-giving and sanctifying influences of the Spirit.

    • The workings of the peace of God which frees us from worry. (Philippians 4:4-8)

    • The dispensing of joy. “...In thy presence is fulness of joy; and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

    • The reception of grace and mercy. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.” (Hebrews 6:16)

    • Mastery over temptation. “Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.” (Mark 14:38)

VI. CONCLUSION

“7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:7-13)

  1. To pray this way is to pray effectual fervent prayers.

  2. Jesus never gives to us a prescription that we cannot fulfill.

  3. Having given us this prescription, the Lord knows that we can pray effectual fervent prayers.

  4. We have prayed such prayers in the past.

  5. Let us continue to do so.

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