Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Effectual Fervent Prayer

This lesson is a good study on fervent prayer, but it is one that does not allow a lot of interaction.
If you choose to present this message you may want to inform your group that you will be doing most of the speaking but that it will be worth it. It is of great importance that every Christian realize the necessity of this message; therefore, it is highly recommended that each group receive this presentation at least once.


James 5:16 (KJV) 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.

What is effectual fervent prayer?

Strong’s Definition: Of Effectual
Energio
1)Energy wrought by God
2)Divinely Energized
3) It is used of the “Power” of God

Thayer Definition: Of Effectual
Energio
1) working, efficiency
2) in the NT used only of superhuman power, whether of God or of the Devil.

Adam Clarke’s commentary on the Bible in reference to energio
The word energio signifies energetic supplication, or such a prayer as is suggested to
the soul and wrought in it by a Divine energy.

The Holy Spirit is the one that supplies Devine Energy, or super human power to
Christians. He is the source of all Devine impartations. We can not produce Divine
energy, nor can we Divinely energize our prayers.
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

Manifestations of the Holy Spirit are His exhibitions, expressions, or bestowments and
do not refer only to His gifts that are mentioned in 1st Corinthians 12:8-10 but to every
one of His endowments, or shared attributes.

Biblical Examples of energio
Philippians 2:13 translates the word energio into the word, work, that God continually
performs in us to make us willing and able to obey His purposes:
Philippians 2:13 because God is always at work in you to make you willing and able to
obey his own purpose.

In Colossians 1:29 we see the word energio translated into the word, worketh, which
Paul declares that he has been given the favor to “strive” in spirit for his converts, so
far only as Christ works in him and by him:
Colossians 1:29 whereunto I labor also, striving according to his working, which
worketh in me mightily.

1 Corinthians 12:11 also translates the word energio into the word, worketh, where Paul
testifies that all of the gifts that are made available to him and others are produced by
the Holy Spirit and are given according to God‘s will:
1Corinthians 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to
every man severally as he will.


The Energio, or Devine energy, that one experiences during prayer can and should become an expression of the Holy Spirit that is experienced on a regular basis.

How does one experience the energio?

Answer Through fervent prayers of a righteous man!

Strong’s Definition: Of fervent
zeo and is pronounced dzeh'-o
A primary verb; to be hot ,boil, glow, to be earnest

Thayer Definition: Of fervent
zeo and is pronounced dzeh'-o
1) to boil with heat, be hot
1a) used of water
1b) metaphorically
1b1) used of boiling anger, love, zeal, for what is good or bad etc.
1b2) fervent in spirit, said of zeal for what is good.

Examples of Fervent prayers that bring forth effectual prayers

Jas 5:17 Elijah 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.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on James 5:17

It is not enough to say a prayer, but we must pray in prayer. Our thoughts must be fixed, our desires firm and ardent, and our graces in exercise; and, when we thus pray in prayer, we shall speed in prayer. Elijah prayed that it might not rain; and God heard him in his pleading against an idolatrous persecuting country, so that it rained not on the earth for the space of three years and six months. Again he prayed, and the heaven gave rain.

Luke 22:40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into
temptation.
Luke 22:41 And he was parted from them about a stone's cast; and he kneeled down and
prayed,
Luke 22:42 saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not
my will, but thine, be done.
Luke 22:43 And there appeared unto him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.
Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became as it
were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.

Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications
with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was
heard in that he feared:

Thayer Definition: Of Feared (eulabeia)
(1) reverence toward God, godly fear, piety
“And He was heard for that he had God in reverence”

PRAYER has to do with the entire man. Prayer takes in man in his whole being, mind, soul and body. It takes the whole man to pray, and prayer affects the entire man in its gracious results. As the whole nature of man enters into prayer, so also all that belongs to man is the beneficiary of prayer. All of man receives benefits in prayer. The whole man must be given to God in praying. The largest results in praying come to him who gives himself, all of himself, all that belongs to himself, to God. This is the secret of full consecration, and this is a condition of successful praying, and the sort of praying which brings the largest fruits.
The entire man must pray. The whole man, life, heart, temper, mind, are in it. Each and all join in the prayer exercise. Doubt, double-mindedness, division of the affections, are all foreign to the closet character and conduct, undefiled, made whiter than snow, are mighty potencies, and are the most seemly beauties for the closet hour, and for the struggles of prayer.
Mat 22:35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question, trying him:
Mat 22:36 Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?
Mat 22:37 And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the great and first commandment.

Psalms 119:2 “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the
whole heart.”

Because it requires the whole man to pray, praying is no easy task. Praying is far more than simply bending the knee and saying a few words by rote.
“’Tis not enough to bend the knee,
And words of prayer to say;
The heart must with the lips agree,
Or else we do not pray.”

Paul was acquainted with this kind of praying. In writing to the Roman Christians, he urges them to pray with him after this fashion:
Roman‘s 15:30 “Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me.”
The words, “strive together with me,” tells of Paul’s praying, and how much he put into it. It is not a docile request, not a little thing, this sort of praying, this “striving with me.” It is of the nature of a great battle, a conflict to win, a great battle to be fought. The praying Christian, as the soldier, fights a life-and-death struggle. His honor, his immortality, and eternal life are all in it. This is praying as the athlete struggles for the mastery, and for the crown, and as he wrestles or runs a race. Everything depends on the strength he puts in it. Energy, ardor, swiftness, every power of his nature is in it. Every power is quickened and strained to its very utmost. Littleness, half-heartedness, weakness, and laziness are all absent.


Through fervent prayers one will experience Devine Energy flowing through their entire body. At times they will be so physical that they will sweat profusely. At times they will sweat without being physical at all. At times they will laugh when nothing seems funny. At times they will weep, even though they really have nothing to cry about. At times they will sence the presence of God so intensely that they will tremble even though they have nothing to be afraid of. The presence of God will be so strong at times that they will ask, what is God going to do next? Is He going to breath on me? Is He going to touch me? Is He going to say something? These are the prayers of warriors that reach and connect with God! These are prayers that avail much!

Compare these two verses
Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.'
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst."


Are you hungry for Jesus?