PERSISTING IN PRAYER – Pastor Chris
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2021
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16).
The Amplified Classic version of our theme verse places the premium on persistent prayer: “…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” The word “continued” is a clear indication that there must be some persistence. You don’t just mutter a few words and say the issue is “done and dusted”; you keep pushing, until you have the note of victory in your spirit.
Let’s take a cue from the Master. On a certain occasion, He took His three closest disciples—Peter, James and John with Him to a place called Gethsemane, to pray. Matthew 26:39 tells us,*“And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
Luke, by the Spirit, reveals, “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44). Jesus was distraught, and He prayed with much intensity. This was no casual two-minute prayer! Recall that He chastised the disciples for their weakness and inability to keep watch (pray) with Him for an hour (Matthew 26:40).
The Lord persisted because He understood what was at stake. What He was praying about was beyond Himself; He was about to endure a separation from His Father. It was about the salvation of generations: past, present and future. He was looking at eternity, for all those who had gone by, and those who were living at the time, and those who would ever come. So, He prayed and persisted in prayer.
This is what is required of us today; the stakes are much higher than ever. There’s a fight for the souls of men and we must agonize in prayer for their salvation. We must keep praying and interceding until the last soul that must be won is reached and brought into the Kingdom before the Rapture of the Church.
PRAYERDear Father, thank you for helping me build a strong and prevailing prayer life through the Holy Spirit. Even now, I pray for a great and mighty haul of souls into the Kingdom; your glory covers the earth today, and the souls of the unconverted are impacted with the light of your Gospel, turning them from darkness to light and glorious liberty of the sons of God, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: 1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Luke 18:1-5 And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 27:45-66 & Leviticus 1-3
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 13:53-58 & Genesis 43
