EFFECTIVE PRAYER

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 30, Mark 1, Est 6, Romans 1

Nehemiah 4:9 nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

BIBLE STUDIES: Nehemiah 4:7-18

There are different kinds of prayers. There are some God does not even entertain at all for example the prayer of a fellow who is living in sin and refuses to repent. John 9:31 says now we know that God heareth not sinners. If you are still living in sin please repent today so that your prayers will be answered. There also some cries He does not even hear at all. Psalm 66:18 says if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me. Before you go to God make sure there are no bitterness or unforgiveness or hatred in you. Then there are some prayers while it is still been offered, God hears and answers immediately; these are the prayers of the righteous. Psalm 34:15 says the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry. James 5:16 says the effectual fervent prayer of a prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Bible scholars have told us that the word effectual in this passage means energoumene in Greek which translates to energetic. An example of this type of prayer is found in Luke 22:44, where Jesus prayed and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. A prayer that produces sweat as of great drops of blood is not a gentleman’s prayers (not the one we pray sitting down or casually), it is a very aggressive, energetic prayer and the bible says such availeth much.

An effective fervent prayer needs to be backed by an action. Just as faith without work is dead, prayer without an action is dead. What parted the red sea was not the cry of Moses to God; it was the action he took after praying. Exodus 14:15 says and the Lord said unto Moses, wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward. Many of us have prayed and fasted, it is now time for action. Many of us have prayed for financial breakthrough, it is now time to learn a trade or add value to our lives by getting education or start a business. In our bible studies, we see Nehemiah backing up his prayers with an action. After praying for protection, he began to watch day and night. In 2 Kings 2:14 when Elisha got to River Jordan, after calling on the God of Elijah, the next thing he did was struck the water. Many are at their river Jordan calling on the God of Elijah but not taking any action. Before embarking on that journey, after you must have prayed and committed the journey into the hands of God, take action by driving carefully and abiding by speed regulations. After praying for success in that exam, take action by studying hard. Praying alone is not sufficient to pass an exam. Paying tithe alone is not enough to prosper you; it needs to be backed up with diligence and hard work. After payment of your tithes, make sure you get to work early and do your job properly. Not only that, our services in the vine yard of God needs to be backed up with righteousness. After winning souls or working in the vine yard of God, as children ensure you obey your parents; as wives ensure you submit to your husbands and as husbands ensure you love your wife. It will be counterproductive to evangelize and not obey one’s parents or submit to one’s husband or love one’s wife just as Christ loved the church. After praying for a marriage partner, take necessary actions to take care of yourself. Be well groomed. Wear neatly pressed clothes. They do not have to expensive but they must be ironed not rough .

KEY WORD: Fervent prayers need to be backed up with actions!