One of the most POWERFUL TOOLS a Christian has is prayer. It is our direct way to speak to God, to thank Him, to ask Him for things, or just to connect with our Heavenly about what is going on in life and in the world. When studying the Bible, the importance of prayer is clear. Individuals in both the Old and New Testaments – before and after the life, death, and resurrection of Christ – prayed PASSIONATELY, INTENSELY, AND SINCERELY.
In the King James Version of the Bible, the book of James has a word to describe this kind of prayer: fervent. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The EFFECTUAL (powerful, successful) FERVENT (energeō: putting forth power) prayer of a righteous man AVAILETH (ischuō: to have power as shown by extraordinary deeds) much” (James 5:16).
Look at the power of fervent prayer, “Peter and John went into the temple at the hour of prayer…a certain man, lame from his mother’s womb, was laid at that temple gate…Seeing Peter and John he asked for alms. Peter with John said, LOOK ON US! And he paid heed expecting to receive something…Peter said, Silver and gold have I none, but what I have I give…IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, RISE UP AND WALK! And he lifted him up. And IMMEDIATELY his feet and anklebones received strength…leaping up, he stood WALKING AND LEAPING AND PRAISING GOD.” (Acts 3:1-8)
“And all the people SAW HIM walking and praising God. And they recognized him, that it was him who sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. And they were filled with WONDER and AMAZEMENT at what had happened to him.” (Acts 3:9-10) Peter said to those seeing this, “…repent and convert so that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And He shall send Jesus Christ, who before was proclaimed to you…” (Acts 3:19-20) “…many of those who heard the Word BELIEVED; and the number of the men was ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND.” (Acts 4:4) 5000 MEN WERE SAVED PLUS WOMEN AND CHILDREN…BECAUSE OF FERVENT PRAYERS!!!
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham