EFFECTUAL PRAYER (Part 1)

James 5:16-18 (AMP )16 Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. 17 Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]; and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and no rain fell on the earth for three years and six months.  18 And [then] he prayed again and the heavens supplied rain and the land produced its crops [as usual].

I want us, for the next few days, to look at effectual prayer.  I like the way the Amplified version of the Bible translates this verse.  It says, “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].”  That is talking about us!  We are the righteous ones, because of what Jesus has done for us.  So in prayer, we can see tremendous power available.

When we get fervent in our prayers, we will see mighty things happen.  Many times in prayer we just do it, but when we make a heart connection and give it our all, we will see the results that the Bible talks about.  In the next couple of days, we are going to look at Elijah and Daniel, and see how their prayers changed nations. 

But the point I want us to see today is that it is not about being a Daniel or Elijah.  The point is about being righteous, which we are because of Jesus, and then being fervent in our prayers.  We should not just pray and daydream.  We should hook up with the Holy Spirit, our Helper, and get things done in the spirit realm.

Confession: I am the righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus.  Because of that, my prayer life is effectual.  I will continue to grow, and let the Holy Spirit pray through me, as I yield myself to His leading.

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RUN TO WIN

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NLT) 24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

When we watch the Olympics, we see the amazing discipline that these athletes show to win a gold, silver, or bronze medal.  It is truly amazing!  In today’s passage, I can see that the Apostle Paul must have taken some time out to watch the games in Greece, and what he saw reminded him of the parallel between these athletes, and believers in Jesus.

We, as believers, are in a race, and in this race we need to discipline ourselves.  We cannot get so full of this world that it makes us lazy and unreceptive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Paul also says that he disciplines his body and keeps it under, and we, as Christians, have to do the same thing.  I do not want to be disqualified, and if I have to keep this flesh under to do that, then I have to do it.  I believe that throughout all eternity, we will be shouting His praises!  Those that went the extra mile and gave it all that they had will be so glad that they did, because we will be rewarded for all that we gave to the Lord.

A prophecy that was once spoken said that God sees us, even when no one else does.  He sees you writing that check.  He sees you praying when everyone else is out playing.  Do not stop!  Payday is on the way!

Confession: I see, today, that I am in a race, and since I am in this race, I am going for the gold!  I want to do this so that on the day I stand before my Jesus, I can take my crown and place it at His feet, and give Him all the glory.

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THE RACE OF FAITH

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Have you ever gone for a jog?  If so, have you ever gone for a run with weights on your ankles?  There is a big difference!  I remember when I was young, I used to put ankle weights on, and then go for a run or shoot some hoops.  When I took the weights off, I felt like I could run forever!  That is what this verse is saying to us.  We need to lay aside every weight, or hindrance, and run our race fully for God.

You might ask what these weights are that this verse calls sin.  Well, I believe that it is different things for different people.  For some, it might be wasting time, for others it might be telling lies. It can be so many different things, so we need the help of the Holy Spirit to see them, and then break them.

You might ask, “What do I do to break them?”  I like what verse 2 says: “Looking unto Jesus…”  When we put our eyes on Him and let Him lead us and help us, we see a lot of these sins lose their power over us.  Jesus said that we would know the truth, and the truth would set us free.  He also said that His Word is truth.

So today, put your eyes on Jesus. Tell Him that you want to get rid of any sin that would slow you down, so that you can be all that He would want you to be.  Tell Him that you want to run your race, and finish your race, and win the prize that He has for you.

Confession: Today, I make a decision to look within my own heart and work on the areas that need to be worked on.  Today, it is not about anyone else.  It is about me. 

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FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT

1 Timothy 6:12 (NKJV) Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

How much easier it would have been if God had said for us to take it easy, get a few extra hours of sleep, lay back, and that all will be just fine.  But God knows that we have an enemy, satan, who would look for a time just like that, and take what we have worked so hard for.

The Bible tells us to fight the fight of faith.  I have found that there is so much doubt and unbelief out there.  We need to watch what we read, hear, and see.  This fight of faith comes against us on every side. 

Here you are, standing on the Word of God for your healing, and faith is rising up in your heart, and then someone comes along and says, "Well, you know, it might be God who put this on you to teach you something."  Then all that faith that you worked so hard to get in your heart gets watered down.  That is why Paul states here that we need to fight for our faith.  We need to lay hold of eternal life.

When I lay hold of something good or important, I have to hold onto it for dear life.  I have to be like a pit bull with a bone in my mouth.  I need to be single minded, believing that what God said is true.  I am not going to let go of it, no matter what.   I am not going to let go of it, no matter what anyone says.  I really do not care how many books someone wrote, or how big his or her church is.  IF GOD SAID IT, THAT IS WHAT I AM GOING TO BELIEVE.  How about you?

Confession: Today, I choose to fight the good fight of faith.  Today, I choose to lay hold of eternal life.  I am like a pit bull with a bone.  If God said it, I am going to believe it until I see the manifestation of it.

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THE TREE BRINGS HEALING

Exodus 15:23-26 (NKJV) 23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" 25 So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them, 26 and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you."

In the Old Testament, Jesus had not come as a human yet, but His Word had come.  We know from the Word of God that, on the cross, Jesus not only took our sins, but He also took our sicknesses and diseases. 

1 Peter 2:24 talks about this tree.  Look at it: “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.”

When God showed Moses a tree, he cast it into the water, and the water was made sweet.  This is a type of our Jesus.  He hung on the tree for you and for me, and when we cast ourselves on Him, we are made whole.  I believe this is total wholeness: spirit, soul and body.

So today, look at the tree, and let your sins be cast on it, and your sicknesses thrown on Him.  It is through the blood that Jesus spilled on the tree, the cross, that we are made well.  What a great God we serve!

Confession:  The cross of Jesus, and His blood that He spilled, are for me.  The work of Calvary was a complete work; a work that was completely done in me.  Thank You, Jesus, for dying on the tree, and bearing all of my shortcomings so that I can be whole.

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THE CROSS

1 Corinthians 2:2 (NKJV) For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

The mighty Apostle Paul states here that he did not want to know anything except the cross of Jesus Christ.  Think about it.  It is through the cross that we receive our salvation.  It is through the cross that we receive our healing.  It is through the cross that we receive our peace.  It is through the cross that we receive all of the goodness of God.

When Jesus was separated from God at the cross, He restored you and me back into fellowship with the Father.  We were lost and we had no hope of eternal life, but then Jesus, at the right moment in time, went to the cross and became the spotless Lamb of God who took away our sins.

Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, and when He hung there, in God’s eyes, anyone who would believe in the gift that God has given the world, hung there also.  In God’s eyes, we are one with His Son, Jesus Christ!

Oh, what a great redemption we have because of Jesus’ willingness to go to the cross.  On the cross, He became my sin, so that I can receive His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).  On the cross, He became my sickness, so that I can receive His health (1 Peter 2:24).  On the cross, He became my guilt, so that I can go through life with no condemnation (Romans 8:1).

The wonders of the cross will astound us throughout all eternity, as we shout the praises of Him who bore it all for us.  So today, see yourself forgiven, restored, healed, and whole, all because of what our Jesus did on the cross.

Confession:  My Jesus did it all for me on the cross.  He bore all of my bad, so I could have all of His good.  He became the perfect sacrifice on the cross for my total redemption, and my total forgiveness of sin.  What a Savior I have in Jesus!

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THE KINGDOM OF GOD (Part 3)

Romans 14:17 (NKJV) …for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

For the last two days we have been looking at this awesome verse.  We have seen that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and that it is a free gift given to us when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and are washed by His blood.  Then, we saw that we can have peace as we keep our minds on Him, and not let the things of this world fill us with fear and worry. 

Today, let us look at the last part here: “Joy in the Holy Spirit.”  Many people in this world have happiness, and there is nothing wrong with being happy, but the fruit of the spirit gives us joy, which is like gold!

You see, I can be happy because I got a new car, but I can still have joy after I see the first scratch or dent on it.  I can be happy when everything is going good, but I can still have joy in the midst of many troubles.  The Apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians while he was in prison, and this epistle is called "A Letter of Joy."

Think about that!  He was in a prison that was used as the sewer system of the city, and yet over and over he talks about joy.  You see, Paul lived in the kingdom principles.  He knew that this life was just a passing moment, so he stayed in joy.  He let this fruit of the spirit rule in his heart, and he was able to overcome all that was around him.  When He and Silas were in prison, they sang praises to God.

So today, do not look at the situations around you, no matter how bad they are.  Look to Jesus!  Let His light shine on you, and let His joy so fill your heart that no matter what comes at you, you are more than a conqueror through Him that loves you.

Confession: Today, I let His joy flow through my being.  I am more than a conqueror, through Him that loves me, and I know that no matter what life, or the devil, throws at me, as long as I keep my mind on Him, it will all work out.

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