Praying with Power as Paul prayed with Power
Introduction.
James 5:16b says the prayers of a righteous man can accomplish much. The reference is to the prayers of Elijah in his battle with Jezebel and the prophets of Baal found in 1 Kings 17-18. The invitation is striking. Someone who has welcomed the righteousness of Christ into their life can accomplish much through praying. I believe that simple statement in James 5 begs us to come closer to the biblical teaching on prayer to see what it is that unlocks this heavenly power on earth and when is a man righteous in a way that causes heaven to act when he speaks toward the Lord. Surely there is a relationship to the model prayer where Jesus prayed, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10 NASB). There is a connection between the man who can pray with requests on earth that match the will of God in Heaven. Some have prayed in that way.
The passage in 1 Kings speaks of Elijah who according to James 5:17 was a common man just as each of us are common men. But this brother prayed in earnest that it would not rain and so it was for three years and six months it did not rain. Elijah endured the drought just as all the men on the earth at that time endured the drought. He suffered along with them. For a period of time the brook of Cherith where he was camped dried up and God provided his needs through a widow. In due time he prayed again and heaven opened up with a mighty rain. Elijah prayed powerful prayers.
Moses was also a man of great prayer. His discussions with God are recorded in the book of Exodus and show us a man who talked openly with the Lord. Moses communion with God was sometimes private as when he prayed on the mountain. At other times it was continual as when God gave him the rod and he used the rod as though it were an extension of the power of God. I believe Moses was a powerful man of prayer.
Few have walked in the kind of prayer life of King David. A picture of his prayer life is found in 2 Samuel 24:25 where it says, “David built there an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Thus the LORD was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.” The prayers of David caused the Lord to hold back his hand. David was great man of praise writing numerous psalms and hymns.
Prayer seems to be an ingredient in the New Testament when God would move His hand. The disciples went to the Upper Room after the ascension to wait for the Holy Spirit. After they had prayed together for a time, the Holy Spirit invaded the room and their spirits were given to the control of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4) Peter was moved to preach his first sermon and you might say that Pentecost was ushered in on the breath of the prayers of the disciples. In some way heaven is moved by the prayers of the saints.
One could say that all those who asked blessings from Jesus were praying. When the centurion asked for the healing of his servant, he and Jesus had a conversation and heaven moved with a healing. The key was the faith of the centurion. Faith is definitely in the mix of what it takes to pray with power.
Another great story about answered prayer centers around Peter’s imprisonment. Herod has Peter arrested in the first part of Acts 12. Verse 5 says Peter was in jail but fervent prayers were being offered for him by the church. In the night, an angel appeared striking Peter’s side. His chains fell off and he escaped. A great part of the story is when he went to the place where the prayer meeting was happening, the servant girl reported to the larger congregation that Peter was with them, they refused to believe. Not all prayers must have faith in the immediate for an immediate answer. God works mightily when people pray.
Not all prayers were answered in the affirmative and one of Paul’s prayers is no exception. According to his own words, Paul asked God three times to remove a thorn from his flesh but God refused instead saying, my grace is sufficient for you (1 Corinthians 12:7-9). At other times it was as though Paul’s prayers touched heaven. While Paul was preaching one day Eutychus fell out of the window and was picked up dead. Paul hovered over him and soon Eutychus was alive. I believe Paul’s prayers moved heaven and the boy was raised (Acts 20:9-11). In Acts 19 the power of God is manifest through Paul in the working of many miracles. Paul was truly walking in the Spirit and surely we would make a connection between his teaching and example of prayer and the power of God on his life.
Perhaps as you read this thought today, you should look back over your years of communion with God and reflect upon the answers He has delivered to your prayers. If you keep a prayer journal, now would be an excellent time to praise Him for His greatness and divine intervention through your prayer life. If you haven’t experienced God’s mighty hand through your prayer life, do not be discouraged. The fact that you are reading this writing means that God is piquing your interest in a power filled prayer life. Continue with us on this journey as we explore the power of Paul’s prayer life through his teaching and his example from the Bible.
