I know this is December and Christmas comes this month. I felt like I should write something about Christmas. However, after thinking and praying in my spirit about it, I came to the conclusion that Prayer is really what Christmas is about. We have a strong tendency to make Christmas about gifts, Christmas trees and other various and sundry things.
But the real issue is that Jesus was born into this world as the living "Son of God" and would live and die to become our Savior, so that we could be born again to eternal life through his personal sacrifice on Calvary. By that act, the way was made for us to obtain that eternal life, and for us to talk to God to accomplish in our lives the very salvation that His only begotten son paid for. The way that was made was then and is today, PRAYER .
When I first started singing, back in Indiana, during my youth, Jake Hess was singing with "The Statesmen Quartet". What a super singer he was. I will always remember his unique style. I used to marvel at the sound of his voice, and his distinct pronunciation of words of each and every song that he sang. The one that stuck with me the most was "Prayer is the Key to Heaven, But Faith Unlocks the Door". Jake could always sing that song better than anyone else who has ever sung it. It seemed to me to be his signature song. The truth in that song is a truth that we still need to embrace today in The Church, and in The Gospel Music Field. The lyrics of that song was then and will always be a real challenge to every Christian to realize that prayer with faith will accomplish great miracles in our lives, and in the world. Therefore, I want to discuss prayer a little this month.
In James 5:16 the Bible says "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
I will try to break down some of this information to help us understand how utterly important that prayer should be in our Christian walk with the Lord.
First of all this verse says that prayer has several aspects. It talks about what kind of prayer works. How it should be prayed, who should be praying this prayer, and what it will accomplish when this kind of persons prays it. The word effectual means "to be active, efficient, or do ", in the "Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance". In the Greek it is the word "energeho" which means that the effective or effectual prayer is one that has energy in it, it is well stated, (efficient) and does something. This prayer is also "Fervent". The Greek word for fervent is "dzay’los" which means heat or zeal. The word prayer in the Greek is "deh’ay-sis" which means a petition, request, or supplication. The word " righteous" in the Greek is "dik’-ah-yos" which means equitable (in character or act), just, meet, or right (right standing). The word availeth in the Greek is" ischuo" it means to have force, be able, can do, or be of strength.
Considering all of these definitions, we then can say that :
"PRAYER IS THE ACTIVE, ZEALOUS, SUPPLICATION OF A JUST OR RIGHT MAN, AND HAS FORCE (CAN DO) (IS ABLE) (IS STRONG) TO ACCOMPLISH MUCH. "
Leroy Brownlow says, "Many times we cannot get the courage to stand on our feet until we get on our knees" I truly believe this.
How do we get our prayers answered?
1. Be personal in Prayer: Phil 4:6 .....but in everything by prayer.....let your requests be made known unto God
A. . Focus your prayers. Don’t pray in such general terms
B. Be specific in your prayers - Talk to the Lord openly, freely, about people, problems and circumstances. In Psalm 35:1 David prayed for rescue from his enemies. In Psalm 38:1 David prayed the prayer of a penitent heart. In Psalm 51:10 , David prayed a prayer for cleansing of his own heart and spirit. Each of these prayers were specific in their wording and requests.
Prayer should focus on need and be specific. This makes Prayer personal so BE PERSONAL IN PRAYER.
2. Be positive in Prayer: A great reference for this point is Psalm 100. It instructs us to take the initiative and ENTER INTO HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING AND HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE. So BE POSITIVE IN PRAYER.
3. Be patient in Prayer: Psalm 40:1 David says: "I waited patiently for the Lord and he.......heard my cry. Do not become impatient Psalm 27:14 David says "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He shall strengthen thine heart: Wait I say, on the Lord. Isaiah 40: 31 says "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength................."
4. Be persistent in Prayer: We all remember Daniel and how persistent in prayer he was. We also remember that he was delivered from the lion’s den, unscathed after having spent the night there with the Lions, not of his own accord, but by the King’s decree. God delivered him from that awful fate, because he had prayed persistently every day prior to his being cast into the lion’s den. This entire story unfolds in Daniel chapters 5 and 6.
We must keep on keeping on: Be personal, positive, patient, and persistent and God will answer your prayers.
Psalm 37:5 says "commit thy way unto the Lord: trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.
I recently read this poem somewhere, I do not know who the author of this poem is. I just remember reading it somewhere.
PRAYER
I know not by what methods rare
But this I know: God answers prayer
I know not when He sends the Word
That tells us fervent prayer is heard
I know it cometh soon or late:
Therefore, we need to pray and wait
I know not if the blessing sought
Will come in just the guise I thought
I leave my prayers with Him alone
Whose will is wiser than my own
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Pray now, God is waiting to hear from you. Yes the message of Jake Hess’s great song is still true "Prayer is the Key to Heaven, But Faith Unlocks the Door"
When I sang with "J.D. Sumner and his Stamps Quartet" back in the 1970s, we used to open our concerts with a beautiful arrangement of "I Just Steal Away and Pray". I can think of no better way to start your day, a concert, or anything else in this life than to start with prayer. May God richly bless each and every one of you who read this column.
Remember Psalm 118:6 "The Lord is on my side" This is my favorite verse of scripture.
He is on your side also. Since He is on your side, why not talk to Him, stop right now and talk to him a while. You will be delighted in the results.
In Christian Love,
Bill Baize
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Written: 12/06/2010
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Category: The Vocal Coach
Comments: 1
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Thanks Bill,
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