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The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
(James 5:16)
Almost 2,000 years have passed since that Scripture was written, and during that time much has been said about prayer. Countless sermons have been preached about it. Multitudes of books have been written about it.

Yet with all we have learned about prayer, the bottom line still remains the same. It's the effectual fervent prayer that availeth. It's the prayer that brings the intended result that makes the difference.

In other words, the best kind of prayer is the prayer that gets an answer.

The Answer Is Not "No"
Religion has tried to confuse the issue by saying things such as, "God always answers prayer, but sometimes the answer is 'No.'" The Bible, however, doesn't say anything like that. According to the Bible, if you pray right you will receive what you ask for - every single time.

God's answer to scriptural prayer is always "Yes."

No doubt, that statement would upset some people. "Well, I don't think you can just expect God to do what you want Him to do every time you pray," they might say. "After all, He is a sovereign God and He does what He chooses."

Sure enough, He is a sovereign God. He does do what He chooses. And He has chosen to give us whatever we ask in Jesus' name. Jesus Himself said if those who believe Him would "ask anything" in His name, He would do it (John 14:14). He said in verse 13, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

Answered prayer isn't man's idea; it's God's idea.

Thus, when prayers aren't answered, it's not God's fault — it's ours. James 4:3 NKJV says, "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss." When we don't receive what we pray for, either our motives or our methods are wrong. God's desire is for us to keep changing and keep learning until we grow to the place where we get everything we ask Him for.

How do I know that's possible?

Because Jesus received everything He asked for. And the Bible says we're destined to be just like Him (Rom. 8:29).

When Jesus prayed over the loaves and fishes, God answered and multiplied them to feed the thousands. When Jesus prayed for Lazarus to be raised from the dead, that's exactly what happened. When Jesus said to His disciples that He would pray the Father to send the Holy Spirit, God poured out His Spirit on the Day of Pentecost with the sound of a rushing mighty wind and tongues of fire.

Actually, every miracle in Jesus' life was born out of the time He spent in effectual prayer. The same will be true for us. As we learn to pray as He prayed, we'll do the works that He did - and even greater works (John 14:12).

Not Just an Opportunity, but a Responsibility
Truly, God has given us a wonderful part to play in His divine plan. By promising to answer our prayers, He has made it possible for us to become agents of His will on the earth. He's given us the privilege of making supernatural changes in natural circumstances.

From our perspective, it is an amazing opportunity.

But God sees it as more than an opportunity; He considers it our responsibility. Read what Jesus said to His disciples in John 15:1-8,16 NKJV and you'll see what I mean.
I am the True Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."
According to that last verse, our mission and purpose on this earth as Jesus' disciples is to bear fruit. What kind of fruit? The fruit of answered prayer!

If we're not praying effective prayers that produce results, we're not fulfilling our purpose for being here. The reason we weren't beamed up to heaven as soon as we were born again is so we could pray and bear fruit for God!

One well-known minister said many years ago that it seems God will do nothing on the earth unless someone prays. Why is that? It's because, as Psalm 115:16 says,
The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
God gave authority on this earth to mankind, and through His mercies and grace, He desires to do great and wonderful things in and among people. He waits for a man or a woman to ask Him. He waits for someone to pray.

Source: Secrets to Powerful Prayer by Lynne Hammond and Patsy Cameneti
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers

Author Biography

Lynne Hammond
Web site: Lynne Hammond Ministries
 
A teacher and an author, Lynne publishes a newsletter called Prayer Notes, has written numerous books, and currently serves as the national prayer director for Daughters for Zion. Her passion for inspiring and leading others into the life of Spirit-led prayer continues to take her around the world to minister to believers whose heart cry, like hers, is “Lord, teach me to pray!”
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