Ahab went to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Caramel, and fell down on the ground, put his face between his knees. And he said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went and looked, and said: Nothing. And he said again, again seven times. The seventh time he said: I see a little cloud like the palm of a man who rises from the sea. And he said, Go and tell Ahab, Prepare your chariot and go down before the rain stops you. It happened, about this time, the skies darkened with clouds and wind and a heavy rain. And Ahab, came to Jezreel (1R 18:42-45)
quoted The New Testament faith and persistent prayer of Elijah as an example and encouragement to all the faithful people of God to the power of prayer (James 5:18). Elijah's prayer was:
1) - The prayer of a righteous man (James 5:16) (Psalm 66:18)
2) - The prayer of a man with a human nature as any person (James 5:17)
3) - A persistent, fervent prayer of faith (vv 42-44) (Mt 21:21-22) (Mark 9:23) (Luke 18:1) (Ephesians 6:18) (Heb 11:6)
4) - A prayer to accomplish much (V45) (Jas 5:16-17).
Prayer refers to the multifaceted communication of believers with the Lord. In addition to the verb "pray" and their conjugates, described this activity as invocation of God (Ps 17:6), invoking the name of the Lord (Gen 4:26), cry unto the Lord (Ps 3:4), lift soul to God (Ps 25:1), to seek the Lord (Isaiah 55:6), come boldly unto the throne of grace (Heb 4:16) and close to God (Heb 10:22).
REASONS FOR PRAYER
The Bible gives some clear reasons why believers should pray.
1) - First, God commands believers to pray. The order of prayer comes from the lips of psalmist (1Cr 16:11) (Psalm 105:4), prophets (Is 55:6) (Amos 5:4-6), the apostles (Eph 6:17-18) (Colossians 4:2) ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17) and the Lord Jesus Himself (Matthew 26:41) (Luke 18:1) (Jn 16:24). God desires fellowship of human beings through prayer maintaining communion with Him
2) - Prayer is the necessary link to receive the blessings and power of God and the fulfillment of their promises. Numerous passages illustrate this principle. Jesus, for example, promised that his followers would receive the Holy Spirit if they persisted in asking, seeking and knocking at the door of his heavenly Father (Luke 11:5-13). So, after Jesus' ascension, his followers constantly devoted to prayer in the upper room (Acts 1:14) until, with power (Acts 1:8) the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4 .) When the apostles met after his arrest and release by the Jewish authorities, they prayed fervently that the Holy Spirit gave them boldness and authority to speak their word. "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly" (Acts 4:31). Often the apostle Paul asked for prayers for himself, knowing his work would not successful unless the believers were praying for him (Ro 15:30-32) (2 Cor 1:11) (Eph 6:19-20) (Philippians 1:19) (Col 4:3-4). James explicitly states that physical healing can reach the believer in response to "the prayer of faith" (James 5:14-15).
3) - In his plan of salvation for mankind, God has provided for believers to be his collaborators in the redemptive process. In some respects, God has limited himself to the holy prayers, faithful and persevering in their village. There are many things that are not made in the kingdom of God without the intercessory prayers of believers (Exodus 33:11). For example, God to send laborers into the harvest evangelism, Christ teaches not fully meet the purpose of God without the prayers of his people: "Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38). In other words, is put into action the power of God for many of its aims only through effective and fervent prayers of his people for the progress of his kingdom. If you stop praying, could actually be hindering the realization of God's redemptive purpose for the believer as an individual and for the church as a body.
REQUIREMENTS OF PRAYER
To be effective the prayer, he must complete several requirements.
1) - The prayers will not answer unless you have a sincere and genuine faith. Jesus says explicitly: "I tell you whatever you ask in prayer, believe that ye receive them, and it will (Mark 11:24). The father of a boy possessed by a demon, he said these words:" He who believes everything possible "(Mark 9:23). The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews exhorts believers to approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith" (Heb 10:22), and encourages them to Santiago ask God "in faith, nothing wavering" (James 1:6) (James 5:15).
2) - should be prayer in the name of Jesus. Jesus himself expressed this principle when he said: "And whatever you ask the Father in my name, what I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name, I will do "(Jn 14:13-14). The prayers must be in harmony with the person, nature and God's will.
3) - The sentence can only be effective if is in accordance with the perfect will of God: "And this is the confidence we have in him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 Jn 5:14). One of the requests in the model prayer Jesus, the Lord's Prayer, confirms: "Thy will, as in heaven and in earth" (Mt 6:10) (Luke 11:2), note the very prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane (Mt 26:42). In many cases we know the will of God because He has revealed in Scripture. You can be sure that any sentence will be effective that really is based on God's promises in His Word. Elijah was sure that the Lord God of Israel would answer his prayer with fire and rain later because the word of the Lord had come to him (1R 18:1), and he was fully confident that none of the pagan gods was higher than or even as powerful as the Lord God of Israel (1R 18:21-24). At other times the will of God becomes clear only when one seeks to determine fervently. Then once you know his will on any matter, can pray with confidence and faith that God will answer (1 Jn 5:14).
4) - Not only must pray according to God's will, but should be in the will of God for Him to hear and respond. God will give what is asked only if they seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). The apostle John declares bluntly: "And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing to Him (1 Jn 3:22). Obey the commandments of God, love Him and pleasing are prerequisites for answers to prayer. When James wrote that the prayers of the righteous are effective, he meant both a person who has been justified by faith in Christ as one who leads a righteous life, devout and obedient, as the prophet Elijah (James 5:16-18) (Psalm 34:13-14). In the Old Testament highlights the same point. God made it clear that the prayers of Moses and the Israelites were effective because of his obedient relationship with the Lord and his faithfulness to Him (Ex 33:17). By contrast, the psalmist says that if sin is sheltered life, the Lord will not hear the prayers (Psalm 66:18) (James 4:3). That was the main reason that the Lord withdrew his hearing the prayers of the Israelites idolatrous and wicked (Isaiah 1:15). But if the people of God repents their sins and turn from their wicked ways, the Lord promises to hear them again, forgive their sins and heal their land (2Cr 7:14) (2Cr 6:36-39) (Luke 18:14-15). Note that the high priest's prayer for forgiveness for the sins of the Israelites in the Day of Atonement would not be until his own sinful condition had been purified (Exodus 26:33).
5) - Finally, for effective prayer must be persistent. This is the main point of the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-7) (Luke 18:1). The instruction of Jesus to ask, seek and knock (Matthew 7:7-8) teaches perseverance in prayer. The Apostle Paul warns that one must be persistent in prayer (Col 4:2) (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Also, the saints of the Old Testament recognized this principle. For example, just as Moses persevered in prayer with his hands up to God the Israelites were successful in their battle against the Amalekites (Ex 17:11). After Elijah received word that he was going to rain, still persisted in prayer until the rain came (1R 18:41-45). On a previous occasion, this great prophet had prayed fervently that persistent and God back to life the dead son of the widow of Sarepta to the Lord answered his prayer. (1R 17:17-23).
METHODS EFFECTIVE BIBLICAL PRAYER
1) - What methods can we use to have an effective prayer?
a) - To pray effectively, you must praise and worship God (Psalm 150) (Acts 2:47) (Ro 15:11)
b) - Closely related and equally important is giving thanks to God ( Psalm 100:4) (Mt 11:25-26) (Phil 4:6)
c) - The sincere confession of known sins is essential to the prayer of faith (James 5:15-16) (Psalm 51) (Luke 18:13) (1 Jn 1:9)
d) - God commands also be asked to him according to their needs, as James writes, do not get what you want because no one knows order, or ordered with the wrong motives (James 4:2-3) (Psalm 27:7-12) (Matthew 7:7-11) (Phil 4:6)
e) - And we must pray fervently for the others, especially to do intercessory prayers (Nm 14:13-19) (Psalm 122:6-9) (Luke 22:31-32) Luke 23:34).
2) - How should I pray? Jesus emphasized the sincerity of the heart:
a) - Because you do not hear calls for their many words (Mt 6:7).
b) - You can pray in silence (1 Sam 1:18) (Nehemiah 2:4)
c) - You can pray out loud (Neh 9:4) (Ezekiel 11:13)
d) - You can pray with the mind or the Spirit (tongues 1 Cor 14:14-18)
e) - You can pray without moaning using human words (Rom 8:26) intercession of the Holy
f) - Another way to pray is to sing to the Lord (Psalm 92:1-2) (Ephesians 5:19-20) (Colossians 3:16)
g) - Sometimes the sentence shall be accompanied by fasting (Ezra 8:21) (Nehemiah 1:4) (Dan 9:3-4) (Mark 9:29) (Luke 2:37) (Acts 14:23) (Mt 6: 16)
We can pray in our own words or using words of Scripture.
3) - What position is conducive to prayer? Prayers The Bible records the following:
a) - Standing (1R 8:22) (Neh 9:4-5)
b) - Seated 1Cr 17:16) (Luke 10:13)
c) - kneeling (Ezra 9:5) (Dan 6:10) (Acts 20:36)
d) - Lying on a bed (Ps 63:6)
e) - Tilting the head (Ex 34:8) (Ps. 95:6)
f) - Laying on the ground (2S 12: 16) (Mt 26:39)
g) - Raising their hands to heaven (Ps 28:2) (Isaiah 1:15) (1 Timothy 2:8)
EXAMPLES OF PRAYERS
The Bible is full of examples of sentences that were powerful and effective.
1) - Moses had many intercessory prayers that God answered, even though he had told Moses to follow a different course of action.
2) - A repentant Samson requested an opportunity to accomplish the task of his life to defeat the Philistines God answered that prayer by giving him the strength to topple the pillars of the building where they were celebrating the power of their gods (Judges 16:21-30)
3) - The Prophet Elijah received answers to at least four sentences powerful, all of which gave glory to the God of Israel (1R 17-18) (James 5:17-18)
4) - King Hezekiah was sick and Isaiah told him to die (2R 20:1) (Is 38 : 1). Sensing that his life and works were incomplete, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed fervently that God would give him more time. God sent Isaiah to tell Hezekiah that he would be clean and that he would add fifteen years of life (2R 20:2-6) (Isaiah 38:2-6)
5) - No doubt Daniel prayed to the Lord in the den of lions, for deliverance from his mouth, and the Lord granted her request (Dn 6:10,16-22)
6) - Early Christians prayed fervently for Peter's release from prison, and God sent an angel to free him (Acts 12:3-11) (Acts 12: 5). Such examples should fill the believer holy desire and faith to pray effectively in accordance with the principles outlined in the Scriptures. INTERCESSION
I set my face unto the Lord, to seek by prayer and supplication, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes (Dn 9:3)
intercession could be defined as holy prayer, faithful and persevering whereby someone pleads with God for another or others who desperately need God's intervention. Daniel's prayer in chapter nine is an intercessory prayer, he prays fervently for the restoration of Jerusalem and throughout the nation. The Bible records the intercession of Christ and the Holy Spirit, and many godly men and women under both the Old and New Covenant.
INTERCESSION OF CHRIST AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
1) - During his earthly ministry, Jesus prayed for the crowds to which he came to seek and to save (Luke 19:10). He anguished cry of the city of Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). Prayed for his disciples, both for each particular (Luke 22:32) as all of them as a group (Jn 17:6-26). Even prayed for his enemies while hanging on the cross (Luke 23:34).
2) - An ongoing aspect of the present ministry of Christ is to intercede for the believers before the throne of God (Romans 8:34) (Heb 7:25) (Heb 9:24). That is why John calls Jesus the "lawyer" of believers with the Father, ie, one that advocates for them (1 John 1:21). The intercession of Christ is essential to salvation (Isaiah 53:12), without his grace, mercy and help borne believers through her intercession, would fall away from God and once again would be enslaved by sin.
3) - The Holy Spirit is also involved in advocacy. Paul says, "That we ought to pray, do not know, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings" (Rom 8:26). The Holy Spirit through the believer's human spirit intercedes "according to the will of God" (Romans 8:27). Thus, Christ intercedes in heaven for the believer, the Spirit intercedes within the believer on earth.
THE INTERCESSION OF THE FAITHFUL
the Bible often refers to the intercessory prayers of believers and records numerous examples of significant and powerful prayers.
1) - In the Old Testament, the leaders of the people of God, such as kings (1Cr 21:17) (2Cr 6:14-42), prophets (18:41-45 1R) (Dn 9) and priests (2Cr 34:20-28) (Ezra 9:5-15) (Joel 1:13) (Joel 2:17-18), should lead the intercessory prayer for the nation. Superb examples of intercession in the Old Testament include the mediation of Abraham for Ishmael (Genesis 17:18) and Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:23-32), David's prayers for a son (2S 12:16) ( 1Cr 29:19), and Job for their children (Job 1:5). In the life of Moses, is the supreme example of the Old Testament the power of intercessory prayer. On several occasions, he prayed fervently that God will change its explicit, even though God had told Moses his course of action. For example, after the Israelites rebelled against God and refused to enter Canaan, God told Moses that He would destroy them and make a great nation of Moses (Num 14:1-12). Moses took the matter to the Lord in prayer and pray for them (Nm 14:13-19). When he finished his prayer, God told him: "I have pardoned according to thy word" (Nm 14:20) (Ex 32:11-14) (Nm 11:2) (Nm 12:13) (21:7 Nm ) (Nm 27:5).
Other powerful advocates of the Old Testament include Elijah (1R 18:21-46) (James 5:16-18) Daniel (Dan 9:2-23) and Nehemiah (Neh 1:3-11).
2) The New Testament has even more examples of pleas. The Gospels record how parents and others interceded with Jesus on behalf of their loved ones. Parents begged Jesus to heal their sick child (Mark 5:22-43) (John 4:47-53), a group of mothers asked Jesus to bless their children (Mark 10:13), a man asked that his servant was healed (Matthew 8:6-13), and the mother of James and John pleaded with Jesus to them (Mt 20:20-21).
3) - The New Testament Church interceded often by different people. For example, the Jerusalem church met to pray for Peter's release from prison (Acts 12:5,12). The Antioch church was praying for the success of the ministry of Barnabas and Paul (Acts 13:3). Santiago orders them specifically to the elders of the church to pray, for the sick (James 5:14) (Heb 13:18-19). Paul goes further and is soliciting prayers for all men (1 Timothy 2:1-3).
4) - The Apostle Paul deserves special mention. In many of his letters he speaks of his own prayers for various churches and individuals (Ro 1:9-10) (1 Cor 13:7) (Phil. 1:4-11) (Col 1:3,9-12) (1 Thessalonians 1 :2-3) (2Th 1:11-12) (2 Timothy 1:3) (Philemon 4-6). From time to time write down your prayers (Ephesians 1:15-19) (Eph 3:14-19) (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13). At the same time, Paul often asks the churches to pray for him, knowing that only through prayer ministry will have its full effect (Ro 15:30-32) (2 Cor 1:10-11) (Eph 6: 19-20) (Phil 1:19) (Col 4:3-4) (1 Thessalonians 5:25) (2 Thess 3:1-2). PURPOSE
intercessory prayers
In many intercessory prayers in Scripture, the holy devotees begged God to divert his trial (Gen 18:23-32) (Nm 14:13-19) (Jl 2 : 17), restored to his people (Neh 1) (Dn 9), to free people from danger (Acts 12:5,12) (Ro 15:31) and to bless his people (Num 6:24-26) (1R 18:41-45) (Psalm 122:6-8). Intercessors also pray for the coming of the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15-17) (Eph 3:14-17), for someone to be healed (1R 17:20-21) (Acts 28:8) (James 5:14-16), for the forgiveness of sins (Ezra 9:5-15) (Dn 9) (Acts 7:60), by the ability of those in authority to govern well (1Cr 29:19) ( 1 Timothy 2:2), and Christian growth (Phil 1:9-11) (Col 1:10-11), by shepherds efficient (2Ti 1:3-7), for effective missionary work (Mt 9:38) (Eph 6:19-20), for the salvation of others (Romans 10:1) and for people to praise God (Psalm 67:3-5). Anything that reveals the Bible as God's perfect will for His people can properly be the focus of intercessory prayer.
THE PERFECT MODEL OF PRAYER
Jesus taught us to pray:
9. Now you pray: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
10. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done as in heaven and in earth.
11. The day our daily bread, give us today.
12. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive our debtors.
13. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)
Prayer is communication with our Heavenly Father should be daily, should also be many times a day, in other words should be relentless, because that is what keeps us physically and spiritually healthy. It is an exercise that we practice, and is a feeling that we develop.
! Grace and Peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ!
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