Friday, January 30, 2015

The Efficacy of Prayer - Bill Elliff

The Efficacy of Prayer

"Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, to turn away His wrath from destroying them. (Psalm 106:23)
There are many who choose the light path in prayer. It is understandable, but tragic for they do not understand what they are missing.
OUR GREAT PRIVILEGE
Non-praying believers fail to realize the incredible opportunity they have been granted. Like Moses, we can "stand in the breach before God." Like no others, we can approach God's throne of grace to find grace to help in time of need.
This is prayer and prayer can do whatever God can do, for prayer is bringing God into the equation. We will one day deeply regret that we laid aside our greatest work and greatest joy and spent our days in far more frivolous pursuits.
OUR GREAT RESPONSIBILITY
But there is more. As rescued ones, we now have the means to aid in the rescue of others, like Moses. We can go before God on their behalf. God not only welcomes this intercession, but invites it. He tells us to pray without ceasing. Why would he demand such an activity if it were useless? If it accomplished nothing? If there were not redemptive purposes He longed to achieve through us in the loop of Divine intercession? 
God is ever training His children to rule and reign for eternity and part of our training is to learn how to pray. How to remain in communion for others out of love for them and faith in God. How to persevere without wavering. How to connect with God. How to bank on His promises. How to engage in the eternal work. 
Prayer is not something for a few privileged believers. It is your responsibility as a child of God to use this mighty tool for the salvation of others and the glory of God.
OUR GREAT POWER
God has repeatedly told us that there is an efficacy in prayer. That it works. That the "fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much." (James 5:16)
What if we believed this? All of us? What if a nation full of God's children stood in the breach before God for the people of our land to "turn away His wrath from destroying them?" What if all the people of God would cry out for sweeping revival in the church and spiritual awakening among unbelievers? What if we joined in intercession for a tidal wave of God’s presence so that “the earth would be full of the knowledge of the Lord like waters that cover the sea?” (Habakkuk 2:14)
What if God found us daily, hourly interceding for His Bride that she would be cleansed and purified and expanded for His glory? Would He refuse a prayer like this? Or, would He grant those requests as He did for a faithful intercessor named Moses? (Is this not why these examples are in the Bible?) And what if history was changed because of our faithfulness in prayer?
And what if we began today?


©2015 Bill Elliff.  Originally posted at Bill's Graceful Truth blog.

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