“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

by Steven Chan
31 May 2009

In Luke 18:1, the Bible records that Jesus “spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint”. Prayer is one of the most wonderful gifts ever bestowed on man. It is the means by which one is able to gain access to the almighty God, creator of the universe, to ask for help and assistance in times of need. According to God’s word in Heb 4:15, “for we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” We are encouraged to pray to the Lord because we have Christ as our high priest who will intercede on our behalf (Rom 8:34).

Jesus encouraged us to pray in Matt 7:11, when He said: “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” In other words, God stands ready and willing to bless us if and when we pray.

We need, however, to pray in faith as Jesus taught thus in Matt. 21:22: “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

In Act 12:5, the Bible relates the incident when “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” While prayer was made by the church, the Lord sent an angel to deliver Peter from prison. This illustrates for us the power and efficacy of prayer.

According to 1 John 5:14,15,  “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” We can have confidence that God will answer our prayers when our prayers that are centered on the fulfilling of God’s will in our lives. Wayward self-centered prayers will not be answered: “You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:2,3)

According to Matt. 18:19, there is also power in unified church prayer: “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”

Hence, brethren, we need to remain steadfast in prayers at all times. Let’s us not forfeit this privilege that has been bestowed on us by the Lord. Let us not doubt God in this matter.