Stronger Prayer - Tapping into its Power
by David Roadcup
There is an immeasurable source of power available to the Church of Jesus Christ! It is the personal and corporate prayers of its people. In keeping with our theme, Stronger Prayer, let’s think together about the power available to the church today and how we tap into that power.
Jesus’ Admonition
Jesus Himself encouraged us with these words: “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart” (Luke 18:1). One of the things I love about Jesus is that He never asks us to do anything without going before us and showing us how.
From Scripture, we see Jesus’s example in prayer. We see Him praying when healing the sick, praying before meals and when casting out demons. We see Him praying all night, praying over the disciples, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, and praying repeatedly on the cross leading to His death. His very last words were spoken as a prayer. Jesus believed in prayer and prayed often and fervently to model for us what was incredibly important. Jesus knew and taught where power for life and ministry could be found.
James’ Admonition
James, in his letter, (chapter 5 verse 16) teaches us that prayer is power: “…The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” This encouragement was not only for the believers of the first century, but it is for us today. When a brother or sister, who is striving with all of their hearts to live a Christ-filled life, bows the knee in heartfelt prayer, it stirs the heavenlies. We must remember the old adage, “When I work, I work. When I pray, God works!”
Why do Jesus and James exhort us so fervently to pray? They knew that prayer was and is the power source for our lives, families, and ministries.
Out of my fifty-five years of ministry, one of the major lessons I have learned is this: When there is little or no prayer in my life, there will be little or no power for my ministry.
The power of God is available to us today. Please believe that this is true. Paul emphatically states in Ephesians 3:20 (NASB), “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us…” This is an exciting verse for every leader and believer to internalize. He tells us that God is willing to do beyond what any one of us can ask, think, or even imagine! The Greek word Paul uses here for “abundantly” is the adverb hyper-ek-perissou. It is one of Paul’s super-superlatives. It has been translated “immeasurably more” (NIV), “far more abundantly beyond” (NASB), or “infinitely more” (NLT).
F.F. Bruce made the following observation.
Has Paul sought too much from God for his fellow-believers—praying that they may be filled up to the level of the divine fullness? They might think so as they heard this letter read aloud, but Paul reassures them: it is impossible to ask God for too much. His capacity for giving far exceeds His people’s capacity for asking—or even imagining.”
If we truly believe in the power of God, we will do what it takes to develop a life of prayerfulness. When we pray daily and fervently, God moves dramatically. When we are prayerless, we grind out our lives and ministries on our own.
If we are to tap into the power of God to create genuine, Spirit-led revival in our time, we must pray – often and fervently. We must teach our people about prayer and then lead them in times of soaking, heart-felt, powerful prayer. I want to challenge every person reading this blog to recommit to finding power through prayer for the sake of their churches and ministries.
