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The Power of Prayer: Steadfast Prayer

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The following is part 4 from a blog series based on R.A. Torrey’s classicThe Power of Prayer. R.A. Torrey (1856-1928) was an American evangelist, professor, pastor, and author. He is one of the three editors of The Fundamentals, an early 20th century defense of orthodox Protestant beliefs. Find more from R.A. Torrey at the BLB.

Ye have not, because ye ask not (James 4:2 KJV).

Turn to Acts 2:42: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread and in prayers.” That is a picture very brief but very suggestive of the early church. It was a praying church. It was a church in which they prayed, not merely occasionally, but where they all “continued steadfastly . . . in prayers.” They all prayed, not a select few, but the whole membership of the church; and all prayed continuously with steadfast determination. “They gave themselves to prayer,” as the same Greek word is translated in Acts 6:4.

Now turn to Acts 6:4 and you will get the rest of your answer. “We will give ourselves continually to prayer.” That is a picture of the apostolic ministry: it was a praying ministry, and a ministry that “gave themselves continually to prayer,” or, to translate that Greek word as it is translated in former passage (Acts 2:42), “They continued steadfastly in prayer.” A praying church and a praying ministry! Ah, such a church and such a ministry can achieve anything that ought to be achieved. It will go steadily on, beating down all opposition, surmounting every obstacle, conquering every foe, just as much today as it did in the days of the apostles.

Previous posts in this series:

Comments

  1. Prayer is to ministry, as oil is to an engine. Ministry will stop without it.

  2. Pastor Harper, that is a powerful saying! I pray for my pastor, but never thought of it in the way you said it. Now, I will pray for him more.

    I have a little book by Stormie Omartian called, “The Praying Wife”. I bought it in 1999 and have been using it to pray for my husband, and have also added notes and dates that I have prayed, and have prayed for other people using its suggestions, as well. My little book is falling apart, but I see where prayer was answered, I see how many times I have prayed for one thing and after 5 years, it was finally answered.

    I think prayer is amazing. I don’t know why God wants us to pray. I don’t know why it is a good way to speak to Him. I don’t know why prayer can beseech God to expedite events, change people’s hearts, restore lost love, and the myriad of other things prayer can “do”.

    I may not know the “why” about prayer, but I do know it is the Lord who is listening, and acting, and moving things as I pray according to His will. And I have learned through prayer itself, to listen to the Lord, trust and have faith in Him, and pray according to His will.

    -Debi

      • How cute! 🙂 Thank you, Jeremiah! Maybe I rock because “I go to the Rock of my salvation, I go to the stone that the builders rejected, I go to the mountain and the mountain stands by me! When all around me is sinking sand on Christ that Solid Rock I stand!”

        I have been having a good day at work today. I have been praying for a co-worker while I have been doing my paperwork. That person doesn’t know I am praying in my mind and heart, but I am having this wonderful, lengthy conversation with the Holy Spirit. It is quite thrilling.

        And I know, in time, my prayers will come to fruition and God will be glorified! It’s like waiting to surprise someone at a surprise party!! 🙂

        • Debi, I love that book as well! Prayer can quite literally move mountains. I have witnessed and been blessed by amazing transformations in my relationship with my husband because of prayer. I sought the counsel of several close Christian friends over an issue that threatened to destroy not only my marriage, but also my children. A lot of that advice included action; some of which I did not feel at peace with. I continued to pray as did many others. I heard so clearly from my Lord that I was to wait and the only action I was to take was to demonstrate a gentle and quiet spirit. How different was this answer than the ‘advice’ I had received from others. I knew in my Spirit and I continued to be still and wait. The issue has since been resolved in a beautiful demonstration of Gods perfect timing, love and mercy. How thankful I am that I did not fall prey to the world’s solutions and instead, I prayed.

          • Oh, Naomi! What a glorious testimony of the faithfulness of God!
            What a beautiful story! I know exactly what you mean about waiting. There are so many “success stories” of answered prayer because I prayed those prayers and waited. And I am the one that changed, too!

            Isn’t God good?

            What an encouraging story, Naomi! Thank you so much!
            -Debi

  3. 1 Corinthians 4:6
    And these things brethren I have in a figure transferred unto myself and Apollos for your sakes that you might learn of us
    not to think of men above that which is written
    THAT NO ONE OF YOU BE PUFFED UP FOR ONE AGAINST ANOTHER

    1 Corinthians 4:7
    For who maketh thee to differ from another
    AND WHAT HAST THOU THAT THOU DIDST NOT RECEIVE
    Now —IF— thou didst receive it why dost thou—GLORY—as if thou hadst not received it

    FATHER I COME TO YOU IN PRAYER THROUGH YOUR SON JESUS CHRIST
    Help us LORD JESUS that we would act like YOU are our LORD & SAVIOR as well as we speak it Help us LORD to do those things YOU command that people would know we love YOU Help us LORD to continue in your love and continue in your ways and your truth
    and your life that we would be confident at your coming help us LORD to ask according to the FATHERS will that we would get to heaven —HELP US O LORD TO BE LIKE NOAH—who continued for 100 years and beyond never ceasing to continue to build the ark and do according to your words Help us LORD JESUS that we would lose ourselves for you and for the gospel that we might be saved

    Proverbs 3:6
    In—ALL—thy ways acknowledge HIM and HE shall direct thy paths

    1 Corinthians 14:37
    —IF—ANY MAN— think himself to be a—PROPHET OR SPIRITUAL–
    let him acknowledge that the things I write unto you are the
    —COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD—

    ———-ARE WE TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU MY LORD AND MAN———–

    Isaiah 2:22
    Cease you from man whose breath is in his nostrils
    FOR WHEREIN IS HE TO BE ACCOUNTED OF

    Exodus 32:9
    And the LORD said unto Moses
    I have seen this people and behold it is a stiffnecked people

    Deuteronomy 9:13
    Furthermore the LORD spake unto me saying
    I have seen this people and behold it is a stiffnecked people

    Deuteronomy 9:16
    And I looked and behold you had sinned against the LORD YOUR GOD
    and made you a molten calf —-YOU HAD TURNED ASIDE —QUICKLY— OUT OF THE WAY—-WHICH THE LORD HAD COMMANDED YOU

    Acts 7:51
    You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears
    You do always resist the holy spirit as your fathers did so do you

    Genesis 1:2
    And the earth was without form and void and darkness was on the face of the deep and the spirit of GOD moved upon the waters

    Psalm 29:3
    The voice of the LORD is upon the waters the GOD of glory thundereth the LORD is upon many waters

    John 4:14
    But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst But the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into eternal life

    John 6:68
    Then Simon Peter answered HIM LORD TO—WHOM— SHALL WE GO THOU HAST THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE

    Titus 3:7 That being justified by HIS grace we should be heirs according to the hope of eternal life

    Matthew 12:37
    For by thy words thou shalt be justified
    And by thy words thou shalt be condemned

    Proverbs 18:21
    Death and life are in the power of the tongue
    and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof

    Luke 8:11
    Now the parable is this
    THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD

    Luke 8:13
    They on the rock are they which when they hear receive the word with joy and these have no root which for awhile believe
    AND IN THE TIME OF TEMPTATION FALL AWAY

    Luke 8:14
    And that which fell among thorns are they which when they have heard go forth and are —CHOKED WITH CARES AND RICHES AND PLEASURES OF THIS LIFE—and bring no fruit to perfection

    Luke 8:15
    But that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart —-HAVING HEARD THE WORD KEEP IT—-and bring forth fruit with patience

    Luke 8:21
    And HE answered and said unto them MY mother and MY brethren are
    these —WHICH HEAR THE WORD OF GOD AND DO IT—

    Mark 7:7
    Howbeit in vain do they worship ME
    Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men

    Psalm 119:130
    The entrance of thy words giveth light
    It giveth understanding unto the simple

    Psalm 119:104
    Through thy precepts I get understanding
    Therefore I hate every false way

    Proverbs 18:2
    A FOOL TAKES NO PLEASURE IN UNDERSTANDING
    BUT ONLY IN EXPRESSING HIS OWN OPINION

    LOVING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
    HELP US LORD WE NEED YOU TO CLEANSE US
    WITH THE WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD
    WE ASK IN YOUR NAME

  4. I have been hearing “suplication” “prayer” and suplication from the LORD to the LORD. The LORD has been having me pray and speak his words to him over and over again, speak his promises to him over and over again, speak his reinforcing love and forgiveness over and over again.He says faith comes from the hearing of the word. Jesus said he only spoke the words his father gave him to speak. That is what we do when we pray his promises back to him. Intercession, continually praying is building up your personal relationship with him. he is our father he seeks our love, given freely, from true heart. knowledge is wonderful, wisdom is great, but Love conquers all, and Love is what God is. he is our loving father who seeks to know you, love you, and spend time with you. In prayer and supplication it is just you and him. he says those who seek him will find him and see his face. Prayer is also a form of worship.

    Deb, Here is a great example in Acts 2:42-47 of why those called to intercesion and prayer do and what results. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. We have found prayer in unity will move a mountain and God’s hand 🙂 The saints prayed, the Prophets prayed, and if his nation would pray, he will turn his ear to us. i pray for everyone that ever comes into my mind all day, all the time. That is what I am called to do, I don’t always know why, and I don’t always know what to say but as I start the LORD puts the words into my mouth for me.

    Act 2:43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
    Act 2:44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
    Act 2:45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
    Act 2:46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
    Act 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

    Blessed are those who pray for the LORD hears those who are righteous.

    2Samual 24:25
    David built there an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Thus the LORD was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.

    The LORD was moved by David and by us also in prayer. Amen

    • Donna, that is so cool! I pray for people that pop into my head, too! I am so grateful and thankful for people like you whom God has chosen to pray for the things and people He places on their heart, in accordance with His will.

      I, too, love to use the scripture in order to pray. I thank God for His promises that I can use to pray for others.

      God bless you, Donna!
      -Debi

      • Thanks, Prayer Warriors are few and the fight is hard, the result is Victory, but I will say somedays its a painful battle. I started yesterday that way, pain & tears for myself, my flesh was dying to my personal fears and wants and I had to stand, and keep standing on God’s word, not my feelings, his word. My feelings didn’t count, my opinion didn’t matter, my heart was broke but it was his promise I had to stand on even though my whole being was hurting and wailing. It was ugly but I keep standing until later in the day he showed me why and gave me new strength to stand, by his word where it says Stand and when you can Stand no more STAND, so I chose to and through my tears I found his strength and stood in Victory not seen today but known in hope. he gave me a love note for proof he hears me. We received one phone call and one text later in the day from people whom we had prayed would see the truth, change thier hearts, stop sinning, and without a word from us to them, that is a big key to success, I have learned that the hard way. God did it, he convicted the sinner, changed thier heart to stop, and opened the blind eyes to see thier ways. It was a beautiful fullfillment of our prayers and a wonderful answer to my callings success. We have yet to get our blessing we are standing on but through other people getting thiers around us he is proving he is a God who answers my prayers. We are intersessors just like Jesus,you and I it would appear, we are his body , and that my dear sister is what he has chosen us to be. In the throne room at his feet, all day, every day, always, forever more. Amen. I can’t wait to see you there, I know we will recognize each other. Amen !!! Unity in his spirit is a wholeness, Holyness only he can provide so that we know that we know that we know, HE ALONE IS GOD !

  5. I have been reading the comments on this blog and I would like to seek your prayers for Christ to move in my life. I have been paralyzed from the neck down for over 15 years and I know it is the Lord who has sustained me thus far! Though I do indeed weary in waiting sometimes for complete restoration and healing of my physical body. It is so frustrating at times that I feel like giving up but that inner voice to which I know is the Lord encourages me to stay strong in the face of this paralysis. Therefore I ask of the prayer warriors you intercessors pray with me and to pray for me that our father in heaven will remove this paralysis and make me whole again from top to bottom inside and out. Because I know he has heard my cries and he is the Lord that heals me! Thank you for your prayers and I look and expect to be up and walking up right before God and man especially my sons. Thank you

    • ABSOLUTELY We will pray for you. That is what we do. Father’s will be done.