Today I have read how the Christians in northern Iraq, who had been attacked, killed and persecuted by ISIS, the Muslim extremist group, have found some relief and a safe haven in a Kurdish city. This I believe has been an answer to prayer, it was Wednesday evening here in Australia, that a large group of Christians in Western Sydney but also all over the country decided to pray for these Iraqi Christians.
In fact, the U.S. and Europe are now agreeing that the imminent threat of ISIS in this region has been greatly diminished. By no means does this mean ISIS will give up nor should we as Christians stop praying for the situation in Iraq, but it is wonderful to know that God hears the prayers of believers when we come out of our slumber and activate our faith in him.
James tells us, "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much". The pre-requisite here naturally being three fold, that is our prayers must be effectual, fervent and come from the lips of the righteous. What then are these three characteristics?
The greek word effectual comes from the word ENERGEO which basically means "having vitality as opposed to deadness. You could say it means to be alive and at work, and it brings to mind where Paul says in Phillipians to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling". When I first read this scripture, I thought as a new Christian that I needed to work at being a Christian, that is through works I am saved. This however is far from the truth, when studying this verse we now know that Paul was instructing us to let that which Christ has wrought in you, be worked out of you in your life. I therefore don't need to and indeed cannot do anything in my own strength to be saved, but am expected to let Christ shine in my life and the way I live.
This is what I believe ENERGEO is all about, effectual prayer is rising up to the plate as believers and allowing our faith to be activated and seen.
The second word Fervent comes from the greek word EKTENOS which literally means to boil or even burn in our spirits. That is to be passionate about what we want and need in our prayers. It also means to strive and stretch forth, not for our salvation but as one who is in a race to win. It reminds me of my favourite verse Isaiah 40:31 which states "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength...". Once again the prophet here was not implying that we simply hang around and wait for something to happen, but this actually means to pursue the Lord and his plans rather than our own desires.
The third word used is naturally one of the most powerful, the word righteous. The greek word for righteous come from the word DIKAIOS. This word speaks nothing more than one of the characteristics of the Lord Jesus himself. Righteousness is not something that can be exhibited in people unless they themselves are righteous from the outset, there is therefore only one who can make us righteous and that is the Lord Jesus! Scripture tells us "what fellowship does light have with darkness?" as 2 Corinthians tells us. When we walk in the light and truth of Christ He through his blood on the cross of Calvary grants us his righteousness. It is therefore the believer in Christ who through the appropriation of faith is able to pray prayers which are righteous.
It was these prayers, the effectual fervent prayers of righteous men and women of God around the world, which I believe, saw the dramatic changes to those persecuted in Iraq. It therefore begs the question, if Christians would continue to pray in unity around the world when situations like these arise, what an amazing potential and impact we could have on our world?
I hope this inspires you to pray prayers like this.
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