Rhapsody of Realities 27 January
SCRIPTURE: So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed (Acts 19:20).
If you desire certain changes in your life, your city, state or nation, you can make it happen through effectual prayers—praying with passion. Paul knew how to pray effectively; that was what changed Ephesus and other places where he ministered.
Paul was in Ephesus for two years and three months, and during that period, he shook up the whole place. The Bible says, “And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds” (Acts 19:18). In other words, they gave up idolatry and their heathen practices and openly confessed the lordship of Jesus.
The 19th verse says those who had been into magic and cults were converted to Christ. How was Paul able to achieve this? He gave us an idea when he said in 1 Corinthians 15:32, “If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me….”
When you study the context, you don’t find where he personally encountered beasts or was physically attacked by wild beasts. Evidently, Paul was speaking spiritually. He was referring to something that happened in the spirit. Recall what we read in our theme verse: “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”
Read Yesterday’s Rhapsody of Realities Here
The Gospel prevailed in Ephesus because Paul understood how to pray with passion, how to prevail in the spirit through prayer. The Bible says, “…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). The phrase “effectual fervent” is “energeō” (Greek), and it means “energized.” In other words, the “energized” prayer of a righteous man avails much. Hallelujah!
To drive this point home, James gives us the example of Elijah’s prayer and says, Elijah “prayed earnestly” (James 5:17). The phrase “prayed earnestly” literally means that Elijah “prayed with prayer,” giving it a Hebraistic form of emphasis. He was talking about the intensity of Elijah’s prayer. He prayed energized prayer.
There’re many things happening in our world today that should move us to pray intensely as Elijah did. It’s your responsibility as a child of God to put a halt to evil works masterminded by Satan in your world and the regions beyond.
CONFESSION: Dear Lord, thank you for the privilege and blessing of prayer. Now I pray for the unhindered spread of the Gospel, that your Word may have free course and be glorified. I pray against fear, violence, wickedness and all forms of injustice; I declare peace, progress, stability and prosperity, for the furtherance of your Kingdom, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
James 5:16-18 AMPC
16 Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
17 Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]; and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and no rain fell on the earth for three years and six months.
18 And [then] he prayed again and the heavens supplied rain and the land produced its crops [as usual].
Luke 22:44
44 And being in an agony [of mind], He prayed [all the] more earnestly and intently, and His sweat became like great clots of blood dropping down upon the ground.
1-YEAR BIBILE READING PLAN: Matthew 19:1-15 & Exodus 13-14
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 10:12-22 & Genesis 27
Thank you for studying today’s Rhapsody of Realities – Energised Prayer – written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.
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Rhapsody of Realities 27 January 2023
