PREVAILING PRAYER

Prevailing Prayer

December, 2013

Genesis 32:28, "And He said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel:  for as a prince hast thou power with God, and with men, and hast prevailed."

A two fold issue faces the church in North America today.  The first issue is to get the church to understand the clear command, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'.  Far too long evangelical Christianity has been remiss in this most holy work of prayer.  Prayer is not an option.  Prayer is not haphazard.  Prayer is not just for those who have time.  Prayer is for all the body of Christ to be engaged in.  Our dilema in the United States, in our homes, in our churches, yea in our own hearts is due directly to our lack of prayer.  Yea, due to lack of prevailing prayer!

The second issue at hand that deals with prayer is that if we are doing it, if we are praying, then are we prevailing?  Jacob wrestled with the angel and he was not to be denied.  He could not afford to simply know that God had heard his prayer.  Thus, as so often we defend ourselves by saysing, 'but we are praying'.  Wonderful, glad you are; but is it enough?  Jacob received the word from the Lord, 'you have prevailed with God and man.'  Brethren, is this not the place we are to be in this most desperate hour.  We must prevail in the heavens, before the holy throne of our Lord.  And we must prevail through prayer in the hearts, minds and souls of men.  Anything less than this confirms a defeated position that surrenders the day and soul to hell and Satan.  We must prevail!

the prayer of faith confirms this prevailing spirit of prayer.  The prayer of faith is taken from James 5:15, "And the prayer of faith. . . ."  and it accomplishes the very thing prayed for.  Two examples of this in regards to revival:

1.)  in the 1949 Hebrides revival, Duncan Campbell tells this account of 'when God came down';  two elderly sisters praying for God to move upn their community; a deacon organizing a prayer meeting in the barn for revival upon their church and families.  Church attendance was shrinking, young people had forsaken the church and embraced the world, countless were lost, or religious and without any assurance of knowing that they was God's Own children.  God's Spirit of prayer moved them to that same desperation as Jacob, they would not be denied.  And with assurance came their answer that God not only heard their prayer but would answer it.  The two sisters immediately sent word to their local parrish priest and told him that he was to call for a church meeting.  The local deacon had receive the same assurance as they prayed in the barn.  They made preparations for Duncan Campbell to be there, unbeknownst to Duncan campbell.  And then in the middle of a conference, God's Holy spirit spoke to him and told him to leave the conference and go to the Isaland.  After doubting what was happening, he knew he must obey and did so.  Upon arriving by boat to the Island, a lad was at the docks and said, 'we have been expecting you'.  And after that service that lasted that night from 9 pm til 11 pm, upon the benediction, the deacon turnign his face to the heavens and said, 'Lord, did you no say You would pour water on the dry and thirsty'?  And with that word and prayer of faith, 'God came down' and the revival began.  duncan Campbell said years later of this revival, 'we know nothing of backsliding on these isles'.  Brethren, is that not prevailing?  Is this not God?  Is this not where we must strive to be? 

2.) the biography of JO Fraser, 'Beyond the Ranges'  confirms that when he arrived among the area of Burma that Christianity was almost next to nothing.  There was much ancestor worship and much demonic work in the false religions.  But on one paticular day of praying, God granted him the confidence that he would see 1,000's of tribesman coming to Christ in that land.  And within 5 years he saw that very thing.  He claimed and held onto that by faith that the God Who cannot lie had promised and He would make it happen.

Brethren it is our obedience to Christ to pray for His kingdom to come and His will to be done.  OUr labors are strengthened by being much alone with Him.  Andrew Murray, 'Alone with God, will make one wholly for God.'  And as we pray alone with Him, He is more than desiring and willing to accomplish all that we are asking. 

So let us ponder and consider these two great issues at hand - are we praying? and if we are praying are we prevailing? 

Are we praying? 
It is a needful question to ask.  It is an imperative question to ask.  And if we answer honestly, 'No.  I know I should be; I know I should be praying more than I am.'  Then let us realize the importance of confessing our sin of praylessness and repent of this and make our love of the Lord to be much in prayer with Him.