The Power of Prayer

I am convinced that if man could see with his physical eyes the damage to Satan's kingdom and the increase of God's power upon this earth due to Holy Spirit-led prayer, he would never cease to pray.  In fact, such a man could not imagine a moment without prayer.  Prayer would be his hobby and most passionate pursuit.  He would go without food, without sleep, deprive himself of worldly pursuits and pleasures, only to beseech the God of heaven.  He would see strongholds toppled, chains broken, souls saved from hell, and God's great pleasure in his obedience.

But God is wise to only allow such sight when we look with eyes of faith.  If we could see the spiritual arena as Elisha, it is probable we would be lifted up with pride and think God depends upon us to do everything.  Instead of submissive humility driving us to our knees, it would be arrogance and pride.  Do you know when I know my prayers are getting through to God?  When the enemy begins his merciless assault.  I recently read of a motto of the French Foreign Legion:  "If I falter - push me on.  If I stumble - pick me up.  If I retreat - shoot me."  Christians must never retreat from the front lines of prayer.  Woe to us, dear Christian, if we cease to pray!  We might as well not be Christians.

Few men living have been defined by a life of prayer.  The men and women God used in the scriptures to accomplish His will were praying people.  Fire rained down from heaven upon the altar King Solomon built, as well as upon the wicked in fierce judgment when Elijah prayed.  Hannah's prayers were heard by God and the prophet Samuel was given to her.  Samuel prayed and God delivered Israel from the hand of the Philistines.  Moses spoke with God as a man speaks with his friend when he received the Law.  King Asa prayed to God when a million Ethiopian warriors came against Judah in 2 Chron. 14:11-12:  "And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, "Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!" [12] So the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled."  Paul was a man known in hell because of his praying.  A demon said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know..."  Men of prayer will be known in hell as well as heaven.

I leave you with a passage from A Treasury of Prayer, writings of E.M. Bounds on the subject of prayer compiled by Leonard Ravenhill, both men who understood and practiced prayer as their life-work.  Only those who practice prayer understand, and those who understand will practice it.  "Men are bettered by prayer, and the world is bettered by praying.  God does His best work for he world through prayer.  God's greatest glory and man's highest good are secured by prayer.  Prayer forms the godliest men and makes the godliest world.  God's promises lie like giant corpses without lire, only for decay and dust, unless men appropriate and vivify these promises by earnest and prevailing prayer.  Promises are like the unsown seed, the germ of life in it, but the soil and culture of prayer are necessary to germinate and culture the seed." (A Treasury of Prayer, pg. 35)