The world has lost the power to blush over its vice; the Church has lost her power to weep over it.
- Leonard Ravenhill
There are billions who pray and billions who don’t. Those who do are generally divided into various religious affiliations and perspectives.
Modern Christians employ a variety of traditions and practices. Even within similar belief systems, doctrines and opinions seem to vary in regards to the efficacy of prayer. Even so, the nearly universal lack of regular and lengthy personal prayer or corporate meetings speaks volumes as to its current effectiveness. Truth be told, prayer seems to work like a broken clock. Right only twice a day. This raises the question, just who can pray so God will hear?
Over 7 billion people currently embrace some form of religious affiliation. As the largest group, Christians number 2.3 billion. Within this subset, given the many varieties of prayer available and the often subjective nature of faith, the concept of communing with God means different things to different people.
The New Testament places special emphasis on the power of prayer to transform individuals and circumstances. Often in miraculous ways. A theme attested by many of the 650 prayers listed in the Bible, along with approximately 450 recorded answers.
By nature, prayer is a topic near and dear to the hearts of thousands of millions. Generally accepted as an indispensable feature of faith, its promise and prowess has long been lauded worldwide. Yet within the rank and file of modern Christianity, when all is said and done, there's a lot more said than done. Simply put, honest and genuine Biblical prayer has fallen into disfavor for a myriad of reasons. Some obvious and others less so.
Clearly the rise of secularism and worldliness, both inside and outside of Churchianity, has a tremendous impact on all aspects of faith. For starters, the rapid expanse of technology and the innumerable blessings of modern life, tend to crowd out eternal concerns. So much so, many wonder if faith is reasonable in this day and age? Additionally, the proliferation of amusements and distractions, not to mention ubiquitous levels of temptation and sin, also take their toll.
The net effect of such alarming obstacles and challenges raise questions. Particularly, is prayer, or even Christianity, broken?
Such crucial concerns are not often discussed, and even less easily answered. Nevertheless, they are fundamental to the understanding of and participation in authentic Biblical Christianity. The number of New Testament Scriptures dealing with both the miracles and the message of the Gospel demonstrate they are two sides of the same "Kingdom" coin. It should be self evident that the authentic fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit are all but inseparable. So too, authentic Biblical preaching along with power evangelism and discipleship, are designed to go hand in hand. An interplay visible in various ways throughout the New Testament:
- "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.' After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it." Mark 16:15-20 NIV
- "And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 KJV2000
- “Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?” 1 Corinthians 4:18-21 NKJV
The Kingdom of God is not predicated on words but power, as seen not only in the few passages referenced above, but by over 50 miracles recorded in the Gospels and Book of Acts:
31 Gospel Miracles
Control of Nature:
1. Calming the storm – Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:37-41; Luke 8:22-25
2. Feeding 5,000 - Matthew 14:14-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14
3. Walking on water - Matthew 14:22-32; Mark 6:47-52; John 6:16-21
4. Feeding 4,000 – Matthew 15:32-39; Mark 8:1-9
5. Fish with coin – Matthew 17:24-27
6. Fig tree withers – Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, 20-25
7. Huge catch of fish – Luke 5:4-11; John 21:1-11
8. Water into wine – John 2:1-11
Healing of Individuals
1. Man with leprosy – Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-44; Luke 5:12-14
2. Roman centurion’s servant – Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10
3. Peter’s mother-in-law – Matthew 8:14-15; Mark 1:30-31; Luke 4:38-39
4. Two men possessed with devils – Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-15; Luke 8:27-39
5. Man with palsy – Matthew 9:2-7; Mark 2:3-12; Luke 5:18-26
6. Woman with bleeding – Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48
7. Two blind men – Matthew 9:27-31
8. Dumb, devil-possessed man - Matthew 9:32-33
9. Canaanite woman’s daughter – Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30
10. Boy with devil - Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:17-29; Luke 9:38-43
11. Two blind men – including Bartimaeus - Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43
12. Demon-possessed man in synagogue – Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:31-37
13. Blind man at Bethsaida – Mark 8:22-26
14. Crippled woman – Luke 13:10-17
15. Man with dropsy – Luke 14:1-4
16. Ten men with leprosy – Luke 17:11-19
17. The high priest’s servant – Luke 22:50-51
18. Nobleman’s son at Capernaum – John 4:46-54
19. Sick man at the pool of Bethsaida – John 5:1-15
20. Man born blind – John 9:1-41
Raising the Dead
1. Jairus’ daughter – Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56
2. Widow’s son at Nain – Luke 7:11-17
3. Lazarus – John 11:1-44
26 Miracles Book of Acts
Raising the Dead
1. Peter raises the disciple Tabitha – 9:36-42
2. Paul raises the young man Eutychus – 20:9-12
Healing of Individuals
1. Peter heals the lame man at the Temple gate – 3:1-16
2. Ananias cures Saul of his blindness – 9:17-18
3. Peter heals the paralytic Aeneas – 9:33-35
4. Paul cures the lame man of Lystra – 14:7-9
5. Paul stoned and miraculously healed at Lystra – 14:19
6. Paul exorcises girl possessed of divining spirit – 16: 16-18 7. Paul heals Publius’ father of dysentery 28:7-8
Miracles in the Natural
1. Violent wind at the Cenacle in Jerusalem – 2:2-6
2. Shaking of the assembly building in Jerusalem – 4:31
3. Prison doors open for the Apostles – 5:17-25
4. Philip snatched by the Spirit of the Lord – 8:39
5. Peter liberated from prison by an angel – 12:5-11
6. Chains fall from Paul and Silas – 16:25-30
7. Paul shakes off viper from his arm – 28:3-6
Collective Miracles
1. Many signs and wonders done by the Apostles in Jerusalem – 2:43
2. Apostles perform signs and wonders among the people – 5:12
3. Peter’s shadow cures many in the streets – 5:15
4. Multitudes from outside Jerusalem are healed – 5:16
5. Stephen works great signs and wonders – 6:8
6. Philip cures crippled and possessed in Samaria – 8:6-8,13
7. Miracles worked by Paul and Barnabas on mission journey – 14:3
8. Great signs and wonders done among the Gentiles – 15:12
9. Miracles worked through objects touched by Paul – 19:11-12
10. Paul heals all the sick brought to him on Malta – 28:9
Miraculous Penalties or Afflictions
1. Ananias and Saphira struck dead at Peter’s feet – 5:5-11
2. Saul struck blind on the road to Damascus – 9:8-9
3. Herod suddenly slain by an angel – 12:23
4. Paul temporarily blinds the sorcerer Elymas – 13:9-12
While an impressive list, the Gospel of John explains that the New Testament records merely the tip of the iceberg of all that Jesus said and did. Not to mention those of the disciples and the 72 others Jesus anointed and sent ahead on His way to Calvary. If so, the question naturally arises as to what has changed? The answer divides modern Christianity into roughly two camps:
- Cessationist: (half the Protestant church) are clearly accurate in regards to Churchianity's lack of genuine spiritual gifts. Yet they are equally adamant in their incorrect doctrines regarding miraculous signs and wonders having timed out with the apostles and/or the canonization of Scripture. A crucial error, to be developed more fully when discussing James 5. Tragically, an exemplary example of "throwing the baby out with the bathwater."
- Charismatics: (half the Protestant church) are by and large more accurate in their understanding of the Bible's constant reinforcement regarding the centrality of spiritual gifts. Yet current doctrine and practice grossly over-exaggerates our capabilities, glossing over a glaring lack of spiritual giftedness. A tendency also addressed in greater detail by coming comments on James 5. Regrettably, a classic case of "cooking the books."
In his wonderfully practical epistle, Jame’s the Lord’s half brother and head apostle (according to the first church council recorded in the Book of Acts) emphasizes the need for the continuation of the miraculous through the prayer of faith:
- “Is anyone among you suffering? He must pray. Is anyone joyful? He is to sing praises [to God]. Is anyone among you sick? He must call for the elders (spiritual leaders) of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. “ James 5:13-16 AMP
One hardly needs theology to highlight the obvious fact that prayer, like a stopped clock, is in desperate need of repair. It’s been noted that a doctoral student at Princeton asked Albert Einstein, “What is left in the world for original dissertation research?” Einstein replied, “Find out about prayer. Someone must find out about prayer.” - Philip Yancey
So why so little honest research into unanswered prayer?
1. Risk vs Benefit: Modern Christianity long ago entrenched itself in one of the two doctrinal positions referenced above. Opening such a can of worms at this point could prove costly.
2. Doctrinal Error: Clearly dozens of denominations teaching various gospels and versions of Christ can’t all be right. Allowing Scripture to simply say what it means and mean what it says holds little or no appeal.
3. Lack of Results: Engaging the universal problem of powerlessness would be to admit we, and our theology, are to blame. Such confessions hardly fill pews or bank accounts.
4. Fear of Failure: What reason would professional leadership have to risk their reputation and fortune on the extremely unlikely prospect of recovering the ability to walk in the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit as evidenced in demonstrable answered prayer?
What reason indeed… How about some or all of the following:
1. Kingdom of God: Prayer is the atmosphere of the Kingdom of God. Prayer, and its answers, provide the oxygen of faith:
- “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].” Philippians 4:6-7 AMP
- “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.” Matthew 9:5-8 NIV
- “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV
- “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
- “All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful: wise counsel, clear understanding, simple trust, healing the sick, miraculous acts, proclamation, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:10 MSG
- “…Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify the church, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word [of God], so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless.” Ephesians 5:25-27 AMP
- “The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ, being ready to punish every act of disobedience, when your own obedience [as a church] is complete.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 AMP
Overcoming Prayer
Seeking answers through serious prayer is more a process than event. An all important journey towards spiritual sensitivity and practice, honesty and discernment with the hope of enabling at least prophetic Christians to genuinely learn to pray so God will hear.
Another often overlooked issue is in regards to levels of prayer. Unfortunately many presume that simply tossing up a prayer now and then should suffice. Willingness to progress along the path of regular and lengthly prayer is a true reflection of compassion and care. Qualities of which are exemplified by the level of our diligent and appropriate response to the temporal and eternal needs all around us.
1. Wishful Thinking: This introductory style of prayer is largely spontaneous. It knows little of Scripture or spiritual experience. Disappointment in this arena accounts for billions prematurely deciding Biblical authority and faith is unreasonable. Thus signaling both the beginning and end of honestly pursuing the answers to life’s ultimate questions.
2. Prayer On the Go: The next incremental investment for most of Churchianity might loosely be described as phoning it in. Nearly synonymous with windshield time, it’s basically little more than wishful thinking expressed with slightly more quantity and quality.
3. Pausing For Prayer: Hundreds of millions recognize the need to at least treat God with the respect due a stranger. Rather than daydreaming on the run, these pause for at least a moment now and then, pitching a prayer heavenward hoping it will stick. Unfortunately, this level may exemplify, or even exceed, the commitment level of the average modern Christian.
4. Attaching A Scripture: Those interested enough to admit septs 1-3 rarely work often try increasing their odds by adding a Bible promise. Unfortunately the vast majority of Christians remain basically prayerless, stopping to pray less than ten minutes a day. Adding to our dilemma is massive Biblically illiteracy. The inability to quote, much less correctly understand 10 verses in a row. Most, adding a Scriptural promise to lukewarm prayers, do so with little or no concern as to the corresponding conditions of such passages.
5. Occasional Intercession: The next common waypoint along the path of developing a committed prayer life is the occasional investment of 30 minutes or so practicing the art of intercession. When answers are more miss than hit, believers are left with 3 options. (1) Give up: Some go so far as to create mistaken doctrines like cessation to justify spiritual failures. (2) Pretend: The favored choice of hundreds of millions, charismatic or not. (3) Seek God’s Face: The serious study and whole hearted implementation of Scripture.
6. If My People: God’s perfect plan for repentance is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Those putting this simple algebraic formula into practice soon develop the spiritual insight to become Prophetic Christians on their way to judging all things.
7. Scheduled Intercession: Upping the ante can be done individually or collectively. Nevertheless, as with nearly all Christian disciplines, efforts are far more effective when done in concert. Corporate meetings should reflect a quality and quantity of prayer indicative of the difficulties being addressed.
8. Sanctification: Devotees interested in learning to pray effectually soon feel the need for growth in radical personal and corporate sanctification and discipleship.
9. Pressing In: When prayer still largely goes unanswered, the committed soldier on, doubling down through triple fasting; i.e. food, prayer and good deeds. An hour a day is the minimum ante at this level. As reflected by Christ's question reverberating down through the millennia, "So, could you not wait with me one hour?"
10. Praying Through: When answers are far and in-between, those refusing to take no for an answer redouble their efforts with semiweekly, if not daily, extended times of prayer. Practicing 1 or more of the 7 prayer modes, they major on being still and waiting on God through the prayer of silence. Such rare men and women give God no rest, day and night, until they and those for whom they pray are demonstrably filled with both the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit. They remain committed to travailing in prayer to the point of prevailing with men and circumstances, Satan and God. To such we highly recommend GB's Prayer of Anguish.
A dwindling percentage of Churchianity practice, or even understand the purpose of regular (weekly if not daily) and lengthy (hours not minutes) intercessory prayer. Those who do realize that, as Paul explains, Biblical Christianity is no walk in the park but a life-or-death fight to the finish:
- “And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.” Ephesians 6:10-17 MSG
- In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.” Ephesians 6:18-20 MSG
Author’s Note
By all indications, upcoming years and decades are likely to present ever more spiritual and social, financial and physical challenges for ourselves and families, friends and neighbors. Making matters worse, the state of current ministry strongly suggest that all aspects of today's anemic and all but powerless Churchianity are too subjective to successfully compete against the concrete demands and ubiquitous distractions, inflamed desires and mass deceptions presented by modern life.
To weather today’s challenges, not to mention tomorrow’s, our reach must exceed our grasp. Among the means at our disposal to combat such circumstances is the concept of moving beyond "praying for" into the realm of "pressing in" with the quantum hope of "praying through" to apprehending all that Christianity has to give. Yet few realize the New Testament’s primary, yet universally underappreciated offer, of a core transformation into an entirely new creation. Full Kingdom citizens, having passed from death to life. Radical disciples, with "rivers of living water" rising from their innermost being, "springing up into everlasting life." Men and women, "filled with all the fullness of God." Right here. Right now. In the light of day and forever more.
What is needed at this late hour is renewed spiritual sensitivity and Scriptural discernment. Prerequisites for an unprecedented pre-revival repentance. One ushering in a New Pentecost resulting in genuine and global renewal, revival and reformation.
A few Christians have over the years attempted as much. Yet clearly our individual and even collective efforts have fallen far short. I myself have attended and/or led over 1,000 corporate prayer meetings and have yet to see Bethesda's waters significantly stirred.
Honest appraisal strongly suggests there is a terrible reason our family and friends, fellow colleagues and Christians are so often taken captive. According to Jesus, the "strong man" among us must be bound for modern Christianity to have been so collectively plundered.
My sincere prayer is that none of the above is even remotely true. Would to God that the tenants of Churchianity prove largely correct. May everything be going to heaven rather than "hell in a hand basket.” Yet, should the preponderance of Scripture and evidence suggest the remotest possibility that the foregoing is even close to the truth, an appropriate response would begin with weekly if not daily revitalized corporate prayer. Not what passes for prayer today, but rather something far more desperate, perhaps along the model of Azusa street. Borrowing from the late great David Wilkerson, Prayer of Anguish meetings along the lines of James 4 may prove to be our best and only hope. See also Prophetic Christians overview.
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