Prayer works

*Recap of*

*Be Inspired Intercessory Prayer and Testimony*

*Tuesday 11th June 2019*

*By Sister Leah Adepeju*

*Topic:* Prayer Works

*Text:* James 5:16-20

Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God--it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its crops [as usual]. My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you strays from the truth and falls into error and [another] one turns him back [to God], let the [latter] one know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save that one’s soul from death and cover a multitude of sins [that is, obtain the pardon of the many sins committed by the one who has been restored].

JAMES 5:16‭-‬20 AMP

https://bible.com/bible/1588/jas.5.16-20.AMP

The topic for exhortation says Prayer works..
We must know that prayer is a two way thing.. it is not just telling God what we want but also listening and accepting that He has heard us and He will lead us through, so it's multi-ways conversation.
From the Scripture above, the scripture says confess your sins to one another and pray for one another ..
Prayer isn't just something you make for yourself alone.
It is not just a petition for you alone.. the scripture says pray for one another.
There is blessings in interceding on behalf of others.
There is blessing in standing in the gap for people you know or might not even know.
At times when you are praying the Lord will drop people's names into your mind to pray for.
Do not brush it aside.
It is good to pray for others and see what God will do through you in their lives and yours.
When you pray for others you automatically pray for yourself.
The Bible says you should pray for others - that includes your enemies.
Sometimes people tender prayer in form of curses to their enemies forgetting that the person that appears to be your enemy physically isn't your enemy but the evil spirit that possesses them is what is making them react and relate to you as enemy.

The Bible further said the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
We are made to know that we are the righteousness of God in Christ.
So do not see yourself as an unworthy intercessor.
Some of us at times limit the power that God has deposited in us.
Do you know God has deposited the power to heal?
The power to deliver?
The power to make exploits?
The power to do greater works as written in John 14:12 in you?
Do you know that you are an ambassador of Christ so when you open your mouth you are speaking the mind of God, when you pray in accordance to His will and whatever you pray for is established once you declare it?
The Bible refers us to Elijah and says Elijah was a man with a nature like ours and he prayed fervently that it might not rain and the three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
Imagine one man praying about natural occurrence and through his prayer that thing cease to exist.
That is Elijah.
So not only can we command situation we can command the season because God has given us power.
And whatever we pray about in the name of Jesus it is established.

So what exactly is the issue that you think it is beyond you?
Nothing is beyond you because God has given you the power to decree and it is established.
The enemy always disguises in a way that we will get distracted by his lies.
The enemy will say to you that it can only happen in the days of the Bible.
Remember Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
He is forever God.
He is able and through you and I, He will do wonders.

I saw a post online recently and the writer said:
Stop running helter skelter looking for deliverance ministers. When you have Jesus and know Him you need no deliverance.
I bet people will fight tooth and nail on this and claim they need deliverance.
When you renew your mind with the word of God you carry the power that availeth much within you.
Instead of seeking deliverance minister you are actually setting the captives free because God is working through you.
I hope someone is here and believe that.
God is making that which has been in captive to be released forever.
Further down in verse 8 of James 5 same Elijah who prayed that it should not rain and it didn't rain for 3 years said a prayer and the floodgates of heaven opened with abundant rain and the earth that had been so dry began to bud with fruits.
Are you ready to make that power that makes tremendous power to manifest in you work right now?
The word of God says call those things that are not as though they were.
The truth is doubt will want to fill your heart but it is up to you to give doubt room or kick the butt of doubt.

Then it says "My brothers if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. "
Hallelujah...
This verse here is something we need to exercise daily as believers.
The people who judge most are believers.
And when we see fellow believers backsliding or fall into sin we often jump the gun and go into conclusion.
Which is why at times people will rather continue to suffer in silence even if the sin is something they struggle with but because they do not want to stand the wrath of judgement of fellow believers they begin to hide it.
They need help but they do not want to be judged.
If Jesus had judged you and I when we sinned I tell you we will probably never be saved.
Many will have been born into sin, grow in sin, die and perish in sin, but His love for us is too much.
The word of God says love covers a multitude of sin.
Yes it does when you show the love of God and indeed have the love of God when people sin either against you or not, you stand in the gap for them.

You ask God to repair whatever needs to be repaired.
You pray that the plan of God concerning them should stand.
You ask that nothing should stop what He has said concerning them.
And you ask for their victory over whatever sinful challenge they may have.

Prayer works when we do it according to the will of God.
When you pray according to His will, you pray what His mind is, you do not pray amiss.
And praying according to His will, you back it up with active faith.
So when you intercede for someone that is physically condemned you don't pray in your closet and condemn them in the open, you show them the love of God.

How effective is our prayer life?
Some of us will wait for others to pray for us but we are not keen to pray for others.
Some of us even find it hard to pray for ourselves.
The enemy understands fully well the effectiveness of a true prayer life.
A life of prayer is a life of supernatural occurrences.
A life of prayer is a life of thanksgiving.
A life of prayer is a life that seeks and pleases God.
Prayer is not old school.
Prayer is and will forever be in vogue.
Prayer does work.
It doesn't matter how little it is.
It is how effective it is that matters.
Not the repetition of words or use of grammar.
It is the combination of faith with the leading of the Holy Spirit to have the right utterance.

What are you doing about prayer?

Have you given up about prayer?
It might seem like God isn't listening.
It might seem like God didn't hear you.
But I tell you He heard you from the very moment you made up your mind.
He heard you from the time you uttered the word.
He heard you from that day you knew that only He can do it.
He heard those whispers of your heart.
He heard those cries.
He heard those requests before you made them.
Once you pray don't look back in doubt.
Don't tread on the lane of unbelief.
Don't listen to the enemy.
Don't allow the distraction of Satan and all his devices.
Trust God to fulfill that which you prayed about and that which He promised you.

Let us pray.

Lord I thank you for the privilege to be blessed by your word. Father thank you for making me your righteousness in Christ. Lord thank you for counting me worthy among your ambassadors on earth. Lord thank you for the effectiveness of my prayers and the speedy answers. Lord thank you for your immortal power that is changing situations around for me.
Father, instil in me the grace to stand in the gap for others and not judge them when I ought to pray for them in Jesus name.
Lord help me to improve and be more fervent in my prayer life henceforth.
Lord, any time I pray let me walk in faith as you bring that which I ask for to manifest.
Lord as my requests come to manifestation let me always remember to give you glory and live a life of testimonies.
Lord almighty take off every weariness in place of prayer from my life.

Father over (mention) give me good report in Jesus name.
Lord over my spiritual life help me to grow more and more to the standard you planned for me in Jesus name.
Lord where I ought to be standing in the gap let me never remain a babe in there in Jesus name.

*Personal Prayers*

Thank you, Father, for answered prayers in Jesus name.

*Amen.*