PRAYER IS NOT FOR SISSIES – PART IV (PRAYER AND PREPARATION II)

 

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PRAYER IS NOT FOR SISSIES – PART IV  (PRAYER AND PREPARATION II)

James 5: 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

 1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

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We could expend a lot of time devoted to this topic of preparation in prayer; but our last post sufficiently opens the door to understand why preparation is important, and the role it plays in effective prayer. If you meditate on the illustrations provided, you can further develop your own understanding of this issue of preparation. The more you devote yourself to prayer continuously throughout the day, every day; it will increasingly become obvious that it takes preparation to transcend the “gunslinger” experience in prayer. (This is the quick shoot-from-the-hip quickie prayer that is focused on what the natural mind perceives is the need for prayer. This form of prayer frequently misses the underlying problem that created the apparent need; but once the sentence prayer is uttered, the weapon of prayer goes back into the holster, unused until the next quickie prayer seems needed.).  We will cover two more illustrations and then move on from this topic.

Illustration #1 – Elijah

James 5: 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Do you think Elijah looked at the trouble being caused by the King of Israel and decided what he was going to pray to wreak vengeance upon him?  No.  He prepared before praying. He saw in the Law of Moses, the Torah, there were many curses that would result if the people failed to keep IAUE’s commandments (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). His heart was directed to this one.

Deuteronomy 28:23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.  24 IAUE shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

Understanding the will of IAUE regarding this particular matter, Elijah prayed.  We do not see his prayer in Scripture; but we know that he was confident that IAUE heard him.  As the apostle John says, if we know we have prayed the will of IAUE we know He has heard our prayer; and if He has heard our prayer, we have assurance we have the answer to our prayer (1 John 5:14-15). So, with this assurance, Elijah comes onto the scene for the first time in Scripture and does this.

1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As IAUE Elohim of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

He declares to King Ahab that what he has prayed is now a fact, a foregone conclusion.

Then, as we explained last week how IAUE may sovereignly reveal the knowledge of His will to us, Elijah knows by the word of IAUE that it is time for the rain to return.

1 Kings 18:1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of IAUE came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

Even though IAUE said He will send rain, Elijah had told King Ahab that it would not rain again except according to his word; so Elijah prays…seven times…and the rains came hard and full (1 Kings 18:41-45).  James tells us that Elijah was no different than us. This is what prayer can do, and the most common among us disciples of Yahushua can pray with this kind of effectiveness…with a little preparation.

Illustration #2 – Abraham and Sarah

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

In the first six verses of this chapter, Peter was giving instructions to wives how to behave with their husbands in order to be honorable wives, and, if their spouses are not disciples, how to win them without a word.  Then Peter has one thing to say to the believing husbands: Behave properly toward your wife to prevent your prayers from being hindered (ekkopto) – cut off, hewn down. “Hindered” is a gentle version of what is happening here. A husband who does not properly relate to and treat his wife as a fellow heir of the grace of IAUE, has no business praying at all. His prayers will find Heaven to be as brass, just like Elijah prayed they would be. His prayers will fall to the earth as dust. 

Abraham’s relationship with Sarah emulated this kind of wife-honoring; and Abraham was able to negotiate with IAUE regarding matters that affecting kingdoms.

This is a preparation that must be made by every believing husband. It is a requirement. There are no exceptions to this; and it is not dependent on how nicely one’s wife responds to him.  Husbands MUST honor their wives according to this knowledge;  because as believers we are living stones in the House of IAUE, which is to be known as a house of prayer.  One requirement mandates the other.  There should be no believing husbands among us that does now show honor to his wife.

Notice, this is not a guarantee of answered prayer. It is a guarantee that your prayer will NOT be heard, much less answered, if you don’t get this right in your life.