James 5:16-18 – “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”
1 Peter 3:12 – “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Prayer is a major component of Spirit living. Praying addresses mountainous problems. It alters events, brings peace to anxious hearts and solutions to difficult troubles.
What makes prayer successful? The word “prayer” helps answer the question. Effective praying involves the expression of prayer.
Three New Testament words are translated “prayer.”
The most common Greek word is “pro-seu-cha.” The idea being communicated is to “ask” or to “wish” and is used only when addressing God. The root meaning carries a strong element of respectability, as seen when someone addresses a president or king.
In the presence of nobility a person knows all requests are subject to the desire of the ruler. While addressing the king of Persia, the wicked Haman stated, “If it is pleasing to the king.” (Esther 3:8-9) He was saying, “I hope my evil wish fits into the will of my leader.”
A pro-seu-cha prayer addresses God with reverence to His will toward personal wishes. Asking is involved but the door is left open in case the request is not in tune with His desire.
Another Greek word is “de-a-sis.” The term means to “want,” to “desire,” to “long for,” to “beg,” and to “urge.” It is predominately used when expressing needs.
The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 1:11 used the word when wanting the church to pray for him to be saved from his adversaries. They were to urge God, on behalf of his urgent need.
The word is used in 2 Corinthians 9:14 when telling them others were praying on their behalf. The church was in the midst of a struggle. Others were begging God to intervene.
The term carries a sense of “desperation” and “persistence.” The gospels writer Luke addresses the importance of determination.
Luke 11: 5:10 records, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. “So I say to you: [Continually] Ask and it will be given to you; [continually] seek and you will find; [continually] knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Luke 18:1-8 records, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Praying for someone’s salvation is a de-a-sis prayer – an urgent need, prompting persistence.
Praying for a fresh move of God is a de-a-sis prayer – begging God to clearly reveal His presence and intervention.
A de-a-sis prayer conveys earnestness. The prayer is not satisfied with a single request. The heart repeatedly cries out, “Lord, You must answer. You are our only hope.”
The Bible sometimes uses the words “entreating” and “petitioning” for this term. Ephesians 6:18 uses both pro-seu-cha and de-a-sis – “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”
The least used Greek word in the New Testament is “en-teuk-sis.” It means to address God “with childlike confidence,” to have “conversation” with Him. The word suggests a meeting of minds; to reason together when seeking God’s counsel, comfort and consolation.
This form of communication is the “why” prayers. God does not condemn honest questioning.
A child is full of questions. Some appear unimportant to an adult. Parents may get tired of endless questions but do not condemn a questioning child. As God’s children, he does not condemn either. We come with confidence to Him and hold a conversation. No question is insignificant. We want to understand what is happening or want clarification on His instructions and direction.
Abraham and Isaac went to a special mountain to worship the Lord. Isaac understood the normal practices of worship and noticed they were not bringing all the necessary provisions. The activity did not make sense to him. Isaac asked his father, “Where is the sacrifice for the offering?” Abraham did not condemn the question by saying, “None of your business! Be quiet! Just do as you are told!” Recognizing the deviation, he replied, “God will provide.”
Questioning God is not about doubting His ability but acknowledging confusion over the situation. Things are not happening as they normally do. In these moments God hears His children say, “I do not quite understand, Lord.”
An en-teuk-sis prayer has the closest meaning to “intercession,” being a “go between,” to “meditate.” The practice has a childlike quality.
All three terms are used is 1 Timothy 2:1: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.”
Pleading for God’s intervention, as Moses did on behalf of rebellious Israel.
Asking in accordance to His will, as Hannah did for a son.
Interceding or reasoning together, as Abraham did over Sodom’s fate.
All these kinds of prayers are to be done with thanksgiving.
James 5 uses two of these words. In verses 13 through 18, when addressing the subject of healing and suffering, “pro-sue-cha” is predominately used; meaning, asking in accordance to His will and in reverence to God’s desire. In verse 16, however, “de-a-sis” is used; meaning pleading with perseverance and determination.
An incident from Elijah’s life is referenced. Rain had not occurred for years. After confronting a group of idol-priests he positioned himself in a birthing position and travailed for rain. Elijah demonstrated that pleading earnestly births results.
The severity of the need is seen by the desperation of the pray-er. The James text can be amplified to read, “The effective, desperate begging to God of a righteous person can accomplish much.”
Are you praying over needs with a sense of desperation? Are you praying like this for the church? Are you desperately petitioning God to produce life-changing results through you?
Another important term in James is the word “effective.”
The Greek word means “strong, mighty or powerful.” The term carries the idea of overcoming strength. It suggest being sure of God’s power and of the need’s severity.
The term involves an element of insight. You know your personal standing with God, the critical nature of the need and the urgency for an answer. When sure God is able, when sure God is concerned, when sure the issue lines up with His word, when sure the need must be met, when sure the request is made from a pure heart (without selfishness), THEN there is a freedom to pray forcibly and mightily, with confidence that the need will be met. Effective praying is confident praying.
The person praying is also important for results.
The “effective prayer” is offered by the “righteous.” The root meaning is “a person who upholds the divine and human law.” The prayer is offered by someone imputed with the righteousness of the Lord Jesus. The person praying is revealing a life consistent with Jesus’ life and teaching. This promise is to every sincere believer.
Effective praying cannot be done with selfishness or sinfulness. Carnal junk acts like “noise,” drowning out the sound of the earnest plea. Loose living leads toward ineffective communication with God. 1 Peter 3:12 adds weight to what James declares: “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer….” Praying effectively comes from living right.
The passage in James concludes with the promise, “can accomplish much” and is “powerful.” The prayer will be successful and perform results.
James 5:16 can be amplified to read, “The strong, mighty, powerful pleading to God over personal needs or the needs of others, from people who live obediently, will result in success due to the earnest, desperate act of confident praying.”
The act of praying is as important as the content of prayer. Never grow weary in prayer. Value a conversation with God. Praying means a great deal to Him. Earnestly praying adds weight to the request. Taking time to pray demonstrates the seriousness of your burden.
Linger in His presence when praying. Listen as well as talk. Wear out the knees of your pants. Most pants wear out in the seat; they will be of greater service if first worn out at the knees.
Effectual prayer involves a strong sense of urgency over the need, strong character by the person making the request and strong pleading for the answer.
If you are desperate you will not stop until the problem is solved. How desperate are you?
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