Perpetual Prayer - What Purpose?

*Recently I heard a visiting preacher sharing how he appreciated new ones praying for him, for his faithful elderly brethren who had long prayed for him were passing on!

However true this maybe, I was saddened this young pastor had not realised their prayers are not attached to the physical presence on earth of those saints on earth.

I've seen mighty prayer warriors, like Bro Mac who I've mentioned before, who prayed 8 hours a day over maps of countries, so burdened for lost far off ones. 

Our prayers don't evapourate, they are lifted before our Father God until answered, His time and way, not ours.

*****

Those prayers have either been answered, are still being answered, or in future will be so.

Our Brother Mac, now in heaven - will see the final answer to those decades old prayers by faith!

Prayer is of Spirit, of God's realm.  

A prayer of faith is a perpetual prayer, until it’s answered.

If someone ask us for something, we may reply yes, no, maybe or wait. 

God is the same.

To be answered and effective it must be a prayer of faith. 

Let’s look a little into scripture on this.  

Faith IS:

Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.
 Heb. 11:1

Not seen. That is why prayer is faith. And of Spirit. 

We’re praying to an unseen God. Unseen but oh, so real in our heart IF we know Him as own Lord and Saviour.

Without faith it is impossible to please Him. 
Hebrews 11:6a

If we have not sought the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour from sin, 
we cannot please Him! 

For further explanation on this, please read this post here - Who or What is Christian?

Let’s investigate the perpetual aspect of the prayer of faith.

The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:17

These verses were spoken of Elijah (full story in 1 Kings18:17-46). A mighty man of faith and prayer, who said the rain would cease for 3 and half years, due to King Ahab greatly sinful ways.

 Three and half years later Elijah prayed.. prayed over a long cloudless sky, seven times he sent his servant the top of the hill... nought! Then 7th time, a cloud the size of a man's hand. Elijah raced Ahab and the rain to the city.

 I especially love Elijah’s request for God to hear Him.

I often pray this verse, which Elijah prayed. 

 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, 
that this people may know that thou art the Lord God,
 and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 
1 Kings 18:37

Elijah's prayer for Israel is still being answered in hearts, lives of the nation of Israel and beyond today.. that God in mercy would turn back hearts again to Him!

The LORD Jesus, used the sword of the Spirit the Word of God in His time of temptation with Satan. 

It is our sword in the battle of prayer also (Eph. 6:10 -18)

May I challenge you to pray, pleading the blood of the Lamb, as you pray these verses below for souls.

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 
2 Cor. 10:4-5

*****

Every prayer of faith we pray or have ever prayed is as incense before the LORD.

Revelation 8:2-4
And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Prayers of all saints, ascending in heaven, even now as we read, and then in the time of those verses, which is in the time of Great Tribulation to come. 

Decades, centuries or millennia may pass (as with Paul’s, Daniels, Ezra’s and many other mighty prayers in scripture), yet that prayer is still lifted before God's glorious rainbow throne of grace, where we find grace to to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:16)

Prayer, heartfelt earnest covered by the blood of Lamb is always lifted there, till answered.

This is the PURPOSE of perpetual prayer.. prayer lifted until answered.
God is glorified.  

I will close with this mighty saying by John Bunyan.
(Saying seen last week in a card on dear Maxine's blog 
- thanks sis.) 

Pray often, 
for prayer is a shield to the soul, 
a sacrifice to God,  
and a scourge for Satan. 

John Bunyan was imprisoned for preaching the gospel and wrote the Pilgrim's Progress! He lived, breathed prayer. 
John knew the length, depth, breadth of the wonderful grace of Jesus. 

Hymn link here also.
May we do likewise!
I normally would apologise for the length of this post, but this is one subject which can never be too long. 
It is such precious a gift to us. 
May we daily realise the greatness of God's gift of PRAYER!

I pray it blesses you as it did me.

If things are difficult, I pray earnestly for you for God's comfort. 

"Our  Heavenly Father knoweth. "

"He careth for you." 

And thank you so much to all who encourage me with this blog. 

You bless me so!

Prayer hugs, 🙏🤗

Shaz in Oz.x

*post starts "recently", but was begun in pre-COVID times four months or more ago. Often posts take much meditation and prayer to write. This was definitely one. They deepen as they go.

PS . If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊

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