Why Prayer Is Effective (2 Kin. 4:25b-37) (Part 7)

First Peter 5:7 > “ . . . casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” By coming to the altar or making a place of prayer where you are, you declare that you believe Jesus cares for you and that His care is enough. 

• He cares for your body, soul, spirit, relationships, finances, future, etc.
• He promises to provide all your needs (Phil. 4:19).

When you pray, that is, talk to Him, be . . .

• Urgent.  Get right down to business. Don't hesitate. Avoid distraction. Speak respectfully, but talk boldly.
• Honest. Don't sugarcoat your need. Tell Jesus how you feel, what you think, how things are affecting you. Speak respectfully, but talk to Jesus as if He doesn't know anything that's happening in your life. Use simple words. You don't have to impress Him.
• Persistent. Don't make this the last time you bring the matter to Jesus. Keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking until Jesus gives you a clear answer.
• Trusting. Believe that God has your best interest in mind and that it is His specialty to accomplish His will for you (Phil. 2:13). Believe in Jesus' amazing track record.

Why Prayer Is Effective (2 Kin. 4:25b-37) (Part 6)

Why would the woman go through all that work to get to Elisha and persuade him to return with her? She knew Elisha was her only hope. Without realizing it, she modeled effective prayer for us.

There is one last question that needs to be answered. Why did Elisha return with her? He returned with the woman because he cared for her. Once Elisha realized that it was the Shunammite woman who was approaching, the first thing out of his mouth was to inquire about her welfare. “When the man of God saw her at a distance, he said to Gehazi his servant, 'Behold, there is the Shunammite. Please run now to meet her and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’'” (2 Kin. 4:25b-26a)

Just as Elisha cared for the woman, her husband and her son, so Jesus Christ cares for you.

• Elisha's name means 'God is Savior.' Who is your Savior? Your Savior is (or should be) Jesus. What does Jesus, your Savior, save you from? He saves you from your sin. What is sin? Sin is more than something that happens to you; it is something that you do, whether by commission or omission. Sin is violation of God's laws; sin is missing the mark or falling short (Rom. 3:23).
•  Jesus showed His loving care for you by dying on a cross. 
• He endured the cross because of your sins. 
• He died for you and in place of you (Rom. 5:6-8; 2 Cor. 5:21).
• He took your punishment (death) upon himself.
• You take His righteousness upon yourself.
• In yourself no good thing dwells (Rom. 3:10-12).
• By yourself you cannot please God (Rom. 8:8).
• The cross of Jesus, the demonstration of God's love for you, demands a response.
• “Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”¹ (Isaac Watts)
• Response #1 > I will cherish the old rugged cross and gladly take upon myself its demand for total dominion in my life.
• Response #2 > I will reject the old rugged cross and continue to believe that my own good works are enough, even when the Bible says they are not (Eph. 2:8-9).

Who will cherish the old rugged cross of Jesus right now?

• Who will ask Jesus for forgiveness from sin?
• Who will surrender his or her will, pleasure, and future to God's plan and purposes?

1Watts, Isaac. “When I Survey The Wondrous Cross.” Hymns of Glorious Praise. Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1969. Hymn #88. Second half of verse 4.

(Tomorrow's post:  part 2 of the conclusion.)

Why Prayer Is Effective (2 Kin. 4:25b-37) (Part 5)

4. EFFECTIVE PRAYER REQUIRES TRUST.

“So he entered and shut the door behind them both” (2 Kin. 4:33).

Elisha shut the door to keep out both Gehazi and the woman. I don't know about you, but being shut out makes me feel frustrated, disqualified or unwanted!

When Elisha shut the door, the woman had no strategy left but to trust.

• She had to trust that Elisha had her best interest, and her son's welfare, in mind.
• She had to trust that Elisha knew what he was doing.
• She had to trust that Elisha would respect her son's body while he “did his thing.”
• She had to trust that her being shut out and feeling left out didn't mean Elisha was cruel or was trying to send a message.

From where did the woman's trust in Elisha come? Her trust came from relationship. Her husband and she entertained and hosted Elisha in their home (2 Kin. 4:8- 10). She received spiritual ministry from Elisha at the new moon and on each Sabbath (2 Kin. 4:28). Today we would say that she attended the weekly and special services and got to know her pastor.

It is one thing to tell God what's on your mind; it is another to believe that He hears, He cares and He is in the process of answering.

• Psa. 9:10 > “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.”
• Psa. 37:5 > “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it.”

(Tomorrow's post: part 1 of the conclusion.)

Why Prayer Is Effective (2 Kin. 4:25b-37) (Part 4)

3. EFFECTIVE PRAYER REQUIRES PERSISTENCE.

“I will not leave you” (2 Kin. 4:30).

The woman decided that she would stay with Elisha until he did something about her situation. How quickly she could have given up! Elisha sent Gehazi (2 Kin. 4:29, 31) but she wasn't satisfied with that. (I wonder if she knew that the errand would be unsuccessful?) She refused to believe that Gehazi's report was the final answer. She reserved the final word for Elisha.

How persistent are you in prayer? Are you of the one-and-done variety? (You mention the request once and leave it in God's hands.) I don't want to discourage you from trusting God in prayer; rather, I want you to realize that God's sovereignty is not an excuse for man's laziness. Prayer is hard work! Your flesh doesn't like to pray!

Mt. 7:8 > “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” In the Greek, there is the “present of duration.” That means that the verbs suggest action that is happening right now and will remain ongoing.

“For everyone who asks (and keeps on asking) receives, and he who seeks (and keeps on seeking) finds, and to him who knocks (and keeps on knocking) it will be opened.”

You don't continue asking because you think God doesn't hear or doesn't want to answer; you continue asking because persistence is something Jesus taught (Lu. 18:1-8).

(Tomorrow's post:  Effective prayer requires trust.)

Why Prayer Is Effective (2 Kin. 4:25b-37) (Part 3)

2. EFFECTIVE PRAYER REQUIRES HONESTY.

“Did I ask for a son from my lord? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me?'” (2 Kin. 4:28).

Honesty in prayer requires three things.

• It requires directness.  Get right to the point and don't beat around the bush.
• It requires simplicity. Don't complicate your request with non-essentials. In the seventies we sang a chorus that stated, “Jesus on the main line – tell Him what you want.” Yes, tell Him reverently, but tell Him honestly. Let Him hear your heart's cry.
• It requires vulnerability. Mention the emotion, concern and pain that goes with the request. Admit that you have a need and that you are troubled by it. “ . . . her soul is troubled within her . . .” (2 Kin. 4:27). See also Hannah (1 Sam. 1:13-16).

I'm so glad that we don't have to put on an act when we come before God! We can come just as we are.

“Just as I am, tho' tossed about
With many a conflict,many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!”¹

1Elliott, Charlotte. “Just As I Am.” Hymns of Glorious Praise. Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1969. Hymn #221. Verse 3. 

(Tomorrow's post:  Effective prayer requires persistence.)

My Prayer (08/17/19)

Father, forgive me for saying prayers instead of really praying (praying with an engaged mind and spirit).  I offer smooth words and expect You to act while I neither expend or extend myself in prayer (at least not with the regularity I should).

Reveal to me why more prayers are not effective.  Is it that my lips are saying the right thing but my heart isn't there yet?  Is it simply that I am lazy?  Is it that I don't know what it is that You want to do and don't take enough time to listen?  Perhaps it could be that my motive for wanting to pray effectively isn't right.

If prayer isn't effective then something is wrong.  I have to know what it is.

Why Prayer Is Effective (2 Kin. 4:25b-37) (Part 2)

1. EFFECTIVE PRAYER REQUIRES URGENCY.  
“ . . . she caught hold of his feet” (2 Kin. 4:27).

When you read that the woman “caught hold of his feet”, what comes to mind? Perhaps your mind goes directly to the subject of humility. It's easy to get there. The woman got on her knees, bowed low, and put her hands on Elisha's feet. That sure looks like a picture of humility!

While you aren't wrong to say that her foot-grabbing involves humility, realize that that is not what she meant to portray. Back in that day, when someone bowed down and grabbed another person's feet, that action was taken to add urgency and intensity to a request. Today, we put it this way: There is praying and then there is praying.

I don't want to suggest that you should be melodramatic when you pray. However, do you make it clear to God that you really want what you're asking?

(Tomorrow's post:  Effective prayer requires honesty.)

Why Prayer Is Effective (2 Kin. 4:25b-37) (Part 1)

Introduction:

As you find 2 Kings chapter 4 in your Bible, what comes to mind when I say the words “effective prayer”? Some might think, “I pray, but I wouldn't say I pray effectively.” Others might recall James 5:16, where it says, “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

In the next two verses James tells us about a man named Elijah.

James 5:17-18 > “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.”

Is it hard for you believe that you can pray effectively? Most wouldn't dare to put themselves in the same category as Elijah. It isn't that we don't pray; it's that we don't think our prayers accomplish much when we do pray.

Today's verses from 2 Kings chapter 4 reveal four things that are necessary in order to pray

effectively.  The climax of the story is when Elisha, who is God's spokesman and representative, raises a boy from the dead. Now that's effective praying!

(Tomorrow's post:  Effective prayer requires urgency.)

Continue Earnestly in Prayer (Ac. 1:14)

" . . . continued earnestly in prayer . . ." (Ac. 1:14, Weymouth)

It is one thing to pray once.  It is one thing to pray earnestly once.  Prayer that receives what God promised is continually earnest prayer.  Keep on praying earnestly!

How desperately do you want what's been promised?  It comes no other way except by active, patient waiting and continual, earnest prayer.  Don't disengage now.  You could be so close to receiving!