LOGO JAMES 5:13-18 THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER 1 Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER  James said the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. This could also read the prayer of a just man work in him by divine energy.  The word effective means producing the effect desired or intended. That is having the adequate power or force to produce the effect, an outcome, or to achieve a result. Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.2

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER  The word fervent according to (Acts 18:25) zeo (dzeh-oh); Strong’s #2204: Compare “zeal,” “zeolite,” or “seethe.” Living fervor, fiery hot, full of burning zeal. It is the opposite of dignified, cold, and unemotional.  In a Christian context, it signifies a high spiritual temperature, inflamed by the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, in the Greek, it means to be active and energetic, to prove one self-strong. Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.3

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER  In the book of James, this word seen to denote the inspired prayer or the prayer of the righteous worked by the operation of the Holy Spirit. As individuals, we are powerful. What would happen if we come together as a church?  To be an effective praying church, we must understand the power that we have. We have to understand that this power works from the divine energy of the Spirit within us. This makes us effective according to the scripture. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Eph 3:20). Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.4

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER  We have the power in prayer to bring about an effect. We can change things by prayer individually, or corporately.  When Peter was in jail, the church prayed and God sent an angel to bring about his release. Likewise, with Paul and Silas, God shook the jail when prayer went up by them.  Prayer was very effective because its’ foundation was laid in the Old Testament, based on the relationship initiated by God. Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.5

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER  The core of this relationship was a mutual commitment expressed in the OT concept of a covenant. This concept was from the beginning. God wanted a relationship with man in the garden.  Sin broke the bonds of that relationship, but God pursued the relationship again through the Tabernacle by setting up a new way for man to approach him. God could now be approach by man through sacrifice and offering.  The tabernacle was built so that God could now dwell among men (Ex 25:8, 9), and it was built according to the pattern shown by Moses. However, this was to be God dwelling place among men intending to teach men the spiritual reality of how to approach him. Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.6

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER  According to (Heb 8:5) the priest on earth served at the sanctuary that was a copy and a shadow of what was in heaven. The heavenly reality is the sanctuary of God presence into which Christ our high priest entered with his own blood.  Both the earthly tabernacle and its ministry was intended to illustrate symbolically the only way one could approach a holy God and be forgiven and find help in his time of need. Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.7

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER  The Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat provide a way for man to get the help he needed. God comes to man again through relationship opening the way for man to approach him in prayer. He is shown steps by step how to come to God and get answers to his problems. Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.8

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER  There were eight steps for him: 1. Enter the gate-way: introduction that Christ is the way. He was to enter into the gate with Thanksgiving… (Ps 100:4; John14:6). 2. He was to meet God at the brazen altar : this was the way of reconciliation where death occurs, sacrifice’ was made the relationship restored (2 Cor. 5:21). 3. The laver, the way of separation: Christ our cleanser and sanctification (holiness 1Thess. 4:7). 4. The golden candlestick: the way of illumination-Christ the light to God fullness. Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.9

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER 5. The table of showbread - the way of satisfaction. Christ our nourishment or sustainer (John 6:35). 6. The altar of incense - the way of intercession. Christ our intercessory (Heb 7:25). 7. The veil - Christ our life, access to God the Father, through his blood (Heb 10:19). 8. The ark of the covenant - the way of communion-God throne in the earth. Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.10

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER  The way to God for communion took all these steps plus sacrifices, which was done in obedience to have an effective and fervent prayer life.  This was their order to have power with God. Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.11

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER B. How does all of this information help us?  1. The altar of incense was the heartbeat of this system for the priest represented an intercessory that took the request of the people to God and received the answer for them. This was to show us how prayer and relationship worked. The golden incense altar was at the heart of the tabernacle and from this, we could see that the ministry of intercession, prayer and praise are at the very heart of God. Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.12

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER  2. Ex 30:1-2) show us that the altar of incenses was the highest price of furniture in the Holy place. Symbolizing the highest ministry in the Holy place was intercessory prayer.  3. Let look again at the measurement of this altar 1x1x2 or 10x10x20 cubits = 2,000 cubits; if we look at this dispensation analogy, this would speak of two thousand years of the church age. Ex 30:1-2 shows us that the altar of incenses was the highest price of furniture in the Holy place. Symbolizing the highest ministry in the Holy place was intercessory prayer. Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.13

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER  Being that the altar of incenses is placed at the very end of the holy place or at the 2,000 years, this could be symbolic that the church at the end of the age is going to experience the altar of incenses ministry that is the spirit of intercessory or cooperate prayer.  I believe we have approached that time where prayer is going to be effectual producing an effect and by the power of prayer, strongholds will come down, if we are fervent by using the energy of prayer to make things happen. Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.14

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER  This is the most powerful weapon that God has given to the church to reach and cross all lines, It can turn the heart of a king, it can change the vilest person, it can change the direction of storms, and it can break any yoke.  When Christ died the veil in the temple was rented into that ended the OT dispensation and open up a new for us through the veil of his flesh (Heb 10:19-22). Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.15

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER  We are told to draw near to him with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled, and cleanse from a guilty conscience; God is again building a relationship with us so through prayer we can get the job done. Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.16

THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER  The effectual praying of the church will get the job done because it:  (Amp) Dynamic in its working  (Phil) Tremendous power is made available to us.  (Wms) When it keep at work it is very powerful.  Effectual prayer will always prevail if we keep at it, but we must PUSH prayer until something happens. Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.17

LOGO THE POWER OF FERVENT PRAYER 18 Dr. Ralph Godfrey Sr.