James 5:13-18
Elijah was ordinary person
When ordinary people pray, extraordinary things are accomplished
The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
Earnest, Heartfelt, Continued
Earnest – resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction.
Heartfelt – deeply and strongly felt.
Continued – without a break in continuity; ongoing.
Pray things through
The early Pentecostals practiced what was called ‘Prevailing Prayer’
Persistence and Intensity
Charles Finney practiced this. He prayed in the snow, when he got up there was a circle of snow that was melted
Matthew 6:5-6 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Righteous Man
2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Say it, “I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus”
If you ever feel unworthy, remind yourself that Jesus made you worthy
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Tremendous Power Available
You have this mighty weapon available to you, that releases the Power of God in your life and in every situation you’re going through
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7
Prayer that Shakes
In the Book of Acts, when the Church prayed, places were shaken
Acts 4:29-31 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. Acts 16:25-26
Why Shaking?
Study it through Haggai and Hebrews – God shakes so that that only what is of Him will remain.
Hebrews 12:26-29 (ESV): ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ This phrase, ‘Yet once more,’ indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.”
God wants to Shake everything that can be shaken in your life, in the city and in this nation
The Businessmen’s Revival of 1857-1858. In 1857, the North Dutch Church in New York City hired a businessman, Jeremiah Lanphier, to be a lay missionary. He prayed, “Lord, what would you have me do?” Concerned by the anxious faces of businessmen on the streets of New York City, Lanphier decided to open the church at noon so businessmen could pray – he distributed flyers. The first meeting was set for September 23—three weeks before the Bank Panic of 1857. Six attended the first week, 20 the next, then 40, then they switched to daily meetings. Before long all the space was taken, and other churches also began to open up for businessmen’s prayer meetings.15 Revivals broke out everywhere in 1857, spreading throughout the United States and world. Sometimes called The Great Prayer Meeting Revival, an estimated 1,000,000 people were added to America’s church rolls, and as many as 1,000,000 of the 4,000,000 existing church members also converted.16 Ushered in the Gilded Age in America where our economy bypassed Britain and we had rapid economic growth.
Shake
Haggai 2:6-9 KJV – “For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.”