Prayer – Part 5: The power of prayer

Jesus said there is nothing we can do apart from Him (John 15:5). It is by His Spirit and power alone that we can accomplish anything worthwhile (Zechariah 4:6; Acts 1:8). We therefore do well to get acquainted and be endued with the power of God. For those who go in error do so not only because they lack  knowledge of the Scriptures but also because they do not know the power of God (Matthew 22:29). Without the power of God at work in our lives, we build our lives in vain (cf. Psalm 127:1).

The Scriptures say of the gospel of Jesus Christ, that “it is the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). It is also by the powerful Word of God that the universe is held in place (Hebrews 1:3). Therefore if we diligently feed on the Word of God daily, we will surely be imbibing  the power of God. God also gives His grace to the humble (James 4:6). The grace of God is not only an unmerited favour, but  also the enablement/power/anointing of God. A very scriptural way to receive the power of God is to walk in humility, for it is to the humble that God gives His grace. It was a practice of the people of old to fast as a means of humbling themselves before God (see Ezra 8:2; Isaiah 58:31; Psalm 35:13). True fasting will bring us to a place of humility where we accept, rejoice and flow with the will of God no matter where it leads us. If we humble ourselves through fasting, we shall receive His grace – His power. The Scripture also says “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…(Acts 1:8)”. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that makes us bold witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ and brings to pass the purposes of God in our lives. The truth is you will need this power to be all that God has made you to be. We need the Holy Spirit. We must constantly seek His in-filling (cf. Acts 2:4; Acts 4:31).

As we feed on the Word and walk in humility, the power of God can flow through us to accomplish that which God wills. But the fact that you have received power does not mean that you automatically walk in it always. So the Scriptures give us a key to unlock this power whenever we need it: “ …The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working] (James 5:16, Amplified Bible)”. This is clear enough. The power of God resident in us becomes available when we pray, and it is dynamic for any kind of work. This kind of praying must be one that is of the heart, and one which we do consistently. Praying must be our lifestyle; we ought to earnestly pray daily. As the Scripture says “Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be serious and disciplined for (the purpose) prayer (1 Peter 4:7).

If we are prayerless we become weak, not because God has refused us access to His power, but because we fail to make the power available unto us through prayer. Most of the battles we face in life will be easily won if we choose to be serious with and consistent in prayer. All kinds of earnest prayers, prayed aright in the name of Jesus will make tremendous power available. How much more effectual will our prayer be if we will pray in the Spirit consistently – praying consistently in other tongues even as the Holy Ghost gives us utterance (Acts 2:4) – to the degree that we can also say “I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all…” (1 Corinthians 14:18)?

To be continued…

Kwadwo Omari
© 2015