EFFECTUAL PRAYERS

INCENSE

PART ONE

“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”
Revelation 8:3

Praying effectually begins with God, not ourselves. Praying is first and foremost an act of faith. It is the fruit of a relationship that has its foundation built upon the merits of Jesus Christ. This relationship is entered into by faith that translates an individual who by nature is alienated from God to being born into the family of God. Faith is the very atmosphere of Heaven; it is the air we breathe and the inspiration of all that pertains to God’s Glory on the earth. We are reminded in the scriptures that “without faith, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God”. Faith “sees” God, it “feels” God’s heart for any situation and it touches God concerning things of the Spirit.

Since praying effectually begins with God we must first see that we are not left to our own efforts or resources in having God hear us. We have much help and resources in heavenly places. Effectual prayer can only come from “seeing” what transpires in our petitions as we offer them up unto our Heavenly Father. In this way, faith brings confidence and power to our prayers. We see in heavenly places that “much incense” is offered “with the prayers of ALL saints”! Even our feeble prayers are turned into strong prayers for we are not alone! We have the help and divine enablement to not allow our “feelings”, our failures or the enormity of situations to interfere with the offering up of fervent and effectual prayers.

“Elias was a man
subject to like passions as we are,
and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain:
and it rained not on the earth
by the space of three years and six months”
(James 5:17)

The seeing of heavenly realities brings forth strong expressions from the lives of those in which this faith is alive. Effectual praying is dependent upon God’s provisions not ours. May we be encouraged and strengthened in the inner man to…

“… come boldly
unto the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need”
(Hebrews 4:16)

Effectual Prayers Part Two – Love
Effectual Prayers Part Three – Righteousness
Effectual Prayers Part Four – Humility and Repentance
Effectual Prayers Part Five – Wisdom
Effectual Prayers Part Six – Asking Largely
Effectual Prayers – Part Seven – Elisha and Jericho
Effectual Prayers – Part Eight – Ruth and Boaz
Effectual Prayers – Part Eleven – The Fragrance of Prayer

Brian Troxel