Not All Prayer is Created Equal

Constant prayer is what takes us from theology to demonstration.

Intercession is what places a demand on what we claim to believe, and says, “Lord, we will not cease or relent in prayer until what You said happens and what You promised is released.” Intercession says, “I’m tired of talking; I want to see what God said actually happen.” Constant prayer is until prayer. How long do we pray? This is where we follow the model of the Pentecostal saints of old. Remember, they prayed until. Either until God’s promise comes to pass, or until God interrupts our prayers and gives us a new strategy or approach to pray. Oh, that an arising generation would discover the power of persistent, relentless until prayer. Explore some of these different translations and presentation of the phrase “constant prayer” from Acts 12:5:

…the church was earnestly praying to God (NIV)

…but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God (KJV)

…but prayer for him was being made to God intensely by the church (NASB)

…fervent and persistent prayer for him was being made to God by the church (AMP)

The church went into a season of intense intercession, asking God to free him (TPT)

This sounds like language that reminds us of James’s description of the prophet Elijah and his prayer effectiveness. You need to get this: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). To put this in context, James, under the new covenant, begins to reference someone who practiced this kind of fervent, constant prayer under the old covenant—the mighty prophet Elijah. If old covenant Elijah could experience the supernatural results he saw in prayer, it’s time for us to contend for an upgrade. The argument, “But that was the great prophet Elijah; he was special!” is irrelevant and unacceptable. Perhaps James knew that his readers would consider Elijah to be like some kind of spiritual superhero who had an edge over the rest of us with his prayer life. The following statement demolishes that religious idea and calls us into new realms of prayer expectation.

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 land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit (James 5:17–18).

Elijah the person did not make his prayer effective and avail much; it was Elijah’s practice of persevering, constant prayer that produced miraculous results. This tells me every new covenant believer in Jesus has access to the Heaven-opening, rain-releasing realm of prayer that Elijah operated in. He prayed earnestly. Let the Scripture demolish the religious argument that puts Elijah in some special category:

“Elijah was as human as we are” (NLT). The Passion Translation phrases it this way: “Elijah was a man with human frailties, just like all of us, but he prayed and received supernatural answers.” Literally, it means he prayed with prayer intensity. That is what opened the door for supernatural answers.

If Elijah was a special person, who had some special prayer anointing or edge with God, then we are all safely off the hook and it would be biblically legal for us to uphold some nonsense “sovereignty” theology that claims: “If God wants to do it, He will do it. Who am I to pray boldly?” But if Elijah is an example, not to be venerated, but to be modeled, everything shifts. Elijah is an invitation. Elijah is a prototype. Yes, in Elijah’s day he was a minority because the anointing of the Spirit only rested upon a select few. Now, because of Jesus and Pentecost, that anointing is available to whosoever believes in Jesus. It’s available, but who will access it? It’s available, but who will press in like Elijah did, praying fervently in his frailty until he saw what God had said. Constant prayer preserves until we see what God said; it’s not begging, hoping God will do something if we convince Him enough. No, constant prayer is a burning conviction that what God said He will do, and that it’s His privilege to move in the earth realm through the prayers of His people. Elijah is your invitation.

Not all prayer is created equal. Not a popular statement, for sure, since modern culture wants to make sure everyone feels included and comforted in their present lifestyle of prayer (whether it’s effective or not). And praise God for a merciful and gracious God who hears and responds to our prayers, even when they come out weak and anemic. But when it comes to walking in Pentecostal fire and experiencing the inbreaking of God’s Spirit, there is a realm of prayer that this generation is disconnected from. It’s the realm Elijah operated in. It’s the realm that brought an intersection of sovereignty and stewardship, as that Upper Room company in the Book of Acts released a sound from earth in prayer that catalyzed a sound from Heaven in outpouring. It’s certainly not cool or hip. It’s demanding. It requires persistence and contending. It sounds more like the old ladies at the altar than the hipster TED Talky spiritual leader whose objective is to water down the Christian life to such a nonthreatening and nondemanding level, anyone is included, and everyone can expect the same prayer results. It’s not something you can comfortably fit into your already-crowded lifestyle, where prayer becomes secondary. The very nature of constant prayer is all-consuming.

Where Are the Door Openers?

Kim Owens has written one of the most brilliant books on revival that I have ever read: Doorkeepers of Revival. Her assignment is to come alongside people, especially pastors and leaders, to help them birth and sustain revival. Right now, I am asking the following question: “Who will be a door opener for the King of Glory to enter in?”

Let this challenge you, as it has challenged me. In Psalm 24:7, we read this language: “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.” It seems like a lifting and opening in the earth realm needs to take place for the King of Glory to come in. For the King of Glory to enter, doors and gates need to be opened.