Fervent Prayer

Fervency in prayer - what does that mean?  In my Puritan Paperback series, I am still reading 'The Secret Key to Heaven' (subtitled 'The Vital importance of Private Prayer') by Thomas Brooks.  In this morning's reading, Brooks effectively used scripture to convict me of my lack of fervency in my conversations with God.   While scripture is capable of standing alone, I find it helpful in understanding the Word when a man of God gives commentary on certain passages, bringing out the fuller and more robust meaning that the original writers intended.  Ponder the following passages and the accompanying words from Brooks:

James 5:16 - “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” .  The ‘working’ prayer; that is, such working prayer as sets the whole man to work, as sets all the faculties of the soul, and all the graces in the soul, to work. The word [fervent] signifies such a working as shows the liveliest activity that can be. 

Acts 12:5 - “...but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God”.   While Peter was in prison, prayer was being made by the church.  The Greek word [for fervent] signifies instant prayer, earnest prayer, stretched out prayer.  These gracious souls did in prayer strain and stretch themselves; they prayed with all the strength of their souls, and with all the fervency of their spirits. 

Romans 12:11-12  - “Not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer”.  The Greek word here for ‘fervent’ signifies seething hot; boiling hot; God loves to see his people zealous and warm in his service.  Without fervency of spirit, no service finds acceptance in heaven.   In verse 12, the word ‘devoted’ means continuing with all your might.  It is a metaphor from hunting dogs, that will never give over the game until they have got it. 

Romans 15:30 - “...strive together with me in your prayers to God for me”.  Strive mightily, strive as champions strive, even to an agony.  It is a military word, and notes such fervent wresting or striving, as is for life and death. 

Colossians 4:12 - “...always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers”.  Laboring signifies to strive or wrestle, as those do that strive for mastery.  As the wrestlers do bend, and writhe, and stretch, and strain every joint of their bodies, that they may be victorious, so Epaphras did bend, and writhe, and stretch, and strain every joint of his soul that he might be victorious with God on the Colossians’ account.