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. 

Jury Duty

Today I had jury duty.  It was the first time in my 45 years that I had ever been involved in the experience.  There were ninety people in the room.  First there were six trials for which to find jurors.  Then by the time we signed in and sat down, four cases had been resolved.  Then by the time the judge came into the room, another case had been resolved, leaving only one case for which to find jurors.  The clock ticked away.  My stomach growled as we approached lunchtime.  I was running out of bottled water.  But I was thoroughly enjoying my 'alone' time amid the eighty-nine other patient and obviously excited, happy people.  The reason for my enjoyment?  I had some time to just sit and read.  Time is at a premium for all of us, but for me to be able to sit and read for over four straight hours was like getting a Christmas gift. 


Of course, there I am - sitting in the courthouse awaiting the selection process for either a civil or criminal trial... and my mind starts to wander in between chapters of my book.  All around me are all things 'legal', and so I start thinking about all the legal terminology in the Bible.   Guilt.  Innocence.  Freedom. Justification.  


Justification... Justification?!    Now there's a word we don't use very often, but we should!  This is a legal term – a legal declaration by God – a VERDICT - an instantaneous legal act of God in which He (1) thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness belonging to us, and (2) declares us to be righteous in His sight - we are completely forgiven and no longer liable to punishment.

Colossians 2:13-14 says, "When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."

What was the certificate of debt (or handwriting of ordinances) against us? This certificate of indebtedness referred to a handwritten note by the debtor acknowledging his debt. The decrees mentioned in this passage refers to the Mosaic Law – all people have violated God’s law and therefore we owe God a debt. This is enough to condemn us to judgement and hell because "cursed is everyone who does not abide by all the things written in the book of the law, to perform them" – Galatians 3:10. The 'canceled out' phrase is one I like. The Greek term for this phrase means "to wipe off, like erasing a blackboard". This certificate of debt has been nailed to the cross! Not a trace of it remains to be held against us. Forgiveness is complete.   John Piper comments on this passage from Colossians: "there is no salvation by BALANCING THE RECORDS, it must be wiped out, cancelled, blotted out".


By 1:30 in the afternoon, the news came that the last case had been settled and we were all free to go home.  I wondered if those involved in the lawsuit, whatever it was about, had ever experienced this kind of 'verdict', the kind made by the supreme Judge, God?   Would God use their experience with the legal system to reveal to those involved in the case of their ultimate crime, namely their own involvement in putting to death the Son of God?  THAT is the most heinous crime of all, and sadly most people never recognize the indictment (or the certificate of debt) against them.   The judge is ready and waiting to announce the punishment... and severe it will be... because the crime is not against a small Sovereign.