How The Word Becomes Effectual

Why would anyone say prayers if they really didn’t want their prayers answered? Simply because they are going through a form of self-imposed spiritual obligation.

“Lord, deliver me from cigarettes!” How many times that prayer has been prayed from an insincere heart that really doesn’t want to give up cigarettes. Record the difference in the tone of their prayer from the time that they are just paying lip service to the habit until the time they pray after the doctor tells them that they have lung cancer and there is nothing medical science can do for them. Now we hear a prayer from the depths of their being. Now they begin to search out the Word of God to really stand upon.

We have often heard the phrase, “God answers prayer.” It would be more correctly stated that “God answers fervent prayer that is based upon His Word.” Take the example in the Book of Acts. The Apostles are all gathered together praying that Peter will be delivered from prison. Suddenly, a knock comes at the door.

“Who is there?”

“It’s me, Peter! Let me in.”

“Please don’t disturb us right now. We are in the middle of a very important prayer meeting.”

They had a hard time accepting the fact that their prayers were answered. I believe that Peter was delivered from prison as a result of his own prayers and petition to God, for with stocks on his feet in that cold, clammy dungeon his prayer had far more fire in it than the sequestered believers in their prayer closet.

The most powerful words in the Scriptures are, “Thus saith the Lord.” There is a stamp of divine intervention when we stand upon the Word of God, claim the promises that it contains, and declare, “Thus saith the Lord.” The Bible tells us that “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent” (Numbers 23:19).

What do we mean when we say “stand upon the Word?” Does it mean to take the Bible and place your hand upon it? Of course not! It means that the promises that are written in God’s Word are also written in our heart, and only when it is transferred from the parchment to the tablets of our heart and mind does that Word become effectual for our lives.