All Because of Prayer

James 5:16 -- "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

Take a good look at a ten block radius where you dwell.  I bet that you'll find at least one designated spot for worship of some kind. It might not be the church with which you are affiliated, but it's a church none the less.

As I travel the main stretch of busy black-top from my house to my local Wal-mart I can count at least five places of worship. Two of them are right next to each other. There is no question that we take this freedom for granted.  The truth is, world-wide, we are one of the relatively few countries blessed with this kind of religious glut. And when it comes down to it - it all started with the seeds of some very powerful prayer.

Knox with Mary Queen of Scots

Through out the 1500's there was much strife where the church was concerned in Scotland. In fact, much of it was made public due a man by the name of John Knox. It's not every man that can bring a monarch to tears, but John Knox made so much noise on the issue of worship that Queen Mary - better known as Mary Queen of Scots - erupted into tears and threw what could only be construed as a royal tantrum in a private meeting between the two rivals. Addressing everything from her upcoming marriage to Phillip II of Spain, to the unsatisfactory rule of women, John Knox was not one to keep his opinions to himself. Even when in the presence of royalty. Queen Mary eventually became so upset that she ordered Knox from the room and was later quoted to say that she feared the prayers of John Knox more than all of the armies of Scotland.

And with good reason. In 1561 Knox and fellow passionate reformers managed to pass through parliament - The Scots Confession - denouncing the Pope's influence over worship in all of Scotland. Not only did Knox manage to start what would be known as the Scottish Reformation, but he also managed to ban the celebration of Mass in Scotland, siting that it went against the practices of the new Church of Scotland - known as the Kirk. In league with John Calvin, Knox planted the seeds of what would later be known as the Presbyterian Church.

It all started with prayer.

Knox knew that power was in Jesus - not church politics. He prayed for reform and he got it. But note this; his efforts to change the way things were did not stop on bended knee as he lifted up his concerns to Jesus Christ. No. He prayed - a lot - and then he acted.

James 5:16 reminds us that to pray fervently is no small thing. I've seen friends roll their eyes when I ask them if they've prayed over a situation and then exhale deeply when they reply that they are tired of people telling them to pray about it. But the truth of the matter is - fervent prayer is one of the most POWERFUL weapons on the planet. I may not be able to don body armor and strap on boots to march next to our men in uniform as they are deployed over seas - but I can sure pray that God protect them while they are gone. I don't have the scientific genius to come up with a cure for cancer, but I know the One true and Great Physician that answers all my prayers. I don't have the green thumb it would take to satisfy world hunger, but I know THE Weather Man who can  undo famine with a single stretch of His mighty hand.

Prayer is no small thing.  All it takes is a good look around at the variety of churches in your neighborhood to be reminded that some pretty great battles were won with prayer.  John Wesley prayed for revival. And revival spread through out England sparing that nation from the horrors of the French Revolution. There was Jonathan Edwards who prayed for revival through out the American Colonies and was answered with a revival so grand it took off like a wild fire in dry brush.

Looking out of my office window I am faced with a national political future that seems rather bleak. But I'm sure John Knox felt the same way when looking up at the richly decorated Cathedral in his neck of the woods. He knew what we should all remember - God still works through the prayers of His people. We need to get on bended knee and start praying for real revival.