The essence of this article is to emphasized the need for long Prayers. one of the ways of exercising our spirit man or exploring the life of God in us is by praying for LONG HOURS. so here are some example: we will first be exploring the Jesus and early church prayer life
1. Jesus and the Early church Prayer life
a) The Attempt to Kill Peter
In the days John was killed, and Peter wanted to be killed, the church had learned the act of seeking God for one thing for a long time. They knew the only way to shift the hand of God was to pray for a long time.
Acts 12:3-5 (KJV) And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him, intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison, but PRAYER WAS MADE WITHOUT CEASING of the church unto God for him.
Commentary by Rasine Irem: The intention of Herod was to kill him after the Passover, and we're given a timeline of this arrest that it was during the days of unleavened bread (vs 3). This was a period of at most one week, given the Hebrew calendar. As you might have noticed by now, these men knew when the prayer started, but what they didn't know was when it was going to end. In summary, the disciples of Jesus prayed for days. Their prayer meetings were very extensive. The point is that the art of prayer as practiced by Jesus and his disciples included very long sessions too.
Here we see how the early church prayed for days, it was like a chain prayer,if it were 5 days, let says they prayed for 120 hours. they have learn the ways of long prayer, that is why there was so much power and impact in their days.
b) The Upper Room Tarrying
Luke 24:49 (KJV) And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Commentary by Rasine Irem: In response to this instruction, the disciples returned from Olivet into an upper room. Remember that these were Galileans and they had no home in Jerusalem, so that room was all they had. And what did they begin to do? Pray (Acts 1:14). This was a prayer meeting that didn't have a closing time; all they knew was to wait until the Holy Spirit came, and they waited by prayer. So how long did they pray for? Well, it depends on how you're counting it. Jesus ascended at least forty days after his resurrection. The day of Pentecost was 50 days after the Passover. So we're looking at roughly between 8 and 10 days post-ascension. These men went to the upper room and started a prayer meeting that began on the day of ascension and ended at Pentecost, about 8-10 days of prayer.
Here is another example.
c) Jesus
Jesus practised long prayer session, one of them was vigils
LUKE 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued ALL NIGHT IN PRAYER to God.
Another one was morning prayer
MARK 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a GREAT WHILE before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
The Jews had their day begin at sunrise, something around what would be our 6am, so he woke up a great while before 6am.
Here is another commentary by rasine irem on Jesus Prayer life
In Mark 6 from verse 35, we see that Jesus's disciples came to meet him to release the crowd because the day had long gone. Jesus fed them miraculously first then sent off his disciples on a boat and departed to pray in a mountain. Take note that Matthew tells us this was still evening (Matt. 14:23). Around the fourth watch of the night (mark 6: 48).Jesus stopped praying and began walking to his disciple. Now the Jewish night was divided into watches of 3 hours each beginning at what would be our 6pm. The fourth watch was the last watch of the night, this was the last three hours of the night which is from 3am to 6am. Remember that Jesus began praying in the evening. If let's say the evening began at 6pm (there's evidence that it was earlier than that), by the beginning of the fourth watch at 3am, he would have done 9 hours. This was when he began walking to his disciples on the water
2. Elijah
One known old testmanent example is Elijah
James 5:17-18 (DARBY)
Elias was a man of like passions to us, and he prayed with prayer that it should not rain; and it did not rain upon the earth three years and six months; and again he prayed, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth caused its
Elijah prayed 7 times before it rained. For each time, he took a posture. After each prayer, he told his servant to go and check for rain. In my opinion, based on his posture and the confidence with which he told his servant to go and check, The prayer can't be a 15 mins prayer, let say 30 mins or 1 hours. he kept on, till he saw the sign. not just that, he was also the same man that prayed that it should not rain. A man that through prayers that locked and opened the heavens.
3. Men of Prayer
a) Leonard Ravenhill
Leonard Ravenhill, a British evangelist, emphasized the importance of prayer in his ministry, often fasting and praying for extended periods. His book, "Why Revival Tarries," remains a classic call to spiritual awakening and revival. Here are some of his quotes:
- "The secret of praying is praying in secret. A sinning man will stop praying, and a praying man will stop sinning."
- "The Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of Power, helps our infirmity in prayer. The Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of Life, ends our deadness in prayer. The Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of Wisdom, delivers us from ignorance in this holy art of prayer. The Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of Fire, delivers us from coldness in prayer. The Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of Might, comes to our aid in our weakness as we pray."
- "I believe the place of prayer is not only where I lose my burdens, but also where I get a burden. He shares my burden and I share His burden. ... To know that burden, we must hear the voice of the Spirit. To hear that voice, we must be still and know that He is God."
b) Father Nash
Father Nash, a Catholic priest, dedicated his life to prayer and intercession, often spending hours in contemplation and prayer. His commitment to prayer was a hallmark of his ministry. Father Nash would quietly slip into a town 3 or 4 weeks before Charles Finney’s arrival, rent a room, find 2 or 3 other like-minded Christians to join him, and start pleading with God. This became his center for intercession. Here is what Charles Finney said about Father Nash:
When I got to town to start a revival, a lady contacted me who ran a boarding house. She said, “Brother Finney, do you know a Father Nash? He and 2 other men have been at my boarding house for the last 3 days, but they haven’t eaten a bite of food. I opened the door and peeped in at them because I could hear them groaning, and I saw them down on their faces. They have been this way for 2 days, lying prostrate on the floor and groaning. I thought something awful must have happened to them. I was afraid to go in and I didn’t know what to do. Would you please come see about them?” “No, it isn’t necessary,” I replied. “They just have a spirit of travail in prayer.”
c) Charles Finney
here is what was said that happen in charles finney revival meeting according to "CHRIST THE HEALER" by FF BOSWORTH
In the revival belt, during the Finney revivals and other great revivals, sinners fell under conviction as soon as they stepped off the train where a revival was in progress. Mr. Finney tells of such a unity in prayer that every adult person on a street three miles long was saved, except one. The Christians unitedly prayed for that one, and he was saved.
Charles Finney, a prominent American revivalist, recognized the importance of prayer in his evangelistic work. He often spent hours in prayer before preaching, seeking guidance and empowerment from the Holy Spirit. He was one of the famous revivalists of the Second Great Awakening.
d) Praying Hyde
Praying Hyde was a man who prayed so intensely that his heart literally shifted in his chest.
In the end, he spent countless dark nights, praying and weeping on the cold, bare floor, not sleeping or eating, interceding for souls, which came first, one a day, then two a day, until four and then eight souls were saved each day and baptized into the kingdom. The burden to pray was so heavy that it could be felt by those who were nearby, who were similarly affected. Hyde’s bed was rarely slept in, because he spent most nights groaning for souls on the floor, and as a result, the number of converts all over India grew by leaps and bounds. After his death, the medical examiner was stunned to discover that his heart was no longer located to the left of midline, but was now located on the right, probably after lying on the hard, cold floor for so many years. Some of his friends believed that he had prayed so hard that his heart had actually changed location! In the end, revival doesn’t come because we talk about it, or are interested in it. It comes from a burning desire to see it happen and do whatever it takes to make it so.
e) E.M. Bounds
E.M. Bounds, a Methodist Episcopal pastor and author, wrote extensively on the power of prayer, emphasizing its essential role in the life of a believer. His writings continue to inspire and challenge Christians today. it was said he prayed prayed four hours each morning before 7a.m
f) John Knox
John Knox, a Scottish Reformer, played a crucial role in shaping Scotland's spiritual landscape through his preaching, writing, and advocacy for religious reform. His passion for prayer and spiritual awakening was a key aspect of his ministry. One of his prayers was "Give me Scotland or I die." It was said that the queen remarked, "I fear the prayers of John Knox more than the armies of Europe.
g) Moravian Brothers
The Moravian Brothers, a group of Pietist Christians led by Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, were known for their commitment to prayer, mission, and ecumenical cooperation. Their 24/7 prayer chain, which lasted for over 100 years, was a remarkable expression of their devotion to prayer and their desire for spiritual awakening. This prayer was the birth of several awakenings in the world, as they sent misssionaries to many parts of the world.
h) John Wesley
A devoted scholar of scripture and faithful Christian, Wesley revolutionized the Christian faith in many powerful and important ways. The societies he founded became the dominant form of the independent Methodist movement that continues to this day. He used to say that he thought very little of a man who did not pray four hours every day. He would rise up at 4am every day to seek God for the first four hours of the day. In his later years Wesley was known to spend up to 8 hours in prayer.
These were men that through spending hours in prayer bought glory of God to their world, they won souls. They had exercised their spirit to that point. The next point we will expore the prayer life of Jesus and the early church.
Conclusion
We have to build our spirit in this place of prayer. We have to learn how to hold onto the horns of the altar, we have to learn the art of LONG PRAYER, If we must have a strong spirit, that will learn to push on in prayers. We have to stop depending only on the prayers of others and our pastors. We have to learn the art of tarrying until change comes. just like Jacob who in time when he was about to face his brother, he had to tarry through the night. TARRY MY FRIEND and i end it with this note from Rasine Irem
Please pray. Pray with tears. Pray with sweat. Pray like it is oxygen. Pray until you change. Pray with strong crying. Pray like your life depends on it. Pray as if you will die if you don't. Pray unto him who is able to save you from spiritual deat