The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. - James 5:16 (b)
The last time I read this verse I asked myself, "If an effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much; what does an ineffective, weak prayer of an unrighteous man avail?" The answer by implication is "not much". That answer is sobering. It made me reconsider my prayer life, and the prayer life of the church.
Could it be that my prayer, and that the prayers of the church were and are not moving the needle on earth or in Heaven? Could it be that there are CONDITIONS for prayer that impact me, my relationship with God, my relationship with others, and my influence on the degree to which God's Will is done on earth? Like the protocol to enter the presence of an earthly king, is there a protocol for being received and heard in the presence of The King? The answer is an emphatic..... YES.
In James 5:16, The Word teaches the two conditions required for Kingdom moving prayer - (1) EFFECTIVE FERVENCY (aka POWER) and (2) RIGHTEOUSNESS (aka PURITY). POWER and PURITY are the necessary ingredients in the recipe for effective ministry and ministers.
Other words for the same are FORCE and FOUNDATION. Though FORCE applied in prayer often offends others, scares others, or appears undignified, the truth is that The Kindgom advances forcefully (Mt 11:12, NLT). Force is required in prayer because violent men attack The Kingdom (Mt 11:12, NLT). Accordingly, Jesus instructed His disciples to wait for the empowering baptism in The Holy Spirit before they launched their ministry (Acts 1:4-5), because He knew of and was the supernatural power required to advance His Kingdom on earth. The FOUNDATION of effective prayer is righteousness, eternal righteousness assured by the blood covering of Jesus, and lifestyle righteousness shaped by and conformed to The Word with confession and repentance rapidly coming on the heels of sin.
Both FORCE AND FOUNDATION are required. Force applied from a faulty or weak foundation undermines the force and the foundation. At the same time, a foundation with no force is impotent. Unfortunately, both scenarios are common. It's no wonder the The Lord told us that the fields are ripe for harvest, but the harvesters are few (Mt 9:37).
However, on The Narrow Way (Mt 7:13-14), there are Kingdom warriors, successfully launching The Word in prayer with fervency, power, and force from a strong, reliable foundation of righteousness. They are advancing The Kingdom, liberating territory and captives from darkness for deliverance into the true light and freedom in Christ. Addictions are breaking. Strongholds are collapsing. Curses are being shaken off, and blessings are taking hold. Wayward children are returning home. Broken marriages are being made whole. Sick bodies are being brought into divine health. Sick minds are becoming the mind of Christ. Disordered, unprofitable businesses are becoming ordered and profitable. Dysfunctional, conflictual relationships are becoming functional and peaceful.
Since in Kingdom power, one can take one thousand, and two can take ten thousand (Dt 32:30), it doesn't take many powerful, righteous prayer warriors to advance The Kingdom. Forceful prayer launched from and with a strong foundation is overpowering.
The effectual, fervent prayers of a righteous man avail much!
PRAYER
Abba Father, please forgive me for any lukewarm prayer offered in unrighteousness. I want to be effective in prayer, availing much for myself, my family, and my sphere of influence. Stir up my fervency. Sharpen my prayer. Give my Your Word for my prayers. Give me a passion for purity. When necessary, lead me into confession and repentance. Amen in The Name of Jesus.
VERSES
How could one have chased a thousand, and two have put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had given them up? For their rock is not as our Rock; our enemies are by themselves. - Deuteronomy 32:31-32
And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. - Matthew 11:12 (NLT)
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” - Jesus, Acts 1:4-5 (NIV)
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." - Jesus, Matthew 9:37
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." - Jesus, Matthew 7:13-14
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