The Prayer Of The Righteous Availeth Much

Beloved, we gather today to reflect on the profound truth found in the book of James 5:16, which states, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

The verse, though simple in its wording, carries an immense weight of spiritual significance. It reveals the power of prayer when it is offered by those who walk in righteousness before God.

Today, I will talk what it means to be righteous, the nature of fervent prayer, and how such prayer can bring about significant change in our lives and the world around us.

What Does It Mean to Be Righteous?

Before we delve into the power of prayer, we must first understand what it means to be righteous.

In the biblical context, righteousness is not about human perfection but rather about living in right standing with God. It is the state of being aligned with God's will, characterized by faith, obedience, and a heart that seeks to please Him.

Abraham, known as the father of faith, was considered righteous because of his unwavering trust in God, even when circumstances seemed impossible.

Righteousness is also about relationship. It is living in harmony with God, walking with Him daily, and allowing His Word to guide our thoughts, actions, and decisions.

In the New Testament, we are reminded that our righteousness is not of our own making; it is a gift from God through Jesus Christ.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Thus, our prayers gain power not because of our deeds but because we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

The Nature of Fervent Prayer

James describes the prayer of a righteous person as "effectual" and "fervent."

These words suggest that there is more to prayer than simply speaking words.

Effectual prayer is effective, powerful, and produces results. Fervent prayer is passionate, intense, and sincere.

It is the kind of prayer that moves beyond mere formality and enters into the realm of deep spiritual communion with God.

To pray fervently is to engage with God on a heart level. It is to pour out our souls before Him, as Hannah did when she prayed for a son (1 Samuel 1:10-15). It is to wrestle in prayer, as Jacob did when he sought God's blessing (Genesis 32:24-30).

Fervent prayer is not concerned with eloquence or length but with the earnestness of the heart that seeks God's face and desires His will above all else.

Prayer of this kind requires persistence.

Jesus illustrated this in the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. The widow’s relentless pursuit of justice eventually moved the unjust judge to act on her behalf.

Jesus concluded the parable by asking, "And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?"

The lesson here is clear: fervent, persistent prayer is heard by God, and He responds to the cries of His people.

The Power of Righteous Prayer

When James declares that the prayer of a righteous person "availeth much," he is asserting that such prayer is not only powerful but also effective.

It has the ability to change circumstances, alter outcomes, and bring about God's will on earth. It is evident throughout the Bible, where the prayers of righteous individuals led to miraculous interventions from God.

Consider the prophet Elijah, whom James references in the verses following our key text (James 5:17-18).

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, yet his prayers stopped the rain for three and a half years, and his prayers brought it back.

His prayers were powerful because he was aligned with God’s purposes. He prayed according to God’s will, and God responded mightily.

The prayer of the righteous is powerful because it is rooted in faith.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). When we pray in faith, we are not merely hoping for an answer; we are standing on the promises of God, believing that He is able and willing to intervene.

Jesus taught that even faith as small as a mustard seed could move mountains (Matthew 17:20).

Therefore, when a righteous person prays with faith, mountains of adversity, sickness, and oppression can be moved.

Moreover, the prayer of the righteous avails much because it is aligned with the will of God.

Jesus, our ultimate example, prayed fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane, yet He submitted His desires to the Father’s will, saying, "Not my will, but thine, be done" (Luke 22:42).

Righteous prayer is not about bending God's will to ours but about aligning our will with His.

When we pray in this manner, we can be confident that our prayers will avail much because they are in harmony with God's perfect plan.