(James 5:16) The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James presents prayer as an essential part of our life – if we are sick, we should pray; if we are afflicted (suffering hardships or evil), let them pray. He tells us that if we are sick, we are to call for the elders, let them lay hands upon us and anoint with oil and pray for our healing. James also admonishes that if we have sinned we are to confess that because he knows that living in sin may very well be the cause for the sickness. It is important that we pray for one another and in order to help us pray we need to share our concerns and needs with the community of faith (as a note we need wisdom when sharing with others. There may be issues that should not be made public but held in confidence of a trusted few prayer warriors).
James speaks of an effectual prayer – a prayer that has power that is operative and active. Sometimes when we pray we are simply just going through the “motions” of praying for the need. We do not really expect to receive an answer – we pray because we told to pray so we pray – ineffectively.
He mentions another term, “fervent” which carries the idea of being hot or to boil. A fervent prayer is one that we really desire to see answered, so we pray with deep interest and desire – sometimes not knowing how to put our request into the proper words. When we get to this point, Paul tells us the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us and interprets our prayer as it should before the throne of God – “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
Some would say that means praying in tongues, but not according to Paul, he says that he will pray with the understanding as well as in the Spirit – “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also:” When people that I have known prayed in tongues they did not know what they were saying and so if you do not know what you are saying how can you be fervent about your request? I believe that there are times when God delays an answer because He knows we are not really serious (fervent) about it and soon we lose interest and cease to pray for it.
James puts a qualification upon the effectual and fervent prayer. It has to be prayed by a righteous person. We must be righteous in order to be effectual in our prayers. David knew what it was not to be effectual and he said, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, He will not hear me.” If this was true with David, a man after God’s own heart, then it will also be true of us. Regard means to see, look at, view, inspect, so if we are doing any of that in our hearts (God sees our hearts), then He will not hear our prayer.
In order to be righteous, we must first be Christian – having confessed we are- sinners and asking God for forgiveness of our sins and then repenting (turning away from them) and going in a new direction. James goes on to tells us that our faith (a real, living faith) will be accompanied by good works – “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? {22} Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? {23} And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. {24} Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
James says that the righteous man or woman that prays fervently and effectually his or her prayer will avail much – it will have force. In these days of uncertainty, we all need to have force when we pray.
