PRAYER

…The effective, fervent PRAYER of a righteous man avails much – James 5:16b

Prayer, when correctly processed, can be tremendous and stupendous in power. Private prayers manifest public power! But, what does it take to prevail in prayer? The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much – it prevails! This is a conditional promise of God. It is therefore not strange that many fervent prayers are never answered, since fervency alone is not enough to prevail. People in deep trouble frequently offer the most fervent prayers, which are often mingled with tears of regret, and yet they are not answered. Even heathen people, who are devotees of false religions are often very earnest and fervent in their petitions to their gods. The fervency of some religious cults which counterfeit the genuine is amazing.

According to scripture however, fervent prayers, must come from “a righteous man” before they can avail much. All other prayers fall short of their mark. They never reach their destination. They fall dead at the feet of the petitioner. Their wings are clipped so that they do not reach God. They are an offense to Him: “He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination” (Pro.28:9). Micah 3:4 also warns: “Then shall they cry unto the Lord, but He will not hear them: He will even hide His face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves in all their doings.”

The prayers that avail much are the prayers of “a righteous man” (Jam.5:17-18). They are Hoy-Spirit-empowered prayers. Such flaming prayers cause sleep to vanish; make the hearts hungry to fast; and stir the soul to thirst after God. Such prayers bring fire from heaven, fire in the soul, and exhilaration of spirit. Holy-Fire is the life of prevailing prayer. Heaven is touched by flaming prayer arising in an ascending scale. God rejoices to see a soul on fire with holy passion as the heart reaches out to Him. Prevailing prayers feed on flames generated from the Word of God. It is fiery intercessions who can conquer the gates of hell. Burning desires make prevailing prayers invincible. This is the stepping stone to Victory!

Prevailing prayer is the prayer of faith. It is the constant knocking at the door with the expectation it will be opened. Hebrews 10:22 says, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” Prayer is the breath that fans the flame of faith. Prayer blended with faith is effective, pleasant, and attarctive to the one who prays. Such a prayer wafts faith to the throne and causes it to attarct the attention of and obtain gifts from God, as it takes faith to please Him (Heb.11:6). The prayer of faith waits on God. It is not a worldly address uttered to be heard of men. Prevailing prayer releases the flame of faith leaping out to God. White-hot prayer will burn its way through obstacles to His throne. A burning heart precedes prevailing prayers.

God calls us to be absorbed in His will and purpose, and consumed by His zeal and glory so that our hearts and prayers can be aflame for Him. God works in power but we need to press in bold, earnest, insistent, prevailing prayers to bring His miracle power to bear on our situation, like Jacob at Jabbok (Gen.32:28), Elijah (1Kgs.18:41-46), and Epaphras (Col.4:12).