PRAYER IS EFFECTIVE

PRAYER IS EFFECTIVE!

James 5:16-18

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

           The two words “effectual and fervent” are both translated from a single Greek word. That word is energeo which is very similar to our English word energy. It means “to be active and efficient.” Prayer is hard work but it works!

           In First Kings 17:1 Elijah went in to King Ahab and said: “As the Lord  God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” With that prayer he shut the heavens and the rain stopped for a period of three years. James hurries to tell us that Elijah was not some super-human but was of the same make-up as we all. He was subject to “like passions.”

He was not perfect; in fact, right after his victory on Mt. Carmel, Elijah became afraid and discouraged and ran away. But he was a "righteous man," that is, obedient to the Lord and trusting Him. God's promises of answered prayer are for all His children, not just for ones we may call the spiritual elite.

James 5:13

13 Is any among you afflicted [undergoing hardship]? let him pray.

Dear Lord, never let me forget how powerful prayer is. Hear the prayers of your children today. AMEN