Prayer Availeth Much

Prayer Availeth Much

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." (James 5:16)

Prayer is the mightiest force in the world today. I say this not unmindful of the power that lies latent in the atom. Prayer is powerful because it is the channel whereby God’s power enters human life. Prayer is the unseen wire stretched from the heart of God to the heart of man. Prayer is just as real as electricity; it is no more mysterious, it is no less practical; it is much more powerful.

The post has said, “If the veil of this worlds’s machinery were removed we would behold more things wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.” Intuitively our souls respond to this testimony and we recognize the truth of this statement. We know that there is power in prayer and yet we fail to use it. We have emphasized men, methods, money in the Church organization and have failed to adequately tap our greatest source of power – prayer.

In James 5:16, the Apostle teaches us how we might have power in prayer. He said, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man Availeth much.” Another has translated this verse: “Powerful is the heartfelt supplication of a righteous man.” In this translation three words stand out, powerful, heartfelt, and righteous. Here we behold the personage of prayer – a righteous man, the attitude of prayer – heartfelt supplication and the fact there is power in prayer.

The door that leads into the throne room of prayer is purity of heart. The presence of sin in your heart robs you of the power of prayer. The Psalmist said, “If I regard iniquity in heart, the Lord will not hear my prayer.” (Psalm 76:18) “The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His eyes are open to their prayers: But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” (Psalm 34:12-16 1 Peter 3:12) In the hour of prayer have you ever felt that your prayers have ascended no higher than the ceiling? Have you lost the joy of prayer, the failure to receive profit and joy is almost always caused by sin having right of way in your life. If one’s heart is not right with God the first and simplest requisite of prayer has not been met.

In the first chapter of Isaiah we find a vivid illustration of this truth. Here we behold the people of Judah performing all the eternal rites of worship. They are offering multitudes of sacrifices, burning incense, observing new moons and Sabbaths, and coming together in solemn assemblies. But at the time they are a “sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers, children that are corrupters, they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they have gone away backward.” The result of their worship in the face of this iniquity is this: “When you spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when you make many prayers, I will not hear.” If they would have their worship accepted by God and their prayers to ascend unto Him then they must “wash and make themselves clean and put away the evil of their doings and learn to do well.”

As David came into the presence of God after his sin with Bathsheba his prayer was, “I acknowledge my transgressions … Create within me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” As we come into the presence of God conscious that we like sheep have gone astray we must claim His promises, “If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

To expect God to answer our prayers while we are indulging in known sin would be to make Him a God of hypocrites, if, therefore, when we kneel to pray there comes before us any habit or practice of life that condemns us or raises the question as to it being right or wrong, it must be confessed and renounced before we can find joy, peace, or power in prayer.

The prayers of a righteous man must be heartfelt. So many of our prayers only come from our lips. They are orations delivered unto God rather than supplications poured out from our heat. Mr. Moody told how one day his little boy came to him and said, “Papa, I want a drink.” Then the boy kept on playing, Mr. Moody knowing how little children ask for things from force of habit, or for things they don’t really need or desire kept on reading. Presently the boy said again, “Papa, I want a drink,” and kept on playing and his father went on with his reading, a little later the boy came unto his father and said, “Papa, I am thirsty, I must have a drink.” This time Mr. Moody knowing that his child truly wanted a drink went a got it for him. Are your prayers an outpouring of your heart, or merely an expression of the lips?

If the prayer is from the heart, it will be in accord with God’s will. I would find it hard to ask with fervency of my earthly father that which I knew he would not want me to have. So vary often we ask for something which we want rather then for which God wants us to have. The Prodigal Son went to his father and said, “Give me.” When he received that which he wanted he headed for the city of destruction. When he came to himself he returned to his father and now notice the difference in his prayer, “Father make me …” That is, do with me as you desire, do with me what is best for me. A robe was cast upon him, a ring was placed upon his fingers, shoes were put upon his feet and the fatted calf was killed in his honor. Prayer will be effective we stop praying “Give me,” and begin to pray, “Make me.” “Not my will but thine be done.” When we are truly seeking the performance of God’s will then our praying will really become enthusiastic.

The prayer that comes from the heart is characterized by faith. It would be difficult to make a fervent request if we felt that the one of whom the request was made had no power to grant it.

George Mueller a man of great faith was crossing the Atlantic from England to Canada. They had been out at sea several days when a heavy fog enveloped the ship. The Captain had been on watch for twenty-two hours when George Mueller tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Captain, I must be in Quebec on Saturday afternoon.” “Impossible said the Captain.” “Very well” was the reply, if you can’t take me, God will find some other way. I have never broken an engagement for fifty seven years. Let us go into the chart room and pray.” “Mr. Mueller don’t you see how dense the fog is. We can never get through it.” “No, I don’t see the density of the fog; my eye is on the living God who controls every circumstance of my life.” They went into the chart room and Mr. Mueller prayed somewhat like this, “O Lord, if it is consistent with thy will, please remove this fog in five minutes. You know this engagement you made for me in Quebec on Saturday. I believe it is your will for me to keep it.” Then the Captain commenced to pray but Mr. Mueller stopped him saying, “No, don’t pray, you do not believe that God can do this.” They went out on the deck and the fog had cleared away. Mr. Mueller was in Quebec on Saturday. Ask believing and God will give power through prayer,

Jesus said, “Whatsoever things ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them and ye shall have them.”

The heartfelt supplication of a righteous man is power. James uses a well known Old Testament story to prove this point. “Elijah was a man subject to like passion as we are. Elijah was not different from us, he had the same weaknesses, he had no prior claim upon heaven, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and it rained not on the earth for the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain. You will recall the incident. Because of the wickedness of the people under the leadership of Ahab God shut up the heavens and it rained not for three and one half years. At the end of that time Elijah gathered together upon Mount Carmel the children of Israel together with the prophets of Baal and proposed a contest. The false prophets were to build an altar and place their sacrifice upon it and Elijah would do the same. Then each were to pray to their God and the god who answered by sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice, He should be worshiped in Israel. The prayers of the prophets of Baal went unanswered, whereas when Elijah prayed fire came from heaven and consumed the sacrifice. The people proclaimed, “Jehovah, he is God. Jehovah, he is God.” Elijah went up to the mountain and prayed for rain, his prayer was answered, rain came and the earth brought forth her fruit.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man Availeth much. It avails for God – Israel turned unto the Lord. It avails for the people – the drought was ended, the earth brought forth fruit. It avails for the one who prays – Elijah’s faith must have certainly been strengthened. There is power in prayer.

Prayer is the first work of the Church of Jesus Christ. I know what some of you are thinking. You are saying to yourself: “I thought the first work of the Church was to seek the salvation of the lost souls.” Before souls are saved prayer must be offered. Remember the Church of Jesus Christ was born in a prayer meeting. Pentecost the birthday of the Church came after the followers of Christ had spent ten days in prayer and supplication. The Church has moved forward through the ages only as she has gone upon her knees.

Dr. Robert W Kirkpatrick

First Presbyterian Church, Saint Albans, W Va, September 1, 1946