The Effective, Fervent Prayer Of A Righteous Man

by Pastor Mark
July 18, 2024

An effective prayer

When we pray to God, we recognise that He has the prerogative to answer our prayers according to His sovereign will. At the same time, our part in praying also matters to God. He sees who we are and how we pray. The Lord considers these things when answering our prayers.

The Apostle James wrote his perspective about what makes an effective prayer, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16) James wrote this statement in the context of the example of the prophet Elijah. It had to do with his effective praying. The results of his prayers reveal that they availed much. Let us consider the righteous life and effective prayers of Elijah.

1. A righteous man

  1. Who we are matters to God in prayer.
  2. Elijah was regarded to be a righteous man.
    1. His faith was focused on the Lord…the living and true God (1 Kings 17:1).
    2. He had a close relationship with Him (1 Kings 17:1).
    3. Elijah was obedient to the Lord’s Word consistently (1 Kings 17:5).
    4. He was called a man of God (1 Kings 17:24).
    5. He was one of many prophets who did not bow to Baal (1 Kings 19:18).
  3. It did not mean that he was a perfect man.
  4. James noted that Elijah had a nature just like any other man (James 5:17).
  5. There were times when he felt discouraged, possibly depressive and, at times, weak.
  6. But he overcame such moments by praying to God.

2. Fervent in prayer

  1. Elijah demonstrated great fervour in prayer.
  2. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain (James 5:17).
    1. God heard his prayer and there was no rain for three and half years.
    2. This was a judgment against King Ahab and Israel, and to challenge their god, Baal, the god of fertility (1 Kings 18:18).
  3. When the son of a Zarephath woman became sick and died, she pleaded for Elijah’s help.
    1. He earnestly and fervently prayed for her son three times (1 Kings 17:21).
    2. The Lord showed grace and mercy in restoring him (1 Kings 17:22).

3. Other qualities of Elijah that mattered in prayer

  1. Elijah’s prayer for fire to come down from heaven revealed his deep knowledge of God.
  2. He understood the Lord as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel (1 Kings 18:36).
  3. Elijah consistently sought to pray with humility before God.
    1. He saw himself as only a servant even though he was a great prophet (1 Kings 18:36).
    2. He humbly prostrated himself before the Lord as he prayed for rain again (1 Kings 18:42).
  4. Elijah prayed with faith, trusting that the Lord would hear him according to His will.
  5. He developed tremendous strength and courage in his prayers.

Many of us struggle with prayer as we recognise our own human weaknesses. But this should not stop us from praying. Let us be challenged to learn how to make effective and fervent prayers, as Elijah did.

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