Powerful and Effective Prayer

In our last blog we concluded with a look at James 5:13-16:

“The work of faith is effective prayer.  

'Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.’ James

5:13-16    

It requires faith to sing songs of praise when you’re happy. It surely requires faith to anoint someone with oil and pray with them in faith, believing they will be healed. And Man! It requires faith in God and your friends to confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed. “

Look at the last part of the paragraph in James 5:16,”The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” again. James, and God, as this is His Word, are telling you that your prayers, the prayers of a righteous man or woman, made righteous by faith in Christ, are powerful and effective.

Hold on! Are you righteous? According to the Word, you are righteous by one thing. Faith. Look again at James 2:21. Abraham was made, or considered righteous, by his faith that God would provide. You are made righteous by your faith in what Christ has done for you on the cross. Paul confirms this in Romans 3.  

“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

There is no difference between Jew and Gentile…”    

Romans 3:21-22    

As if by now, you need any more convincing of the importance of growing in faith in your walk! Paul gives us one of the most important tenets of   Christianity. It is your faith in Christ that makes you righteous. And if you are righteous by faith in Christ, then your prayers as a righteous man or woman of God are effective. By faith. Because of Christ, as it says in His word!!!  

We have works to do and we’re going to need faith to do them!