(This is an abridged version of part-5 of my summer sermon series on the Book of James, preached at Epworth Chapel, Baltimore on 9/2/12.)
James 5:12-18
"The fervent, effectual prayers of the righteous person availeth much." (v. 16)
In moving through the Book of James, we have seen that James seeks to address his congregation – the church in Jerusalem – on any number of very practical life- matters that the people there are facing. As their pastor, James has taken time here to write to the people about specific ways that they are to live out their Christian faith. This a proverbial “How-to” manual for Christian living.
We recall that James begins his letter with words of encouragement - that the people were to “count it all joy” – with whatever trials they may encounter. He continues by writing to them more specifically about trials and temptations – the testing - that confront even Christians, and again he encourages them to continue to stand fast and firm in the faith even when they confront such trials. James goes on to write about how the people of faith are to live their faith in ways where they are not only hearers of the word of God, but in ways that they become doers of the word, as well. James encourages believers to not only talk about God, but to live in ways where they put their faith to work. He reminds the church at Jerusalem, and reminds you and me today, that faith without works is really not faith at all – he says, “Faith without works is indeed dead.”
In the meantime, James at various points in his letter to the church takes time to write and instruct them about how to deal with anger, how to treat the poor, how to deal with division and partiality in the body of Christ, and how to control (bridle/tame) the tongue. He warns against judging others, and talks about how to have patience in suffering.
And perhaps it is not ironic that James concludes his letter to his congregation in Jerusalem by talking about prayer, and what happens when believers pray. Here in chapter 5, James essentially lifts up for us a call to prayer, and talks to you and me about the power of prayer.
What I want to suggest today, is that for the church to really be the church, all that we do must be undergirded by prayer. And to place prayer into its proper context, we must see prayer both as an individual discipline and a corporate discipline. This is to say that we should develop the habit of being in conversation with God - praying individually for ourselves, and we must also see some value in praying in the church, and coming together to pray for one another - for the church, for the community, for the nation, for the world, for those who are suffering and hurting wherever they are, and whoever they are.
It is the church’s job – it’s a part of our vocation, our mission - to engage in what the apostle Paul said is praying without ceasing.
Indeed, we are to pray unceasingly. We are to pray for ourselves, pray for our families, and pray for our homes. And we are to pray not only at church on Sundays, but pray during the week. We are to pray not only publicly, but pray privately. Paul said pray without ceasing.
But the matter before you and me today is not only that we should pray without ceasing, but what we need to know is what happens when we pray, what is the real power that can be found in our prayers?
James particularizes Paul’s concern about prayer, and makes plain for you and me what such prayer looks and what really happens when we pray. In James 5:16, James says that “the fervent, effectual prayers of the righteous person availeth much.” (KJV) The NRSV translates this text by saying, “The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” And Eugene Peterson in The Message translates this text in this way, “The prayer of the person living right with God is something powerful and to be reckoned with.”
And so what is it that James is trying to tell us about prayer? There are three dimensions of prayer that James lifts up for us in James 5:16 when he writes that "The fervent, effectual prayers of the righteous person availeth much.”
First, James talks the righteous person having the ability to pray. In other word, James is pointing out to us, the subject the prayer. The subject of prayer is the righteous person – the person who is right relationship with God - the one who is walking upright with the Lord. What we need to know is that when we are in right relationship with God – we are righteous – and therefore we have direct access to God. The righteous person has the ability to pray to God for herself/himself, believing by faith that God will hear our prayers and see about our needs. James said that the prayers of the righteous person avail much.
Second, James takes time to describe the type of prayer that the righteous is to engage in. James describes such prayer by using words such as fervent and effectual. We are not simply to pray, but to pray fervently. Again, as Paul said, we are to pray without ceasing. When it seems that we are not getting an answer to prayer, we are to keep praying. We are to pray fervently, expecting an answer and anticipating a breakthrough.
Thirdly, James says that such fervent prayers of the righteous person availeth much. In other words great things happen when we pray (and keep praying). Well, I know that there were those in the days of James who are like some people today. I know someone is sitting and saying, I hear what you’re saying, but you don’t know like I know. I’ve been through some things, and I’ve tried to pray my way through, and God doesn’t seem intent on answering my prayers. I’ve waited and waited, and God hasn’t shown up as I expect that the Lord would. I’ve even had other people praying for me, but I still haven’t gotten a breakthrough.
I’ve prayed and prayed, and nothing has happened. Sickness continues, death has come, disappointment is still on my doorstep. What would James have to say to this? “Keep praying.” “The fervent, effectual prayers of the righteous availeth much.” Keep praying.
Who have you prayed for lately? What have you prayed for lately? Where have you experienced answered prayer in your life lately? We are encouraged today that “the fervent prayers of the righteous availeth much.”
A number of years ago, Rev. Jessie Jackson led an organization that was called Operation PUSH. Based in Chicago – Operation PUSH – which stood for People United to Save Humanity - had as its mission to serve and advocate for the disinherited and oppressed across our nation and our world; to seek justice across our nation and the world.
I simply want to suggest to us this morning that we as Christians are to be engaged in another form of “Operation PUSH.” What I’ve come to share is that we should Pray Until Something Happens. PUSH.
Pray Until Something Happens! PUSH until there’s a change in your life. PUSH until there is a change in your family. PUSH until there is a change on your job. PUSH until there is a change in your community. PUSH until there is a change in the world. PUSH until there’s healing. PUSH until there’s a breakthrough. PUSH until God shows up (and shows out). There’s power in prayer.
And prayer is ultimately trusting God who is able to answer all our prayers, and do exceedingly abundantly above that which we can ask or think. So I’ve come to encourage you to heed the wise words of the writer of Proverbs. When you pray -”trust in the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul… lean not on your own understanding… in all your ways acknowledge God, and God will direct your path.” PUSH – because something good is bound to happen in your life!
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