THE PRAYER OF THE RIGHTEOUS!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY JANUARY 11, 2020

SUBJECT : THE PRAYER OF THE RIGHTEOUS!

Memory verse: "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5 vs 16.)

READ: James 5 vs 13 - 18: 

5:13: Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? let him sing psalms.
5:14: Is anyone among your sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
5:15: And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
5:16: Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
5:17: Elijah was a man with nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain on the land for three years and six months.
5:18: And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

INTIMATION:

Righteousness is about continually living right before God. It goes beyond being saved. The righteous are those who are in right standing with God. A righteous person does not live in a sinful lifestyle. They walk at a level of holiness and integrity. The righteous are in covenant with God through Christ. We become the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus (Romans 3 vs 22) because we have received the new covenant through Jesus’ shed blood on the cross. His righteousness is imputed to, or counted toward, us. If you are righteous then the words you speak over your situation will have effect. They will cause things to line up for you in the spirit. 

Righteousness is the foundation of the kingdom of God. In order for the kingdom of God—righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14 vs 17)—to be manifested in your life, you must be righteous. His kingdom comes and His will is done when a righteous person prays. But if we don’t remain in Christ and give ourselves over to Him completely, He doesn’t have “a people.” We cannot be God’s own if we do not walk according to His covenant. We can pray for peace in the storm and speak to mountains all year long, but without Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace and the Waymaker, peace will not come and mountains will not be removed.

The righteous have the mind of Christ. Their thoughts are right and pure. They keep a sober mind. They do not claim or trust in their own righteousness, but they live under the imputed righteousness of God in Christ. They are those who have and occupy—or take up residence in—the kingdom of heaven, and shine in their Father’s kingdom. 

The condition of the heart is a major aspect of answered prayer. It is sincere prayer from the heart that makes the power of God available, and this is the heart of the righteous. The Amplified Version of part of the apostle James statement reads, “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” (James 5 vs 16.) If your prayers are not moving mountains, check your relationship with God and your adherence to the covenant with Him.

The apostle James, in encouraging the believers, gave the example of Elijah, who was a man subject to the same passions as any man, yet his prayer shut up the heavens. Elijah was known for his fervency. Fervent means having or showing great emotion or zeal, ardent, extremely hot or glowing. Righteous people will have a passion in prayer. When they open their mouths and begin to pray and speak to the mountains in their lives, wisdom, life, truth, and justice flow out. The environment begins to take on the attributes of the kingdom as they speak it into existence. 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for imputing Your righteousness in me through Christ Jesus, and endue me with the spirit of complete obedience to You, that I may keep my part of the covenant, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!