9.51 The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much

The book of James tells us that there is something special about the prayer of a righteous man. It is powerful. Righteousness puts a man in right standing with God. He has access to God and relationship with the Father – that makes his prayers powerful.

(James 5:16)
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Therefore, there is something special about the prayers of a New Covenant believer. Under the Old Covenant, no man truly attained to righteousness through the law. They had to depend on the blood of animals to cover their sins. Or through faith in the Messiah, they would walk in the shadows of the New Covenant.

But today, righteousness is a gift from Jesus. Jesus is our righteousness. The Bible says that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21). Because of who we are in Christ, our prayers are the prayers of a righteous man, and they are powerful.

The person who sees himself as a sinner apart from Christ will find it hard to come to God’s presence. He will find his prayers powerless. Sin consciousness robs the believer of His privileges in Christ.

Therefore today when we pray, we must see ourselves righteous in Christ. That faith will cause us to pray with power.