“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).
As the Body of Christ, we need each other in prayer. The verse says the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. The Amplified translation says, “it makes tremendous power available.”
Notice, the verse makes it clear whose prayers are effective—the righteous. Righteousness means to be in right standing with God. The word “fervent” means to be hot and to boil. The word “effectual” means effective. Therefore the righteous man’s hot and boiling over prayer is effective and makes tremendous power available.
We know our prayers are effective when we pray according to the Word and pray in the Holy Ghost. But the next level is to pray with fervency. You see, praying with fervency is when your prayer becomes emotional. It becomes hot and boiling prayer, your mind is engaged and your Spirit is connected to your mouth, not your head.
Sure, it’s possible to pray in the Holy Ghost and be thinking about yesterday’s dinner—we’ve all been there, right? Now, you will get some results because praying in the Holy Ghost is praying the perfect will of God, but if you want your prayer life to move to the next level—let it be hot and boiling over.
That’s when you fully engage everything—your mind, your mouth—you get everything involved. Your attitude is, “I am ready to do battle for Sister Jane Doe. I will not let her go down the tubes. I will pray for her in the name of Jesus, and stay with it as longs as it takes.”
Romans chapter 12, verse 11 tells us to be fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord. He’s talking about being hot in your service to God. You should be boiling over in serving God—not settling for this “I’m just kind of getting by” attitude.
Have you ever read the Book of Revelation? In one verse God tells one of the churches, I would rather you were hot or cold, but because you are lukewarm I will spew you out of my mouth.
In other words, make a decision one way or another. If you’re going to serve the Lord, go all the way. The same thing is true with prayer; if you’re going to pray, take it to the next level. Remember you are the righteous, let your prayers be hot and boiling over, fervent and effective—making tremendous power available.
Scripture References: 1 Thessalonians 2:7-13; 1 Peter 4:6-11
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).