As James begins to talk about effective prayer that avails much, he begins with, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed”. The Greek word for ‘faults’ is ‘paráptoma’… it literally means ‘to fall beside something, or to deviate’ – deviation from the truth, or past deception gives place to the devil to bring condemnation, and condemnation hinders prayer, in the sense that people cannot pray with authority under condemnation. The reason we need to talk to one another about our past wrong way of thinking is that as you talk through past deceptions with fellow believers, as you re-affirm New Covenant truth in the light of grace, healing takes place and wholeness comes. This gives a launching pad for boldness, faith and authority in prayer.
Verse 16 goes on to say, ‘The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.’ Our healing is about us being able to receive righteousness. A broken, condemned person cannot pray with authority because condemnation makes a person feel less that righteous. As we talk faith into one another and reaffirm the truth to one another, now we can pray with authority as righteous ones in Christ. Prayers that come from people who know that they are righteous in Christ avail much!
James 5:17-18 (TPT) goes on to say… ‘Elijah was a man with human frailties, just like all of us, but he prayed and received supernatural answers. He actually shut the heavens over the land so there would be no rain for three and a half years! Then he prayed again and the skies opened up over the land so that the rain came again and produced the harvest.’
The Mirror Bible says, ‘Elijah wasn’t superman, yet his prayers had supernatural results with global impact. Remember how he prayed. He prayed with such resolve that he stopped the rain for three and a half years! He prayed again and everything was back to normal; rain and harvest in season!’
When we pray in a revelation of righteousness, our prayers are on another level! Pray as the righteous in Christ, and pray supernatural prayers with supernatural results on a global scale!
Blessings on you, Nick
