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James 5:16b - Faithful Prayer.

James 5:16b - Pray of Faith.

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

James 5:16b (NLT) The earnest prayer of a righteous person has 
great power and produces wonderful results.  

James 5:16b (NIV) The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and 
effective.  

James 5:16b (AMP) The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a 
righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].  

James 5:16b (NCV) When a believing person prays, great things 
happen.  

James 5:16 (MSG) The prayer of a person living right with God is 
something powerful to be reckoned with.  

CONTEXT

James 5:13-18: The Prayer of Faith.

Many kinds of prayer are named here: prayer for the sick, prayer 
for forgiveness, prayer for the nation, even prayer about the 
weather. There is no need that prayer cannot meet and no problem that 
prayer cannot solve. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren 
Wiersbe] 

The Christian's most powerful resource is communion with God 
through prayer. The results are often greater than we think possible. 
Some people see prayer as a last resort, but such an approach is 
backward. Prayer should come first. Because God's power is infinitely 
greater than ours, it only makes sense to rely on him - especially 
because God encourages us to do so. [One Year NLT SB] 

God promises that our prayers are packed with spiritual punch if 
our lives are right with Him. While He hears all prayer, it's 
comforting to know that we can have a bigger impact if we are living in 
obedience to Him. Thank God today for the awesome effect we can have with 
our prayer lives if we are faithful Christians. [The 365 Daily 
Promise Bible By Barbour] 

COMMENTARY

   Charles Haddon Spurgeon says we can be certain that God made 
prayer so prominent in the Bible because he intends it to be 
conspicuous in our lives. "If God has said much about prayer, it is because 
he knows we have much need of it."  
   Spurgeon also looked closely at Jesus' statement that we 
ought always to pray and not to faint and concluded that Jesus was 
warning us that, without prayer, we surely would faint.  
   Spurgeon, the "prince of preachers," believed fervently in 
prayer and said it was as essential to him as breathing. Yet he also 
said something unexpected about prayer, something quite different 
from others such as Martin Luther and John Wesley, who reported the 
need for hours of prayer each day. Spurgeon said, "Not length but 
strength is desirable. A sense of need is a mighty teacher of brevity."  
   Associates of evangelist Dwight L. Moody said he did not pray 
long prayers, but spontaneous ones. Moody, as a man of action, was 
"always in prayer" - he'd stop to pray, leave it with God, and move on. 
 
   Spurgeon was similar. He said that though he was aware of 
people who prayed for hours, and was pleased they did, he seldom saw 
the need for it himself. "It's like a person going into a bank with 
a check and stopping for an hour. The clerks would wonder." 
Spurgeon said that prayer is like cashing a check. "You so believe in God 
that you present the promise, obtain the blessing, and go about your 
Master's business. The prayers of the Bible are nearly all short ones: 
they are short and strong."  
   Luther, Wesley, Moody, Spurgeon, and countless others had 
rich, fervent prayer lives. Yet each was unique, and their passionate 
prayers took on many forms. At different times of their lives, their 
prayer experiences changed. Spurgeon, for instance, went through times 
of deep depression, during which he likely did not experience a 
"check-cashing" style of prayer.  
   Prayer is an integral part of our spiritual adventure. It's 
not a set of rules, but rather an invitation to come to Jesus, 
whatever our circumstances and whatever our heart's condition. As the 
hymn puts it:  
      What a friend we have in Jesus, 
      All our sins and griefs to bear; 
      What a privilege to carry, 
      Everything to God in prayer. 
   Lord Jesus Christ, help me to be constant in prayer whatever 
my feelings. Help me to have faith that you are ready to "cash my 
checks," yet draw me also to love being with you and to enjoy your 
presence. [The One Year Book of Encouragement by Harold Myra] 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE:

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2008/20081208-0900.html

EXCELLENT AUDIO SERMON ON THIS PASSAGE BY RANDY ROBERTS:

http://lluc.org/site/1/podcast/20090418.mp3

EXCELLENT VIDEO SERIES ON EXPERIENCING GOD:


http://sda.biggytv.com/watch/Revive!_-_Dwight_Nelson:_Experiencing_Gods_Grace/revive/