The Fervent Prayer of a Righteous Man
 

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16b, KJV) The word ‘availeth’ (Greek) means to have or exercise force, be of strength, be whole, ability, might and power. Look what this righteous man has available in his prayer life! The Amplified Version says this power is dynamic in its working.

The key word here is righteous. If we understand this word and its meaning, it will change our prayer life to one of power. Let’s look into the Word to glean what God is saying. Starting with Matthew 6:33, Holy Spirit says, “First things first” - “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” The kingdom of God is the new creation, the Body of Christ, the secret place, our position in Christ. Righteousness is first, which is our standing with God. His mode of operation in His kingdom is second. It is a force that corrects paths in our lives. (Proverbs 11:5)

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” What does that mean? Simply this: When Jesus was crucified on the cross, the old creation was crucified with Him. Adam’s race was crucified and a new race of men came into existence – the Jesus race. When you received Christ as your Savior, He not only came into you, but you were put in Him. You were translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s Son (Colossians 1:13) and you joined a new species of men. 2 Corinthians 5:21 tells us that Jesus was made sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Being put into this kingdom by birth (you were born again), you took on another nature and it is a nature of righteousness. You became “right” with God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. You became a joint heir with Him and He is not ashamed to call us brethren.

God’s MO (mode of operation) is different in the new creation from what we were used to while we functioned in the old creation/old man. It occurred to me recently that I had lived many years in a lie; I had lived in a creation that was done away with 2,000 years ago, but I still thought it existed (so my enemy told me). Lacking revelation, I thought life was still about me, trying to be more like Jesus. After all, I was born again, “on my way to heaven” and now wasn’t I suppose to live my life to please God?

The problem was I only understood half of my salvation. I lacked understanding of the other part – the part that made me complete in Him! I didn’t know I was crucified with Jesus and when I accepted Him, I accepted that death to my old man and I was put in Him to let Him live His life through me. When Holy Spirit opened my eyes to this, I got a new mindset. The Word opened up to me; I saw that I was no longer a servant, but a son, and if a son, then a joint heir with Jesus. I understood I was righteous and scriptures about God’s provision for His people began to unfold to me. Literally I now knew that I was in the Son and if the Father doesn’t deny the Son, He doesn’t deny me. My begging days were over and my receiving and declaring days had begun. Romans 8:32 says that God freely gives us all things with His Son.

Being seated with Christ in heavenly places took on new meaning. Actually heaven took on new meaning. John 14:21-23 says heaven came to set up permanent camp in me. How is that? Because the Word says that the Father and the Son will come and make Their home in us and Jesus said He would manifest Himself to us. The Amplified version says it this way….”I (too) will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. (I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him).

I now had revelation that there was a throne inside of me and God was on that throne and I was seated with Christ on the right hand of the Father. All that I would ever need for life had been provided through Christ (2 Peter 1:3, 4); I am a king and a priest (Revelation 1:6) and I am Jesus’ Body in the world. As He is, so am I in this world (1 John 4:17b). I am to function in this earth on the finished work of Christ. I am not to be intimidated by a defeated enemy; I am to wield the sword of the Spirit with courage and confidence, knowing that it is His authority and He will back it all the way.

The fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much! Yes! If you want to walk in and experience the supernatural, then receive your death to the old man (Romans 6:6), reckon it so (Romans 6:11) and receive your new life in Christ (Colossians 3:4). “Take your position” and begin declaring and decreeing what the Word says about situations and you will see the manifestation of Jesus in your midst. After all, it is the purpose of your salvation. You didn’t just get saved to get out of hell and into heaven. It was to fulfill (fully preach) all righteousness! There has been a covenant exchange – your body for His. We need an immortal body for eternity and He needs our flesh body on this earth to live His live through.

In conclusion, notice this is the way you get your prayers answered: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things will be added unto you.” Receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness and you will reign in life (Romans 5:17). -Anne Pranger

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