James 5:16-18: The Effectual Fervent Prayer
2025-05-31
James 5:16
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)
Previously, we talked about healing and the elders’ care for the sick. Here, we see that the people are commanded to confess faults to each other as well and pray for each other with the expectation that people will be healed. This healing might be for someone who is sick or someone who is brokenhearted (cf. Luke 4:18).
This shows the need to be personally involved with other people in church. You share about things that you struggle with. You listen to others about their struggles. You talk things through. We pray for each other and help each other get through our weaknesses. In this way, we become a stronger body.
Jesus told us to wash each other’s feet. “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15). This is more than just the physical action. We deal with each other’s deep-seated issues, which can get hairy, for this is how we can love each other most perfectly. Jesus says, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12).
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another” (Romans 12:10). We place others before ourselves because that is what Jesus does.
Paul the apostle says something similar here: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2). Help others that are entangled with their own issues, and let others help you with yours. We do this without judgment or condemnation, knowing that we are susceptible to sins just like everybody else.
“...effectual fervent prayer...” This is the working out of prayer. For me, there are times when I pray in passing, and there are times when prayer is like the Peniel wrestling match. When we strive in prayer for anything, be it for another person like the former part of this verse, or for anything else, I think these times are the most effective. In those times, I am worn down and see the will of God more clearly, letting go of whatever the situation may be. Perhaps this is what is meant here.
Consider the apostles. “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). They were so busy with preaching and prayer, they could not do anything else. They had to elicit the help of others for the situation with the widows. Consider that about 50 percent of their waking hours were devoted to prayer.
Later, the church in Jerusalem was praying in one accord without any break for the deliverance of Peter. “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him” (Acts 12:5). Their perseverance was rewarded, though they seemed shocked when their prayers were answered. “But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished” (Acts 12:16).
Moreover, we see it is the “effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man” that avails much. As Christians, we are all positionally righteous, declared to be so because of the rebirth and faith in Christ. However, I think this applies especially to those who work out that positional righteousness in the hear and now. So many confess Christ, but their personal holiness does not align with their profession. This might call us to question the sincerity of their faith. Whatever the case may be, the one who perseveres in prayer will be far more effective in the Christian life and service than someone who does not pray much at all.
However, returning to this prayer for one another, we ought to pray fervently for others so that they can be edified and the body can be healed.
James 5:17-18
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. (James 5:17-18)
I am not sure if there is any record of Elijah’s prayer for the rain to stop. Whatever it was, we see that he was most certain that the rain would stop for a long time. “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan” (1 Kings 17:1-3).
We see that Elijah was certain of the result. To say something like “As the LORD God of Israel liveth” is a serious thing to say. No righteous man would say this casually. He knew what was going to happen. Though James tells us that Elijah prayed earnestly for this event, the LORD said it was “according to my word.” Moreover, we see that the LORD commanded the prophet to take cover by the brook Cherith because water was going to go away quickly; the Lord had made provision for Elijah.
Regarding the coming rain after three and a half years, we read, “And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria” (1 Kings 18:1-2).
After the slaughter of the prophets of Baal, Elijah told the king Ahab to get ready for rain. Consider 1 Kings 18:41-46. Though the prophet told the king about the coming rain, we see Elijah getting down on his face. Clearly, though he understood from the Lord what would happen, he never stopped relying on God for the moment. How serious it would be if he had told the king to be ready for rain and it did not come! He had his servant check seven times for clouds, and eventually they came. “...and there was a great rain.”
Elijah was a man who relied on the Lord moment by moment for his next meal and provision. He went to Cherith until the brook dried up. Then he was in Sidon waiting on a poor widow woman. Because he was a man of reliance on the LORD, his prayers were answered and was aligned with God throughout his life.
The prophet “was a man subject to like passions as we are.” He fled from Jezebel and despaired of life. He had his shortcomings, but by prayer and reliance on the Lord he was used greatly by Him.
The word for “subject to like passions” is used elsewhere. Consider Acts 14:8-15. The men of Lystra thought Barnabas and Paul were gods, but they were just ordinary guys used of the Lord. That is the way we should see the saints in the Bible. They are of like passions as we are. They were just obedient to the Lord by relying on Him in prayer.
Therefore, we can see the Lord’s will realized, for the other people we pray for or for anything else, by persevering in prayer like Jacob at Peniel. But only according to the Lord’s will.