March 18, 2025, Prayer Manna
Zion Church, Apostle Joseph Hamilton
“Prayer of a righteous man availeth Much” (James 5:16)

James 5:13-16
King James Version
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let
them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;
and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
**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.

The AMP Classic Edition
The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes
tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

What does it mean that the “prayer of a righteous man availeth much”
(James 5:16)?

James places heavy emphasis on prayer. As he closes his letter, James returns
to the topic, urging believers to “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, KJV).

The book of James overflows with practical guidance for dealing with every
situation in the Christian life. Suffering and sickness present unique
challenges, and for these James gives this advice: “Are any of you suffering
hardships? You should pray… . Are any of you sick? You should call for the
elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the
name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord
will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven”
(James 5:13–15, NLT).

The original Greek word translated as “sick” in the passage refers to a grave
illness. When a believer becomes critically ill, he or she ought to contact the
church elders, who are responsible for overseeing spiritual needs within the
church. The elders are to pray. James stresses the importance of prayer in
healing. God is the healer, the source of all healing (Exodus 15:26),

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and
wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments,
and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I
have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.

The context of James’ statement the prayers of the righteous availeth much is
related specifically to his teaching about healing and prayer. It directly follows
his instruction to confess to one another and pray for one another for healing.

James suggests that sometimes sickness is the result of unconfessed sin. He is
not saying that every illness we experience is the consequence of sin, only that
some ailments are rooted in sin. When this is the case, we are to confess our
sins so that God will forgive us. The New Living Translation makes James’
meaning clearer to modern Bible readers: “Confess your sins to each other
and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a
righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James
5:16, NLT).

James is not giving a blanket promise of healing. Instead, he is presenting
practical advice. When it is God’s will to grant healing, the “prayer offered in
faith will heal the sick” (James 5:15, NLT). In the event unconfessed sin is the
reason for an illness, James wants believers to begin their prayer for healing
with confession and repentance. He knows that turning away from evil “will
bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:8).
Like David, whose hidden sins sapped him of strength and caused his bones to
waste away (see Psalm 38:3, 7–10),
Psalm 38:3
There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any
rest in my bones because of my sin.

Psalm 38:7-10
7 For my loins are filled with burning; and there is no soundness in my flesh.
8 I am faint and sorely bruised [deadly cold and quite worn out]; I groan by
reason of the disquiet and moaning of my heart.
9 Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You.
10 My heart throbs, my strength fails me; as for the light of my eyes, it also is
gone from me.

our sins, left unconfessed, can make us physically sick (Psalm 32:3–5).
Psalm 32:3-5

3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day
long.
4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into
the drought of summer. Selah.
5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I
will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity
of my sin. Selah.

Only after receiving the Lord’s forgiveness will our prayers for healing be
heard and answered (2 Chronicles 7:14).

The word availeth in the KJV means “produces an advantage” or “serves in a
useful way.” The original Greek word translated as “availeth” means “is able,”
“is capable,” or “has the power.” The righteous person is the one who has been
made right with God—the one whose sins are forgiven. So, the one who is
forgiven and in right standing with God can pray in a “useful, advantageous,
powerful” way and thus receive excellent results.

Prayers that are powerful and effective come from righteous people: “For the
eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:12; see also
Psalm 34:15). The Lord won’t listen to those who cherish sin in their hearts
(Psalm 66:18). A righteous person has a living faith that seeks to obey the
Lord and His Word. Proverbs 28:9 warns, “If anyone turns a deaf ear to my
instruction, even their prayers are detestable.” Confession of and repentance
from sin are preconditions for having the Lord’s ear. Only when we experience
God’s forgiveness will our prayers have the power to avail much. Successful
prayer comes from believers who passionately desire to see God’s will worked
out in their lives.

James spotlights Elijah the prophet as a righteous man who prayed fervently
and with power. His prayers “availed much”: “Elijah was a human being, even
as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the
land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain,
and the earth produced its crops” (James 5:17–18). Just like us, Elijah had
human weaknesses and shortcomings. But he was so in tune with the will of
God that he recognized when God wanted to begin the drought and when He
wanted to end it.

Elijah’s example challenges us today to seek a closer relationship with God so
that we, too, can know, follow, and pray according to His will. When we are
right with God, and our prayers agree with the will of God, we can trust they
will be answered (1 John 5:14–15) because the prayer of the righteous
availeth much!

The phrase “the prayers of the righteous availeth much” (James 5:16) signifies
that the earnest, sincere prayer of a morally upright person has a powerful
and effective impact, capable of accomplishing great things.
**
Here’s a more detailed explanation:**
• Biblical Context:
This phrase comes from James 5:16, which encourages believers to
confess their sins to one another and pray for each other’s healing,
emphasizing that the “effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much”.
• Meaning of “Availeth Much”:
The word “availeth” in this context means “produces an advantage” or
“serves in a useful way”. The original Greek word translated as
“availeth” means “is able,” “is capable,” or “has the power”.
•** Key Elements:**
• *Righteousness*: The prayer is associated with a “righteous man,”
implying that the person is living a life that pleases God.
• Effectual and Fervent: The prayer is described as “effectual”
(meaning it produces results) and “fervent” (meaning it is earnest,
passionate, and sincere).
• Power and Impact: The verse suggests that such prayer has great
power and can accomplish much.
• *Modern Interpretation*s:
Some interpretations emphasize that the prayer of a righteous person is
powerful because God hears and responds to it. Others highlight the
importance of confessing sins and praying for one another, as this can
lead to healing and restoration.