WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW

One of the biggest indicators that an individual is lacking in faith and needs much more of a revelation of the power and abilities of God is when you hear this statement come from their mouth: “Well, at least we can pray”.   We are in a time in the world and in America’s history where prayer from God’s people should be the priority.  Just in the past week, we have experienced the destruction of Hurricane Helene, the escalation of war in the Middle East, and the beginning of a massive shipping strike that has the potential to bring great damage to our frail economy.  All three of these have one thing in common; our ability to bring positive change for these calamities is limited at best.  We need supernatural intervention.  We need the help of God.  This is where prayer comes in.

James 5:16 tells us that “the effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous avails much”.   There are five spiritual items listed in this verse that bear looking at.  1)  Effectual:  We want and need our prayers to affect what we are praying for.  God begins this verse by promising us our prayers will have an effect.  How much effect is determined by the next four items?  2)  Fervent:  This word is associated with Jeremiah’s statement, “If was like fire shut up in my bones”. (Jeremiah 20:9) This fervency in prayer comes from receiving revelation from God about a matter.  Seeing the lost, dying, suffering, and perishing the way God does will bring fervency in us that will affect our prayers.  Fervency is an ingredient in experiencing effectual prayers.  3)  Prayer:  Prayer is simply coming in agreement with God.  When Jesus was asked by the disciples, to “teach us to pray”, He began by saying, “When you pray, say; ‘Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your Name.  Your kingdom come; your will be done.”   (Luke 11:2-4) This is referred to as The Lord’s Prayer.  It begins with us acknowledging that God is in control and is worthy of praise, worship, and adoration.  It then speaks of coming into agreement with God by saying, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done”.   4)  The righteous:  This refers to those who are in “right standing” with God.  It also refers to those who are doing the right thing in God’s sight.  If you are a born-again believer in Jesus Christ I can guarantee you prayer for these three calamities; and more; is the right thing to do at this hour.  Avails much:  This is where faith and revelation come together with our prayers and real results follow.  Not only will God hear our prayers, but He will do exceedingly, abundantly, above all we ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

I am encouraged by the example of the prophet Azariah meeting with King Asa in II Chronicles 15:1-3; 8 & 9; 12 & 15- Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Obed.  And he went out to meet Asa and said to him: ‘Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin.  The Lord is with you while you are with Him.  If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.  For a long time, Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law;  Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; and all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul; and They found him, and the Lord gave them rest all around. 

•  I love the way this passage ends, “and the Lord gave them rest all around”.   The majority of the people of the world are wearied, worried, and lacking in trust in the authorities who govern the nations.   The Israelites tapped into the truth and dynamics of James 5:16 in a time of crisis.  They prayed in agreement with God’s will.  Their prayers were fervent and came from a humbled people who knew they needed God’s intervention.  Their prayers were effective, and they availed much!   

• Just as Jesus pleaded with Jerusalem to not miss their time of visitation, He is pleading with the body of Christ today to engage in prayer and spiritual warfare.  To spend time in praise and worship and allow their spirit man to be lit with the fire of the Spirit, producing a fervency that avails much.  Will we do our part, or will we be like the disciples of Jesus in Gethsemane who couldn’t stay awake as He fervently prayed before going to the cross?  We are at a spiritual tipping point in America and the world.  My prayer is that the scales are tipped towards God’s will for the world and the righteous.  Amen.