Answered Prayer

James 5:16-18

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

I.  An EXPLANATION of answered prayer. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

(1) There is an INTEGRITY to prayer. “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man.”

a) A POSITIONAL righteousness.“For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  

b) A PRACTICAL righteousness. “He who practices righteousness is righteous.”

(2) There is an INTENSITY to prayer.

(3) There is an IMMENSITY to prayer. 

II.  An ILLUSTRATION of answered prayer. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.

(1) Elijah’s WEAKNESS “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours…”

(2) Elijah’s EARNESTNESS “Elijah prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.”

(3) Elijah’s EFFECTIVENESS And he prayed again and the heaven gave rain and the earth produced its fruit.

Righteous people praying earnestly and fervently produces great results!