The apostle knew that Timothy's prayer life would be the secret of his power with God and with people. Paul yearned to see his spiritual son mightily used of God, but he knew something of the costly route to such power. He knew that despite Timothy's brilliance and giftedness, his praying could be hindered by carnal compromise, a stricken conscience and a guilt-ridden heart. The old warrior longed to see this promising young leader join with the stalwarts of the faith and boldly approach the Throne of Grace, having complete confidence that he would receive all that he asked because he was in obedience to the Lord and doing all to please the Lord.
Just who are those who get answers to prayer, who see God's will done on earth as it is in heaven? Who are those who know how to ask according to God's will, and know even as they ask that their request will not be denied? What kind of people are those who prevail in prayer?
The apostle James tells us that they are the righteous. He declares that, "The passionate prayers of the righteous have a powerful effect" (James 5:16, Free Translation). He is not referring to the self-righteous, of course, but those who have been justified freely from the guilt of sin and made righteous in the heart by the cleansing of the Holy Spirit from the power of sin. The righteous are those who are justified freely and sanctified holy. They are the ones who are promised a hearing with God. Their hearts have been purified so that they do not "ask amiss" or with wrong motives (James 4:3). Also, the righteous are those who have confessed and cleared their hearts with one another. So the righteous are those who are right with God and with one another.
The Pure in Heart
Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8). We hear a great deal about the power of the Holy Spirit in these times. This writer has emphasized it again and again, and I shall continue to do so. But if our interest in power exceeds our passion for purity, we are not ready for the baptism with the Holy Spirit. It is the divine order to purify the heart before empowering for ministry. God is more interested in our being than in our doing. Mark Rutland so accurately declares:
