James on Prayer
James 5 [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. [17] 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. [18] And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. [19] Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; [20] Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. So often I hear the words I�ll pray for you and I hear it so much that I think it has become almost a reactionary statement as opposed to a reality like when people greet you and ask �How are you?� Both of these statements are tossed around so easily I do believe that these people intend to pray for the person they spoke to but that I fear that prayer is becoming less and less important among Christians. I would love to be totally wrong. But, I notice the number of prayer warriors becoming fewer and fewer every month But if I go on what I have seen in many churches, I have to concede that we talk about it a lot more than we actually get on our knees and do it�Why not stop right there and pray with and for that person? I have a friend who took a bad blow to the head a few years ago and if he even thinks about praying for someone he stops everything and does it right then�the blow robbed him of his short term memory. And even tough he wishes it had not happened he jokingly calls it a little inconvenience�which in his opinion has improved his prayer life and his relationship with Christ more than he ever could have on his own. We claim that we believe in the power of prayer. If that is so why do we spend more time talking about it than actually praying? The least attended of all church meetings is the prayer meeting and many churches have given the practice up altogether. Have we become uncomfortable praying and expressing our needs in the presence of our Christian brothers and sisters? It is not as if Jesus Himself did show us how to pray he set example after example before us? I think it is because many Christians seldom pray on their own and that makes them reluctant to join together in corporate prayer? Perhaps the answer lies in a little bit of all of this. But nonetheless, it is troubling to think of how little we Christians actually pray. "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (v. 16c) KJV [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. As Christians this Scripture is know to us to be true. Everyone who has accepted Christ as our Lord and King believe that God is real�that He answers prayer. I think we all want to pray with power and effectiveness we want to impact lives through faith and we can do that through prayer. Life itself is a distraction from a prayerful relationship with God. And, really we do intend to pray, the first thing you know its Saturday and we look back and realize that really we spent almost no time in real prayer. We squeaked one out before bed or maybe managed to say grace a few times but to place our hearts in God�s hand in prayer has slipped past us again. Some weeks I know I am as guilty as anyone else. I know that if I would just spend more time before God in prayer, I would see more of the Kingdom manifesting itself in my life and the lives of others. I have no one to blame for missing out on the best of what God has to offer when I remain in a prayerful relationship with Him. James shows us the power of prayer and that it can and does change lives and can pull us out of any circumstances that might we find ourselves immersed in. James gives us at least three descriptions of when we should pray when prayer should be our first reaction not our last broken cry for help. We can go to our Lord before we lay broken on the floor and crushed under the weight of the world. When Bruised When life grows hard when other have attacked you pray. "Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise." (James 5:13) KJV [13] Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. This little piece of James is one of the most impassioned pleas for us to be a praying people. We know that at times we will be happy and in turn there will be times of sadness. When we are happy and encouraged, let us sing to the Lord in psalms and prayers in open praise of Him. When trouble comes into our lives our way, pray. One of the odd things I find is that when we are hurting �� bruised and beat up �� because the complexity of life has cast us into difficult circumstances. Often it is in those very difficult times when we need Him the most. When we are actually angry with God for having not stepped in or when we have had our spirit mortally wounded by a brother or sister it is in these difficult times we do not want to pray we want nothing to do with a relationship with God. We often don�t want to do anything�we just want to give up on everything our lives our family even our faith� this is when we need to open our hearts in prayer to cleanse our hearts and minds of our hurt and our trouble by giving it all to God. The one who knows what is best for His children. David knew what it was to suffer emotional pain as a result of difficult circumstances. Listen to what he says in Psalm 31:9-12 [9] Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.[10] For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.[11] I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.[12] I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. David is in distress prays. He has grown weak and wasted in both body and soul he calls to God with tears and reverent fear. He ain�t just writing a song. He ain�t just writing a Psalm. He is praying! He lifts his voice to the Lord cast his fears and worry on the one who loves him with a prayer in the middle of his distress. David, bruised and weary chose to pray. And when I am bruised, I should pray. I should pray because God will hear me and help me in my time of trouble. Listen again to the Psalmist in Psalm 120:1-2 KJV 1] I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. [2] My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. The New century version reads simply(NCV): " When I was in trouble, I called to the LORD, and he answered me." It really is that simple. When we are distressed and hurting, that is when we should go before the Lord, leaning on His mercy, and His grace in our time of brokenness. When we find our self in distress, prayer should be our first choice not what we do when we have run out of options. It is almost funny how our human nature has us trying every thing except prayer, we often find ourselves totally destitute and bereft before we are willing to humble our self and turn to God in prayer. A friend tells me this story about a church they had a few tough decisions to make and the situation was not resolving it�s self. After many meetings and many words, on this very serious problem it seemed there would never be a consensus and no resolution even though the time to decide was growing short. Finally, in desperation someone suggested that they stop their meeting and pray about it. An old gray deacon slowly and painfully stood up and every one though he was going to initiate the prayer� Instead he stretched to his full five foot five inches�picks up his hat and coat and then in his most disgusted and irritated voice declares "My, has it really come down to that!" And promptly leaves the room. The thing is that, many people feel exactly that way about prayer. It should be the very first thing we do when trouble comes but instead it is seen it as a last resort. When You Are Broken When broken pray. By broken I mean that God has allowed you become broken. When we have harden our hearts and have started justifying our sin. When we have ignored it as if all is perfectly well. When we have decided that is of no consequence, as unimportant and no big deal. It still matters to God. It is a big deal to Him. And if the only way He can get our attention is by allowing us to fall to that place He will allow it. He cares more about our walk with Him than in our comfort. He is perfectly willing to allow whatever is required to bring us back to Him. Does that seem harsh? Does it seem harsh that God would use our hardship to bring us back to Faith? Does it seem harsh that God would use sickness to get our attention? Would it be more loving of God to keep us healthy and happy and let us ruin our lives? Our Father is interested in our spiritual health. This life is one moment is the face of eternity. Now that does not mean that every trial and every sickness is God trying to get us to turn ourselves to Him. But it can be true that some people are suffering because of their sinful behavior. An example that comes to my mind as a direct cause and effect is drug addiction and how many lives have been ruined by the abuse of alcohol. Look at our text today: " 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.." (vv. 14-15) There is a clear implication that when the elders pray over the sick person that they may discern that the sickness is a result of sin, which, when dealt with, will result in the person being forgiven and healed. Proverbs 28:13-14 13] He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.[14] Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. Psalm 32: 5] I acknowledged 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. When we avoid dealing with our own sin, we place ourselves in a position where problems will thrive�.to face them ask forgiveness from our Lord and then turn away from them, He forgives, restores, heals both physical and spiritual self. So when we are broken there is only one sure way to be made whole again�pray. When You Are walking away from the path He has chosen for you�pray. This is not only true for us but also for others as well. We should pray for ourselves and for others that have strayed from the truth. James tells us: Verses 19 -20 [19] Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;[20] Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. We see here that we have power in prayer power to aid those who have strayed from truth. Paul�s letter to the Galatians starting in 6:1-2 [1] 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. [2] Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Before we even begin to reach out to those who are walking outside God�s will first we must pray, pray for strength and that we will be given the tools and the power to heal what is broken within them. Open and heart felt prayer is the catalyst of God�s work on their behalf. We often underestimate the true power of prayer simply because we don�t really get�exactly how it works. It is not the power of the one who prays that counts it is the power of God, the power of the I Am�He already knows what we are going to ask often He is just waiting for us to acknowledge Him. Again that simple Just ask in faith and he will answer.. Elijah is our example. " 17] 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. [18] And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.." (vv. 17-18) Now James is telling us , "If Elijah could pray and see things happen, so can you." I read this and thought NOW come on, Elijah was a man of God, a prophet. I surely am not anything close to that. But I read it again and James saw this question coming he makes sure that we understand that "Elijah was a man just like us." We know that Elijah was a prophet, and definitely preformed miracles. Butwe know that The Father was the real power behind those miracles. He makes sure that we understand that Elijah was not perfect. Elijah was human he shared the very same imperfections that inflict us. At one point in his ministry, he lost his trust and ran from Jezebel. He was afraid and discouraged just like we get sometimes. When you read this part of his story you can tell he is actually he complaining to God that he was all alone. God had to remind him that there were others who stood for the true God of Israel. Yes, Elijah was a prophet of God, but he was just a human like us. James uses one who we would recognize as a great prophet. The prophet Elijah to encourage us to pray. The story in 1 Kings 17 and 18.is that the King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, Drew Israel away from the Lord the false God, Baal was being worshiped. And God punished the nation by withholding rain. Because of the Elijah it didn�t rain for Three and One Half years. Now that�s praying! Y�all remember the story Elijah challenging the priests of Baal on Mt. Carmel. The challenge was to see whose God was the true God. The priests of Baal gathered and had their little ceremony, calling on the name of their god for the entire day. All day long, the priests cried out to their god, but their god did not answer them. Whipped themselves into a frenzy even cutting themselves to offer their blood to Baal, nothing not a word. Elijah prepared an altar and the sacrifice, pouring water over it, soaking everything around the Alter. When he prayed The God the I AM burnt alter and all consumed it in a flash. But there was still a drought in the land, so Elijah prayed again. In 1 Kings, he prayed, his servant went seven times to see if any sign of rain on the horizon. On the seventh trip the servant saw a little tiny cloud. The cloud grew and before long, there was a great rain and the nation of Israel was saved. Here, again, is the power of prayer! Elijah�s prayer shows us several truths about prayer. The first Elijah possessed the power of prayer,and he was just a man. Our prayer is answered not because we are a perfect servant of God, the fact that we are willing to be God�s servants is enough. Elijah was just a man a man of fault and fears but when he prayed while believing the Word and will of God, God answered. The same can be true for us. None of us are perfect but still, God hears our prayers, it has nothing to do with our perfection or lack of perfection. It is the fact that we trust in Him. The "righteous man" is not a man righteous by his own power but he is made righteous by Christ. Elijah prayed in faith and according to the will of God. Robert Law said, "Prayer is not prayer getting man�s will done in heaven; it�s getting God�s will done on earth." We must pray in faith according to the will of God. Now you cannot separate Prayer and the Word of God they are forever linked. We must wait for understanding of God�s will when we pray. too often, we simply pray that "God�s will would be done." And that�s OK. Because sometimes we don�t have a clue as to what God�s will is at that time. Sometimes all we can say is "Father, we don�t have a clue as to what you want but whatever it is, we are for it. Thy will be done." But we must never stop seeking God�s specific will for a particular situation. We must ask the Lord through prayer to show us His will. To do that we need study the Word believe the promises of God and them claim for specific situations that are before us. Elijah�s prayer was specific. Search the Word. Seek God in prayer. My faith tells me this is true and the promises made by my Savior are true and for this age and for every age yet to come. Search the Word. Seek God in prayer. And I standing on the promises of His Word believe that He will bring you and I to the place where we understand how to pray for that specific need. And if we are able to pray in that fashion, when God shows you His will, then pray in faith, believing that God will send the answer. Elijah was persistent �Elijah prayed earnestly�.. God had shown him that rain would come still Elijah continued to pray and would not stop until he saw the fulfillment of God�s plan. Whether standing in faith before the prophets of Baal. Where he prayed only once, God acted, and that was the end of that. And so, when Elijah prayed once for the rain to come and there was no evidence of rain, rather than get discouraged, he simply kept on praying. We need to be more like Elijah in our praying. We need to keep on praying until God answers that prayer. We see that because of the effective prayers of one man, God moved in the life of a nation. Our prayers can affect the lives of others, many of whom we do not even know. Our prayers can affect situations across this planet. That is why it is important to pray. World affairs can be altered. The destinies of nations may hang in the balance. Prayer is not simply something we do for ourselves. It is something we do for the sake of all mankind. Father, Show us Your divine will and lead us in our prayers that we may be an effective force for the presence of Your Kingdom that you may receive the Glory and that others will see the wonder that is GOD. In the name of my Lord and King Jesus Christ Amen
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