The
Prayer of Faith Scripture Reading: James 5:12-20.
Memory Verse: "Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth,
the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free"
(Ephesians 6:18).
Introduction: Probably everyone of us has at some time or another
wondered how our prayers are being answered, but I recall one about which
there is no doubt.
Once in the middle of the night I awoke in the most terrible
moment of a very realistic dream. I was driving a car and I had just struck
a child. The effect upon me was so real and terrible that I climbed out
of bed, got down on my knees and asked my Father in Heaven not to let that
thing happen to me. Then it was as though the burden was taken from me,
sleep was restored, and not another thought was given to the matter until
noon of the next day.
Five of us were traveling in the car. I was at the wheel. Suddenly
an urge to immediately stop came upon me with no apparent reason, and this
we did quite abruptly, jerking us rather turbulently. Moments later we
were amazed to see a toddler dressed only in a diaper emerge from between
parked automobiles and waddle out into the street in front of us.
Next a mother came charging out of the house, bounding over
the curb and into the street. She angrily grabbed up the child, and without
much more than a glance in our direction retreated into the house.
To whom, do you suppose, has the Lord demonstrated his love
in this remarkable answer to prayer? The little tot probably will never
hear that his life was spared. The mother was so angry with herself for
letting the child escape from her confines, that it is quite likely she
never breathed one "Thank you" to the Lord.
But to me, who would have suffered also, had the Lord not intervened,
to me it has meant the most. All I can say in gratitude will confirm that
the Psalmist was right when he said, "Whom have I in heaven but Thee, and
there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee."--Orville Mitchell,
Sr.
Note: The late Mr. Orville Mitchell was the president of the John E. Mitchell Co., which manufactures "Mark IV" auto-conditioners in Dallas, Texas.
Lesson Questions:
1. What proper ordering of our speech does James encourage? James
5:12; Exodus 20:7; Matthew 5:34; Leviticus 19:12.
Note: Adam Clarke's Commentary
on the Holy Bible, Baker Book House, p. 1298, says, ". . . That the
Jews were notoriously guilty of common swearing by heaven, earth, Jerusalem,
the Temple, the altar, different parts of the body, was not considered
by them to be binding oaths has been sufficiently proved . . . Do not pretend
to say yea with your lips, and annul it in your heart; let the yea
or the nay which you express be bona fide such."
2. What instruction is given to those who are suffering? . . . to those who are cheerful? James 5:13; Psalm 119:49-51; 81:1; 95:1; 1 Chronicles 16:11; Ephesians 5:19; Isaiah 30:29; 1 Peter 2:9.
3. What instruction is given to those who are sick? James 5:14; Psalm 147:3; 103:1-5; Isaiah 53:5; 57:18; Jeremiah 17:14; Mark 16:17,18; Acts 28:8; Luke 4:40.
4. Discuss the significance of anointing oil. Isaiah 1:6 ("mollified" means "softened"); Mark 6:13; Luke 10:33,34; Revelation 3:18; Psalm 23:5; 133:1-3; Zechariah 4:11-14; Exodus 30:22-33; 1 Samuel 10:1.
5. How important is faith in our prayers? James 5:15; 1:6,7; Matthew 21:22; 9:29,30; John 14:12-14; 15:7; Mark 11:22-24; 9:23; Hebrews 11:33; Isaiah 65:24.
6. How may our prayers go unanswered? James 5:16; 1 Samuel 28:6,7; Psalm
66:18; Proverbs 1:24-28; 28:9; Isaiah 59:1,2; Zechariah 7:8-13;
1 Peter 3:7.
7. What mighty work did the Lord perform when Elijah prayed for a drought? James 5:17,18; Psalm 34:15; 37:25; Proverbs 15:29; 1 Kings 18:37,38; Acts 4:31; Judges 6:39,40.
8. Should we attempt to restore those who have fallen in error, or should
we completely separate ourselves from them? James 5:19,20;
2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Proverbs 11:30; 1 Corinthians 9:19,20; Jude
23; Jeremiah 3:22; Hosea 14:1-4; Galatians 6:1.
