Bible Text: James 5:13-18 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Living Godly Lives
Why is prayer so hard?
We are learning that prayer is an essential tool in our communication and living Godly lives!
Forms of prayer: praise, intercession, confession and the spiritual disciplines of confession, anointing, correction, praise, and forgiveness will see the reward of healing.
The most important work of faith is prayer!
James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church
James encourages the sick person to call for the elders of the church for counseling and prayer
Consistent Committed Faith
Living a Godly life is not a weekend component of a compartmentalized life that fits God into one’s weekly schedule for a couple of hours on Sunday mornings
The Prayer of Faith
James 5:15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.
Mustard Seed Faith:
…if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you (Matthew 17:20).
The size of our faith in God is not as important as is the character, attributes of our Lord and HIS POWER (not ours) that makes all the difference
Nothing in me, but all in God
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 So to keep me from becoming proud, I as given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness… For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Because believers have a Biblical worldview, we know that God can and will heal, though not always in this world or within our timing.
We know that after we die God will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4).
Connecting Confession Forgiveness Healing
James 5:15-16 And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
We Can Overcome!
Submit and commit ourselves to the Lord daily: James 4:7; Romans 12:1
Pray daily: Hebrews 4:16; Ephesians 6:18
Read the Word of God daily – Either sin will keep you from His Word or His Word will keep you from sin! Hebrews 4:12
Hang out with the “right” people; Get into a small group: 1 Corinthians 15:33; Hebrews 10:24-25
Put on the armor of God: Ephesians 6:13-18
Resource the Holy Spirit: Luke 11:33; John 14:13-16
James 5:17-18 The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
The prayer is effective because the person who is praying is righteous
Prayer is NEVER an action of last resort when all else fails.
ALWAYS PRAY FIRST
Prayers of Passion
Luke 11:5-10 Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat. And suppose he calls out from his bedroom don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.
But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
Prayer helps me. Prayer helps us! Prayer helps everyone!
Prayer release the power to get things accomplished!
Elijah is a man just like us!
Elijah’s weak belief in himself forced him to trust in the Lord for where I am weak He is strong!
1 Kings 17-18 Elijah had great power in prayer. A drought came as a sign to evil King Ahab of Israel that the idol Baal did not have power over the rain, God did. And when Elijah prayed, it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Then he prayed for rain, and the heavens gave rain.
James 5:19-20 My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.
God’s Word teaches us that there’s a lot of empowerment to get things done in prayer
The most significant thing is the power to save a life from hell.