I-THE CHALLENGE TO PRAYER (James is speaking primarily about prayer and healing of the sin-sick believer. However, he also gives us some insight into our own daily prayer life. The challenge set before Christians in these verses is to pray!) A. Subjects For Prayer 1. Affliction - Afflicted means to endure hardship. Those who are walking through the valleys and trials of life are to pray - Phil. 4:6-7. 2. Sickness - When we, or others are sick, we are to call out their names in prayer. God is a healer! Therefore, we are to go to Him in prayer on behalf of those who are afflicted with sickness. 3. Brethren - We are to be in prayer for one another in the family of God. We have a duty to one another to prayer fervently about the needs, burdens and lives of our fellow believers. (Gal. 6:2) 4. Joy - It is implied that when there is joy, that too should be expressed. What better place to express than before the Lord in prayer? (Ill. Eph. 5:20; 1 Thes. 5:18) B. The Strength Of Prayer - In verse 15, James mentions the prayer of faith. Faith is what gives prayer is strength and effectiveness. God answers prayer, but He does so in response to the faith of His people - Matt. 21:22. James makes it clear that faith is an essential ingredient in effective praying - James 1:5-8. C. The Source Of Prayer - All prevailing prayer has its roots in the written Word of God. What I mean is this, you cannot simply pray for something frivolous and expect God to grant it. However, when He has specifically spoken to something in His Word, then you can pray with confidence. It is His will and He will answer it. Faith is always based on the Word of God - Rom. 10:17. 1. If there is a need, God will meet it - Phil. 4:19. 2. If there is a fear, God will replace it - Phil. 4:6-7; 2 Tim. 1:7 3. If there is a burden, God will lift it - 1 Pet. 5:7 4. If there is a need for someone to be saved, God will deal with them - 3 Pet. 3:9. 5. If there is a sin, God will forgive it - 1 John 1:9 II-THE CHARACTER OF PRAYER A. The Type Of Prayers To Pray - James says that our praying is to be effectual fervent. These 2 words are the translation of a word that means, to display ones activity; to put forth power. It simply means that we are to pray in faith and then put legs on our prayers for Gods glory. We have a tendency to ask, then sit and wait. Gods plan is that we ask, thank Him for the answer that is coming and then get up and live as though the prayer had already been answered! B. The Type Of Person Who Prays - James calls the effectual prayer a righteous man. This refers to a standard of life that reflects a commitment to God and His word and will. In other words, God has respect to the prayers of the holy. However, He does not hear the prayers of the sinful - (Psa. 66:18.Pro. 1:28-33; 1 John 3:22; John 15:7) If we are determined to be effective in prayer, then we must get our lives in line with God and His will for our lives. C. The Type Of Power In Prayer - James tells us that proper and God honoring prayer availeth much. This simply means to put forth much more than was expected. When we pray in faith, it unlocks the great potential of God to work in our world. God honors the praying of His people, because His people praying honors Him! III. V. 17-18 THE CONFIDENCE IN PRAYER A. Gods Promises In Prayer 1. To Hear Us - Jer. 33:3; Isa. 65:24 2. To Help Us - Matt. 7:7-8; Mark 11:24; 1 John 5:14-15 B. Gods Performance In Prayer - We have a God who is able to do, as Paul says, Exceeding, abundantly above all that we can ask or think. Eph. 3:20. (Ill. What James tells us about Elijah. God, moved in response to his prayer of faith!) C. Gods People In Prayer - According to James, Elijah was not perfect, but was subject to the same passions that afflict us all. However, God used Him to do great things through the prayers of faith. You see, God deals with us on the basis of the hear and now, He never holds our confessed past against us. This encourages me, because all of us a prone to failure, but it is a comfort to know that when we get into sin, we can come back to the Father and have our prayer lives restored by simply repenting before Him, 1 John 1:9. If you take the time to look at others in the Bible, Abraham, Moses, Jonah, Hezekiah, etc, you find that they were all men who failed God at one time or the other, yet they were all great men of prayer. I am grateful that we have a God who invites us to join Him bringing our needs to His attention - Heb. 4:15-16.
Posted on: Thu, 04 Sep 2014 09:57:47 +0000
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