This is the text of Pastor Jims Thursday Devotion as heard on WATH: Here it is, Thursday already, and today we have the fourth part of our week of lessons about praying effectively. Monday was about being humble, Tuesday was about seeking God with our whole heart, Wednesday was about how to pray in faith and today I will share about the importance of remaining in right standing in our relationship with God. In James 5:15-16 we read: “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess you sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” I like that last sentence: The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Some people shy away from the word righteous. They think being righteous one of those unattainable things. If that were correct then the sentence: “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” gives no hope of having prayers that are powerful or effective. But these verses give the solution to that problem because all being righteous is, is being in right standing with God. How do we get into a place of right standing with God? Our Scripture says: “confess you sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” This takes us back to Monday’s lesson of repentance and forgiveness. What keeps us in right standing with God is keeping sin out of our lives, preferably by not sinning, but if necessary by confessing our sins and receiving God’s forgiveness. This puts you in the category of being able to pray the powerful and effective prayer. Let me give you a second Scripture reference about how confessing your sin puts you in a position of right standing with God. In 1 John 1:9 reads: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This right standing is a gift from God just as forgiveness is a gift from God. It is not something we can do for ourselves. When we confess our sins, we can receive forgiveness. When we are forgiven all unrighteousness or all the keeps us from being in right standing with God is taken away, so that all that is left is right standing. Now remember what this does: “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” It makes it possible for you to pray a powerful and effective prayer. If you combine this with the Scripture from yesterday about praying the prayer of faith by finding the will of God from Scripture, you and any other Christian will begin to see a change in the effectiveness of your prayer life. Prayer time will no longer be drudgery, but it will become a joy that you will protect as one of the most precious treasures of life. Remember what Jesus told His disciples about what would happen after the resurrection: “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” You will need to read these verses in context to make sure you have a clear understanding about praying in Jesus’ name. Read at least John chapters 15-17 so that you don’t get into the foolishness about prayer that some people do. If you would like to read the transcript of this message go to the Canaanville or Stewart Facebook Pages. This is Pastor Jim Lambert. May God bless you as you seek to follow Him.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 17:35:49 +0000
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