A Praying Life

INTRO

Many of you know our story:

Longed for a child

Experience infertility and infant loss

I felt stirred to pray for a child. For years I would pray daily.

Samuel - God heard

Hannah - God hears and answers prayer

Today we come to our last sermon through the book of James.

This book has packed a punch calling us to examine our actions to see if they line up with our words.

Now as we get to the end we see James calling us to respond to the lord in prayer.

Really simply here is what I want you to see...

Big Idea: The Steadfast life is a praying life.

This section of James is a beautiful call to prayer.

There are certainly some challenging parts of this passage but my hope is that as we walk through it together you will be uplifted and encouraged to seek the Lord in prayer.

Let’s go to the text and see first, we pray when....

1. We Pray In The Good And The Bad. (v.13-15)

James moves from his challenging words on patience and talks now about a life of patience in practice.

Look at verse 13

James 5:13 (ESV)

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

The book of James starts with a challenge to reframe our view of suffering.

We’re called to consider how God in his sovereign care turns even our pain into purpose.

He works all together according to his good purposes.

James says here when we are in those moments we should pray.

But he also says, is anyone cheerful?

Let him sing praise.

What is that but prayer in song?

In our praise and adoration of God we come before Him to thank Him for who He is.

Some of us need to remember the tomb is empty.

I got in the car recently and Hannah loves to listen the radio likes its 1998.

Sure enough K-Love is blaring and I roll my eyes ready to swap it to bluetooth.

Then I hear, “Cause on my best day, I'm a child of God. On my worst day, I'm a child of God.”

It got me.

Here is what prayer does, it stirs our hearts to remember the reality of the gospel.

It sets our suffering in prospective.

What’s the worst that can happen? Even if breath leaves my lungs, my eyes will behold the glory of the King!

When life is abundant, when I have so much to rejoice in, who get’s the glory? The praise? The Lord!

Once we capture the reality that the Lord welcomes us.

It changes everything.

When Jesus describes the character of God in the parable of the prodigal son what do we see?

We see a father that runs to us.

Don’t you long to know him.

To yearn for the living God?

A little boy was saying his bedtime prayers with his mother: “Lord, bless Mommy and Daddy, and God, GIVE ME A NEW BICYCLE!!!”

Mom: “God’s not deaf, son.”

Boy: “I know, Mom, but Grandma’s in the next room, and she’s hard of hearing!

Sometimes I fear that’s how we pray, only as a last resort in hopes that we might get something but not really expecting change.

IF I put a million dollars in your physical bank account, you are a guaranteed millionaire.

But if you don’t know how to access that account, if you don’t know how to write a check, that which is guaranteed cannot be enjoyed.

Too many of us who’ve got bank accounts full of God’s blessing are forgetting to sign our checks.

We forget to draw from that spiritual reservoir, or we don’t understand how to draw from that spiritual reservoir to live in relationship with the living God!

Oh that we would long to be with him.

Would we linger in prayer?

We have resources that can help you things like Praying The Bible, Pray Big, and more.

I’ll make myself available. If prayer is difficult for you, let’s talk.

Let’s all grow in this Coram Deo.

Let’s be a praying church.

Whether we are in difficult moments or great moments would our hearts overflow in prayer.

James specifically considers those who are troubled and suffering physically.

look at verse 14

James 5:14–15 (ESV)

Is anyone among you sick? 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. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

This is a controversial passage.

My hope is that we can read it and demystify it a bit.

James says if you are sick.

The original language says if you are weak.

If that’s you reach out to the elders, overseers or pastors.

Ask for Prayer.

Those leaders will then pray over and anoint them.

Now this gets complicated for a couple reasons.

Some think James is referring to a medicinal purpose for anointing with oil.

Catholics use this passage to perform last rites for those who make a death bed confession of faith.

A last hail mary before meeting the grave.

Really though if we take this in context within the rest of scripture we see the most likely reason, and the one I believe, is that this is symbolic of the power of the Holy Spirit.

It is a sign of God’s power to heal.

Now here is where it can get a little bit tricky.

Some say we shouldn’t got to the doctor or take medicine.

All we should do is pray.

The apostles didn't oppose medical care; Paul even told Timothy to drink wine for his stomach issues in 1 Timothy 5:23.

That’s not the idea.

Doctor’s are used by God’s sovereign hand.

All healing comes from the spirit.

Even some Christian doctors say, "I treat the injury, but God is the one who truly heals."

So absolutely seek medical care.

Pray for your doctors.

Trust that the Lord works in common grace.

That’s one side of the coin the other is that some Christians believe that if you pray with enough faith, you'll always be healed. .

If not, it means you didn't have enough faith, which adds more pain to those already sick.

This belief, found in some churches, is deeply flawed.

Firstly, everyone eventually dies, so even the most devout will face an illness they won't recover from.

Lazarus isn’t walking around with us right now.

Second, Scripture shows that even some men of great faith were not healed of illnesses.

Paul worked many miracles, but he did not heal Timothy (1 Tim. 5:23), Trophimus (2 Tim. 4:20), and Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:25).

And the Lord never relieved Paul of his own “thorn in the flesh,” which was apparently a physical affliction (2 Cor. 12:7–10).

Lastly, not all healings promised in the Bible are meant for this life.

Sometimes, "raising up" refers to the resurrection in the future, not just immediate healing.

Every believer will be healed, either now or in eternity.

So, it's wrong to blame someone's sickness on their faith level.

The call here is if you are sick, call on the elders of the church to pray for you.

Know that in it God will work all things together for your good.

God’s plan whatever it may be is the only thing that can bring our healing.

Our hope doesn't rest in our wavering prayers for healing, but in the eternal healing sealed at the cross.

Every follower of Christ is destined for complete healing.

As Jesus was resurrected, so shall every believer be.

Through Him, we are assured forgiveness.

Our healing isn't about our merit, but about the Master Healer and His perfect plan.

Trust the Lord, His plan is always for our highest good.

The prayer of faith is prayed with faith in God and His plan, not of faith in our plans.

So the exhortation for us is to pray.

Pray to the God with the power to answer.

Pray to the God with the wisdom to know what is best for us.

Pray to the God who is our everything and know that whatever He answers is what is best for us.

While our conversations with God often revolve around our joys and struggles, they also serve as a bridge during times we stray or falter in our journey.

We see second

2. We Pray When We Are Sinful (v.16)

Look at James 5:16

James 5:16 (ESV)

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James shows us here that our faith isn’t alone on island.

We have a one another faith.

So let’s go ahead and break into groups now, look at your neighbor and confess your sin.

I’m just kidding.

Here is what James is saying.

You know, being part of this church family means we're in this together.

When one of us stumbles, it's not a solo act.

We all feel it.

It's like being part of a tight-knit team.

We should be so tight, so real with each other, that we're okay saying, 'Hey, I messed up.'

It's about building those legit, no-judgment friendships.

Whether that’s through our Community Groups or just grabbing coffee after service – we’ve got to be real.

Now, think about this: Are you the kind of person someone would lean on?

Do folks see you as the go-to when they're in a jam?

Would they trust you with the messy parts of their life?

And if they do open up, are you ready to walk with them, pray with them, and remind them of grace instead of pointing fingers?

James hits it on the head when he says we should confess our sins to each other.

Let’s make our church the kind of place where that’s not just possible but totally normal.

Friend are you hiding?

The fear of confessing sin can be paralyzing, and sometimes seems even worse than dying.

There was a a Pastor in the 1940’s who preached on confession

At the end of one of his sermons, a young man from the congregation approached with a troubled look. "Pastor," he began, "your words today have stirred my conscience.

I've wronged someone and am too embarrassed to admit it or rectify my mistake.

I'm a boat builder and my employer does not share our faith.

Although I've frequently spoken to him about the importance of faith and invited him to attend our services, he has always been dismissive.

However, I've committed a deed which, if I confess, may tarnish my reputation in his eyes forever.

He went on to describe how he had been building a boat at his home and, to save costs, had been taking expensive copper nails from his workplace.

Copper nails, due to their resistance to rust, are valuable in boat building.

While he knew it was wrong, he justified it thinking his employer wouldn't notice and that he wasn’t compensated fairly at work.

However, the sermon made him realize his misdeeds.

He lamented, "I can't possibly admit to my employer about my theft or offer to compensate for it. If I do, he'll think I'm a hypocrite. Yet, the guilt weighs heavily on me."

Weeks of internal turmoil followed.

One evening, he approached the pastor and said, "I've confessed about the copper nails, and my conscience is finally at peace."

Curious, the pastor asked, "How did your employer react?"

"He appeared surprised," the young man replied. "He admitted that he had thought I was just another hypocrite Christian. But my confession made him realize there might indeed be substance to our faith.

He said to me, 'Any religion that can compel a worker to admit his theft and seek reconciliation must have value.'"

With permission, the pastor shared this story elsewhere.

In a different town, after sharing the tale, a woman approached him and said she too had her own 'copper nails' - she had borrowed numerous books from a friend and never returned them. Inspired by the story, she returned them, feeling an immense relief.

The "copper nails" story resonated with many.

Once, after sharing it at a high school, several students returned stolen items to their rightful owners.

We often have these copper nails, these sins, we try to bury.

Sin...It whispers sweet nothings, telling us we're safe under its cloak, hidden behind a mask.

But here's the catch: we're not.

We think we can just be straight with God about our mess-ups and skip the part where we're real with our brothers and sisters.

But as we dive deeper into that abyss, we start bending the truth, and worse, believing our own twisted tales.

We push away the Spirit's gentle nudges, muffling His call back to truth.

Before we know it, living in shadows feels...well, normal.

But here's the beautiful countermove: When we confess our sin to another believer, it’s like tearing off a disguise.

Suddenly, we're gulping down the refreshing air of truth.

Our hearts wake up, our eyes refocus, and we behold Jesus, clearer than ever.

If we really want change, if we yearn to see Christ in His fullness, it starts with stepping out from the shadows, being vulnerable, and sharing our brokenness with others.

Today who do you need to confess sin to?

Be healed from the sickness that sin has you under.

The numbness you feel drowning you.

But here’s the deal: Confessing isn’t just about that one-off 'I’m sorry'.

It’s about more than just getting that guilt off your chest.

Think about it: when we're real with each other, when we peel back those layers of sin, that’s just the starting line.

So, where do we go from there?

We’re talking about a full reset, abundant life.

We're talking about renewal.

James didn’t stop at confession; he pointed us to something even bigger.

Let’s keep going in the passage in verse 17

This passage is about Elijah, but it’s not just some historical throwback.

James is showing us the real power of prayer, the kind that doesn’t just acknowledge our sins, but that actively seeks God’s renewing touch in our lives.

So, as we confess, let's also pray for that renewal, for that new beginning that only He can give.

Lets see third

3. We Pray For Renewal (v.17-20)

James 5:17–20 (ESV)

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Reflecting on Elijah's prayers, James offers hope.

Just as Elijah's fervent prayer withheld and then released rain upon the earth, our heartfelt petitions can bring spiritual revival.

In the shadow of the pandemic many who claim Christ have drifted from gospel community.

We’ve seen churches falter and consider shuttering their doors.

This has led churches to start meeting and planning strategizing on how to we engage our community and go after those who don’t know the Lord.

How do we also go after the de-churched. Those who have left?

Strategy is not enough.

We can build institutions and proclaim the truth, but we cannot expect everyone to be persuaded.

What we need is revival.

Should we plan, and work diligently, yes.

But in the end, strategy cannot save us.

We need revival, and so we need to pray for revival.

Alright, let’s dive into this through the lenses of Keller, Driscoll, and Platt:

Have you ever flipped through the Old Testament and hit the saga of Elijah?

It's not just some Sunday school highlight reel.

This is epic, prime-time, God-shaking stuff.

Remember that showdown in 1 Kings 18?

Elijah vs. the prophets of Baal? It's the kind of story that reads like a movie.

Elijah, the ultimate underdog, pouring water on his sacrifice, basically giving Baal's prophets a head start.

Why? Because he trusted.

Not in the odds, but in God.

And yet, that's not your daily 9-to-5 Christian life, is it?

But here's the kicker in James 5: it's not about Elijah’s miracle moments. I

t’s about his knees-hit-the-ground, heart-bared-open prayers.

Why does James pull Elijah into this? Not to say, 'Hey, be like Elijah, call down fire'.

No. He’s saying, 'Look at Elijah, a dude with just as many hang-ups as any of us, but a guy who understood prayer’s raw power.'

We’re not walking around trying to replicate Elijah’s theatrics. But his prayer life? That’s what we are called to.

Elijah isn't some unreachable spiritual superhero.

My goodness, at one point he’s so down he asks God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4).

He's real. He's raw. But when he prayed, things moved.

And that, my friends, is the kind of prayer firepower James wants us to grab hold of.

Are you praying?

Are you petitioning the Lord to work in power?

A woman left her diamond brooch in a hotel. When she got home she remembered her brooch and called the hotel.

She told the manager what happened and he went to look for it. He found it, put it in the safe, and returned to the phone to tell her the good news, but she had hung up.

So many of us are like this. We aren’t willing to wait on the Lord

***Riff - Imagine our city engaged in the word of God

Pray:

Focus in the word

Unity and Joy in the word

Engagement in the word - more captivating then reels and netflix

Would we live a praying life. Praying in good and hard times, for healing, confessing our sin and praying for one another. Asking God to bring renewal and revive us.

Application Questions

1. How do I typically respond to life's highs and lows – do I instinctively turn to God in both good times and bad, seeking His presence and perspective?

2. When I recognize sin in my life, do I readily confess and seek reconciliation, or do I often let it linger, allowing a distance to form between me and God?

3. How am I actively praying for spiritual renewal, both in my own life and in the lives of those around me? Do I truly believe in the transformative power of prayer, as exemplified by Elijah?

4. As I reflect on my daily routines and priorities, how can I more intentionally cultivate a life that consistently echoes James's call to pray steadfastly, ensuring that my relationship with God remains vibrant and unbroken?