The Remarkable Power of Earnest Prayer

Dr. George Bannister. Ph.D., D.Min., Th.M., M.Div.

Woodville Baptist Church

Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

James 5:13–18

1 Kings 17–18

Prayer

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This messages emphasizes the power of prayer and challenges God's people to commit to the work of praying seriously.

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James 5:16-18

James 5:16–18 (NLT)

16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!

18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

INTRODUCTION:

Prayer is one of the most powerful tools available to the Christian.

I- THE PRINCIPLE WE NEED TO COMPREHEND (James 5:16).

James 5:16 (NLT)

16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

A- The requirements for earnest praying :

1- Praying with the right attitude:

“The earnest prayer (δέησις) of a righteous person has great power (πολὺ ἰσχύει ) and produces wonderful results ( ἐνεργουμένη.).”

“ὅπως ἰαθῆτε. πολὺ ἰσχύει δέησις δικαίου ἐνεργουμένη.”

(δέησις = that which is asked with urgency based on presumed need—‘request, plea, prayer.)

a- Sincerity

b- Urgency

2- Praying from a real relationship with God:

a- A “righteous person” (δικαίου ) is one who is in a right relationship with God.

(1) A child of God (Acts 4:12)

Acts 4:12 (NLT)

12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

(2) Walking with God (Psalm 66:18)

Psalm 66:18 (NLT)

18 If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

B- The reasons for seeking to pray earnestly:

1- Praying with power produces results!

a- Healing for the sick (James 5:14-15)

James 5:14–15 (NLT)

14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.

15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

b- Help in the midst of hardships (James 5:13)

James 5:13 (NLT)

13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.

c- Heavenly witness to a godless society (1 Kings 17-19)

d- Helpers to work in the Gospel harvest (Luke 10:2)

Luke 10:2 (NLT)

2 These were his instructions to them: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.

II- THE CASE WE NEED TO CONSIDER

A- The case-in-point: Elijah-a normal human being. (James 5:17a)

James 5:17a (NLT)

17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!

1- Elijah was human in every way - just like you and I.

a. He needed food and water like we do. (1 Kings 17:1-7)

1 Kings 17:1–7 (NLT)

1 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”

2 Then the Lord said to Elijah,

3 “Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River.

4 Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”

5 So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan.

6 The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.

7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land.

b. He experienced the same emotions we do. (1 Kings 17:8-24)

1 Kings 17:8–24 (NLT)

8 Then the Lord said to Elijah,

9 “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you.”

10 So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a little water in a cup?”

11 As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”

12 But she said, “I swear by the Lord your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”

13 But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what you’ve said, but make a little bread for me first. Then use what’s left to prepare a meal for yourself and your son.

14 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the Lord sends rain and the crops grow again!”

15 So she did as Elijah said, and she and Elijah and her family continued to eat for many days.

16 There was always enough flour and olive oil left in the containers, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah.

17 Some time later the woman’s son became sick. He grew worse and worse, and finally he died.

18 Then she said to Elijah, “O man of God, what have you done to me? Have you come here to point out my sins and kill my son?”

19 But Elijah replied, “Give me your son.” And he took the child’s body from her arms, carried him up the stairs to the room where he was staying, and laid the body on his bed.

20 Then Elijah cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, why have you brought tragedy to this widow who has opened her home to me, causing her son to die?”

21 And he stretched himself out over the child three times and cried out to the Lord, “O Lord my God, please let this child’s life return to him.”

22 The Lord heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he revived!

23 Then Elijah brought him down from the upper room and gave him to his mother. “Look!” he said. “Your son is alive!”

24 Then the woman told Elijah, “Now I know for sure that you are a man of God, and that the Lord truly speaks through you.”

c. He had fears like we do. (1 Kings 19:1-4)

1 Kings 19:1–4 (NLT)

1 When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal.

2 So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”

3 Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there.

4 Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.”

d. He allowed his spiritual vision to become distorted like we do. (1 Kings 19:10)

1 Kings 19:10 (NLT)

10 Elijah replied, “I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed every one of your prophets. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”

B- The case-in-point: A human who prayed. (James 5:17b-18)

1- God answered with power in response to Elijah’s prayers.

a- God stopped the rain from falling for 3 1/2 years. (James 5:17b)

James 5:17b (NLT)

17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!

b- God sent rain again.

(James 5:18)

James 5:18 (NLT)

18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

(1 Kings 18:41-45)

1 Kings 18:41–45 (NLT)

41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!”

42 So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.

43 Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look.

44 Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’ ”

45 And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel.

c- God sent fire from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the water and the altar! (1 Kings 18:26-39)

1 Kings 18:26–39 (NLT)

26 So they prepared one of the bulls and placed it on the altar. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no reply of any kind. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.

27 About noontime Elijah began mocking them. “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, “for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!”

28 So they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out.

29 They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response.

30 Then Elijah called to the people, “Come over here!” They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down.

31 He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel,

32 and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the Lord. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons.

33 He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood. Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood.”

34 After they had done this, he said, “Do the same thing again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time!” So they did as he said,

35 and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench.

36 At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command.

37 O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”

38 Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench!

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”

d- God raised the woman’s son to life again. (1 Kings 17:17-24)

1 Kings 17:17–24 (NLT)