Prayer in times trials

Intro: An auto dealer, facing bankruptcy, was walking along a beach when he kicked a bottle and out popped a genie. “Thanks for setting me free,” said the genie. “To show my appreciation, I’ll grant you one wish.” “Okay,” said the auto dealer, “I want to be the only foreign car dealer in a major metropolitan market.” “Done!” cried the genie. Immediately, the dealer found himself in a glass-walled office looking out over a major city. “Quick,” he said to his secretary, “tell me who I am.” “You’re the only Cadillac dealer in downtown Tokyo,” said the secretary.

Last week we learned that God uses trials to make us mature Christians, and that we must make up our mind before we enter into trials to be of the mindset of joy so that we will allow God to prove our faith by fire so that it will be compete and lacking nothing. Aiding us to becoming mature Christians.

Today we want to talk about prayer during trials so that we will know what to ask for and how to ask for it. Prayer was a key ingredient to James, He spent so much time in prayer that his knees were calloused and looked like leather, he was coined with the nickname “Camel Knees.” in three of the 5 chapters (1,3,5) in James, he teaches the importance of prayer and here, under the inspiration of God he insists that we pray for wisdom. Godly wisdom allows us to see things from His perspective so that we recognize that He working for our good and His glory so that we don't miss an opportunity to grow. But, we must ask in unwavering faith and God will generously grant our request.

I. The object of our prayer (5)

In times of trials we must come before God in much prayer. Of all the benefits of Christianity none is more essential and yet more neglected than prayer. During difficult times I use to call a family member and share my burdens, however, his response was most often, “get off of the phone and go to the throne.” Prayer is a time to converse with almighty God.

It is unwise to bypass God in our difficult times, yet we take our problems everywhere but to Him. However, He is the only one with the ability to do anything about them. We are wise in our own eyes but foolish in God’s, as fallen humanity we fall short of God’s holy standards, and His understanding. In Vs. 5, Lack Wisdom means to be in need of or to fall short. Lack is a banking term that expresses the idea of having a shortage of resources. Wisdom is the Greek noun sophia which means the practical us of knowledge. The Greek Scholar A.T. Robertson points out, the statement “If any of you lack wisdom” is in the condition of first class.... and assumes the premise is true for the sake of argument.

If their is anything lacking during trials it is wisdom. We scurry around like a chicken with its head chopped off trying to figure things out ourselves and handling them in our own power. We lack wisdom, so we are instructed to ask God for it. Let him ask means to make a request and this is idea of supplication, prayer that earnestly asks God for something. During times of trials we must ask God for wisdom, above everything else… even deliverance from the trial.

(NB) You see, wisdom takes what you know about God’s nature and His promises and applies them to your present state. We know that God is completely good and loves us with enduring and unwavering love. He uses all of our circumstances to bring about good in our lives, Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” But, our knowledge of God and His promises do us no good if its not applied. This is why wisdom is so important during trials. It gives us a divine perspective leading to joy and perseverance in the present moment allowing God to continue to work on us during these difficult times.

ILL: Monday I was talking with Mrs. Kathy Crumbly, as most of you know her family is in the midst of a very difficult trial. She told me that on Thanksgiving day she was praying that God would heal her granddaughter Abby who was in a terrible car wreck last week, however she sensed God speaking to her heart to pray for peace and comfort, she knew then that God was going to take Abby into eternal life. Her new prayer exemplified wisdom as she began to see things from God’s perspective. She told me what a blessing it was to have Abby for 20 years but that God wanted her more. Through prayer, God gave her insight into what she would need most, comfort to endure the trial and the an opportunity to rely on Him.

(NB) Notice what our text says about this type of supplication,”and it will be given to Him!” God will answer this prayer positively and liberally. Liberally means generously and without reserves. He holds nothing back but gives us His all. Like the Widow of Mark 12:41-44 who put 2 small coins into the temple treasury. Jesus said she put in all she owned. Likewise God puts in all and not out of poverty but according to His great abundance. Our text goes on to say that In the process He doesn't look down upon us reprimanding us for the wisdom we lack, He wants us to come to Him and ask. Perhaps we don’t ask for wisdom because we don’t want to trouble God... but the only way to trouble God is to NOT come at all!

In times of trial the object of our prayer is wisdom. Ask God for it!

II. The manner of our prayer (6-8)

We are told in our text that we must pray in faith! Faith is the essential foundation in Christianity. It is by grace through faith that we are saved and its is by grace through faith that our prayer for wisdom will be answered. Let him ask is used a second time, this time it doesn't describe what we should ask for but by what manner we should ask in. Faith! Faith is the Greek noun pistis it means a state of certainty with regards to belief, it is believing with complete trust.

ILL: A man fell off a cliff, but managed to grab a tree limb on the way down. The following conversation ensued: “Is anyone up there?” “I am here. I am the Lord. Do you believe me?” “Yes, Lord, I believe. I really believe, but I can’t hang on much longer.” “That’s all right, if you really believe you have nothing to worry about. I will save you. Just let go of the branch.” A moment of pause, then: “Is anyone else up there?”

We must ask in faith, not wavering. Faith expects Gods positive answer but Wavering means to doubt. The man holding onto to the branch doubted the Lord would do as He said He would. Faith says, YES! Unbelief says, NO! But doubt says “Yes” one minute and “No” the next. Mark 14:27 tells us that in faith, Peter stepped out of a boat onto the surface of the storm riddled Sea of Galilee walking on the water but soon began to doubt as he was distracted by the wind and waves and began to sink. Peter was being double minded and almost drowned.

The Christian who doubts is double-minded. This is the Greek Adjective dipsychos, it means to be of two minds and is the marker of instability. James compares the doubter to the waves of the sea, up one moment and down the next. That person should not expect anything from God because he finds God untrustworthy and does not expect God to keep His word.

ILL: BUT.... Faith is dead to doubts—dumb to discouragements, blind to impossibilities, knows nothing but success.Faith lifts its hand up through the threatening clouds, lays hold of Him who has all power in heaven and on earth. Faith makes the uplook good,the outlook bright, the inlook favorable, and the future glorious.

Conclusion: We need wisdom so that we won’t waste the opportunities God is giving us to mature. Wisdom helps us understand how to use these circumstances for our good and God’s glory. But we must ask in faith.

Warren Wiersbe tells the story of his secretary who was going through a great trials. She had had a stroke, her husband had gone blind and then put in the hospital where he would die. He saw here at church one day and he assured her that he was praying for her. “What are you asking God to do,” she asked. He said, “to help and strengthen you.” She thanked him but pray for one more thing. “Pray that Ill have the wisdom not to waste any of this!”