The Power of Prayer and Restoring the Wanderer

Introduction

Let me tell you a true story about a man named Brandon. Brandon grew up with a nominal belief in God but eventually walked away from the Christian faith, feeling that Jesus did not accept him. He turned to Paganism, seeking spiritual fulfillment and acceptance in a different way. He got this revelation from a vivid dream he had that confused him enough to believe this pagan god was the answer. One day, Brandon found himself in a room with two friends: Barrett, a devout Catholic, and Que, a steadfast Presbyterian. As they sat together, Barrett couldn't help but notice Brandon's struggle and his yearning for a deeper spiritual connection as Que rambled on about God, Love, and Theology. Barrett said, "Brandon, I understand your feeling of being distant from Jesus. In the Catholic tradition, we find comfort in the saints. They intercede for us and guide us in our prayers. Have you ever considered asking the saints for help? They can offer you a sense of connection and support." Brandon appreciated Barrett's suggestion but still felt something was missing. Then Que, the Presbyterian, spoke up with fervor. "Brandon, I hear your struggles and understand the search for acceptance. But I urge you to consider turning back to the Bible. God's Word holds the answers and promises you're looking for. Prayer and Scripture can reveal the depth of Jesus' love for you and assure you that He never stopped accepting or loving you." As Brandon listened to his friends, he felt a spark of hope. Barrett’s gentle encouragement to seek the saints' intercession and Que's passionate plea to delve into Scripture resonated with him. Perhaps there was a way to bridge the gap he felt between himself and Jesus. Brandon asked Barrett, why do I need to pray to dead people? Barrett repeated, the saints interceding for us. Moved by their words, Brandon confessed, "I would accept Jesus, but I’m not sure that Jesus accepts me." Que responded with compassion and an angry face. "Brandon, you were made in the image of God, and He accepts all those who accept Him. Jesus never rejects those who call on His name." At that moment, Brandon ripped off the Pagan emblem he had been wearing and threw it to the ground. With tears in his eyes, he cried out, "Jesus, I don't know if You can accept me, but I throw myself at Your mercy. Show me Your love and guide me back to You." As Brandon threw himself at the mercy of Jesus Christ, he felt an overwhelming sense of peace and acceptance. The room seemed to fill with a presence he hadn't felt in years. Through the love and encouragement of his friends, Brandon started to see that Jesus had never stopped loving him and that there was always a way back to the truth. Barrett hugged Brandon, and Que looked dumbfounded as he had been praying that Brandon would accept Christ. Que was in shock that God answered a prayer in real-time. A wanderer was brought back to the faith.

Scripture Reading page __________.

James 5:13–20 ESV

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

The word of the Lord! Thanks be to God!

We often forget to pray for struggling loved ones and to ask others to join us. Prayer is for both trouble and joy and should be regular in our lives. Calling elders to pray over the sick highlights the power of communal prayer. Prayer offered in faith brings healing and forgiveness, emphasizing trust in God. We must be vulnerable and supportive, guiding those who wander back with love. Like Elijah, our earnest prayers can yield extraordinary results through faith in God's power.

I. Prayer in All Circumstances (James 5:13-15)

James 5:13–15 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 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 particular word for suffering is used 3xs in the New Testament, which refers to affliction. The word used here for sick could also mean weak. In other words, hardship. This word covers a multitude of meanings. Countless times, God’s word tells us to pray in all circumstances. That is a hard thing for us to do. Even one who is steadfast in their faith can have a hard time praying in “all circumstances.” Is it just me on this one? I hate to admit this, but I can recall a few times that I felt prayer was not enough. Watching close loved ones perish from this earth. Struggling in math classes. Failing at baking sweet potato pie. Check this! I have learned in my 29 years of life in the is that you cannot let your circumstances control your prayer. You pray to the God who created you: He controls every outcome of your every circumstance that you will ever face in the timeframe that you walk on this earth. When we face trouble or suffering, our natural response might be to worry, complain, or seek human solutions. You know, the ones that don’t work. James calls us to pray, reminding us to turn to God as our first resort, not our last. In terms of prayer, James gives a command to the elders of the church to anoint with oil and pray for the sick. Anointing with oil is not a guarantee of healing but an acknowledgment of the saving power of God. It’s not in the oil that heals but in the God that created that oil. When we pray for loved ones to be healed when they are on their deathbed, and when that healing does not happen, we question, we doubt, and we lose faith. Far be it from the healing you think should happen, but when you pray for the healing of a dying loved one, God answers that prayer and removes their pain forever. He calls them home, where suffering does not exist, and they are in eternal worship with God.

We see examples of fervent prayer within Job's prayers and cries to God amidst his trials (Job 1:20-21, Job 13:15).David's numerous psalms of lament and petitions for deliverance (Psalm 22, Psalm 23). In times of happiness and joy, our response should be to sing songs of praise of psalms. ‘Prayer isn't only about asking for help; it's also about celebrating God's goodness and blessings in our lives.’ When we pray in all circumstances, we experience joy in God and peace in the midst of our suffering. When hardship occurs, we should have faith like the centurion's faith in Jesus' ability to heal his servant from a distance (Matthew 8:5-13). Or faith like the woman with the issue of blood, healed by her faith in touching Jesus’ garment (Mark 5:25-34). Both the centurion and woman with the issue of blood prayed that healing might come by believing in the power Jesus said he had.

How can we apply such a prayer life to our daily journey? To do so, we must incorporate prayer into every aspect of our lives, set aside consistent prayer time, and build or join a prayerful community. This leads to our next point.

II. The Role of the Community in Prayer (James 5:16)

James 5:16 “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. 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.”

(When Brandon faced issues at a place that will remain unnamed, Que worked with him on these problems and prayed for him. Que asked God to guide steps and to be patient with Brandon. Que prayed that God would soften Brandon’s heart to the gospel. Que earnestly prayed that everyone around him, both believers and non-believers, would see and hear the gospel. Brandon eventually confessed his sin of not accepting Christ due to a false belief about the Savior.) But what does it look like when we confess our sins to one another? Through accountability and follow-up, confessing sins to one another becomes a powerful way to experience God’s grace, deepen relationships, and grow spiritually within a supportive covenantal community. What does it look like when we pray as a community for one another? By engaging in community prayer, believers strengthen their bonds, support one another, and experience the power of collective intercession. This practice nurtures a spirit of unity, compassion, and faith within the community, reflecting the heart of Christ’s love and care.

As elders, we are here for strength and support to the flock that God put before us. Elders, we have been put through life's struggles, we have experienced God say yes, no, or wait, and our lives have been tested so that we might grow in spiritual maturity. As elders, we may be concerned not to inconvenience the lives of our members; therefore, if any of you would like a visit from an elder, you may request our presence. We will sit with you, fellowship with you, and pray for you. If your prayer concerns are too big, we will bring your prayer concern to the conventional body and pray as a community in the name of the Lord. Sometimes, elders just don’t elder, but let it be so that God will use our maturity to help others grow in faith. Elders do not come alongside you to boast as greater than you. Elders come alongside you to remind you that we, too, are sinners.

We are like Elijah, who is righteous in that we are in Christ and can pray according to the will of God, with the assurance that he hears us and will work his will in the lives of those we pray for. We do not have to be afraid to pray specifically for what we desire with assurance that even if God’s plan is different from our expectations, he will work for his glory and our good (Romans 8:28). Ultimately, this is how the believer, especially an elder, takes delight in embracing God’s sovereign will, even when it differs from our own. In this way, we mirror the actions of our Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane.

I am urging every elder in this church, along with every member in person or online, to delight in God’s will when we pray. I beseech you, brothers and sisters, to pray as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane.

III. Restoring the Wanderer (James 5:17-20)

James 5:17–20 “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.”

I pulled some stats from the State of Theology survey taken in 2022 done by Ligioner Ministry. Here are a few statements I want us to ponder. “Worshiping alone or with one’s family is a valid replacement for regularly attending church.” Ten percent strongly disagree. Thirty-five percent strongly agree! If you and your family are not living or walking in the ways of the Lord, how can the parents of a child be upset if the child wanders? Another statement, “Every Christian has an obligation to join a local church.” Thirty-six percent strongly disagree. Eighteen percent strongly agree. How can we bring back a wanderer if we don’t believe in the biblical mandate not to forsake the assembly, as stated in Hebrews 10:25. What’s wrong with these people?

Brandon wandered, just like many of us do when worldly troubles weigh us down. Elijah prayed that God would discipline His people so that they might be restored. When it comes to eldership, one of their tasks is church discipline. The motivation behind church discipline is restoration for the wanderer. You may not be an elder, but if you are a believer, you are instructed and commanded by God’s word to save his soul. It is God who saves the soul, yet he works through his church in partnership with the Holy Spirit working through us. Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Do not lose sight of restoring the wanderer. Most of Israel had abandoned God in Elijah’s day, and as a prophet, he saw the responsibility to go to God and ask that he would restore Israel to himself. Just like Elijah, his faith was alive and active; our faith should be alive and active. We ought to put into practice what the word of God says as we share our love in patience with those who wander from the truth. As [Pastor Bill] preached last Sunday swearing is easy - doing is hard. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance and peace to act according to God's will, restoring wanderers and saving souls from eternal separation from Him.

How can we apply verses 17 - 20 to our lives today? We should earnestly pray like Elijah and actively seek to restore those who wander from the truth. Believers, I encourage you to strengthen your faith and build a supportive, patient, and loving community that reflects the heart of Christ. I pray that this body embraces and seeks Biblical wisdom and does not wander off the path of truth to seek worldly wisdom.

Conclusion

James 5:13-20 concludes by urging believers to actively demonstrate their faith through prayer in every circumstance.

Just like the hymn, Come Thou Fount, we are Prone to wander, wander from all truth and promise our Lord gave us in his divine word. I feel it; I know you feel prone to leave the God we love. We must pray that he take our hearts; O take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above.

Pray and praise in all circumstances, relying on God's grace and presence. Experience healing and forgiveness through faith, reflecting Christ's salvation. Live in a supportive community, confessing and praying for one another. Exercise the power of prayer with faith, believing in God's response. Engage in restoration, seeking to bring back those who wander, just as Christ restores the lost.

I am urging us to seek God's healing and forgiveness through faith. Come to Jesus today, experience His love and mercy, and join a community committed to supporting and restoring one another in the truth.

Let us pray!