Faith that works
Notes
Transcript
James 5:13–18 (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.
This is the Word of the Lord
From a very young age I started to notice that I had an internal monologue going on about every moment of my life. From the time I woke up to the time I fell asleep. I thought everyone had this but I recently learned that 50% of us actually have imagery or abstraction that is a result of thoughts. I thought that I was on the side of humanity that had this inner voice but I quickly realized that I was not alone in my thoughts. When I found a real quiet spot I found myself dialoguing with someone or something. Not until I was much older did I realize that I was dialoguing with the Lord. Now I know I mess up the reception of his thoughts but I know he is trying to communicate with me and I know it is a dialogue, I just don’t always have the right “ears” on for hearing Him. I still to this day am talking and trying to listen. I try to live in in this constant state of prayer, not because I am pious or seeking a life of piety, most of the time it is just to quiet my anxieties. It is a constant form of prayer though.
There is not one kind of prayer, not one purpose of prayer, not one style of prayer, not one tone in prayer. For me I realized I live in a state of prayer because of my nature, maybe my OCD, or my anxiety, or any other reason from my fallen nature, but that is how I live. I found I talk to Him about every single moment of my day and my tone is super informal, there is no structure, it is just one stream of words that I dump on the Lord and I know he will figure it out.
James, the brother of Jesus, here lays out a foundation for a couple of ways we can pray and gives some guidelines to structure our prayer life. This list is by no means exhaustive and I don’t think it tells us how we can or cannot pray. What we do know for certain from James words is that God wants us from to be in a sate of relying on him and seeking his presence. So let’ dive in.
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
Prayer in Suffering (v. 13)
James begins by acknowledging the reality of suffering. Life is not always sunshine and rainbows; we will face trials, difficulties, and pain. Yet, in the midst of these challenges, James encourages us to pray. Prayer is not a retreat from reality but an engagement with our Heavenly Father. It’s in our times of greatest need that we often find ourselves drawn to our knees. Prayer is a lifeline to hope and strength. It is in these moments of suffering that our relationship with the lord grows the most. I know when I have been down, worried about getting documents to the embassy, lining up insurance for the birth of Natalie, the birth of Daniel. Watching my dad suffering from alzheimer’s and watching my mom deal with this new reality. This is where we see a deepening of our relationship unlike in other times. He is not enjoying our suffering but is definitely in those times of suffering. He is with me and he is with you. We don’t have to do that on our own. There is no badge of honor that says I carried the weight all on my own, so why try to? Just put that worry, anxiety, fear on Him.
Prayer in Joy (v. 13)
James doesn’t stop there though. James also wants us to know that Life is also filled with moments of joy, blessing, and gratitude. James reminds us to pray in these moments as well. Our thanksgiving should be an integral part of our relationship with God. It’s in expressing gratitude that we deepen our connection with the Giver of all good things. Prayer is not just for the desperate; it's for the joyful as well. That is why he includes both suffering and cheerful. Just like my stream of incoherent words that I share with him continually in my worry , God also wants to hear everything the good stuff. He wants to hear petitions for the sick, petitions for help with addiction, but he also wants to hear thanks for the healing of cancer and the defeat of a stumbling block that with his help you were able to drive out of your life. He wants to hear thank you for the many blessings in our lives.
James also wants us to see the power of prayer. Prayer is not just a worry stone, or a thank you card. It is a way to invoke the power of the Lord and especially the power of praying collectively. James continues in verses 14-16
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.
The Role of the Church in Healing (v. 14-16)
James introduces the concept of communal prayer, especially in times of sickness. The elders of the church are called to pray for the sick and anoint them with oil. This is not a magical formula but a demonstration of the church's love and care. The power of prayer is amplified when it is offered corporately. There is a reason that we came back after Covid and started to worship with each-other. There is a reason that we desire to be here in worship. to be together after church, Sure the cake is good but that community that builds each-other up, that supports each-other , that prays for each-other that doesn’t just feel good by chance, it is designed that way.
Confession and Forgiveness (v. 16)
Healing is often connected to forgiveness. James encourages us to confess our sins to one another. This is not about public shaming but about seeking restoration through honest confession and mutual forgiveness. A community marked by forgiveness is a powerful force for healing. In the Cathecumenate process of the early church, before a believer could participate in communion, They were to restore those relationships with those around them before partaking in communion. Paul goes into much more detail in his first letter to the Corinthians, in how we need to be in proper standing with our community to be in communion with the Lord. James is setting the groundwork here by showing that we need to confess our sins to Him but we need to seek forgiveness from those we have harmed as well.
James concludes with a reference to a story about Elijah from the Old Testament in the book of 1 Kings. Elijah was faithful believer of the Lord and prayed with an expectancy in the action of the Lord.
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.
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.
And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.
This passage describes the dramatic climax of the confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal.
After Elijah's dramatic victory over the prophets of Baal, where fire from heaven consumed the sacrifice, the nation is in a state of drought. Elijah prays for rain to end the drought and demonstrate the power of Yahweh.
Here’s a breakdown of the events:
Ahab's indifference: While Elijah is focused on prayer, Ahab goes to eat and drink, showing his lack of concern for the drought or the spiritual battle.
Elijah's prayer: Elijah humbles himself in prayer, seeking God's intervention.
The servant's lookout: Elijah sends his servant to look for signs of rain. Seven times the servant reports nothing.
The sign of rain: Finally, a small cloud appears, indicating the coming storm. Elijah sends a message to Ahab to prepare for the rain.
The Power of Prayer (v. 17-18)
Elijah's prayer for rain is a testament to the power of a righteous person's prayer. Our prayers matter. They have the potential to change circumstances, heal hearts, and bring about God's kingdom.
Conclusion
Friends, this passage is a guide for a life lived in prayer. Whether we are facing challenges or celebrating blessings, prayer is our constant companion. It's a source of strength, comfort, and hope. Let us embrace the practice of prayer, both individually and corporately. And let us believe in its transformative power. So I end this sermon with this quote from Charles Spurgeon on the power of prayer.
987God the Holy Ghost writes our prayers, God the Son presents our prayers, and God the Father accepts our prayers. And with the whole Trinity to help us in it, what cannot prayer perform?—54.342, 343
Charles Spurgeon
Possible closing prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of prayer. Help us to turn to you in every circumstance, both joy and sorrow. May our prayers be filled with faith and gratitude. In Jesus' name, Amen.