Prayer changes everything—even you.

Introduction

Church I am excited for this one this morning, I know I should be excited for most messages and I am I promise but this passage speaks so much to the church today, to you today! SO can I ask you to get excited with me? is that okay?

Okay here some of the reasons I’m excited, this was written by James - great name but why is that exciting because it is Jesus’ brother. Can you imagine being Jesus brother? *JOKE* Being Jesus’ imperfect brother? Talk about suffering there. Then the poor guy had to turn his brother and pray for forgiveness. okay im getting to far ahead myself.

So let me set the stage here: It is late 40 to early 50 AD the church is somewhat mature and settled, and it has been persecuted but that has been turned down low to simmer. so they are suffering economic and social oppression and persecution. SOUND FAMILIAR YET CHURCH?

What’s worse the church was breaking under the pressure!

Here is something i read and cannot agree about the book of James,

### QUOTE: “THERE IS NO BETTER EXAMPLE IN THE NT OF A CHURCH LEADER TAKING JESUS’ TEACHING AND APPLYING TO CHURCH PROBLEMS”

Can you see why I am excited today CHURCH?

and here is the theme of the book of James, the Church has two options with this mounting pressure either come together and draw near to God or push each other down to try get ahead in the view of the world!

But let’s not just think about 45 AD. Let’s think about you and me.

Are you under pressure? Come on now, I know you feel it.

Are you struggling at work, in your marriage, or with health?

Are you feeling lonely because of the stand you’re taking for Christ in a world that wants you to blend in and be quiet?!

Or maybe just maybe… are you in a season of blessing?

if none of that is you Ive got nothing for you today, sorry you can go home if you need to, but i’m betting your ride home might be one of these people with problems so you have no choice in it.

James isn’t talking to some far-off people. He’s talking to us. You and me, right here in 2025. And he’s about to show us how the single most underrated, underused, and underestimated tool in the church’s arsenal can turn the tide. so before we dive in lets PRAY!

So let’s dive in: What is prayer? When should we pray? And why does it matter?"

WHAT IS PRAYER?

"To understand prayer, we have to go back—way back.

### I want us to go back to the first time pray is mentioned. In Genesis 4:26 is where we see this. It mentions two guys Seth who is a son of Adam, the first guy, and seth is the only righteous son of Adam. Then it mentions Enosh the son of Seth again righteous.

### Genesis 4:26 says, 'At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.' Isn’t that beautiful? At this moment in human history, people stopped and started talking to Him. It says they began to call upon the name of the Lord, okay so that is key part 1. Then we move to a time when abraham prays.

### Genesis 18:22. When he prayed, it says he 'drew near to the Lord.' Now, don’t miss this: Abraham wasn’t just physically getting closer—he was stepping into an intimate relationship, bringing his concerns before the Creator of the universe and his concern was for others too.

### So what is prayer? It’s not a wish list for God to fill. it is use calling upon his name, it is an INTIMATE CONVERSATION and It’s us aligning ourselves with His will and purposes. Church, this is huge. did you hear me say it, this means we have a direct and intimate connection with God,

### Prayer changes everything—even you.

that is beautiful but.…

But when should we pray? James breaks it down in three ways, and these are powerful because they touch every part of our lives."

2. WHEN SHOULD WE PRAY? (10 minutes)

A. When We’re Suffering (3 minutes) "James 5:13 says, 'Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.' You can hear James talking to that pressured church—and to us. Church, suffering isn’t optional in this world. Jesus said in John 16:33, 'In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.'

### It isn’t optional, and if I am to lay my heart out for you right now my concern is that it is only going to increase.

I see it online alot more often these days, people vocally and violently taking aim at the church.

Prayer in suffering isn’t just about asking for the situation to change. Which is our natural inclination, but Romans 8:26-27. Says we do not know what to prayer for as we should so the Holy Spirit steps in.

It’s about asking God to change us. To give us strength, to give us perspective, to remind us that this world isn’t our home. Church, let me tell you: when you pray in suffering, you’re not just surviving. You’re thriving because you’re drawing near to the God who sees your pain and says, 'I’m here with you.'"

When you pray in suffering, you intentionally making a choice to the God of everything and submit yourself to HIM!

You see Prayer changes everything—even you.

B. When We’re Blessed (3 minutes) "James continues: 'Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.' Listen, we’ve got this funny tendency as humans: when life is hard, we cry out to God. But when life is good, we start to forget Him. James says, 'No, no, no. When you’re blessed, don’t pat yourself on the back—lift your hands in praise!'

And here’s the thing: the more you praise God, the more you see His goodness in your life. Science even backs this up—who has heard of neural pathways? you see what can happen with time and effort, with choosing to praise is your brain literally rewires itself so that it is more prone to praise, and to notice blessings when you practice gratitude. But let me be clear—this isn’t 'manifesting.' This isn’t about making God do more good for you. It’s about recognizing that God is already overflowing your life with blessings." and praise God for all of it!

You see Prayer changes everything—even you.

OKAY so if you are suffering from outside yourself, prayer is the answer. If you have blessings in your life songs of praise (WHICH IS A WAY TO PRAY, because it calls upon the name of the Lord and is a drawing closer to Him) is the answer but what about what happens inside you? The evil things that happen inside you like sickness

C. When We’re Sick or Weak

James 5:14–15 says: “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.”

1. Physical Sickness: Does God Still Heal Today?

First, let’s talk about physical sickness. This passage is often misunderstood, so let’s take it step by step. James is giving a clear directive to those who are physically unwell:

Call for the elders. Notice that the responsibility is placed on the one who is sick to reach out for help. This isn’t a call to suffer in silence but to engage the church body.

Prayer and anointing with oil. This combination points to God’s power and sovereignty in healing. The oil itself is symbolic—it’s not magical. It was commonly used for medical purposes in ancient times (like in Luke 10:34 when the Samaritan poured oil and wine on the injured man). But here, the oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit’s power and presence in the act of prayer.

Let me make this clear: God can and does heal physical ailments today. James isn’t writing theory here—he’s reminding the church of a truth that’s echoed throughout Scripture. Just look at the ministry of Jesus:

He healed lepers (Luke 17).

He opened blind eyes (John 9).

He even raised the dead (John 11)!

Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” If He healed then, He can heal now. But here’s where we need to tread carefully: this is not a blanket promise that every sickness will be healed in this life. If that were the case, no Christian would ever die! Instead, James is pointing us to the reality that God’s ultimate healing plan is bigger than we can imagine. Whether it’s in this life or the next, God will heal His people.

2. Why Isn’t Every Prayer for Healing Answered?

This can be hard to wrestle with, but Scripture is clear: God’s plans are higher than ours. Sometimes, He allows suffering to draw us closer to Him. Other times, He uses it to display His glory, as we see in John 9:3, where Jesus says a man’s blindness wasn’t due to sin but so that God’s works could be revealed through him.

When we pray for physical healing, we’re called to trust God’s will—knowing that He’s capable of healing, that He cares deeply about our pain, and that He will ultimately restore all things in eternity.

3. Why Is the Oil Important?

Now, let’s talk about the oil. Why does James mention it? Is it just symbolic? Or is there more going on here?

Mark 6:13 gives us some insight: “And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.” In this passage, Jesus’ disciples are using oil as part of their healing ministry, just as James describes. Oil here is a physical act that accompanies spiritual faith.

The act of anointing someone with oil is a tangible way to symbolize God’s healing power. It’s a reminder that:

Healing isn’t about us or the oil—it’s about God.

It’s an act of obedience and faith, trusting that God is the ultimate healer.

But there’s another layer to this: in Scripture, oil is often associated with consecration and the Holy Spirit. So when the elders anoint someone with oil, they’re not just addressing physical illness—they’re inviting the presence and power of God to work in that person’s life, body, and soul.

4. The Transition: From Physical to Spiritual Sickness

Now, here’s where it gets deeper. James doesn’t stop with physical sickness. He ties it to something even more urgent: spiritual sickness.

He says, “If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” Why does James move from healing to forgiveness? Because sin is the ultimate sickness. Physical illness may weaken the body, but sin destroys the soul. It separates us from God, leaves us burdened with guilt, and can even hinder our prayers.

This is where the oil comes full circle:

It’s a symbol not only of physical healing but also of spiritual cleansing.

Just as oil was used to anoint priests in the Old Testament, setting them apart for God’s work, it now reminds us that Jesus has made us clean and whole through His sacrifice.

And this the good news, Jesus has given us the cure to this already! We just need to call upon his name and draw near to Him, put our trust in Him.

YOU SEE Prayer changes everything—even you.

So what are we to do when Sin is still in our lives as believers. Remeber James is talking to believers here!

5. The Call to Confession and Community

James 5:16 ties it all together: “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”

Church, this is radical. James isn’t just talking about private prayers. He’s talking about opening up to each other, confessing our struggles and sins, and inviting others to pray over us. This is where healing happens—not just in isolation but in community.

But let’s be honest: this is hard. Why?

We’re afraid of being judged.

We don’t want to appear weak.

This is also hard on the person going to pray, because it is not talking about an elder here, it is talking about anyone in the church so

We think, “Who am I that i could pray for them?”

Yet James tells us that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective. And guess what? If you’re in Christ, you’re righteous—not because of what you’ve done, but because of what Jesus has done for you. So don’t hold back. Don’t let fear or pride keep you from the healing power of prayer.

The Call?

So why does prayer matter? Because it’s the means by which we experience intimate relationship with God’s in our lives. No matter what is going on in your life whether it’s for physical healing, spiritual renewal, or strength to endure or good times!, prayer connects us to the God who sees, hears, and acts.

Let me ask you: Are you holding back today? Are you carrying a burden you haven’t shared? Are you neglecting the privilege of calling upon the name of the Lord?

Church, the call is clear:

Pray in your suffering.

Praise in your blessings.

Seek God in your weakness. And never, ever underestimate the power of prayer to change your life."

because Prayer changes everything—even you.