Being a Real About Prayer (2)

James 5:13 – 18

James 5:13–18 NLT

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

I- Prayer for the Afflicted (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.

Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 5

13 Κακοπαθεῖ τις ἐν ὑμῖν; προσευχέσθω· εὐθυμεῖ τις; ψαλλέτω.

“suffering hardships”= Κακοπαθεῖ = to suffer physical pain, hardship and distress—‘to suffer distress, to suffer pain, suffering hardship.’

“Let him pray” (προσευχεσθω)= [Present middle imperative], “let him keep on praying”

Word Pictures in the New Testament James 5:13

Is any cheerful (εὐθυμει; [euthumei?]). Present active indicative of εὐθυμεω [euthumeō], old verb from εὐθυμος [euthumos] (Acts 27:36), in N. T. only here and Acts 27:22, 25. Let him sing praise (ψαλλετω [psalletō]). Present active imperative of ψαλλω [psallō], originally to twang a chord as on a harp, to sing praise to God whether with instrument or without, in N. T. only here, 1 Cor. 14:15; Rom. 15:9; Eph. 5:19. “Let him keep on making melody.”

A- The best remedy for the heavy hearted is prayer.

1- The example of Samuel’s mother ( 1 Samuel 1:9–17).

1 Samuel 1:9–17 NLT

9 Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. 10 Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. 11 And she made this vow: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut.” 12 As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. 13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. 14 “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!” 15 “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. 16 Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.” 17 “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.”

2- The example of Paul’s prayer for the removal of the thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7 – 10).

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 NLT

7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

B- The best expression for the joyful heart is the prayer of praise.

1- Example of Israelites praise to God for deliverance from Pharaoh. (Exodus 15)

2- Example of Paul’s praise to God (Ephesians 1:3 – 6).

Ephesians 1:3–6 NLT

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

II- Prayer 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.

A- Prayer for the sick is the best course of action.

1- We often use prayer as the last course of action, when all else has failed. It should be our first course of action.

2- Note the example of the apostle Paul in praying for others who were sick (Philippians 2:25 – 30)

Philippians 2:25–30 NLT

25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. 28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.

B- The Bible gives specific instructions:

1- Seek out godly men for intercession (James 5:14 a).

James 5:14a 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.

2- Signify a trust in God’s spirit for healing (James 5:14b).

James 4:14b NLT

14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.

3- Submit to God in faith for his healing (James 5:15 a).

James 5:15a NLT

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.

Is any among you sick? (ἀσθενει τις ἐν ὑμιν; [asthenei tis en humin?]). Present active indicative of ἀσθενεω [astheneō], old verb, to be weak (without strength), often in N. T. (Matt. 10:8). Let him call for (προσκαλεσασθω [proskalesasthō]). First aorist (ingressive) middle imperative of προσκαλεω [proskaleō]. Note change of tense (aorist) and middle (indirect) voice. Care for the sick is urged in 1 Thess. 5:14 (“help the sick”). Note the plural here, “elders of the church,” as in Acts 20:17; 15:6, 22; 21:18; Phil. 1:1 (bishops). Let them pray over him (προσευξασθωσαν ἐπʼ αὐτον [proseuxasthōsan ep’ auton]). First aorist middle imperative of προσευχομαι [proseuchomai]. Prayer for the sick is clearly enjoined. Anointing him with oil (ἀλειψαντες ἐλαιῳ [aleipsantes elaiōi]). First aorist active participle of ἀλειφω [aleiphō], old verb, to anoint, and the instrumental case of ἐλαιον [elaion] (oil). The aorist participle can be either simultaneous or antecedent with προσευξασθωσαν [proseuxasthōsan] (pray). See the same use of ἀλειφω ἐλαιῳ [aleiphō elaiōi] in Mark 6:13.

III- Prayer for Spiritual Growth (James 5:15b–18).

James 5:15b–18 NLT

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. 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.

A- Seek to deal with sin and and its devastation – do not harbor unconfessed sin in your life. (James 5:15b-16a).

James 5:15b–16a NLT

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. 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.

1- Recognize that sin harbored can have devastating results. (Psalm 66:18)

New Living Translation Psalm 66

2- Remember that God’s desire is to forgive sin and remove its sting. (Psalm 66:19)

New Living Translation Psalm 66

3- Remedy sin and its consequences through accountability and prayer.

B- Recognize and harness the incredible power of intercessory prayer. (James 5:16b – 18).

James 5:16b–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.

1- Amazing power is released when godly people pray.

2- Amazing power is amazingly available to everyday people.

a- James cites the example of Elijah.

(1) Elijah was an ordinary man.

(2) Elijah made the choice of devoting himself to God.

(3) Elijah prayed and God acted.

Conclusion:

What does James 5:13 suggest we should do when we are suffering hardships?

How does the prayer of a righteous person influence the outcomes in our lives according to James 5?

What specific actions should be taken when someone is sick, according to James 5:14?

In what way does prayer serve as a remedy for distress, based on the examples given in the sermon?