Sermon Tone Analysis

Prayer should be continual.

James shows us that prayer should invade every aspect of our lives.

The ups and down.

The good times and bad!

We worry so much about answers to prayer when we should remember that prayer is the answer.

Christian prayer is not simply occasional.

Christian prayer is perpetual.

Back in the fourth century AD in Antioch in Syria there was an awfully good preacher named John of Antioch, and he was named Chrysostom, which in Greek means “the golden-mouthed,” because he was a tremendous preacher.

He had a sermon on prayer in which he said, “The potency of prayer has subdued the strength of fire.

It has bridled the rage of lions.

It has expelled demons.

It has broken the chains of death.

It has assuaged diseases.

It has rescued cities from destruction.

It has stopped the sun in its course.

It has arrested the progress of the thunderbolt.”

Prayer is transformational.

What do you do when you can’t change what desperately needs to be changed.

James wants you to know,

Prayer changes things.

Prayer is powerful.

Back in the fourth century AD in Antioch in Syria there was an awfully good preacher named John of Antioch, and he was named Chrysostom, which in Greek means “the golden-mouthed,” because he was a tremendous preacher.

He had a sermon on prayer in which he said,

“The potency of prayer has subdued the strength of fire.

It has bridled the rage of lions.

It has expelled demons.

It has broken the chains of death.

It has assuaged diseases.

It has rescued cities from destruction.

It has stopped the sun in its course.

It has arrested the progress of the thunderbolt.”

Sometimes there is a link between personal sin and sickness.

Example

1 Cor 11:

In Elijah’s day the peoples’ sin caused God to withhold rain.

In James day the peoples’ sin caused God to withhold health.

When the people repented and Elija prayed the rains came.

- It is the same thing.

This sickness is possible a matter of spiritual discipline.

When sin causes sickness then there must be repentance.

Anointing with oil is an appropriate practice in such a situation.

Such anointing in the Bible is a sign of someone being particularly set apart and consecrated to God—given over fully to him and his purposes.

Back in the fourth century AD in Antioch in Syria there was an awfully good preacher named John of Antioch, and he was named Chrysostom, which in Greek means “the golden-mouthed,” because he was a tremendous preacher.

He had a sermon on prayer in which he said,

“The potency of prayer has subdued the strength of fire.

It has bridled the rage of lions.

It has expelled demons.

It has broken the chains of death.

It has assuaged diseases.

It has rescued cities from destruction.

It has stopped the sun in its course.

It has arrested the progress of the thunderbolt.”

James 5:

the ancient historian Eusebius testified that “his knees grew hard like a camel’s because of his constant worship of God, kneeling and asking forgiveness for the people.”

The ancient historian Eusebius testified about James that,

“His knees grew hard like a camel’s because of his constant worship of God, kneeling and asking forgiveness for the people.”

James is in agreement with other New Testament teaching which sometimes associates illness and even death with one’s sin—as, for example, was the case when some in the Corinthian church suffered physical judgment because of unconfessed sin in their lives when they partook of the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:27–32).

Another example comes from Jesus’ healing of the paralytic in Capernaum on which occasion he said, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5

5

27

Sometimes there is a link between personal sin and sickness.

James is in agreement with other New Testament teaching which sometimes associates illness and even death with one’s sin—as, for example, was the case when some in the Corinthian church suffered physical judgment because of unconfessed sin in their lives when they partook of the Lord’s Supper ().

Another example comes from Jesus’ healing of the paralytic in Capernaum on which occasion he said, “Son, your sins are forgiven” ()

James is not suggesting that believing prayer is always a guarantee of personal healing.

Allberry, Sam.

James For You: Showing you how real faith looks in real life (God's Word For You) (pp.

150-151).

The Good Book Company.

Kindle Edition.