This morning we are wrapping up our series on the book of James. James closes his book with a return to a theme he’s already spoken on in the opening of his letter, “Prayer”. We read at the beginning of his book,

James 1:5–8 ESV

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

I’m not one who wants to neglect this advise, so let us pray:

Father of lights, we have gathered again today here to lift up our praises, to offer up our concerns, and to hear from you. We know that every good and perfect gift is from you; we know that there is no shadow of changing in you. We know that you answer our prayers. So by your invitation Lord, we pray that you would grant us wisdom to understand your word to us today.

Lord God, I ask that you would give me clarity of thought and speech that we might all understand your Word better. Give us all the wisdom and courage to apply it, to act on it, to do as you’ve commanded. We ask this in your Son Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Our passage for this morning is the last two paragraphs of James letter. We are looking at James 5, verses 13-20. Listen for what the Spirit of the Lord has for us today:

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.

This is a reading from God’s Holy Word.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer’s Prayers

As we read our passage, you no doubt caught a very strong theme: Prayer. I’ve titled today’s message, “Prayer’s Prayers.”

Prayer is mentioned in 6 of our 8 verses this morning, in every verse from 13-18 James speaks on prayer. All different kinds: The prayer of the individual, the prayer of the elders, the prayers sisters and brothers in Christ have over for one another, and an example of prayer in the prophet Elijah.

James is wrapping up his message and he returns to the theme he opened with:

James 1:2 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

James 5:13 ESV

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

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.

M. Scott Peck's classic book The Road Less Traveled began with one simple yet profound sentence, “Life is difficult.”

James knows that life, and perhaps especially the Christian life, is one in which we will experience trouble. The kinds of trouble in which we may feel tempted to question the goodness of God and our fellow human beings. James neither advocates for our typical responses of anger nor resignation in these times, the former poisons the spirit and the latter dulls the mind. What James advocates is prayer.

When we are living a life of prayer - no matter what the circumstance - what does it do? Think back to the beginning - way back in Genesis and the temptation in the Garden. “Did God really say…?” Do you ever wonder why Adam and Eve didn’t just ask Him? One could say their communication with God was less than active at that point.

Prayer keeps our communication with God active.

Christians by their very calling are called to be in relationship with God, relationships take communication. And not just when things are difficult, but when things are going well too!

James 5:13 ESV

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

Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise!

These are the prayers of the individual, in the difficult times and in the good times pray and praise. Be in communication with God.

Our mid-week Bible Study has been studying Paul’s letter to the Galatians. In that letter Paul keeps pointing his readers back to their relationship with God through Christ. It’s not about the Law.

In our current culture one might summarize this by saying it’s not about religion (the following of rules) but it’s about our relationship (our following of Christ).

Relationships take communication, whether a friendship, a family, a marriage; all relationships need good communication.

James 5:14–15 ESV

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.

Two things I want to speak on here and one word of caution:

Our elders do pray for you. I know any of our elders would be happy to come and pray over you, and I’m happy to do so as well. And we can anoint you with oil.

The anointing of oil was the medicine of the day in James’ time. So James is not saying do not seek medical attention as some have taken this verse to mean.

Caution - the caution I want to give here is from v. 15

James 5:15 ESV

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.

And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick...

I have heard very well intentioned Christians say that the reason a person wasn’t healed was because they didn’t have enough faith. OR for Christians who prayed to think it was their lack of faith.

First off let’s recognize this for what it is - it’s putting us in charge of what God would do, If I just have enough faith then God will… (fill in the blank). That’s guilt you don’t need to carry and should never put on another. Even the apostle Paul prayed three times for what he described as a “Thorn in the flesh” to be removed and it hadn’t been removed.

Secondly, none of us can be sure of what God is doing. God’s ways are not our ways.

Early in my ministry I was praying for healing for a very elderly man who’d been one of the great Bible teachers in the area. He was now in the hospital and was in a coma. His family were very well versed in Scripture and asked how I could pray for healing when he would likely die. My response without thinking much about it was “What is the ultimate healing but to be in the arms of our savior in a place of no more pain, no more death, and no more tears?”

I’m not sure how much I believe it then, but I believe it now.

In verses 16 -18 we learn more about our relationship as sisters and brothers in Christ. One that perhaps we can apply readily in todays cultural climate:

James 5:16 ESV

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.

James then uses the illustration of Elijah’s prayers.

Confess your sins to one another.

You know, our Roman Catholic friends have it right here. Their practice of confession does bring healing. James does not say we need a priest to confess our sins, and since this sentence begins with therefore it’s not clear that the elders are out of the picture here. Yet he uses the phrase: “to one another”.

Note he also ties illness to unconfessed sin, when he adds “that you may be healed.”

Confession is good for the soul.

One of my favorite books by Ken Davis is titled: “Fire Up Your Life” and the subtitle is awesome: “Living with nothing to prove, nothing to hide and nothing to lose.” His thesis is this: If you admit where you fail, you have nothing to prove. If you’ve made it a practice of transparency, then you have nothing to hide, and if you have nothing to prove and nothing to hide, you have nothing to lose! You are truly free to try, to fail, to try again - to stretch your wings and go for it. It’s a really good book, written more for youth, but still a good book. I’d recommend it.

Prayer’s Prayers

I believe the prayer of confession is such a powerful one. But it needs to be prayed with a true openness and repentance. It doesn’t help to confess your sins, your mistakes, your shortcomings if you’re not willing to do anything about them.

In our cultural climate today there are a lot of issues that are being raised. Perhaps one of the most prevalent and difficult to talk about it the topic of racism. It’s easy to claim not to have played any part in it. Would your acquaintances of different races say the same thing?

What’s our internal reaction when the topic is brought up? Is it one of defensiveness? Why? What do any of us have to be afraid of?

Confession is part of openness. It’s part of us being authentic and honest not only with others but with ourselves. Prayers when we’re suffering is admitting that we don’t have it all together and yes, we need help. And prayers of praise are wondrous and cause us to break out in song.

When you think your prayers are not powerful, remember Elijah - he was a person, just like us. And if someone has strayed from the truth - let’s pray for them, speak with them and love them right where they are.

May the Lord bless to our understanding God’s teaching to His church.

Amen.