Delicately Praying
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: Why Delicate?
Introduction: Why Delicate?
Over the last few weeks, we have talked about several aspects of prayer. Prayer is simply defined as conversation with God. We can pray directionally as we pray inward, upward, forward, onward, backward and outward. We can pray determinedly by praying without compromise, praying through comfort, praying with clarification, and praying with comfort. We can pray dangerously by praying prayers that are big, bold and breathtakingly beautiful.
We can also pray delicately. There are several definitions of the word delicate in the dictionary. Two of these set the tone for our purpose today. Delicate means “requiring great care, caution, or tact.” It also is defined as “fine or precise in action or execution.” I am convinced that when we pray, we need to do so with great care, caution and tact as well as use prayer as an instrument of action that is precise and fine. In other words, we need to be people that pray delicately.
Prayer is an opportunity that is gifted to us that has great power. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that — it is a spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” The power of prayer is recognizing that with God all things are possible (Luke 1:37).
Prayer is also proficient. God hears the simplest of prayers. No matter what we pray, God hears it according His word.
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Prayer is also something that can be done any time at any place.
pray continually;
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
Prayer is an important discipline and privilege that we should not take lightly. In fact, we get some very strong directives from scripture in how we should delicately pray. One of those passages is James 5:13-16.
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
I want to invite you to examine praying delicately as it is shown in this passage. We will see from “Blunt Brother James” how we can pray delicately in our approach, our action, and our attitude.
Delicate in Approach (vs.13-14a)
Delicate in Approach (vs.13-14a)
We can approach prayer delicately in various ways. James tells us first that we can pray in times of trouble. Whether it is praying for ourselves or for others, we must do so delicately especially in times of trouble. During those times, we are most stressed and most likely to not think clearly as we are concerned about what is going on immediately around us. Being able to pray delicately during these times means we are able to recognized that God is aware and able. We can be assured that God is aware and He is capable of meeting our needs.
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
James tells us that we can also pray when we are happy. This is a common theme throughout the Bible.
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!
Often we forget to pray during those times because we usually do not need anything. However, the directive given here is that we should sing songs of praise. This reminds me that we should pray at all times. We have already mentioned in the introduction that directive from 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray continually. Think about that as an approach. If we are praying continually, we will be thinking about the things of God. What a way to approach prayer!
Matthew Henry wrote, “Afflictions should put us upon prayer, and prosperity should make us abound in praise.”
Another directive James gives us being delicate in our approach is to pray in times of sickness. All situations call for some prayer of some kind, but in time of sickness, the prayer of faith calls forth the divine work. In fact, the church is called on to find practical ways to help those who are sick to experience the presence of God. In doing so, we shift from being delicate in our approach to being delicate in our action.
Sickness is not always running a fever and not feeling well. The Greek word is astheneia and it covers a multitude of problems we face. The word is used elsewhere in the New Testament to show this. It can have to do with our weaknesses that come about mentally and how we think.
I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.
It could also refer to our spiritual condition.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
The sickness could be our conscience.
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
Delicate in Action (vs. 14b-15)
Delicate in Action (vs. 14b-15)
The greatest opportunity we have as Christians is to pray ourselves into action. James has already told us earlier in his book that faith without works is dead (James 2:26). We can pray for others to be relieved and comforted all day but unless we go and become sources of comfort, our prayer becomes just words. James gives us an example of action right here in the middle of this passage. He tells us that when we are sick, we should call the elders to come and pray over us. This is the continuation of what Jesus called His disciples to do.
When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,
The example given by Jesus and in James is for those who are sick to call on the elders to come and pray. Three specific actions are also indicated in the call for the elders to pray. James states that the elders should anoint the sick person with oil. Oil is used throughout the Bible as a form of medicine and for healing. Isaiah 1:6 mentions oil as a soothing for healing. Mark 6:13 shows that the disciples anointed oil on sick people as well. Luke 10:34 shows how the Good Samaritan poured oil on the injured man’s wounds to help him heal. It is important to note that this action of anointing with oil is always accompanied with prayer. It is not that the oil has a special power as it is most likely olive oil. The emphasis is that it symbolizes God’s healing power. By the way, when Noah sent out the dove after the rains had stopped, that dove eventually came back an olive branch, right? The use of olive oil, the olive branch, and even Jesus praying in an olive garden signifies to me the reminder that we our sickness, in the form of mental, spiritual, and physical aspects are ultimately healed through the power of God, which we access through the power of prayer and in the name of the Lord.
These actions, just like James indicates here, are through faith. A prayer offered in faith expresses trust in God out of commitment to Him. Faith is the anchor that prevents us from being blown and tossed about in the sea of life.
But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
James 1:15 tells us that the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. We us the power of prayer to call on the power of God. We pray that the weariness caused by the sickness will be overcome.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
We are able to overcome the weariness through prayer. We are reminded that through God, we can be reminded of the spiritual strength we have to endure the trial and do so with a godly spirit. A prayer offered in faith gives the Lord opportunity to raise the sick person up. This literally is translated as “increase the physical vigor.”
The action of the elders to pray, anoint with oil, and pray with faith leads to an action of forgiveness. Prayer gives us two promises in this passage, healing and forgiveness. You might be thinking, why does forgiveness need to be brought up here? Is sin the cause of someone being sick? Sin maybe the cause of sickness. Remember, sickness here is defined as something that could be mental, spiritual or physical.
Sickness ultimately exists because of the fact that we live in a fallen world. The prayer of faith must recognize that God’s will is supreme and ultimate. We have the ability to have to be healed from sickness and to be forgiven only because of His grace.
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
God did not have to make that happen for us, but He did! Aren’t you glad? Some of us are sick and may never experience complete healing in this world, but by the assurance of God’s word, we will have the ultimate healing in eternity through Jesus Christ! If we recognize that, we will delicately pray. We will take serious these directives that James gives us for prayer. We will trust God, no matter what. That is why we can say the very same thing that Job said.
and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
As the result, we will pray delicately in our attitude.
Delicate in Attitude (vs. 16)
Delicate in Attitude (vs. 16)
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
The first directive given here is that we must have an attitude and willingness to practice confession. Now notice, it does not say we have to confess to a priest or a minister, but rather to each other. The practice of confession is as old as mankind and sin. It was established early on in the law.
“ ‘When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned
“Say to the Israelites: ‘When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the Lord, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged.
Notice even in the Old Testament law there is nothing mentioned in these verses of those who receive the confession and being judgmental or condemning. Confession happens and James institutes the directive to pray for each other. How many people would be more receptive of Christians if they knew they were going to be prayed for when they confessed?
There are huge benefits in praying for each other! First and foremost, healing happens. Remember, healing is not just for physical ailments, but healing in the mind, heart, and soul. Ultimate healing, remember, comes through Jesus.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
It is in the healing through Christ that we can learn to forgive as we are forgiven and love as we are loved.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
When we pray delicately in our approach, our action and in our attitude, notice the results that come. James tells us that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
I want to be a person whose prayer is powerful and effective. Therefore, as a part of my delicate praying, I need to be righteous, not self-righteous, but righteous.
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
Application
Do you delicately pray?
Do you have a group of fellow believers with whom you can confess and pray? Are you willing to be one that can be in such a group?
Study Psalm 66:16-20. How does that compare with our study of James 5:13-16?