SF695 - HOW TO PRAY EFFECTIVELY - DEVELOPING A FAITH THAT WORKS (James 5 16-18)
How to Pray Effectively
Developing A Faith That Works
James 5:16-18
Introduction
We cannot Overestimate the Importance of Prayer!
James had a reputation for being a man of prayer. His nickname was James, the Camel Knees, because he had such big knots on his knees from spending hours and hours in prayer.
1A. The Confession we Must Make (16a)
1B. A Plea for Confession
When we Confess our Sins, Restoration takes Place
Healed = refer to physical, emotional, and spiritual healing
(Psalms 51:17 NIV) "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."
When we Confess our Sins, Reconciliation takes Place
(Matthew 5:23-24 NIV) ""Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, {24} leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."
When we Confess our Sins, Revival takes Place
(1 Peter 4:17 NIV) "For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?"
2B. A Pattern for Confession
The circle of confession.
Ø Only confess as widely as it involves other people.
Ø If I have a private sin, just between the Lord, and me then I ought to confess it to the Lord.
Ø If it is a personal sin, between you, and me then I need to come to you.
Ø If it is a public sin, then I need to apologize to the whole church.
2A. The Command that We Should Mind (16b)
(Luke 18:1 NIV) "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."
(1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV) "pray continually;"
(1 Samuel 12:23 NIV) "As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. …"
1B. Prayer is the Greatest Christian Privilege
Being able to talk to God
2B. Prayer is the Greatest Christian Power
What prayer can do is what God can do. Anything that God can do can be done through prayer.
Jesus said, "The things that I do, you'll do also even greater works."
Ø How do you do greater works than Jesus. Jesus said in the verse underneath that, It is by prayer.
3B. Prayer is the Greatest Christian Failure
Ø We talk a lot about prayer, we study about prayer.
Ø The only thing we do not do is pray.
"Prayer is not just preparing for Christian service, it is Christian service." A Rogers
3A. The Conditions We Must Meet
1B. We Must Ask Faithfully
(James 1:6 NIV) "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."
2B. We Must Ask Specifically
(James 4:2 NIV) "…. You do not have, because you do not ask God."
3B. We Must Ask Humbly
(James 4:3 NIV) "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
Not for selfishness but for a genuine reason -- the glory of God.
4B. We Must Ask Passionately (5:16b)
"powerful" (effectual, feverant) = stretched out
We are to be impassioned in our prayer
5B. We Must Ask with Integrity (16b-18)
Righteousness Defined (16b)
Ø Positional = receive in Christ @ salvation
Ø Practical = refers to our daily walk
(Proverbs 15:29 NIV) "The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous."
(Proverbs 28:9 NCV) "If you refuse to obey what you have been taught, your prayers will not be heard."
(Isaiah 59:1-2 NIV) "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. {2} But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."
(Psalms 66:18 NIV) "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;"
Ø If I am willfully and knowingly doing something, I know is displeasing to God and say, "God, I'm going to continue doing this but, by the way, help me out."
Righteousness Demonstrated (17-18; 1 Kings 18:42-45)
Ø The person of the prayer - "Elijah"
Ø The place of the prayer - "the top of Carmel"
Ø The posture & passion of the prayer - "bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees"
Ø The persistence of the prayer - "Seven times"
Ø The power of the prayer - "a heavy rain came"
Application
How important is your prayer life to you?
Are you right with God Positionally?
Are you right with God Practically?
How to Pray Effectively
Developing A Faith That Works
July 20, 1997 P.M. - James 5:16-18
Tim McGhee
1A. The ____________________ we Must Make (16a)
1B. A Plea for _________________________
When we Confess our Sins ___________ takes Place (Psalms 51:17)
When we Confess our Sins ____________ takes Place (Matthew 5:23-24)
When we Confess our Sins ___________ takes Place (1 Peter 4:17)
2B. A ___________ for Confession
The circle of confession.
2A. The _______________ that We Should Mind (16b)
1B. Prayer is the Greatest Christian ___________
2B. Prayer is the Greatest Christian ___________
3B. Prayer is the Greatest Christian ____________
"Prayer is not just preparing for Christian service, it is Christian service." A Rogers
3A. The ___________________ We Must Meet
1B. We Must Ask ______________ (James 1:6)
2B. We Must Ask ______________ (James 4:2)
3B. We Must Ask ______________ (James 4:3)
4B. We Must Ask _______________ (5:16b)
5B. We Must Ask with ____________ (16b-18)
Righteousness _________________ (16b)
(Proverbs 15:29 NIV) "The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous."
(Isaiah 59:1-2 NIV) "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. {2} But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."
(Psalms 66:18 NIV) "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;"
Righteousness _______________ (17-18)
(1 Kings 18:42-45 NIV) "So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. {43} "Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "Go back." {44} The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea." So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.'" {45} Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel."