Prayer Changes Things (2)

James 5:13-18 “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.”

Introduction

COVID-19 is the deadliest pandemic in modern history. Over 50,000 people have died in Texas and the numbers continue to rise. The Delta strain attacks the country while Governor Greg Abbott blocks mask mandates. Vaccine rates are slowing down while the World Health Organization tracks 3 new variants. Simply put --- COVID-19 is out of control.

COVID-19 has changed the way we live and the way we shop. Some of the biggest brands are filing for bankruptcy and closing stores.

GNC — where you buy vitamins and protein shakes closed 40% of it’s stores because it was nearly $1Billion in debt.

Guitar Center — where you may have purchased an instrument, filed for bankruptcy, but miraculously recieved $800 million shortly after to keep their stores open.

JC Penny, Stein Mart, Brooks Brothers, Aldo, and Neiman Marcus have filed bankruptcy because the pandemic has changed the way we shop.

More than 5% of Americans are without work. While more jobs become available and unemployment numbers continue to fall, we’ve got to question why many hardworking Americans are receiving more money in pandemic aid than they are at their jobs.

If COVID-19, job loss, and racism aren’t enough --- the US must find new homes for thousands of Afghan citizens who are trying to escape national terror.

Regardless of your political affiliation, neighborhood zip code, tax bracket, or degree status --- you cannot deny this simple truth --- America and much of the world are in a crisis!

But If God can use ravens to feed Elijah in a famine, then God can use anything to cancel your crisis.

If I stood up here and just preached about your new breakthrough or miracle I’d do you the text a disservice.

Yes, we can glean such realities from the text. But i think the text raises deeper meaning.

Before we get excited about what’s next in life, we’ve got to ask ourselves this question: Am I willing to be consistent in prayer?

Am I willing to pray on my good days and the bad? Am I willing to pray when I’m happy and when I’m sad? Am I willing to pray when I’m sick and when I’m healthy? Am I willing to pray before every decision I’ve got to make?

We must ask ourselves and answer honestly --- Am I willing to be consistent in prayer?

Whether a global pandemic or 20-year war we’ve got to pray. During long, hot, summers and cold, frigid winters, we’ve got to pray. When we get the new house, new car, and new job, we’ve still got to pray.

Whatever the circumstance or situation maybe we’ve got to be consistent in prayer.

Here’s the good thing about honest and consistent prayer --- it changes things. When you decide to develop a consistent prayer life — you’ll see your life change!

Transition: James gives us 4 reasons to pray.

Movement 1 - Prayer in Suffering

First, I want to speak to the person who feels betrayed by life. Every time you take 1 step forward, it seems like you’ve got to turn around and take 3 steps back. James address your situation in verse 13.

He says if anyone is suffering they should pray.

Prayer is an appropriate response in rough times because it causes us to be honest and intentional with God.

We can pray to God in every situation because we don’t have to hide our circumstances. You may hide your disappointment from friends, but God already knew the outcome. You might hide your frustrations from people at work, but God already knows you want a new job. You might hide your tears from your children, but God already knows the pain you feel. You might be contemplating divorce, but God already knew the issues in your marriage.

There is nothing you can hide from God. That’s why prayer is the proper response to challenging situations in life because God already knows what you’re going through.

Not only does God know what you’re going through, God will respond to your prayers. Now, I know that’s a touchy subject for some people, because we often carry the assumption that God will automatically respond when we want, how we want, and do whatever we want.

And that’s not the case. If you ready his first question carefully — James doesn’t say anything about God’s response to us. James simply says, pray!

James isn’t encouraging the church to pray as a means of escape. James is encouraging the church to pray as a means of strength. Because the truth of the matter is, God doesn’t always intervene when we want him to.

Now, that doesn’t mean God isn’t listening. It doesn’t mean God doesn’t care. It doesn’t mean God is afraid. and it doesn’t mean God is non-existent. Sometimes God does intervene in our situation because he wants us to grow stronger through the process.

Do y’all remember testimony service? I know I’m young, but I still remember some of the classics of church. During testimony service — someone will tell about all the good things God has done for them.

The adults testimony might go something like this: First, giving honor to God who is the head of my life. To the pastor, deacons, trustee’s, church officers, and first lady. I want to thank God for waking me up this morning and starting me on my way. I want to thank God for putting food on my table and clothes on my back. I could’ve been dead and gone, sleeping in my grave, but God saw fit to let me see another day.

Y’all remember that!? After they’ve given thanks, then they’d tell the church what happened in their life that week. And if the story involves a life-saving event, they might say: I thank God for a praying grandmother.

Y’all remember those testimonies!?

Now, I’m not saying this to shame anyway if that’s your story. We thank any honor God for Saving your life!! And you ought to tell that testimony every chance you get!

But James gives us a reminder as Christians, when we face challenging times — we gotta pray until we experience God for ourselves.

I thank God for my praying grandmothers. I thank God for praying parents. I thank God for people who were praying for me that I may never meet. But every now and again, when I’m going through a rough situation, I’ve got to lean in and get a prayer through for myself.

So, James says if you’re going through rough times, you’ve got to learn how to pray for yourself.

Transition Sentence: Is anybody with me in the house this morning?

Movement 2 - Praise as Prayer

Second, James reminds us that singing is a form of prayer. Have you ever been singing and all of sudden you start praying?

Look at the second half of verse 13 — James tells the church when you’re happy sing songs to God.

The word praises is translated as Psallo where we get the word Psalms from. It means to pluck an instrument while singing.

Paul teaches about singing as prayer in Colossians 3 --- He says:

Colossians 3:16 ESV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

In your happiest moments there ought to be a praise on your lips. Before you make an announcement on social media you ought give God some praise. Before you call your family members and friends to announce the good news, you ought to give God some praise. Before you go celebrate at Saltgrass and PF Changs you ought to give God some praise. And Before you go turn up on Saturday night you ought to give God some praise.

In your happiest moments you ought to give God praise!!

Fiji an island in the South Pacific Ocean, entered the Tokyo Olympics as the defending gold medalists in Rugby. Fiji has been devastated by COVID-19. Fiji has 900,000 residents. That makes the island smaller than Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio alone. Because of the pandemic citizens were placed on curfew. No one can be outside from 6pm to 4 in the morning.

That means the rugby players have to workout, practice, and work their regular shifts during a shortened day. Despite all the challenges and setbacks the team experienced, they are the returning champions of Olympic Rugby. They entered the Tokyo Olympics as the favorite and beat New Zealand for their second gold medal.

What captured newspaper writers illustrates James’s point and GolfDigest tells the story well. The golf magazine’s headline reads — The Fiji gold medal rugby team somehow sings even better than they play!

James says when you’re happy — sing songs of praise. One commentator said “Fiji is one of the only rugby nations, other than South Africa, that wherever they travel in the world they give thanks in the winner’s circle.”

We ought to show the world how good God has been.

From slavery to Jim Crow.

From Jim Crow to the Civil Rights Movement.

From the Civil Rights Movement to the Trump Administration. America thought they had us, but we’re still here!!

The Winans group said it well --- Millions didn’t make it, but I’m one of the ones who did. I don’t know about you, but when I think about the goodness of Jesus and all he’s done for me --- my soul gets happy and I feel a dance creeping up in my spirit.

*Breathe*

I don’t know how anyone can think about all God has done and not praise him. Those memories ought to stir up something in you. Whether it’s your favorite hymn or gospel song you ought to give God some praise.

*Breathe*

So James tells us --- when we’re happy we ought to give God praise. Because praise is a form of prayer to God!!

Transition Sentence: The first two reasons to pray have to do with our personal relationship with God. Now James moves from personal relationship to church intercession.

Movement 3: Prayer in Sickness

Third, James calls us to pray in sickness. He says if you’re sick --- call the elders. Healing in this sense is a collective experience between the church and its members.

When you read the text closely you’ll recognize James primary focus isn’t physical sickness. The word he uses for sickness is astheneo which means weakness.

The root word for astheneo means to stumble. In other words whenever you are weak and feel like you’re going to fall --- call the elders to pray for you. Deacons this is the part of the text that speaks to your role in the church.

James says the church and community ought to trust that you can pray them through habits, addictions, and weak moments that threaten their faith.

Now this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t lay hands on people who are physically sick. I grew up COGIC like your pastor. I still believe in laying hands and anointing with oil. Those are good practices that help us rely on the power of God for healing.

However, we can’t miss the point of James’s message. Sometimes physical sickness is the result of spiritual weakness. Or let me say this another way — Sometimes the only medicine you need is to grow stronger in your faith.

James says — call the elders and have them pray over you while anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.

Anointing with oil in the name of the Lord is important, because olive oil was commonly used in the Middle East to treat all kinds of pain and sickness.

If someone had a fever or headache, they’d anoint them with olive oil. If a kid scrapped his arm playing outside — they’d anoint him with oil to heal the wound. If someone had a rash or burn — they’d anoint them with oil to clear up the irritation.

Some people even used olive oil to cast out demons, because they believed mental health challenges like anxiety and depression are influenced by demon possession.

Whether someone worshipped a tree in the ground, a gold figurine, a mythical hero or God they used olive oil to treat illness.

So James makes an argument for Christ — overcoming drug and alcohol addiction doesn’t come from the oil.

Overcoming hate, jealousy, and greed doesn’t come from the oil.

Overcoming fear, anxiety, and doubt doesn’t come from the oil.

No, strength doesn’t come from the oil, it comes from the Lord!

Yes, oil is used as a symbol of submission and offering but the ritual points to the power of God. Whether it was oil back then or medicine now --- some things can only be overcome by the power of God!

James points out an important aspect of intercession --- God is responding to the faith of the elders.

This is important — God moves on the faith of others when your faith is weak.

At the beginning of the sermon — James challenged the church to pray for themselves. So, God responds to your faith when you are praying for yourself.

Now we see God responding to the faith of the others. Whose praying for you matters just as much as what they’re praying for. That’s why the church has be to be the place of refuge for unbelievers.

People ought to leave different than how the came --- people should know that God responds to the prayers of the saints.

When you call the elders of the church and they pray for you God will move. If you’re weak because of sin, God will forgive. And whatever your weakness is God will heal.

So James tells us — that we ought to call the elders of the church to pray for us in weakness.

Transition Sentence: First, James tells us to pray in hardships. Second, he tells us to praise God when we’re happy. Third, we ought to call on the elders when we’re weak.

Movement 4: Personal Confession

Finally, James tells us to pray for one another when we confess our sins. I know y’all are good, church going people, who don’t have much to tell, But I’m grateful that I have a few brothers who will lift my name up when I’m fall short sometimes.

They say confession is good for the soul and bad for the reputation. Religious News service created a newspaper series that focused on confessions.

Google has turned files over to government officials during murder trials to get a confession. If someone runs for public office or apply for promotion confessions of past mistake may derail. For the ambitious professional confessions have higher consequences.

We can look at Governor Cuomo in New York about the power of confession. After countless witnesses and a state investigation he was reluctant to confess his sexual exploits with female staffers.

However, if we can’t take risks, how can we grow? If we can’t admit our failures, how do we grow in wisdom? If we can’t trust people with our most embarrassing moments, how can we grow deeply with them? And that’s what James teaches us.

There ought to be a few brothers and sisters who are willing to pray for us when we need them most. We ought to have some people in our lives who will receive our confessions with humility and grace. The truth is we’re all human and fall. No matter what your status is we’ve all got some things we need to confess.

Yet, James says — confession leads to healing. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

And the prayer of a righteous person is both powerful and productive.

Growing up --- ministers would close out Sunday School with this saying: No prayer, No power. Little prayer, Little power. Much prayer, much power. When the righteous pray God responds in a powerful way.

Transition sentence: But if you don’t believe in the power of prayer maybe the story of Elijah will convince you.

Close:

Elijah prayed for the rain to stop and God held the rain for 3.5 years, causing a famine in the land.

When Elijah prayed again, God released the rain and the land produced a harvest.

If Elijah doesn’t convince you that pray changes things — then look at the story of Abraham and Sarah.

Sarah prayed for a child because she was barren in her youth.

An angel appeared to Sarah when Abraham was 100 years and promised them a child.

After the angel appeared Isaac was born.

If you aren’t convinced by the story of Abraham and Sarah, look at the Shunnamite woman.

When Elisha was passing through the city, the Shunnamite women gave him a place to stay.

She prayed for a child, but thought she was too old to give birth.

Elisha prophesied she’s bear a son and a year later she gave birth.

If the Shummanite women doesn’t convince you that prayer changes things look at Hezekiah.

When Hezekiah was on his death bed, he turned to the wall to pray for a few more days.

After Hezekiah prayed God granted him 15 more years.

If Hezekiah doesn’t convince you that prayer changes things maybe Daniel will convince you.

Daniel was thrown in the lions den for serving God. The king wanted to see if God would save Daniel.

So the king prayed and fasted all night for Daniel’s safety.

Early the next morning he rushed to the lion den to see if Daniel was still alive.

When he got there he found out that the Lord sent angels to protect Daniel from the Lions.

And he praised God for Daniels safety.

If Daniel doesn’t convince you that prayer changes things maybe the Centurion will.

There was a roman commander in Capernaum who was sick unto death. The Roman Soldiers heard Jesus was in the town and brought him to the Commander’s home.

The Roman soldiers begged Jesus to save their Commander. When they left and came back the Commander was healed.

If the Roman commander doesn’t convince you that prayer changes things maybe the thieves on the cross will.

Two men were being hanging on a cross. One man rejected Jesus and the other confessed his sin.

After the thief confessed his sin — Jesus promised him entry into the Kingdom.

Since we’re in a Baptist church. I can’t close a sermon without this story ....

There was an innocent man dragging a cross up an old rugged hill.

He was punished for crimes he didn’t commit.

He was mocked, tortured, bruised and beaten for things he didn’t do.

And while he was on that cross he prayed for you and me.

When the pain became unbearable he took all the strength he had left, lifted his eyes to heaven and said ....

Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they do!!

And because of Jesus we are forgiven!!

Somebody said What do you know about Jesus??

He’s alright!!!

I said what do you know about Jesus??

He’s alright!!!

Won’t he do it!!

I said Won’t he do it.

Somebody say, Yeeeeahhh!

Somebody say Yeeeeaaahhhh!!

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii -know he’s alright!!!!!