Prayer Will Change Things

Introduction

James 5:13–18 NASB95

Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

PRAYER WILL CHANGE THINGS

Prayer Defined

Sincere communication with God based on faith in His existence and work. This communication can involve the following:

Praise - for who He is

Thanksgiving - for what He does

Confession - for what I have done

Petition - for what I or someone else may need

It is more than the action, it is an ATTITUDE! This attitude is shaped by my understanding if the God I pray.

Prayer’s Power

The power in prayer is not in the frequency of prayer nor is it in the ability to articulate clearly to God. It is solely in the God that we pray to, He gives power to prayer. Consider the attributes of God:

God is onmipresent - God is in the past, present and the future. This puts Him and an awesome position to respond to prayer

God is omniscient - God is all-knowing and is complete in wisdom. This means that God is not informed when we pray to him but responds to an acknowledgement of Him through this act of faith.

With a full disclosure for every problem this makes Him the perfect person to resond to any prayer

God is omnipotent - God also has full power to act on any request that comes His way. The only determining factor that remains is His will. . .in responding to prayer.

Prayer, the privilege

Prayer acknowledges the TRANSCENDENCE of God. God is distinct and dwells far above this physical realm. “Our Father who art in Heaven”

At the same time, the act of prayer is indicative of God’s IMMANENCE. Meaning God, as great as He is, is within reach of His people. “let us come bodly before the throne”

Our Text

A careful examination of our selected reading would reveal that prayer is mentioned in every verse:

The predominant term being, proseuchomai. This is a petitionary prayer. lit. calling out to God

There’s is a call to pray in different circumstances

God through James, gives an invitation to pray.

“Is anyone among you sick?” This context is inclusive of a spiritual well-being also. This call to pray must be couched in assurance and confidence that you will find help.

If something is wrong, if someone has a plight, experiencing harm or emotional pain pray!

If someone is sick [physically or spiritually] the call is to pray!

APPL. What me must do in when we are challenged is to pray. God invites us to pray

Whatever you face, don’t forget to pray! It must be the first thing we do.

James 5:15 “and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.”

A right reserved for brethren [Jas 5:7; 12] Heb. 3:1; 4:15-16 - The invitation to the throne room for forgiveness

The result is that God will raise them up. “put them in an upright position”

There’s a reason given for that call

There is purpose behind this introduced with a conjunction that makes a logical inference, THEREFORE. . .

“confess and pray for one another” - this is in the context of the healing

Then a authritative declaration. . .

The effective prayer - the prayer that works [as expected]

The prayer - urgent need, used exclusively of God.

The rigtheous man - the one wholly aligned to God’s will and way

The result - it “accomplishes much” [it has the power to do something]

The much means to a great degree

APPL. The fact prayer works/changes things is a why we should “pray without ceasing”

Even when we can’t see how God is working does not mean He is not working.

There’s an example given to reinforce the theory

If the theory was too heavy, Look at Elijah’s example

He was just like us. We don’t have to be a specially endowed prophet to enjoy this privilege

Look at what that prayer accomplished.

Is there something that needs changing?