How To Pray With Power Series

ILLUSTRATION:

A man by the name of Harold Lamb, a representative for a Video Projection and Sound Company, told this story of a SALES PRESENTATION he and his sales partner MADE at a CHURCH BOARD MEETING. He writes:

“My co-worker and I were making a SALES CALL to a rural Baptist church. We gave our PRESENTATION to the church committee, and then the group’s CHAIRMAN walked to the ALTAR and KNELT DOWN. …After a MINUTE of SILENT PRAYER, he RETURNED and ANNOUNCED in a solemn tone, ‘The Lord tells me we should wait.’

“My COLLEAGUE responded by WALKING to the ALTAR and KNEELING DOWN himself. Then he returned to the group, looked at the CHAIRMAN and DECLARED, ‘He wants to talk with you again.’”

COMMENT:

I’m not really sure EITHER man was actually PRAYING, or what kind of ANSWER they got from God, if any. But in our text James does exhort us to PRAY for specific NEEDS and EXPECT an ANSWER from God.

A. Throughout this letter James has a great deal to say about PRAYER.

1. He began the LETTER by encouraging his readers to PRAY for WISDOM in times of SUFFERING, and he CONCLUDES the letter by encouraging his READERS to PRAY in times of SUFFERING.

2. In fact, James was such a MAN of PRAYER that, according to church tradition, he was known as “Old Camel Knees” because he was often seen KNEELING DOWN in FERVENT PRAYER.

B. James has a lot to say about PRAYER because he wants us to understand that when we PRAY, we have a

DIRECT LINE to God the CREATOR of all THINGS, our HEAVENLY FATHER.

1. Prayer is INTIMATE COMMUNICATION with our Heavenly Father.

a. But is our PRAYER LIFE what it should be?

b. I believe most of us would answer, “No!” We often fall short in that area.

2. It was no different for James’ READERS—that’s why he EXHORTS them to PRAY throughout this

letter.

COMMENT:

Especially in these few verses as he closes the letter, James stresses the importance of TURNING to God in PRAYER in times of NEED- James 5:13-20 (READ)

MESSAGE:

I. PRIORITY OF PRAYER

COMMENT:

James doesn’t present PRAYER as a LAST RESORT—something you do after everything else FAILS, but as a PRIORITY—something we DO first and often. James presents three

common circumstances in which we are to PRAY.

A. We are to PRAY when we are in TROUBLE- v. 13

1. The word for “TROUBLE” that James uses literally means to “SUFFER EVIL” . . . to be placed

in such a DIRE SITUATION that you can’t see a WAY OUT.

ILLUSTRATION:

Maybe you have been in SITUATIONS: Your HOUSE is in FORECLOSURE, your HUSBAND wants a DIVORCE, your CHILD is a HEROIN ADDICT, or your COMPANY is DOWNSIZING. Your WORLD is turned upside DOWN and you don’t know what to DO.

2. Peter- “Cast all your anxieties (cares) on God for He cares for you”- 1 Peter 5:7

COMMENT:

God is not some DISTANT DEITY who doesn’t CARE about our STRUGGLES and DIFFICULTIES.

B. We are to PRAY when we are SICK- v. 14

1. James- “If you are sick, call the elders of the church to come pray over the sick and anoint him

or her with oil.”

a. I don’t think James is teaching that only ELDERS can PRAY for the SICK, but I do believe

this is a MINISTRY in which ELDERS are to be INVOLVED.

COMMENT:

The reason being, they are to be SPIRITUAL men; “RIGHTEOUS men whose PRAYER is POWERFUL and EFFECTIVE”- v. 16b.

b. There’s much debate as to the purpose of ANOINTING the sick person with OIL. Most scholars tend to agree it was for MEDICINAL purposes, as was “used by the Good Samaritan

on the man who had been beaten and left for dead”- Luke 10:34.

ILLUSTRATION:

Please understand that the POWER is not in the OIL, but in PRAYER! James may be

simply saying, “Use your MEDICINE as usual, but don’t forget the POWER of PRAYER!”

Some of you have requested that our elders PRAY and ANOINT you with OIL. They are more than willing to ACCOMMODATE you if they are REQUESTED.

2. James goes on to say, “And prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.”- v. 15.

a. I have seen that happen . . . haven’t you? Over the years I have seen God CURE several TERMINALLY ILL people.

b. I have also seen those who were PRAYED for continually for DAYS, but didn’t MAKE IT.

COMMENT:

I don’t UNDERSTAND why some are HEALED or whose LIVES are PROLONGED and

others DIE. But God understands, and He has a PURPOSE for all of it.

3. One thing I do KNOW is . . . that God looks at DEATH differently from us.