Praying With Power
James 5: 13-18
Do you remember the TV commercial for the investment firm of E.F. Hutton? What was their catch slogan? When E.F. Hutton speaks people listen.
Well you know what? When Christians pray, God listens.
I read of a town in the mid-west that had two churches and one whiskey distillery. The members of both churches claimed that the distillery gave the community a bad image. To make matters worse, the owner of the distillery was an out-spoken atheist. The church people had tried unsuccessfully, for years, to shut down the distillery.
They decided to hold a joint prayer meeting on Saturday night to ask God to intervene and settle the matter once and for all. The people met on Saturday night and all through the prayer meeting, a terrible electrical storm raged. Then to the delight of the church folks, a lightning bolt hit the distillery and burned it down.
The next morning, the sermon in the two churches was on the power of prayer.
Insurance adjusters promptly advised the distillery that they would not pay for the damages because the fire was caused by an act of God, and that was an exclusion in the insurance policy. The distillery owner was furious and decided to sue both churches, claiming they had conspired with God to destroy the building and his business.
The churches then denied that they had anything to do with the cause of the fire. The judge who presided over the case opened the trial with these words, “I find one thing in this case most perplexing. We have a situation here where the Plaintiff, who is an atheist, is professing his belief in the power of prayer. And the Defendant who is made up of faithful church members is denying the very same power.
I want to talk today about the power of prayer. Most Christians say they believe in prayer but in reality, they don’t see much power in it. I think the reason for that kind of attitude is they don’t pray much. Like the subject of love, it’s easy to talk about but not as easy to put into practice.
While we hold prayer meetings and say we believe in prayer, it’s not frankly, a potent force in many of our churches or our lives. Now, we all feel inadequate and we say with the disciples of Christ, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
James was an expert in prayer. Tradition has it that James had a nickname, anyone know what that nickname was? Old Camel’s Knees. He spent so much time on his knees praying that calluses had developed.
When we read his letter, it’s evident that prayer was a very important power in his life. In chapter 1 he says, “If you lack wisdom, ask God.” In chapter 4 he says, “You don’t have because you don’t ask.” In chapter 5 he mentions prayer 7 times. He writes about prayer that is powerful and effective. The Greek word for effective is the word from which we get the word “energy.”
Prayer can take the average Christian life and turn it into an effective powerful life if we put it into practice.
It can also change churches. You know, I can remember when we had prayer meetings in the church that I was brought up in and when we had prayer time nearly everyone there would take their turn praying. We would have sentence prayers. The men prayed, the women prayed and even children prayed.
Prayer is a wonderful thing because the God we pray to is a living and powerful God who hears and answers our prayers.
I want us to learn from James what makes prayer an energizing force in our personal lives and in our church life as well.
This morning let’s first of all learn some…
#1: Specific Reasons For Prayer:
The first reason for us to have healthy prayer lives is because of
? Deliverance from trouble:
Listen to what James says in verse 13 of chapter 5, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” You would think that would come naturally, that people would automatically pray during times of trouble. A federal Aviation inspector said when they listened to the words of airline pilots right before a crash they frequently hear profanity. The last words recorded in that little black box is not prayer, but cursing. When faced with trouble people instinctively return to lifelong habits.
James is saying; you get into the habit of calling upon God during times of trouble, not just deep distresses but everyday kinds of problems. When you walk in the class unprepared and the teacher says, “Pop quiz,” it’s time to pray, “Lord, come quickly.” When you find a lump on your body . . . it’s time to pray, “Lord, help it not to be cancer.” When the boss wants to meet with you . . . it’s time to pray, “Lord, help my job to be secure.” When your dad calls you down right in the middle of his sermon because you’re cutting up…it’s time to pray, “Lord, just take me now.” When churches have problems . . . it’s time to pray, “Lord, may the grace of Christ rule in our hearts.” 2 Thessalonians 3:1 says, “Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.”
Another form of prayer that James points out here in verse 13 is singing. Maybe you never consider singing as a form of prayer, but it certainly can be. The book of Psalms is prayers that were sung.
The songs we sing aren’t there to fill up time while late comers get seated or to warm up for the sermon. They are expressions from the heart. If you’re happy, sing songs of praise.
Someone wrote, “When the world is on top of you, pray. When you are on top of the world, pray. We have a God for all seasons.”
Remember Paul and Silas in prison praying and singing hymns of praise? When they were in trouble they prayed. You know I bet they prayed out loud, don’t you? Singing hymns of praise . . . rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ. The other prisoners heard them, and that must have been impressive. I’m sure they had heard cursing before, but never had they heard singing and praise. Acts 16:16 tells us, “Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.”
That’s a great example of the power of prayer. James says, “Is any one of you in trouble? Let him pray. Is any happy let him sing songs of praise.”
Look at verse 14, “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.”. This gives us another reason or time to pray.
? In times of Sickness:
The word “sick” here means extreme illness . . . incapacitated. Someone who is without strength to take care of themselves and they call the Elders and the elders pray over them.
Why would someone call upon the elders? Because they represent the entire church, and they are known as righteous men, the kind whose prayers are powerful. James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
The prayer here is for the person to be healed. There has been much controversy over whether this oil is medicinal or symbolic. There are four basic explanations concerning this passage.
1. Some say this is medicinal.
This is a general feeling of a lot of people. The oil was rubbed into the skin. In Biblical times oil was used on one who was sick for medicinal effects. In Luke 10 the good Samaritan rubbed oil into the wounds of the man who had been robbed and beaten. Many today believe this translates into antibiotics and other medications, surgery, therapy, and things of that nature. These people would tell us that James is not saying to forget medical practice, and just have faith healing. He’s saying when you’re sick you get the best medical treatment . . . apply it . . . then you call the most spiritual leaders of the church and have them pray.
2. Jews sometimes used oil in casting out demons.
But if James intends exorcism, he doesn’t make it clear; there’s no hint of exorcism here in this passage.
3. Some conclude that the anointing of oil was a channel of blessing for one with the miraculous gift of healing.
This is based on Mark 6:13, which says, “They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” James does not say, “call the elder who is the healer.” He says, “call the elders of the church.” Charismatic healing is probably not meant here.
4. Oil symbolically stood for the special favor and blessing of God.
The anointing of oil was used in three types of offices.
1. Prophets:
Isaiah 61:1 says, “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”
2. Priests:
Exodus 29:7 says, “Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.”
3. Kings:
1 Samuel 10:1 says, “Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, ‘Has not the LORD anointed you leader over His inheritance?’”. These three offices were anointed with oil to show that God was with them.
In James 5:14 oil symbolizes the blessing of healing from God. Something we must realize is that this isn’t magical healing oil. The oil doesn’t heal; the Lord who hears prayer does the healing. Look at verse 15, “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. The oil is a symbol of His blessing.”.
Now, let me give us a caution here, we must not be too quick to dismiss the power of that symbol. In the Lord’s Supper, the bread and the fruit of the vine are symbolic of Christ’s body and blood.
In baptism, burial in water is a symbol of dying and being raised with Christ. Although these are symbols, they’re not mere symbols that can be dispensed with.
The practice of anointing with oil is a symbol of the power of prayer and perhaps should be revived in the church.
Secondly this morning let’s look at some . . .
#2: Prerequisites for Prayer:
1. Faith:
James 5:15, “the prayer offered in FAITH will make the sick person well.” A tentative skeptical prayer doesn’t have much power. The prayer of the Elders must be offered in faith, not like the double-minded man in James 1: 6 – 8 which reads, “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
The phrase “save the sick” is intentionally ambiguous here. It can mean that prayer “will make the sick person well.” That’s what the NIV says. It’s also used for salvation from sin. Look at verse 15 again, “If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.”
In a particular situation, it may not be the will of God to cure the sick. But if He doesn’t grant them physical health, He will give them spiritual salvation. But, in any case we should pray with confidence. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
Another prerequisite is . . .
2. Harmony:
Verse 16 reads, “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.” Right relationships with other people are so important. The Bible makes it clear that we can’t have a right relationship with God unless we have a right relationship with each other. There is a vertical relationship that has to be right by faith and a horizontal relationship that has to be right by confession.
So that our prayers can have power we must remember that when we’re at odds with another Christian, we are at odds with God and we’re not ready to pray. 1 Peter 3:7 says, “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” James says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed . . .”
Let me add a word of caution here. Confessing your sins to each other does not mean spilling your life to anybody who will listen.
We must not confess sin beyond the circle of that sin’s influence. Private sin requires private confession. Public sin requires public confession. It’s not wise for Christians to hang private sin in public; that will do more harm than the original sin.
The confession must be with the person against whom we have sinned and from whom we need forgiveness. If a person does that, you have the responsibility to forgive that person for whom Christ died.
You forgive as God has forgiven you and as you expect Him to forgive you. Someone told John Wesley, “I never forgive.” And Wesley said, “Well, I hope you never sin.”
The third prerequisite is . . .
3. Righteousness:
Verse 16 says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” The closer we walk with God, the more powerful our prayers are going to be. Psalm 84:11 says, “The LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” If you want your prayer to be powerful, then walk in obedience to God. The prayer of a righteous person can be very powerful.
Then thirdly this morning James gives us . . .
#3: A Positive Example of Prayer:
Let’s read verses 17 & 18, “Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again, he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”
Elijah . . . a man just like us. He wasn’t perfect. He knew what it was like to be depressed . . . to give in to self-pity, but he was God’s prophet at a time when Israel was wreaking with sin.
Elijah . . . was sent by God to urge the nation to repent. They didn’t repent, and so he prayed that they would be disciplined by a drought. James says that it didn’t rain for 3 ½ years.
Finally, Elijah prayed for rain and guess what? It rained.
Now, how can you and I pray with that kind of power? It starts with being sincere. Look at verse 17 again, “Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.” Elijah prayed earnestly. He didn’t just mouth words or say religious things. Too often when people pray they just mouth religious phrases, or sayings. Or they repeat themselves. God isn’t impressed with rituals or prayers that we say and memorize.
God isn’t concerned with wordy prayers . . . He’s concerned with intense and sincere prayers.
To close things out let me offer some suggestions about how prayer can become more powerful in our lives.
1. Schedule a definite time in our life every day when we are going to pray.
We ought to pray sentence prayers as the day goes on, but we need to make a commitment of time everyday where we have an appointment with God, one-on-one. When we have it scheduled it becomes a regular part of our day.
2. Find a place where we can be alone.
Jesus said, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” We need to pray together in church, but we also need a private time of prayer.
3. Pray in everyday language.
It doesn’t have to be flowery . . . talk to God in normal language. We don’t have to use thee/thou . . . just normal language. Tell Him what is on our hearts out loud.
Let me give you a great formula to use in our prayer life. It’s a formula that I’m sure all of you are familiar with, and if you are familiar with it, I hope you use it. The formula for prayer is ACTS.
A = adoration . . . praising God for who He is, and for what He’s done.
C= confession . . . of sin in your life.
T= thanksgiving . . . thank God for everything in our life.
S= supplication . . . requests that we bring to God . . . needs for the day.
Folks let me ask you . . . do you pray? And if you do, does God answer your prayers?
