James - Practical Faith
God Doesn’t need a Super Christian, He Wants You
James 5:13-18
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16
Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. James 5:13
1. The prayer of distress and delight
a. Pray during the hard times
b. Be quick to sing songs of praise to Him
Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. James 5:14
2. The prayer of healing and help
a. The word "sick,"
b. "Prayer offered in faith" by the elders
Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. James 5:15
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16
3. The prayer of confession and community
a. What does confessing to one another look like?
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16
b. A healthier church
Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. James 5:17-18
4. The prayer of power and purpose
a. Elijah
And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. James 4:3
5. Final encouragement from James
a. Our prayer is to be constant
For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:8
b. How do we measure the results of prayer?
c. Don’t shy away from accountability
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17
Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Galatians 6:2-3
d. The effects this has on you
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! John 15:7
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16
