Praying with Faith

Introduction

As we close our study of James next week, this last section focuses on the importance of prayer. James acknowledges that prayer is a vital part of a believer’s life both for physical healing and spiritual health. In fact, James places both the physical and spiritual together. For James, physical health is important but it is spiritual health that is even more important. While they go together, for James it is the saving of a person from spiritual death that matters most. Today we are going to be reminded that praying with faith is not about setting God free to work but it is about setting us free to trust in the one who saves.

Praying in Faith

While there are other elements mixed in, it seems that James ends his letter where he began it. Back in chapter 1 he reminded his readers that testing times are necessary because such testing produces faith. Now in our text, he writes about one of the products of that faith---prayer. We are to pray when we are in trouble. We are to pray when we are sick. We are to pray following the confession of sin. We are to pray because prayer changes things.

Prayer is one of those things that we talk and teach about; we have prayer lessons teaching us how to pray. What we need to be doing is praying. Talking about prayer is not praying. Teaching about prayer is not praying. Going to a prayer seminar to learn how to do “it” better isn’t praying. James’ point is not to persuade us that as believers we get whatever we pray for, but to help us to realize that prayer changes things.

What we need to see is the focus of prayer. Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Notice the priority of prayer. Trouble? Call someone to help. Work on the problem. Resolve the issue. If you are in trouble, then pray before you do anything else. Happy? Sing. Sick? Call the elders and let them pray over you. Is James against health care? His point is that it is God who heals. Prayer changes things.

We are all subject to the will and purpose of God. We have all prayed earnestly with faith and not received the answer that we wanted. I am frankly baffled by James’ statement. But the following statement helps us understand if we are willing to hear it. “If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.” Remember in Mark 2 when Jesus healed the paralyzed man? He forgave his sins before he healed him. When the religious leaders confronted him, Jesus’ response was which is harder to heal or to forgive. The point---only God can do either. I think this is James’ point.

The prayer of faith doesn’t heal. God heals. In the process of dealing with sickness, the diseased person may rethink their relationship with God and confess their sin. Such confessed sin is forgiven when righteous faithful elders pray about such things. Whether it is healing physically or spiritually, this is God’s work. A prayer of faith sets us free to trust God.

So What?

James is not exhaustive in the text. There are times that people have prayed and the answer from God was not what they wanted.

Paul prayed three times for healing. God said no.

Jesus prayed for the cross to be taken away. God said no.

Abraham prayed for his son Ishmael to be God’s chosen one. God said no.

Hannah prayed over and over for a child. God said no until Samuel was conceived.

Even Elijah prayed for relief and God said no.

Hezekiah prayed for more time and God gave him 15 years and not only did Hezekiah die at the end of 15 years he led his people away from God.

The point is not to start a debate about the mind of God. The point is to reveal that each one who prayed in faith and didn’t receive continued to pray because they trusted God. This is James’ point. In chapter 1, trials come we meet them with joy. How? Because of our faith. Chapter 2, we do good things to others. Why? Because of our faith. Chapter 3, we seek wisdom? What kind? The wisdom of heaven that comes through faith. Chapter 5, we pray in faith seeking release physically and spiritually. Why? Because righteous people praying are free to trust that God is going to do great things.

James ends this section with a reminder that nothing is more important than finishing ones’ life in faith. Verse 20 is translates “save him” in the NIV. The word is “psyche.” It is the soul. We pray knowing that a powerful God can act. We pray knowing that when our spiritual lives are less than they ought to be, that someone can come to turn us away from error.

C.S. Lewis wrote: I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God. It changes me. There is little doubt that James wants to encourage us to pray. Prayer is about us trusting God. Prayer is about our faith. Prayer is about knowing that God is the one who can do great things physically but most of all spiritually.

Look at verse 16. Here is the importance of confession. In confession we admit our sin. In confession we allow others to pray over us for healing---physically and especially spiritually. This is the point of verses 19-20. Such a confession releases us to once again find relationship with God and with the community of believers.

So what does this all mean?

Pray whether you feel like it or not. The prayer of faith is not based upon emotions but based on trusting the God who hears.

Pray expecting and anticipating that God is at work. God answers every prayer. His answers are consistent with his plans and purposes. His “no” means that he is still at work and that he cares deeply for you.

Pray so that it changes you. Prayer sets you free to trust God more. Prayer releases you from thinking it is about you.

Invitation.

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