James 5:13-20 · Mark 2 — James
The Prayer of Faith
This sermon examines how faith-filled prayer reaches God's heart and brings His power into our lives. True prayer changes things—not by guaranteeing what we want, but by aligning us with God's will and healing, whether physically or spiritually.
Introduction
Our lesson time today will be divided into two parts. The first part will be a teaching time and the second part will be a time of encouragement. Our assembly is going to focus on prayer. In addition to our singing songs about prayer, we will also engage in additional prayer time specifically about things that are important to us congregationally.
The Text
A. Let’s look at our text. 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.
B. 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. But prayer without faith is fruitless and prayer with faith changes things. 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.
C. 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? Absolutely not. His statement about the use of oil signifies that prayer and medicine go together. But his point is that it is God who heals. Prayer changes things.
D. 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. ILL. Prayer — Shadowlands. & ILL. Prayer — C.S. Lewis quote.
E. 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. But it is our prayer which brings the power of God to our lives. ILL. Prayer — Rufus Jones
F. Let’s quit talking about prayer and pray. Perhaps someone here needs to pray. Invitation.
G. Two of our men will come and share with us in a time of encouragement in which they have been affected by prayer. Following their brief talks, Justin will come and lead us in a prayer of thanksgiving.
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