Pray One for Another! James 5:13-18 January 25, 2015 www.wordforlifesays.com Uniform Series: We Pray for One Another (Please Note: All lesson verses and titles are based on International Sunday School Lesson/Uniform Series 2010 by the Lesson Committee, but all content/commentary written within is original to wordforlifesays.com unless properly quoted/cited) Introduction: Previously I published an article titled: Please, Pray Me Through to My Deliverance, (wordforlifesays.com). I will repeat the article here as means of an introduction because it goes so well with the theme of this week s lesson. Enjoy! For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer..., Philippians 1:19, NKJV There is so much hurt going on in the body of Christ. Saints are going through trials and tribulations like never before. As the days draw to a close, a time when our Lord Jesus Christ will come back to whisk us away to glory, the enemy has done on a vehement rampage against God s people everywhere. Paul, when he wrote his letter to the Philippian church, knew something of hardships. He was imprisoned and he was put in a place of affliction and hurt. So, when he writes of the faith he has that the saints will help pray his deliverance, he knew what he was talking about. There is a wonderful bond in the body of Christ that is like no other. Unity, love and compassion mean so much to our survival that our very witness to the world depends on it. There has been over the past few years an
awareness of how we have hurt not only one another, but our witness before the world through gossiping and the tearing down of one another. Jesus Himself said, By this will all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another, (John 13:35, NKJV). Having sincere love toward another means that we would want what s best for them. Even if it means exalting somebody higher than yourself; putting the petitions of prayer that someone else so desperately needs above your own. We often hear the encouragement that, The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much, (James 5:16, KJV). To avail means that we have a God-given right to have the upper hand, through prayer, against any foe that would dare to rise up against one of God s anointed ones. How are we using that advantage? Are we selfishly gleaning all the grapes off the vine of blessings for ourselves, or do we have enough Christian courage to let another feast off of your effectual, fervent prayers before you get a taste? Paul openly admitted that on several occasions how much he was dependent upon the prayers of those who had his back in ministry. Despite his supposed super saint/apostleship position, he realized that the sweet aromas of selfless petitions were being put up to God on his behalf. Because of that, he was assured that he would see deliverance. How much care and emphasis do you really put on the body of Christ when you bow the knee to the Father? How much is that hunger in you to see the salvation of the unsaved of your family and friends being fed? Do you really believe that not only will your prayers move mountains in your life but also in the life of another? You may be their only hope, whether they are born or again or not, to draw near to God and receive deliverance. Paul puts it best in 1 Corinthians 13:1 where he says, Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging symbol, (NKJV). Are you just making a lot of noise when you pray or are you busting the gates of hell loose because your heart
is hurting for another? It was Abraham Lincoln that was quoted as saying, I am sorry for the man who can t feel the whip when it is laid on the other man s back. There are some whips being laid on others; some burdens that you can help someone else carry if only we would do as the Philippian church did and pray. Not just any prayer, but prayers that will let our brothers and sisters know an assurance of seeing deliverance, too. If you want to see true restoration in your own life, learn to put the needs of others before your own. Job 42:10 states, The Lord restored Job s losses when he prayed for his friends. Oswald Chambers, in his devotional My Utmost for His Highest, wrote: As a saved soul, the real business of your life is intercessory prayer, (Discovery House Publishers, Grand Rapids, Michigan; June 20). Not until Job prayed for his friends were his losses restored. Let s work today in the real business of your life; hedging people in under the arc of safety, the covering of prayer, so they will finally see deliverance, too. There may be a hurting soul quietly pleading for someone to, Please, Pray Me Through to My Deliverance, (Word For Life Says). And this is where our lesson leads us today. After learning how to pray from Christ and finding out how much invested in prayer He was, today our lesson takes us beyond the realm of our own needs to lift others up before the Lord. Be blessed. James 5:13-15 13) Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he hath committeth sins, they shall be forgiven him.
Is any... is what these series of questions coming from James is opening with and it speaks volumes to Christians everywhere. It lets us know that there is a universal need for prayer. Men and women, no matter their status in life, need to be lifted up before God via a heavenly petition and we have the responsibility to do the lifting. Globally speaking, there is a crisis in the atmosphere due to the lack of prayer in our days. It was F.B. Meyers who said, The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer, (OChristian.com). More of that sweet communion of the spirit; that time devoted to connecting with God for others is in deficit and humanity is going spiritually bankrupt and suffering by what we are not putting up before God. Where s our offering of prayer? Here in our lesson is a call for prayer to cover the many issues we face in life. Specifically, it points to two of the most popular things you hear people request prayer for: afflicted and sick. Suffering can come in the form of troubled hearts and minds or troubled bodies dealing with illness. James keyed us in on what we can do: PRAY! Psalm 50:15 says, And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. If there is trouble of any kind for anyone: PRAY! Will that deliverance come instantly? For some, perhaps it will but for others, no. There are times when God s deliverance doesn t look the way we think it should look. There are times when God doesn t give us the answer we were hoping for. Take Paul for instance who prayed three times and God s answer of deliverance was grace, (2 Corinthians 12:9). God s grace was going to see him through his thorn in the flesh, thereby fostering a spirit of deliverance deep down on the inside of him. Don t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done, (Philippians 4:6, NLT version). Any is everything and James answer for it all is to PRAY! Call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. Here we see leadership support during times
of needed prayer. The job of the elders or any leader in the church is to help direct and care for the members of the congregation (see Acts 20:28 & 1 Peter 5:1-4). A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way, (John Maxwell/Forbes.com); and of course that would mean praying with and for God s people when needed. They are instructed to use oil for anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. Oil was used for anointing priests and kings to positions (see Exodus 28:41 & 1 Samuel 16:3). Oil was used for anointing them that are sick (Mark 6:13). Oil was used as medicine to help aide in the cleaning and healing of wounds (Luke 10:34). The word anointing physically itself means to smear. Anointing is also a symbolic action of the presence of God and the Holy Spirit (see 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 1 John 2:20, 27). In the name of the Lord. Most have heard by now the widely popular Christian song in one form or another, Break Every Chain by Tasha Cobbs. In it says, There is power in the name of Jesus, To break every chain, break every chain, break every chain, (Metro Lyrics). That song is full of the truth of the Word of God. Jesus said, And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son, (John 14:1). Here, when the elders are instructed to pray they are to do so in the name of the Lord. In Acts 3, Peter and John were going up to the temple one day. On the way they saw a man that was lame who was begging for alms. Peter and John told the man, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk, (Acts 3:6, emphasis mine). The man was healed. His healing was the cause of wonder. Putting to rest any idea that it was by their own power this man was healed, Peter spoke up and declared, And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong..., (Acts 3:16, emphasis mine) referencing Jesus. In case you think prayer is limited just to the elders, the bible instructs us all to, Pray without ceasing, (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We have untold opportunities to lift our fellow man up to the Lord in prayer. In our daily drive do we think about the individual in the car that cut us off? Are they just rushing to be rushing or are
they headed for an emergency situation? Are they uptight about life and can t seem to find calm in the storm? Your prayers would matter. What about those we meet on our shopping trips? Does something about another s stance and posture cause us to lift a silent prayer to the Lord asking Him to cover whatever issue they may be dealing with? What of the awkward child in your kid s school who doesn t seem to mesh well with peers? Can they use a caring soul to offer before the Lord concern on their behalf and pray? You bet they can. We can contact heaven on behalf of any and all to hope for a positive difference in their circumstances and life. There is power in prayer even if they don t know you are praying for them. One of my favorite songs that go with this theme is sung by Eddie James and the lyrics ring out: Lord, make me a house; make me a house of prayer, a house of prayer... May the fire on my altar never burn out, (go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v1en2zjdwq and to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs35ur_zuxe to see videos of this song. It s a wonderful and meaningful worship song that we can all participate in literally!). We can make a difference with our prayers! The prayer of faith shall save the sick. Jesus once told the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee, (Matthew 8:13). Faith plays a key role in the receiving of miracles and praying for others (see also Mark 10:52). This faith is being sure and confident in the One to whom we pray for healing. It s that blessed assurance belief that He is faithful that promised, (Hebrews 10:23), if it be within His will. As we have seen with Paul, sometimes God wants His grace to be manifested. At other times prayers may be asked amiss, (James 4:3) resulting in going unanswered. Regardless, prayer is NEVER the wrong answer. If he committed sins, they shall be forgiven them. Part of the elders job involves praying for the restoration of the sin sick individual; the one who has missed the mark and is seeking to be healed spiritually (compare Christ s example in Luke 7:44-48).
Amidst all this prayer, James also points out the joy that one finds solidified in Christ. He says, Is any merry? let him sing psalms. There is a time of rejoicing in the body of Christ. Sin and sickness do not and should not always prevail. There are times when the burdens are laid down and joy comes in the morning, (Psalm 30:5). When we have the opportunity, as with praying for others; we should be rejoicing in the merriment that He provides. James 5:16 16) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Continuing with the theme of forgiveness and prayer James teaches to confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. Spiritual healing as well as physical healing can be found when we confess and pray one for another. We also have the responsibility to not only confer with one another about our shortcomings and sin, but we have to take it to the Lord. 1 John 1:9 says, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. The prayers of the righteous work! The prayer of a righteous man can get some things done. Miracles can spawn from the solemn petitions that the man of God offers on behalf of others. If you want to see real change in the lives of others, pray for them. Someone who is devoted to God and passionate about His Word and His people can foster a real change through prayer. James 5:17-18 17) Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Here, we are given the illustration of Elijah. Elijah was a fellow human; a normal man, if you would be so bold as to call him that, with flesh and blood and faults of humanity. Yet, when he prayed things happened or didn t happen. In 1 Kings 17:1 Elijah went before king Ahab and declared, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. Because of His prayer God withheld rain from the land. This is where the young people would say, Boom! Then, in 1 Kings 18, after the showdown on Mt. Carmel where it seemed to the natural eye that Elijah was one man against hundreds and after killing the prophets of Baal, Elijah again went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, (1 Kings 18:42); he was in a prayer position. After sending his servant time after time and seeing no results, the Bible says, And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man s hand..., (1 Kings 18:44). Then the story proceeds to tell us, And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain..., (1 Kings 18:45). The prayers of a righteous man made the difference. The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry, (Psalm 34:15, emphasis mine). Your prayers work and God hears them. Don t ever let the enemy convince you that your prayers are for naught, because they aren t. Your prayers are not reliant on your strength or power; rather, He to whom you are releasing your cares, your worries and the plights of your fellow man. Conclusion: Pray for one another!