THE PRAYER OF FAITH WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT FROM GOD

THE PRAYER OF FAITH WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT FROM GOD

PRAYER IS A POWERFUL TOOL I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men 1 Timothy 2:1 (NASB95) casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you 1 Peter 5:7 (NASB95) let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 (NASB95)

POWER RESTS IN GOD S RESPONSE God hears our prayers, cares about our condition and grants our requests 14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:14 15 (NASB95)

POWER RESTS IN GOD S RESPONSE God hears our prayers, cares about our condition and grants our requests As a result, the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16 (NASB95)

EFFECTIVE PRAYER MUST BE OFFERED IN FAITH 13 Whatever you With the proper motivation ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13 (NASB95)

EFFECTIVE PRAYER MUST BE OFFERED IN FAITH 14 This is the With the proper motivation With complete trust in God confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 John 5:14 (NASB95)

EFFECTIVE PRAYER MUST BE OFFERED IN FAITH With the proper motivation With complete trust in God With total surrender to Him 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16 (NASB95)

THE EXAMPLE OF ELIJAH Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him - 1Kings 16:33 For this reason, Elijah prayed that it would not rain The events of Mt. Carmel renewed the people s faith - 1Kings 18:39 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit. James 5:17 18 (NASB95)

THE EXAMPLE OF ELIJAH Elijah was a man with a nature like ours He had no special ability He had the same needs and weaknesses that we have He prayed with the proper motivation God responded 43 He said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. So he went up and looked and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go back seven times. 44 It came about at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, a cloud as small as a man s hand is coming up from the sea. And he said, Go up, say to Ahab, Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you. 45 In a little while the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy shower. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 1 Kings 18:43 45 (NASB95)

GOD S WILL AND OUR PRAYERS Vs. 15 offers a promise concerning prayer restore is in the indicative i.e., it is a statement of fact How do we reconcile this with our experience? 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:13 16 (NASB95)

GOD S WILL AND OUR PRAYERS The Context of the Book of James The need for faith in trials - 1:2-6 Blessed is the man that endures temptation - 1:12 How does James 5:14-15 fit this context? is any among you sick - astheneo - to be feeble, weak and is used both of physical weakness and moral/spiritual weakness (Mounce) Faith is demonstrated through righteousness - 2:14-26 Seek the wisdom from above - 3:13-18 Submission, repentance, humility results in the Lord lifting us up - 4:7-9 The need for patience through suffering - 5:7-12

3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the waters; John 5:3 (NASB95)

8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Matthew 10:8 (NASB95)

19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah s womb; Romans 4:19 (NASB95)

1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. 2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. Romans 14:1 2 (NASB95)

9 But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 1 Corinthians 8:9 (NASB95)

GOD S WILL AND OUR PRAYERS The Context of the Book of James The need for faith in trials - 1:2-6 Blessed is the man that endures temptation - 1:12 Faith is demonstrated through righteousness - 2:14-26 Seek the wisdom from above - 3:13-18 Submission, repentance, humility results in the Lord lifting us up - 4:7-9 The need for patience through suffering - 5:7-12 How does James 5:14-15 fit this context? is any among you sick - astheneo - to be feeble, weak and is used both of physical weakness and moral/spiritual weakness (Mounce) the one who is sick - kamno - to grow weary, be weary, to be sick (Strong s) to tire with exertion, labor to weariness; to be wearied, tired out, exhausted, be discouraged (Mounce) The passage refers to one who has become weary due to trials, whose faith is growing frail

GOD S WILL AND OUR PRAYERS The fervent prayer for renewed faith will be answered This understanding fits 1John 5:14 Such a prayer may be offered for the physically ill, but we are not given the same promise 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:13 16 (NASB95)

PRAYER AND SURRENDER Pride and isolation lead to spiritual weakness Call the elders acknowledge our need for encouragement Anointing with oil - bestowing honor, refreshment and grooming 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:14 16 (NASB95)