Prayer that works
Rev. Joey Crisostomo
Director for Central Operations
July 25, 2010
Key Scriptures
James 5:13-18; 1 Kings 18:30-40
15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.
… 16The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
* Prayer is the obvious theme of verses 13-18
* James’ aim here is to motivate us, wherever we’re at with the Lord, to pray more.
* Prayer: Too hard or too easy?
* Two Enemies of Prayer
o The Flesh (Matthew 26:41)
o Satan (Ephesians 6:12)
The Challenge to Prayer. 13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy?
Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick?
Four practical areas where prayer is essential
1. Pray when afflicted. 13Is any one of you in trouble?
2. Pray when sick. 14Is any one of you sick?
3. Pray when corrupted by sin. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
4. Pray when specific needs occur. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
Note: The Greek term for prayer used here is deesis, meaning specific prayer based on specific need.
The Nature of Prayer That Works. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
* The type of prayer. 15And the prayer offered in faith
* The kind of person. 16bThe prayer of a righteous man
* The outcome of prayer. 16b is powerful and effective.
An Illustration of Prayer That Works. 17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
1 Kings 18:30-40 …
1. He repaired the altar. 30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins.
2. The bold faith. “Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
3. He prayed with God’s honor in mind. 6 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.
4. He prayed with humility. and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.
5. He Prayed in Accordance to God’s Will. that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.
6. He prayed for repentance. 7 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”