If His People Would Pray
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At noon on September 23, 1857, a businessman walked into a church in the middle of lower New York. This was the business district. Other churches were closing their doors in the area. And everyone expected this church to do the same. However, this man was starting a new thing. Never been done before. He decided to open the church at noon for one day a week so that the business people would have a place to get away and perhaps pray. After waiting 30 minutes, and having no one show up, he was about to leave, but then 6 men walked into the door. The next week 20 came. The next week 40.
It was then that he decided to make the meetings daily and to move into a bigger room.
Jeremiah Lanphier didn’t know what was in the future. As one historian said, “All he knew was that men needed to pray.”
His heart and his passion is the second important thing that James is writing in his letter.
He is squishing 3 important issues into his goodbyes. Last week we talked about radical honesty. This week, we are going to talk about prayer. 3 things that should be defined by prayer.
1A. The follower of Christ should be defined by prayer
1A. The follower of Christ should be defined by prayer
James gives two instances where the follower of Christ should seek the Lord.
1B. When the follower of Christ is in trouble
1B. When the follower of Christ is in trouble
James says “Is anyone among you in trouble?” Literally, suffering misfortune. This word is used many times for a believer who is being persecuted. Paul refers to himself this way in . This meaning is definitely fitting in the general context of this letter. The Christians were being persecuted for their faith and for their poverty. They were in trouble!
But, the context also supports a broad meaning of this word.
They weren’t just suffering misfortune because of their persecution. They were in trouble because of their poverty, because of their circumstances. Some of them were really sick, as we read in this passage. They were in trouble, spiritually, economically, physically.
Consider Job. James just told us about Job’s perseverance through hard times. He was in trouble. His family died. His livelihood was demolished. He was suffering from a horrible skin disease. He was having marriage problems. He was in trouble.
James says, “if you are in trouble, pray!”
2B. When the follower of Christ is happy
2B. When the follower of Christ is happy
James says “is anyone happy?” Now, I have to note, as many scholars have noted before me, this might not be a different group than the previous sentence. Just because one is in trouble doesn’t mean that they aren’t happy. Though, we can generally assume that the overlap is small. If someone is happy or cheerful about something, they should sing songs of praise.
Consider
speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,
Singing songs of praise is a form of prayer. And it can be done by anyone, no matter how badly they sing.
I love my dad, but he cannot carry a tune. He loves to sing though. We would always sit in the 3rd row, and my dad would belt out his favorite songs. One day, the song leader couldn’t take it anymore. She couldn’t sing, because she was laughing so hard. My poor dad.
James says: If you are happy, tell God!”
The bottom line is this:
3B. In all situations, the follower of Christ should continually turn to God
3B. In all situations, the follower of Christ should continually turn to God
If you look at the two instances which James says should drive a person to God (trouble and happiness), they pretty much encompass all of life! I don’t know of a time when we aren’t in trouble and we don’t have something to be happy about.
We should always be turning to God. Every situation that we are in, we should drop to our knees and bring it before God.
The verbs that James uses in these verses are imperatives.
That means that they are commands. The English language sometimes waters down the force of what is going on, by using the little word “let”. A more forceful translation would say, “Is anyone among you in trouble? He must pray. Is anyone happy? He must praise.” For those of us who are followers of Christ, we must be turning to God in every situation.
Not only must we be turning to God, but we must be doing it continually.
The verbs are showing an ongoing process. “He must continually pray.” “He must continually praise.” Our lives as Christians should be defined by our consistent coming before the throne of God. He is the only one who can truly help!
Christ died that we might have a relationship with our creator and king.
Are we pursuing that relationship through every circumstance of our lives? Can our family members say that we are people who seek God in all things? Can our family members say that we make our relationship with God a priority through prayer?
I interact with some people who say that they don’t have a specific time of prayer, but they continually talk with God. That is talking by distraction. And God gets the short end of that stick. If I said that I never have a specific time to talk with my wife, but I interact with her all day while I am focused on other things, would you think that I had a strong marriage? I can interact with her all I want, but if I do not spend intentional time with her, talking truthfully about events, emotions, etc., my relationship suffers.
If we do not come to God, seeking His face through all things, our relationship with him suffers. The average Christian in America prays for 1 minute a day. And, we wonder about the state of Christianity! If you are going through hard times, take some time and intentionally pray. If you are happy, take some time and intentionally pray.
In the words of Paul
pray continually,
The follower of Christ should be defined by prayer.
The follower of Christ should be defined by prayer.
2A. The church of Christ should be defined by prayer
2A. The church of Christ should be defined by prayer
Pray for each other
Pray for each other
1B. A discussion of context
1B. A discussion of context
have a lot of difficulties. It has sparked a lot of debate over the years. Godly men have disagreed on interpretation. Godly men have changed their views on interpretation. In fact, my understanding of these verses has changed over time.
The problem with a lot of the debate over this passage is that the focused has not been on the issue: The church of Christ should be defined by prayer.
Instead the debate is over smaller issues: Are the people in this passage actually sick? If they are sick, how sick are they? What is the point of the oil in the passage? Why should there be confession of sins?
Many of you while reading this passage probably did not know there was so much controversy.
I don’t want to take the time
I don’t want to get embroiled in the debates.
As I read it, there were sick people in the congregation. I don’t care how sick they were. The elders were to pray over them and anoint with oil. The word used here is used many times for consecrating someone: setting them apart for God’s special work. The oil was physically put on the person, but no special miracle was performed by the oil: it was a symbolic act, showing that the sick person was in the hands of God to do what God would do. The oil also performed a utilitarian function: most medicines were made of oils back in this day.
There, now back to the point of the passage.
The Church of Christ should be defined by prayer. We see this in three groups.
2B. The sick person was defined by prayer
2B. The sick person was defined by prayer
James says “if anyone among you is sick, they should turn to God in prayer.” Their hope isn’t just in medicine, or natural means of fighting infection. The sick person was defined by prayer. Their hope is in God.
3B. The elders were defined by prayer
3B. The elders were defined by prayer
The sick one isn’t supposed to pray alone, but he is to call the elders to pray for him. The elders willingly come to pray for this person, seeking God’s guidance.
James says the elders humble themselves to God’s sovereignty in two distinct ways.
They anoint the sick person with oil
This symbolically setting him apart for God’s work, showing that their trust is in God, not in themselves or their prayer.
They also pray in the name of the Lord.
This is not a mystic incantation, if we just slap Jesus’ name to something we are going to get our request. This was used legally. If something was done in someone’s name, it was done according to that person’s will.
So, these elders in praying in the Lord’s name, were submitting themselves the will of God, for God to do what he would do.
The elders were defined by prayer, trusting in God’s sovereignty.
4B. The congregation was defined by prayer
4B. The congregation was defined by prayer
James broadens this prayer meeting to include not just the sick one and elders but he says:
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
The congregation are called to actively work for and with each other, for healing. Not just physical healing, but spiritual healing as well.
include confession in this discussion
James emphasizes, through calling on God for physical healing, a continual need for spiritual healing.
God’s goal is not to just heal the body. If it were, he wouldn’t have died on the cross and ascended into heaven. He would have stayed here and healed everyone.
Because of this wholistic need for an individual’s healing, James calls the congregation to routinely gather and confess their sins to each other, for in confession there is healing, John refers to in .
As they gather in confession, a congregation is able to pray, not just for physical needs, but for spiritual needs.
And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
James expands the elders work of prayer on behalf of the ill to the whole congregation
James expands the elders work of prayer on behalf of the ill to the whole congregation
The Bible Knowledge Commentary 5:14–15
“Therefore James is not suggesting a ceremonial or ritual anointing as a means of divine healing; instead, he is referring to the common practice of using oil as a means of bestowing honor, refreshment, and grooming” (Daniel R. Hayden, “Calling the Elders to Pray,” Bibliotheca Sacra 138. July/September 1981: 264). The woman “poured” (aleiphō) perfume on Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:38). A host “put oil” (aleiphō) on the head of his guest (Luke 7:46). A person who is fasting should not be sad and ungroomed, but should “put oil” (aleiphō) on his head, and wash his face (Matt. 6:17). Thus James’ point is that the “weak” (asthenei) and “weary” (kamnonta) would be refreshed, encouraged, and uplifted by the elders who rubbed oil on the despondents’ heads and prayed for them.
Every other time James uses the word save he refers to salvation. God is more interested in eternal, spiritual life than temporal, physical health
James expands the elders work of prayer on behalf of the ill to the whole congregation
James Explanation of Text
Likewise, confession is not merely a mental activity as we talk to God in our individual prayer times, but a corporate activity that involves the people we have hurt or offended. Whether to bring humility and unity to a body of believers or to effect reconciliation between estranged parties, God clearly intended confession to be as much a part of life together as prayer.
Effective prayer is the result of God’s activating the prayer.
As they gather in confession, a congregation is able to pray, not just for physical needs, but for spiritual needs.
A congregation that does not do this is a congregation that will die.
If we cannot set aside our busy lives and our petty squabbles and pray together, we are willingly saying “I am too selfish to live as Christ wants me to.”
This is a reason why we have started a prayer meeting on Sunday morning at 9am.
We realize the need of our church to be a praying church. David and I started praying together almost two years ago on Sunday mornings, for the church. And, God started doing some amazing things. Well, life got busy, and we stopped. And, ministry in the church slowly halted. I don’t know if this is cause and effect. I just know that as a congregation we are called to be defined by prayer.
If Sunday mornings don’t work for you, find another time and get together with members of this congregation and pray.\
The Church of Christ should be defined by prayer.
The Follower of Christ should be defined by prayer.
Why?
3A. The work of Christ is defined by prayer
3A. The work of Christ is defined by prayer
James says two very interesting things.
1B. The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well
1B. The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well
What is this prayer offered in faith? This is directly tied to
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Literally, James says in 1:6, But when you ask, you must ask in faith. The issue both in chapter 1 and in chapter 5 is asking in faith.
This begs the question: what is faith?
The author of Hebrews defines it for us:
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
(NIV)
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Faith is an understanding of what is going on behind the scenes, an upward focus throughout life that acknowledges the work of God, who is bringing his grand story of redemption to fulfillment, even through my turmoil, who is trustworthy, on whom is my confidence and assurance in this life and the next.
Faith is an understanding of what is going on behind the scenes, an upward focus throughout life that acknowledges the work of God, who is bringing his grand story of redemption to fulfillment, even through my turmoil, who is trustworthy, on whom is my confidence and assurance in this life and the next.
This is not a a confidence of “If I believe I will get it, I will get it”. Name it and claim it.
No, James is saying: If you have placed your faith in Christ, stick to it, with a single focus, acknowledging the work of God with confidence.
The prayer offered in faith says that Christ is at work
He is at work, even if we don’t understand. We pray, even if we don’t know what God’s will is. We have faith that He is at work and that He will do what is right.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James B. Prayer and Healing (5:13–18)
The faith exercised in prayer is faith in the God who sovereignly accomplishes his will. When we pray, our faith recognizes, explicitly or implicitly, the overruling providential purposes of God.
Christ is at work, while we pray, He reminds us of who He is, giving us confidence to live, focused on Him.
As we pray, focused on Him, trusting Him to do what is right, no matter what comes, He will work, in His providence doing what is right.
Secondly, James says
2B. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective
2B. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective
Books have been written about this sentence. I have three thoughts about this sentence.
The righteous person is no one special
No one among us is perfect. We are not righteous in and of ourselves. But, in Christ, we are all righteous. Everyone who turns from their sin and trusts in Christ is made righteous.
This sentence is not making a super Christian. This sentence is about every Christian.
The Christian has a duty to pray
The Christian knows that Christ is working. Because of our faith in what Christ is doing, we should pray in that faith, seeking Him to continue working and reminding ourselves of what He is doing.
The Christian’s prayer is effective
How is this prayer effective? The word used here is speaks of God working through our prayer: as God energizes the prayer. Again, the dependence is not in our prayer, or the words we use, the dependence is on a God who has chosen to work when His people pray, when His will aligns with our asking.
The work of Christ is defined by prayer, in reminding us of who He is and in accomplishing His will through us.
With these three assertions, James informs his readers and us that Christ works through the prayers of his people. He wants us to pray, for our sakes and for the sake of His glory. God is glorified as he works through the prayers of his people.
James gives a poignant illustration of this point.
3B. An illustration of God working through prayer
3B. An illustration of God working through prayer
James tells us of Elijah, someone who God worked through mightily in his life.
James Explanation of Text
Thus Keith Warrington concludes that “the prayer of faith is best identified as knowledge of God’s will for a particular situation when no scriptural guidance is available.” Warrington nevertheless recognizes that such a knowledge of God’s will is often absent, in which case we are still to pray, but in a way that acknowledges God’s right to supersede our desires.
Elijah wasn’t special.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James B. Prayer and Healing (5:13–18)
The faith exercised in prayer is faith in the God who sovereignly accomplishes his will. When we pray, our faith recognizes, explicitly or implicitly, the overruling providential purposes of God.
He didn’t have more of the Holy Spirit than we do. He didn’t have more direct access to God than we do. He didn’t have a special prayer book that told him exactly what to pray in certain instances. He was a human.
But, God chose to use him.
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He used him in mighty ways! James could have reminded his readers about the many miracles that Elijah performed. He could have reminded his readers about the times that Elijah publically called on God. The time that God answered with fire from heaven.
But, James did not tell any of those events.
Instead, he told of a time that Elijah prayed privately for God to act.
Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
James 5:
This account is seen in . It marks the beginning and the golden years Elijah’s ministry.
These prayers of Elijah were not to see God’s power
Elijah’s prayer was focused on bringing repentance and confession to a whole nation, “restoring the people to a proper relationship with God.”
Elijah’s prayer was focused on bringing repentance and confession to a whole nation, “restoring the people to a proper relationship with God.”
or to exult Elijah’s ability to pray or to parade the relationship that he had with God. Elijah’s prayer was focused on bringing repentance and confession to a whole nation, “restoring the people to a proper relationship with God.” That’s why he prayed for these physical signs.
Elijah’s prayers both to start the drought and to end the drought
had significant lag time between the prayers and their answers. He didn’t know right away that God had answered his prayers. He just knew that he had to pray.
Elijah’s prayer had significant lag time between the prayers and their answers.
Even more importantly, he knew what he had to pray.
God had told Elijah to pray for the drought and to pray for the return of the rain.
Elijah knew that he was acting within God’s will in both the initial and final prayer
God works through the prayers of his people. And, he has told us how to pray and what to pray for, throughout His Word.
The work of Christ is defined by prayer.
The church of Christ should be defined by prayer.
The follower of Christ should be defined by prayer.
How are we doing?
The work of Christ is defined by prayer.
The story that I started telling you at the beginning of the service. Lanphier changed his businessmen prayer meetings to every day of the work week. The next week, the United States hit a financial crisis. People flocked to the prayer meetings and found hope. Other cities started prayer meetings. Church members and non-Church members turned to Christ. Not for a miracle, or for help in a crisis, but because they saw hope in Christ that lasts for eternity.
Christ has led us to do a work here in Neligh and in Antelope County. Will we join him in this work and be defined individually and as a church by prayer.
I invite you to attend different meetings of the church, not just to study but to pray as a body. I urge you to take time during your days individually to make prayer a priority. Next week, if you can make it, before communion, we are going to take some time to pray for our nation, ahead of the elections.
May we be people who pray.