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More James commentaries
James 2:1-9
Beware of Personal Favorites
James 2:10-18
Faith is Proved by Love
James 2:19-26
Faith is Proved by Works
James 3:1-8
The Tongue that Needs Tamed
James 3:9-12
The Lips Need to Bear Spiritual Fruit
James 3:13-18
Heavenly Verses Demonic Wisdom
James 4:1-6
Pride Promotes Strife
James 4:7-10
Humility Cures Worldliness
James 4:11-17
Don’t Boast about Tomorrow
James 5:1-6
Rich Oppressors Will Be Judged
James 5:7-12
Be Patient and Persevering
James 5:13-20
The Prayer of Faith
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The Prayer of Faith
James 5:13–20
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
The story goes that one time when Bill Moyers was a special assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson, he was asked to say grace before a meal in the family quarters of the White House. As Moyers began praying softly, the President interrupted him with “Speak up, Bill! Sp … More
James has already said a lot about prayer but now he puts a fitting climax to his letter with further instructions on the subject. Two of the greatest weaknesses in the life of the average Christian today is prayer and praise (v.13). There is much need for prayer and much cause for praise. People in the church are not alone. Christians should be able to count on others for support and prayer, especially when they are sick or suffering (vv. 14-15). God heals, faith doesn’t (v. 15). The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (v. 16).
In the case of Elijah he was a man who believed God and gave Him full control of his life. Just think of what it would have been like if you had been a child growing up in the home of Elijah. You would have known that your dad was a man of prayer, but then to see him pray for God to stop the rain because of the wickedness of Ahab and for there to be “no rain on the earth for three years and six months” (v.17) would have been something to witness. I am sure you would have heard the people all around you grumbling and complaining about the weather, just as we do today.
Then after all of that, can you imagine what it would have been like the day you went with your father up to Mount Carmel and heard him pray that “the heaven give rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit" (v.18). As a child there would have been no doubt in your mind that when your earthly father talked to his Heavenly Father he was heard and as a result things happened. No one would have been able to convince you that prayer was just a ritual and that God doesn’t answer prayer. The book of James emphasizes faith in action. Faith and trust must have hands and feet (vv. 19-20).
Application
I need to discipline myself to spend more time each day in prayer and praise to God?
James 5:13-20 (English Standard Version)
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? 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. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
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