Week 16

Effective Prayer

Joanie was away, Kelly subbed.

Let’s read together: James 5:13-20

Jeremiah prayed, "Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee" (Jeremiah 32:17).

Why do we pray?

• Suffering
• Illness
• Vehicle for gossip
• Lip service Is 29:13-14

Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Suffering here denotes suffering from evil-like persecution.

Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Cheerful here means “well the soul”. How are things when it is well with your soul? How often do we pray when we’re happy?

Is anyone among you sick? Sick in this instances means to lack strength, impotent.

Check out the directions added to this question, note this is something you have to want, and can not do on your own: 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; 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.

Anointing in this instance does not mean special favor, but a refreshing, cleansing action for those who are ill. Sometimes an illness was the result of sin, so after they receive forgiveness, they are to go and sin no more.

MH Commentary: God's children run home when the storm comes on. It is the heaven-born instinct of a gracious soul to seek shelter from all ills beneath the wings of Jehovah. "He that hath made his refuge God," might serve as the title of a true believer. A hypocrite, when he feels that he has been afflicted by God, resents the infliction, and, like a slave, would run from the master who has scourged him.

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.

Therefore is a legal term…if you do such and such, then (as a result) something will happen…but only if you do such and such.

Effective means to put forth power, to work.

MH Commentary: “The effect produced in the praying man, bringing him into line with the will of God, as in the case of Elijah.”

Healed denotes not only physical healing but spiritual as well…they happen simultaneously. Remember that Jesus most times healed spiritually first, then physically.

Don’t forget who you are talking to—the Ruler of the Universe! Like the priest getting ready to enter the temple, we need to reboot our thinking before speaking to God. Read Isaiah 6: 1-8 for a reminder of who God is and who we are.

In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory." And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven."

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Do we have any hindrances? Is our heart right with God? (Psalm 19:1) Have I any unconfessed sin? Has my mouth gotten me into trouble lately? (Isaiah 6:1-7) (Romans 10:9-11)

Job 23:3-4; 1 John 2:1

MH Commentary: As a petitioner coming into court does not come there without thought to state his case on the spur of the moment, but enters into the audience chamber with his suit well prepared, having also learned how he ought to behave himself in the presence of the great one to whom he is appealing; so it is well to approach the seat of the King of kings as much as possible with premeditation and preparation, knowing what we are about, where we are standing, and what it is which we desire to obtain.

Let’s look at Elijah since he’s given as an example.

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. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

1 Kings 17 and 18

Elijah was just a man—but a man with great faith. He was prone to depression, but was obedient to God. He could get disappointed and frustrated, but He spoke to God about it.

When you look at your difficult situation, do you take into consideration all factors? Do you limit God with those factors? Remind yourself who God is. When you add him into the factor…what is possible? James 5:11, Luke 1:37, Mathew 17:20

When you look again at your difficult situation, what kind of ending would bring God the most glory? Read again 1 Kings 17:24, 18:39

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Proverbs 10:12

When you lead someone to Christ, you interrupt that trek towards eternal separation from God for that person. They are covered by Christ and forgiven their sins. A multitude of sins has been avoided.

Joel 2:25

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Colossians 3:8-11

An effective prayer is unhindered by sin, pride, greed and lip service. If we prepare for prayer like one who is going into court--which you are, it is the highest court in the universe--our prayers will have a huge impact.

Study scripture like a lawyer studies the law. Gather up God's promises, present your case and stand ready for His decision. Don't forget you have an advocate in this high court: Jesus. He stands beside you.

Turn a deaf ear to the accuser, satan. He will present his own case with lies and twisted scripture to support his argument.

God is a loving and merciful Judge. And if we pray unhindered, knowing more about His will and sovereignty, we will have effective prayers that may look like mustard seeds, but will move mountains.

Pray on sisters!

-k