Day 27: Praying Powerfully

James taught the Christians of the dispersion to pray powerful and effective prayers. They needed to pray; they needed God’s help. They were suffering with physical illnesses (James 5:14); they were being cheated out of their rightful wages (James 5:4); and some were even being murdered (James 5:6).

You and I need to pray; we need God’s help in our lives. As Christians, we pray powerful and effective prayers. According to James, our prayers can be just as powerful and effective as Elijah’s prayer was when he prayed that it would not rain, and it didn’t for three and one half years (James 5:17-18). In chapter five, verses thirteen through twenty, James mentions three essentials for praying powerful and effective prayers.

One essential is that we must offer our prayers in faith (James 5:15). When we pray, we must pray believing God is willing to answer our prayers, we must pray believing God is able to answer our prayers, and we must pray believing He will answer our prayers according to what is best for us. A Christian who prays without faith “should not think he will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:5-8).

Another essential is that we must stand righteous in the sight of God: “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). God does not hear the prayer of the unrighteous (Isaiah 59:1-2, 1 Peter 3:12). If your prayers aren’t powerful and effective, it may be because you don’t stand righteous in the sight of God.

A final essential James points out in this text is that we must do our part. As someone has said, “We must put legs on our prayers.” Notice, James says we should pray for those who sin (James 5:15- 16). But in the same context, he says we must do what we can to turn the sinner from the error of their way (James 5:18-20). We have to do our part. So, when we pray for the sick and afflicted, we must do what we can to help them if our prayer for them is to be powerful. Likewise, when we pray for missionaries, we must do what we can to support them. When we pray for God to heal our infirmities, we must do our part (go to the doctor, take medicine, etc.).

Christians can pray powerful and effective prayers. However, we must pray as God directs. We must (1) offer our prayers in faith, (2) stand righteous in the sight of God, and (3) do our part.

Written by Bud Lambert, Counselor at Mt. Juliet

# posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Friday, December 10, 2010

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Day 27: Praying Powerfully James taught the Christians of the dispersion to pray powerful and effective prayers. They needed to pray; they needed God’s help. They were suffering with physical illnesses (James 5:14); they were being cheated out of their rightful wages (James 5:4); and some were even being murdered (James 5:6). You and I need to pray; we need God’s help in our lives. As Christians, we pray powerful and effective prayers. According to James, our prayers can be just as powerful and effective as Elijah’s prayer was when he prayed that it would not rain, and it didn’t for three and one half years (James 5:17-18). In chapter five, verses thirteen through twenty, James mentions three essentials for praying powerful and effective prayers. One essential is that we must offer our prayers in faith (James 5:15). When we pray, we must pray believing God is willing to answer our prayers, we must pray believing God is able to answer our prayers, and we must pray believing He will answer our prayers according to what is best for us. A Christian who prays without faith “should not think he will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:5-8). Another essential is that we must stand righteous in the sight of God: “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). God does not hear the prayer of the unrighteous (Isaiah 59:1-2, 1 Peter 3:12). If your prayers aren’t powerful and effective, it may be because you don’t stand righteous in the sight of God. A final essential James points out in this text is that we must do our part. As someone has said, “We must put legs on our prayers.” Notice, James says we should pray for those who sin (James 5:15- 16). But in the same context, he says we must do what we can to turn the sinner from the error of their way (James 5:18-20). We have to do our part. So, when we pray for the sick and afflicted, we must do what we can to help them if our prayer for them is to be powerful. Likewise, when we pray for missionaries, we must do what we can to support them. When we pray for God to heal our infirmities, we must do our part (go to the doctor, take medicine, etc.). Christians can pray powerful and effective prayers. However, we must pray as God directs. We must (1) offer our prayers in faith, (2) stand righteous in the sight of God, and (3) do our part. Written by Bud Lambert, Counselor at Mt. Juliet # posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Friday, December 10, 2010 Comments: Post a Comment << Home	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM Past Archives: November 2010 December 2010

Day 27: Praying Powerfully

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