READ: James 5: (Focus vs.13–16)
MEMORY VERSE
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16
BACKGROUND
Chuck, an actor and martial artist, honored his mother on her hundredth birthday by sharing how instrumental she’d been in his spiritual transformation. “Mom has been an example of perseverance and faith,” he wrote.
She raised three boys on her own during the Great Depression; suffered the death of two spouses, a son, a stepson, and grandchildren; and endured many surgeries.
“[She] has prayed for me all my life, through thick and thin.” He continued, “When nearly losing my soul to Hollywood, she was back home praying for my success and salvation.” He concluded, “I thank [my mom] for helping God to make me all I can and should be.”
The prayers of Chuck’s mother helped him to find salvation—and a godly wife. She prayed fervently for her son, and God heard her prayers. We don’t always get our prayers answered the way we’d like, so we cannot use prayer as a magic wand.
However, James assures us that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (5:16). Like this mom, we’re to continue to pray for the sick and those in trouble (vv. 13–15).
When, like her, we commune with God through prayer, we find encouragement and peace and the assurance that the Spirit is at work.
Does someone in your life need salvation or healing or help? Lift your prayers to God in faith. He’s listening.
By: Alyson Kieda
INSIGHT
The words pray[ed] or prayer occur seven times in James 5:13–18 (niv), but they’re derived from three different Greek words.
The word rendered “pray” in verse 13 (also vv. 14, 17, 18) is proseuchomai, to pray to God, to supplicate, worship. This is the word most often used in the New Testament in reference to prayer.
The word translated “prayer” in verse 15 is euchē, which denotes a wish, expressed as a petition to God. The verb form of this word, euchomai, appears in verse 16: “pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
The other word translated “prayer” in James 5 also appears in verse 16: “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” The word here is deēsis, a petition, prayer, request, supplication.
Prayers of various kinds find their way to the listening ear and caring heart of God.
By: Arthur Jackson
APPLICATION
When have you seen God answer your fervent prayers? Who continues to be in your prayers?
PR’s (PASTOR RICHARD) TAKE
Our prayers are not linear/sequential but cyclical – always returns to us with an answer.
“Prayer enlarges the heart until it’s capable of containing God’s gift of Himself…” Mother Theresa
PR’s RE-EMPHASIS (From Post)
“…we cannot use prayer as a magic wand…(however) when…we commune with God through prayer, we find encouragement and peace and the assurance that the Spirit is at work.”
PRAYER
“Dear Father, help me to continually be in prayer and not to give up. Thank You for Your love that helps me persevere.”
TODAY’s HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“FERVENT PRAYER” Micah Stampley
Hear my cry, O, Lord
Don’t turn Your face far from me
Don’t turn away from me
In my time of Trouble
Hear my prayer, O, Lord
Don’t turn Your face far from me,
O, Lord
Don’t turn away from me
In my time of Trouble
No, No
Hear my cry, O, Lord
Don’t turn Your face far from me
Said You’d never leave
Don’t turn away from me
In my time of Trouble
Hear my prayer, O, Lord
Don’t turn Your face far from me…
Incline Your ear to me…
Answer me speedily
Answer me speedily,
God of eternal love
Hear my cry, O, Lord
Hear my cry…
… In my time of trouble
I won’t be consumed
Because of your love
I won’t be consumed
Because of your love
Deliver me
From the hand of my enemy
Please, don’t turn away
Don’t turn away from me
You…know how much I need You
In you I will have the victory
In You I would
Gain victory
Deliver me
Deliver me
(OOOO)
From the hand of my enemy
(Yeah, Oooooooooo)
Don’t turn away from me
(Don’t turn away, don’t turn away!)
In you I will have the victory
(I’ll have, I have the victory)
The victory
Told me You’d never leave me…
Told me If I abide in You
If You abide in me,
I can ask what I will
And it shall be done,
It shall, shall be done…
READING THROUGH THE ENTIRE BIBLE (DAILY)
Judges 1-3
Luke 4:1-30
