Study

Extraordinary Prayer

August 13, 2023 by in Study

Text:

James 5:16:

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 

Theme:

Extraordinary Prayer

 

Introduction:

  • The Epistle of James was written by James the Less
    • Called “the Less” because he was smaller in stature than James, the son of Zebedee
    • Referred to as the brother of our Lord… (Galatians 1:19)
      • The Greek word for “brother” can be both literal and figurative
        • Was actually “close kinsmen” or “cousin”
      • His mother, Mary, was not the mother of Jesus
        • Mark 15:40; Matthew 27:56
      • Is also known as the son of Alpheus…as was also Matthew (Levi)
        • Matthew 10:3
      • James became known as one of the “pillars” of the church
        • Ten years after we find James on a level with Peter, and with him deciding on the admission of St. Paul into fellowship with the Church at Jerusalem;
        • and from henceforth we always find him equal, or in his own department superior, to the very chiefest apostles…Peter, John and Paul
      • James wrote it from his home in Jerusalem to “the twelve tribes scattered abroad” after the time of the first imprisonment of Paul, around 62 A.D.
      • The object of the writer was to enforce the practical duties of the Christian life…how to live
        • The importance of Christian Living is tantamount to the fruitful life of a child of God.
      • In the 5th chapter of James, the message is clear…
        • We must get our stuff right in order to be effective in our ministry and living!
      • The sentiments of James chapter 5 culminate in the last sentence of our text, Verse 16

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

  • Regardless of how possible or plausible the instruction in James may seem, PRAYER is key to success.
    • But verse 16 tells us that prayer must be of a certain quality…not quantity
      • In summary, James tells us how to have Extraordinary Prayer!

 

Body:

  • Let us get a clear understanding of what James is SAYING…
    • Effectual
      • “Producing an effect, or the effect desired or intended; or having adequate power or force to produce the effect”
      • The prayer makes a difference in someone’s life
      • The prayer brings about a change in the person praying
    • Fervent
      • “to be hot” (with passion…with zeal)
      • The prayer must be with passion
      • The prayer must move the person praying and the person witnessing
    • Righteous man
      • “a man who is guided by the Word of God”
      • Psalm 1:1-2, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
    • Then we can get a clear understanding of what God is IMPLYING…
      • Our PRAYER must go above and beyond a repetitive recitation! Our PRAYER must be…
        • With CONNECTION
          • God hears the prayer of His people
            • Psalm 71:2, “Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.”
            • God touches His, and they know His touch!

Shackled by a heavy burden,
‘Neath a load of guilt and shame.
Then the hand of Jesus touched me,
And now I am no longer the same.

He touched me, Oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole.

  • PRAYER must be with CONNECTION
  • With AUTHORITY
    • Authority is ENTITLEMENT
      • We have a RIGHT to TALK to our Creator!
        • The hymn says, “Just a Little Talk With Jesus” makes it right!
      • We have a RIGHT to EXPECT results from our PRAYER
        • The other hymn says, “At the Cross, At the Cross, where I first saw the light and the burdens of my heart rolled away. It was there by faith I received my sight, and NOW I am happy all the day!”
      • Authority is PURPOSE
        • Purpose is INTENT
          • Jesus said in John 14:4, “And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”
        • Purpose is VISION
          • Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
        • Authority is POWER
          • There is POWER in PRAYER
            • POWER to COMFORT the soul
            • POWER to HEAL the broken heart
            • POWER to ENCOURAGE the tired spirit
            • POWER to LIFT the bowed down head
            • POWER to DECLARE joy in a disadvantaged situation
          • PRAYER must be with AUTHORITY
        • With EXPERIENCE
          • Experience to MAKE you pray
            • I can so well remember when life had beaten me down to what felt like nothing.
            • All I had left was a prayer…
              • Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
            • Experience to STRENGTHEN your prayer
              • I can so well remember when God answered my prayer before.
              • I know He CAN…If He only WILL!!!!
            • Experience to MINISTER with prayer
              • I can so well remember that God is who delivered me
              • So I can tell others that He can deliver YOU!!!
            • PRAYER must be with EXPERIENCE

 

Conclusion:

  • Lastly, Prayer must be With PASSION
    • Let the Redeemed of the Lord…SAY SO!
      • PRAYER must be with PASSION
    • Luke 19:40, “And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”
      • PRAYER must be with PASSION
    • “A change a change has come over me.   He changed my life and now I’m FREE!”
      • PRAYER must be with PASSION
    • Jeremiah 20:9, “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”
      • PRAYER must be with PASSION
    • When I think of the goodness of God and ALL that He has done for me, my soul cries out HALLELUJAH!!!!
      • PRAYER must be with PASSION
    • I don’t know how people can sit down, be quiet, be still on how GOOD God has been to us!!!
      • He woke us up this morning
      • Started us on our way
      • Gave us the activities of our limbs
      • Softened our hard hearts
      • Eased our troubled minds
      • Picked us up
      • Turned us around
      • Placed our feet on the solid ground
    • This is EXTRAORDINARY PRAYER
      • Not the repetitive prayer
      • Not the obligatory prayer
      • Not the prayer to be seen
      • Not the scared prayer
      • Not the blind prayer
      • Not the weak prayer
      • Not the quiet prayer
      • Not the cute prayer
        • This is the prayer that
          • changes your face
          • changes your voice
          • changes your perspective
          • changes your expectations
          • changes your walk
          • changes your talk

            • This is EXTRAORDINARY PRAYER

#950

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