Points of Meditation & Reflection
Sermon Title & Text “Praying In Faith” James 5:13-18
Faith in Action! In this series we want to move from simply the mention of having faith to tangibly putting it into action by exercising faith in life’s challenges.
7. Faith that is in Action is seen clearest in our lifestyle of prayer. We are to have an engaged lifestyle of prayer with Christ, marked by talking to, hearing from and obeying Christ.
8. Similar to Paul’s teaching to pray at all times in all situations {cf. Eph 6:18 & 1 Thess. 5:17}, James also teaches that prayer is to be a lifestyle:
a. Anyone suffering
b. Anyone cheerful
c. Anyone sick
9. The Prayer of Faith: Communicate w/God in total belief [faith]. Christ responds to the Prayer of Faith Three Ways:
a. Saves spiritually and physically
b. Raises the sick by Christ’s power
c. Forgives sins.
10. To receive spiritual healing we are to:
a. Confess our sins to each other
b. Pray for one another
11. James 5:16b The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working
a. The righteous person is the one in right relationship with God.
b. The power of prayer is in our relationship to Christ
c. The prayer of faith works (has energy) as it is working (energizing).
12. Elijah’s example in 1 Kings 17-18 is of one fervently dependent on God.
Notes:
Lord, we pray these notes and this message are a source of strength, guidance, and spiritual deepening for us all. Amen.
Edward
Everyday Jesus: James 5:13-18
Be patient, God has a plan for your life. We all get to points in life where our faith is tested and we want to give up. But, God promised to return for us. So we patiently wait His return.
• Monday: Read Luke 6:12-16. Before choosing the 12 disciples, Jesus spent a night in prayer. Between feeding the 5,000 & walking on water, Jesus prayed – alone. These passages demonstrate Christ’s devotion to prayer & seeking answers from God the Father. In addition, Col. 4:2-4 tells us to “devote” yourselves to prayer. Today, ask God to give you strength/support to deepen your daily devotion time with Christ.
• Tuesday: Read James 5:13-18. Verses 13-15 specify that we are to pray the at all times & in all situations. Verse 15 then shares that the “Prayer of Faith” will save, raise up/heal and forgive sins. Ask God to teach you to pray in full faith without doubt.
• Wednesday: Read James 5:13-18, As we pray in faith we are to confess sins & pray for each other for our own physical and spiritual healing. Ask God, to show you to who and what you need to confess and pray for.
• Thursday: Read James 5:13-18, in verse 16b “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working”, is the key verse of prayer. Today, meditate on that verse, specifically that God show you His righteousness and His power at work in you as you pray in Faith.
• Friday: Read James 5:17-18 and I Kings 17-18. Elijah’s life was marked by his fervent prayers of faith. As you read of Elijah, ask God to continually develop a lifestyle of prayer in you that attests to the full power of God.
• Saturday: Read 1 Kings 19 and James 5:19, as a warning of what happens when what we experience is made bigger than who we pray to. As you prepare to hear from God through tomorrow’s message ask God to deepen your prayer life and keep you from wandering from God.