Effective Fervent Prayer (2)
Last week, we considered Elijah, the wonderful example which James uses to demonstrate effective fervent prayer. This week, I want us to look at the text of James 5, and see this inspired man's musings on prayer.
That it is a text on prayer is evident. Notice:
- v 13 - "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him PRAY."
- v 14 - "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them PRAY over him..."
- v 15 - "And the PRAYER of faith will save the sick..."
- v 16 - "Confess your trespasses to one another, and PRAY for one another... The effective, fervent PRAYER of a righteous man avails much."
- v 17 - "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he PRAYED..."
- v 18 - "And he PRAYED again..."
Prayer Is A Help In Times Of Suffering
There are numerous examples in Scripture of individuals who in difficult circumstances turned to God in prayer. Recall Paul and Silas, in the inner prison at Philippi, at midnight were singing and praying (Acts 16:25). Jesus, in agony regarding the trial which was about to come upon him "...prayed more earnestly." (Luke 22:44). The prophet Jonah "...cried out to the LORD..." from the belly of a great fish (Jonah 2:2). On many occasions, the Psalmist found solace in bringing his trials before the God of heaven (Psalm 18:6; 50:15; 118:5).If we are suffering, we ought to bring our cares to the Lord, for He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7). When we've laid our burdens before the Lord, then we can experience "...the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding..." (Philippians 4:6-7).
Prayer Is A Help In Times Of Sickness
What sickness does James have in mind here? Is he speaking about physical ailments, or spiritual trouble? Certainly, either could work. If we are suffering physical infirmities, we ought to bring such before the Lord. He has the power to heal the body, and can affect our bodily health for good. If we are physically ill, then we ought to petition God's favour.However, it seems more likely that the thought on the mind of the inspired writer was that of spiritual illness. In calling for the elders, one is calling for those who are charged with shepherding the flock (Acts 20:28). This, in conjunction with the mention of possible sin, and the need to confess sun and pray for one another in the following verses causes me to think that James had in mind the spiritually weak here.
If we are spiritually weak, we need to enlist the help of those who are spiritual to build us up. The Hebrew writer encouraged us to "...make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed." (Hebrews 12:13).
“...we can experience '...the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding...'”
Prayer Of Faith Will Save The Sick
Again, the application in verse 15 could be either physical of spiritual, but given the context, spiritual seems to be the intent. If we are aware of one who is struggling in the faith, we should be praying for that person. "The prayer of faith will save the sick." Recall Cain, who inquired of the Lord, "Am I my brother's keeper? The answer is yes. And especially so for us, who are of the household of faith. Thus, when one is struggling and perhaps has turned from the faith, we should seek to turn such a one back (James 5:19-20).
1 John 5:16 says, "If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that." If one has given in to temptation, if one has stumbled in the faith, we need to pray for that one. Both James and John tell us that our prayers can affect the spiritual well being of others.
Confess Your Trespasses... And Pray For One Another...
This instruction demands that there be a great trust and confidence with our brethren. Many may shy away from sharing their struggles, fearful that such will be publicized or through shame, wanting to maintain a certain stature in the eyes of others. However, the intent of the command is such that we might be strengthened in faith; for we are enlisting the help of others who are focused on eternity to help us in our struggles.
The intent is not the pursuit of new topics for gossip. It is not to find information with which to blackmail an individual later. The purpose of the command is to help one another overcome sin. We see an example in Acts 19:18, where we are simply told, "...many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds." They did not hide their faults, but confessed them. They sought the help of the brethren. Notice the end result of this example:
Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. (Acts 19:19-20)
Because some opened up, confessing their sins, others also opened up, revealing their struggles, and the source of their failures were gathered together and removed. These brethren in Ephesus experienced what some might refer to as a "revival". The bottom line is that they confessed their sins and sought the encouragement of others, and in the end, "...the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed."
May we see the great power of prayer, and learn to be effective and fervent in prayer, so that God may accomplish great things in us and through our petitions.
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Answering The Atheist
The Atheist's Complaint:
How did King Josiah die? Did he die a peaceful death (2 Kings 22:20) or was he killed in battle (2 Kings 23:29-30; 2 Chronicles 35:23-24)? Is there a contradiction?
Response:
Josiah died in battle, no doubt in agonizing pain at the hand of the Pharaoh's archers (2 Kings 23:29-30; 2 Chronicles 35:23-24). In 2 Kings 22:20, God promised Josiah, "...you shall be gathered to your grave in peace...", a statement which becomes clear when viewed in context. it is not a promise that Josiah would not die in battle against Necho, but a promise that he would not see the calamities coming to Judah.
2 Kings 22:8 speaks of the book of the Law being found by Hilkiah. The context makes it clear that this is not just a misplaced copy, but that the people had not heard the law of God for some time. The book was read to the king (v 10-11), and he understood that Judah was subject to God's wrath, for they had not obeyed him (v 13). God reveals through a prophetess, "...I will bring calamity on this place, on its inhabitants - all the words of the book which th eking of Judah has read..." (v 16). However, she continued, "...because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself... I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place." (v 20). Josiah would die before destruction came upon Judah.
Had Josiah continued to heed the voice of God, then he would have no doubt died a peaceful death. However, we read in 2 Chronicles 35:20-22:
After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him. But he sent messengers to him, saying, 'What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you.' Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself so that he might fight with him, and did not heed the words of Necho from the mouth of God. So he came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo.
Josiah did not heed the voice of God to retreat from Pharaoh Necho, and thus died on the battlefield. Though it was not a peaceful death, he was still spared the sight of the desolation of Judah.
There is no contradiction.
This article is in response to Skeptic's Annotated Bible.