Faith Works | Week 23

Last week we dealt with patient endurance. As we pointed out it seems that James is closing this letter the same way that he opened the letter. If that were the case then prayer should be the next subject. Back in chapter 1 James starts with suffering and trials and then speaks of asking in faith, prayer. Again here this week the same pattern will be followed.

Let me ask you a question. Do you believe in prayer? I mean really believe in it. In our text today it will become very apparent that James knows these’s Jewish believers will suffer with out prayer. He instructs them of this important discipline so easily forgotten by most. This series has been called Faith Works. I think that we have seen that to be true over and over again. But allowing faith to work is more than with just our hands and feet. It is also done through our tongue and lips. James gave us some stern warnings in chapter 3 about the misuse of our tongue and here he is going to tell us about a proper use of it.

Prayer has many different purposes. We must understand first that it is communication. It is the avenue through which we talk to God. Prayer doesn’t always have to be with closed eyes or a bowed head. Prayer does not have to be long and full of many big words. Prayer is most effective when we pray. When we don’t there is no way that it can help. Prayer teaches me that I’m not independent from God. I need him for every area of life. Prayer teaches me that its at my weakest moments that he is made strong. Prayer teaches me that I can praise God at any moment of the day. Prayer teaches me that God listens when I speak. Prayer is an incredible discipline that we don’t really understand all that well. The disciples said “Lord teach us to pray.” Psalm 55:17 NKJV - (17) Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice. Revelation 5:8 NKJV - (8) Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 

There is an expectation from scripture that those who follow Jesus and believe in God will be a people of prayer. That is missing in most of our lives. We are not the people of prayer that we should be. But that should not stop us from turning to prayer. It should be a wake up call for us to have a life of prayer as well. James is going to say some strong things about prayer and its power.