September 3, 2014
PRAY WITH FAITH, NOT DOUBT
James 5:13–20
Lauren Billman
Central Truth
Pray with faith that God will answer. Prayer is powerful, but faith in prayer is vital. If we don't believe that God will answer our prayer, it is an empty plea to Him.
Key Verse | James 5:15
And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. (James 5:15a)
James 5:13–20
The Prayer of Faith
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 1 5:16 Or The effective prayer of a righteous person has great power 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Dive Deeper | James 5:13–20
How often do we go to God in supplication, only to end the prayer with no further thought of it? Matthew 21:22 tells us that "whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." Look at that last phrase: "if you have faith." Hold on a minute. I can't just pray and move on? Nope. I need to believe that He will absolutely answer. One of my favorite verses says, "Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:24) When we pray, we are to ask for things in His name, having full belief that He will answer. It may not be the answer we want, but it will definitely be the answer we need.
In 2011, I was in a really hard place in my life. I wasn't walking with Christ at that time, and I knew I needed to let go and let Him take the reins. I spent much of that year asking God (with a timid spirit) to relieve me of my circumstances. Finally, I got frustrated with my weakness. I started praying fervently for specific things and waited for Him to show up. Though I was heartbroken when He did show up, I was also relieved. Because I had been praying for specific things, I knew it was God who was answering, and I knew that He had a plan amidst the heartbreak.
Philippians 4:6b tells us that "in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." In other words, spill the beans! He already knows our circumstances and what we are going to ask of Him. Prayer is a way to draw us closer to Him and to place our faith in Him. It is not a thing to be done flippantly or without further thought. Prayer is a powerful tool for believers and should be treated as such.
Discussion Questions
1. Do you have total faith that God will answer your prayers? Why or why not?
2. What is hindering you from believing He will hear and answer you?
3. How has your faith been tested through prayer? What advice would you give to someone based on your experiences?
4. How could you trust God more with your requests? What actions could you take today that would grow your prayer life?