Importance of Prayer

• 1^st – Command to PRAY… vs. 13
  • SEVEN final commands…
    • Up to this point we have received 51 COMMANDS – on HOW to walk in Christ…
    • As we close up the book – we will be given SEVEN final COMMANDS…
    • Teaching us HOW we are to minister to one another in the church!
  • 1^st – Bad mood…
    • Is anyone among you suffering – let him pray!
    • SUFFERING – 4x in NT – compound word – evil and emotions – a BAD mood…
    • This is NOT a question [indicative] – someone among us is in a BAD mood…
    • If we are that person – we are commanded to PRAY [imperative]!
    • PRAY [προσεύχομαι] – to come close to God to share with Him our heart!
    • When problems come – our first response is to get into a BAD mood…
    • Only when it becomes unbearable – in desperation – do we PRAY to God…
    • Yet when we PRAY – we find whatever brought on the BAD mood is gone…
    • Our perspective changes – we see our circumstances in a new light…
    • We no longer see our PROBLEM – we see our God who is greater than ANY problem!
    • Philippians 4:6 – “Do not worry about anything – instead – pray about everything…”
  • 2^nd – How to PRAY…
    • There is not a special or required position when it comes to pray…
    • We see examples in the Bible of praying while standing / sitting / lying down!
    • God does not listen to a prayer made on our knees any more than praying standing…
    • But practically speaking I find it best not to pray lying down – tend to fall asleep…
    • Better to walk and pray – or on our knees – it helps keep us attentive!
    • It is not about the position of our body – it is about the position of the heart…
    • We cannot have a bad prayer – if we have the right heart!
  • 3^rd – Who to PRAY to…
    • Prayer is directed toward God in heaven – Our Father – Luke 11:2
    • When Peter was walking on the water – took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink…
    • Matthew 14:30 – “He was terrified and he shouted – Save me Lord!’”
    • The shortest prayer in the Bible – crying out to Jesus in a time of need!
    • Presumably we can also direct our prayers to the Holy Spirit [no NT reference]
    • We pray for the Holy Spirit to empower us – Acts 1:8 – teach us – John 14:26
    • We can pray to the Father / to the Son / or to the Spirit – because they are one!
  • 4^th – What to PRAY for…
    • It is good to be specific in our prayers – to give God details…
    • Not that God does not know – God sees the end from the beginning – Isaiah 46:10
    • But it allows God to DIRECT us on specific issues – allows God to CHANGE us…
    • Prayer is not about changing HIS mind – getting Him to agree to OUR plans…
    • Prayer is about God changing OUR mind – getting us to line up with HIS plans!
    • Luke 22:42 – “Nevertheless not my will – but Your will – be done.”

• 2^nd – Command to SING… vs. 13
  • 1^st – Good Mood…
    • Is anyone cheerful – let him sing psalms!
    • CHEERFUL [indicative] – 3x in NT – being in a GOOD mood…
    • Also NOT a question [indicative] – someone among is in a GOOD mood…
    • If we are in a GOOD mood – we are  commanded [imperative] to sing PSALMS…
    • Sing PSALMS [ψάλλω] – to pluck a string – make pleasant noise!
    • When we are in a GOOD mood – we are to WORSHIP!
  • 2^nd – How to WORSHIP…
    • Ephesians 5:17-20 – “The WILL of the Lord is… be filled with the Spirit – speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs – singing and MAKING MELODY in your heart to the Lord – giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
    • It is the WILL of the Lord is that we be FILLED with the Spirit…
    • WHEN we are FILLED – we will speak to one another in PSALMS – the WORD…
    • Making melody [ψάλλω] – singing in our hearts to the Lord!
    • The reason we are in a GOOD MOOD – is because of WHO is in us…
    • When we are filled with the SPIRIT – the result is going to be displayed our attitude…
    • And we are going to have a song in our hearts – because of SPIRIT in our hearts!

• 3^rd – Command to CALL… vs. 14
  • 1^st – The sick…
    • Is anyone among you sick [indicative] …
    • There are THREE ways we can experience DIFFICULTIES in life…
    • We can suffer RELATIONALLY – FINANCIALLY – or PHYSICALLY…
    • SICK [ἀσθενέω] – emotionally overwhelmed – financially lacking – physically ill…
    • Interesting word as it encompasses ALL of the ways we can be SUFFERING!
  • 2^nd – CALL the Elders…
    • Let him call for the elders of the church!
    • The SICK are commanded [imperative] to are to CALL – for the ELDERS of the church…
    • ELDERS – [πρεσβύτερος] – those who are OLDER – more mature in faith…
    • In context we would say PASTORS – the leaders of the church!
    • This is the OPPOSITE of what we have been hearing for the past TWO years…
    • We have been told to STAY at home – keep people safe!
    • But God COMMANDS us to come to church – so that we can be HEALED…
    • I think the reason we often hesitate – is because we are NOT sure if God will heal…
    • We might even wonder IF God can heal – especially if it is more than just a cold…
    • But Jesus healed the SICK / made the blind SEE / the lame to WALK / even raised the DEAD!
    • And God never changes – He healed in the days of Jesus – He still heals today – Hebrews 13:8

• 4^th – Command for Pastors… vs. 14-15
  • 1^st – The PRAYER… vs. 14
    • Let [the Elders] pray over him!
    • The PASTORS are commanded [imperative] to PRAY over the SICK…
    • Interesting – is the PRAYER of a pastor more effective than the PRAYER of others…
    • NO – the point is that we are a family and need each other!
    • People are often very shy about coming and asking for PRAYER…
    • They do not want others to KNOW about their struggles…
    • People might JUDGE them – look DOWN on them – think LESS of them…
    • So instead of finding HELP – they SUFFER in silence [and a BAD mood]
    • But we were never meant to face the challenges of life on our own – we are a FAMILY!
  • 2^nd – The ANOINTING… vs. 14
    • Anointing [the sick] with oil in the name of the Lord!
    • ANOINTING – [ἀλείφω] as PART of the PRAYER [participle] –  OIL is put on the SICK…
    • NOTE – the OIL is placed on them in the NAME of the LORD [κύριος]
    • There is NO power in the OIL – it is a SYMBOL…
    • I Samuel 16:13 – “Samuel took the… oil and anointed [David]… and the Spirit of the LORD came upon [him].”
    • The OIL represents the Holy Spirit – He is the one who heals us!
    • No person / pastor has the gift of healing – the Holy Spirit does the work…
    • If God let one person be a healer – people would begin to follow them rather than God…
    • Instead the Holy Spirit gives the GIFT of healing to the person who is being HEALED…
    • How do we know WHO the Holy Spirit wants to HEAL – step out and PRAY!
    • I Corinthians 12:11 – “The Spirit distributed to each one individually as He wills…”
  • 3^rd – The FAITH… vs. 15
    • The prayer of faith will save the sick – and the Lord will raise him up…
      • And if he has committed sins – he will be forgiven!
      • The words PRAYER and SICK here – are NOT the same as from the previous verses…
      • PRAYER [εὐχή] – 3x in NT – it is translated VOW in the other places…
      • SICK [κάμνω] – 3x in NT – is translated WEARY in the other places…
      • The VOW of faith will SAVE [future] the WEARY – and the Lord will raise them up!
    • HOW they are SAVED…
      • RAISED up – could refer to PHYSICAL healing – such as you are able to get out of bed…
      • But it could also refer to the ETERNAL – THE resurrection – which seems to be the case…
      • As we are told – even if he has committed any SINS they will be forgiven!
      • Because the GREATEST need of EVERYONE is to be HEALED of our SINS!
    • WHO makes the VOW…
      • This could be talking about the VOW of the PASTORS that save the WEARY…
      • Because in FAITH they point people to the LORD – who is able to SAVE!
      • This could also be talking about the VOW the WEARY person is making…
      • In FAITH they come to the PASTORS of the church for PRAYER to be SAVED!
      • I am ok with either view – and do not really have a preference…
      • Either way is speaks of WHO the object of our FAITH is – Jesus who can SAVE!
    • Not enough FAITH…
      • There is one view that is NOT correct – if we have enough FAITH we will be healed!
      • We are told Elisha became sick and was going to die – II Kings 13:14
      • Interesting that a man who could heal the SICK / and raise the DEAD…
      • Was himself now SICK – and could NOT keep himself from DYING!
      • There are those who say – if you are SICK it is because we lack FAITH…
      • Yet Elisha had LOTS of  FAITH – but could NOT heal himself!
      • From cancer to the common cold – God can heal those who are SICK…
      • But whether or not we get SICK / or whether or not God HEALS us…
      • Is NOT based on our FAITH – it is about the purpose and plan of God!

• 5^th – Command to CONFESS… vs. 16
  • 1^st – CONFESS…
    • Confess your trespasses…
    • CONFESS [ἐξομολογέω] – to freely talk about our FAILURES…
    • We are COMMANDED [imperative] to not HIDE what we have done WRONG!
    • Many times people who are SICK – pretend like they are NOT…
    • They avoid the DOCTOR – hoping somehow they will miraculously get BETTER…
    • But because they did not CONFESS – often their SICKNESS gets WORSE!
    • We show up on a SUNDAY – with our BEST outfits – and PLASTIC smiles…
    • Because we want everyone to THINK we are doing GOOD…
    • But the ONLY person we are fooling is ourselves – we are all FAILURES…
    • In order for us to get BETTER – we need to CONFESS our PROBLEMS!
  • 2^nd – ONE another…
    • To one another!
    • We do not just CONFESS our FAILURES to God for salvation – I John 1:9
    • We CONFESS our FAILURES to ONE another for restoration!
    • Because when we sin – it does not just effect our lives – it impacts those around us!
    • When I was a kid – I went to the house of a friend and borrowed a game without asking…
    • When he found out I was FULL of excuses – THOUSAND reasons why what I did was OK…
    • But he rebuked me – just say you are SORRY so I can FORGIVE you!
    • We will ALWAYS have reasons why we should not CONFESS…
    • We are RIGHT – the other person is WRONG / NOT a big deal – they are just OVERREACTING…
    • But until we are willing to CONFESS – there cannot be restoration of the relationship!
    • Matthew 5:23-24 – “If you [come to worship] and… remember that your brother has something against you… first be reconciled to your brother – and then come and [worship].”

• 6^th – PRAY for each other… vs. 16-18
  • 1^st – Healing…vs. 16
    • Pray for one another – that you may [subjunctive] be healed! 
    • We are COMMANDED [imperative] to PRAY [εὔχομαι] for each other to be HEALED!
    • HEALED [ἰάομαι] – to be free from SIN – to be made WHOLE…
    • In CONTEXT the HEALING we are talking about is our RELATIONSHIPS!
    • When there is no HEALING of fractured RELATIONSHIPS in the church – it causes DIVISION…
    • And DIVISION keeps the church from being effective for Jesus – keeps us from shining…
    • Rather than seeing the love of Jesus in us – the world sees us FIGHTING each other…
    • Satan loves to cause DIVISION within the church – then we will not be able to FIGHT him…
    • We are too exhausted from FIGHTING ourselves – no energy left to FIGHT for a lost world!
    • Luke 11:17 – “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls.”
  • 2^nd – Effective PRAYER… vs. 16
    • The effective – fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much!
    • EFFECTIVE fervent – [ἐνεργέω] – where we get ENERGY…
    • PRAYER [δέησις] – 19x in NT – carries the idea of making an URGENT plea to God…
    • If someone makes and ENERGETIC and URGENT plea to God – it is POWERFUL!
    • What is the urgent PRAYER – to RESTORE a brother who has SINNED!
    • If we knew someone who made a MISTAKE – and EVERYONE at church knew about it…
    • That person is already HURTING – BROKEN over their sin – ASHAMED of what they did…
    • And if when they show up – everyone STARES / WHISPERS behind their back…
    • They feel abandoned / discouraged – and will NOT come back to church!
    • Satan would love to keep a sinner from being restored by the GRACE of God…
    • If he can keep someone CONDEMNED – beating themselves up – he will…
    • Do not let satan ROB the church – take a child of God Jesus died to SAVE!
    • If we know someone who has FAILED – pray FERVENTLY for them – reach out to them!
    • Instead of WHISPERING – we are to walk over and give them a hug!
    • Show them they are welcomed back into the family of God!
    • II Corinthians 2:11 – “Lest Satan should take advantage of us – for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
  • 3^rd – Example of Elijah… vs. 17-18
    • First PRAYER…
      • Elijah was a man with a nature like ours – and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain…
      • And it did not rain on the land for three years and six months!
      • We are given an Old Testament example to illustrate FERVENT prayer…
      • ELIJAH – was a man with a NATURE like ours…
      • NATURE like ours [ὁμοιοπαθής] – to have SIMILAR struggles…
      • He lived in an EVIL nation – under the rule of an EVIL King – Ahab…
      • Ahab and his wife Jezebel KILLED most of the prophets of God…
      • In judgement of their SIN – Elijah prayer EARNESTLY…
      • EARNESTLY – noun for PRAYED – he PRAYED a PRAYER [just once]
      • And there was NO rain in Israel for THREE and a half years – I Kings 17:1
      • Seeking RESTORATION does NOT mean we PRAY that God overlooks SIN…
      • It means just the opposite – we PRAY that God will bring CONSEQUENCES…
      • It is hard to see someone destroy their lives with poor choices…
      • There are people who do not WANT to stop SINNING – they like their SIN…
      • All we can do is WAIT – till their CONSEQUENCES have BROKEN them…
      • If someone wants SIN – there is NOTHING we can do to help them – but PRAY!
    • Second PRAYER…
      • [ELISHA] prayed again – and the heaven gave rain – and the earth produced its fruit!
      • After THREE and a half years Elijah faced off against the false prophets of Baal – I Kings 18
      • He told them to meet at Mount Carmel for a duel – a test to who was the real God…
      • The prophets of Baal spent most of the day trying to call down fire on their altar – nothing!
      • Elijah then told the people to pour FOUR large jars of water over the altar – THREE times…
      • Then he PRAYED – and immediately FIRE from the Lord fell down from heaven…
      • It consumed the sacrifice – the wood – the stones – and all the water!
      • When the people saw it they fell on their faces – the LORD He is God!
      • They captured the prophets of Baal – and put them all to death – Deuteronomy 18:20
      • THEN Elijah PRAYED again for it to rain – but it took SEVEN times – before the RAIN came!
        
      • Why did it ONLY take ONE prayer for ELISHA to STOP the rain…
      • But it took SEVEN prayers for the rain to come again…
      • Perhaps because ELISHA did not want the people to be FORGIVEN!
      • Because it is EASIER to pray for CONSEQUENCES than for RESTORATION…
      • When people HURT us – it is HARD to pray for God to forgive them…
      • But when we PRAY – even if it is half hearted at first – it begins to change us…
      • We stop seeing people in the light of what they DID…
      • And we start to see them in the light of what God wants to DO…
      • FERVENT prayer changes us – so we see people the way God does!

Ezekiel 33:8 – “If I announce that some wicked people are sure to die and you fail to warn them about changing their ways, then they will die in their sins, but I will hold you responsible for their deaths.”

7^th – Command to KNOW… vs.  19-20

1^st – Wandering from TRUTH…

Brethren – if anyone among you wanders from the truth – and someone turns him back…

WANDER [πλανάω] – to be led away from the TRUTH / Jesus…

And instead puts their eyes on the PLANET / WORLD…

Our desire should be to see them TURN back to Jesus – REPENT…

How do we HELP them TURN – we give them ACCOUNTABILITY!

Being willing to ask them the hard questions…

If they struggle with LUST – have you looked at those pictures…

If they struggle with DRINKING – have you been tempted to pick up the bottle…

NOT so that we can CONDEMN them – but to HELP them avoid SIN!

Galatians 6:1 – “If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.”

2^nd – Save a SOUL…

Let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way… 

Will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins!

If we HELP someone to REPENT – come back to Jesus…

KNOW [imperative] – we are to understand – we have saved a soul from DEATH!

Spiritual DEATH – because SIN will cause us to walk away from Heaven!

Hebrews 3:13 – “Exhort one another daily – while it is called Today – lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

It is hard to CONFRONT people about SIN – especially those who we care about…

We might think it is better NOT to CONFRONT someone who is SINNING…

But the truth is leaving someone in their SIN – is risking their ETERNITY…

Therefore – we are called to HELP them in spite of how we fear it might HURT them…

Not that we can make them REPENT – it is their CHOICE – but we can WARN them…

Our motive needs to be LOVE – we want to see them clean / forgiven – Ephesians 4:15

We want them to TURN – see them restored to their relationship to Jesus!

And if we do NOT warn them – God will hold us ACCOUNTABLE!