Study in Prayer

We have been studying what the Apostles had to say about prayer. We covered what Paul and Peter had to say. Today, we shift over to see what John had to say about prayer. We start by looking at First John 5:14-16:

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us; and if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. If any man sees his brother sin a sin that is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death; I do not say that he shall pray for it…”

John is giving us some important principles here. Many times we dwell only on the things Jesus said about prayer or the things Paul said about prayer. But we have missed some other good nuggets of truth in the Bible from other writers that can help us in our praying.

But notice, in these verses, the word “pray” is not used at all. Instead, the words “ask” and “petitions” are used. In verse 14, it says, “And this is the confidence that we have in him…”

What is this “confidence” that John is talking about?  He goes on to explain, “…that, if we ASK anything according to his will, he hears us!”

Remember this, if whatever you ask is according to God’s Word, it IS according to God’s Will. Amen!  Some people think that the verse says, “Well, you pray for it and if it is God’s will, he’ll give it to you. If it’s not, He won’t.”  But that is NOT what John said!

John said, “…if we ASK any thing ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, He hears us; and if we know He hears us, whatsoever we ASK, we know that we HAVE the petitions that we desired of Him.”

Amen!  Always remember that God’s Word IS His Will. Praise God!

If you have a situation, if you can find an example in the Bible where God answered a prayer that met a need similar to what you need – PRAY THAT SCRIPTURE!  Lay it out in a prayer of petition (I taught on that before – I’ll probably do so again. But Google it or look it up to see how to format your prayer of petition. IT IS NOT a quick “wham bam thank you God” type of prayer)!

Then, when you pray, use your petition and use that scripture just like a lawyer would present prior court rulings for his client. Similar to, “As you did for this person, I’m asking you to do the same for me. For you are not a respecter of persons, what you did for one, I know you will do for another. I’m asking you for (healing, finance, whatever)….”

Do your research on this and you find out that Brother Bob is spot on here. I’ve used this “Prayer of Petition” as outlined by John in his letter, First John 5:14-16, for the last 25 or 26 years. It works!

Let’s Pray!

Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com. And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today.

You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2

We have been studying what the Apostle Peter had to say about prayer. Yesterday, we looked at 1 Peter 3:2-7.  Today, I want to move over to 1 Peter 4:7, which says:

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer…”

Peter wrote this under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He wrote this letter to believers and it included some general instructions for believers living in that day and time. And since God never changes, we can infer that it is written for us today – in our day and time. Amen!

So, by the Spirit of God, Peter is looking down into the future to our day and time and begins to talk about events happening today – that we can see happening all around us! Amen!

Jesus told us in Mark 13:33, “Take heed, watch and pray, for you know not when the time is.”

Peter said, looking at the same thing Jesus was talking about through the eyes of the Holy Spirit, “…the end of all things is at hand, be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer.”

Jesus was talking about the last days and Peter was talking about the last days. And we are LIVING in the last days that both of them were talking about! Amen!

Remember, we talked about not hindering your prayers a few days ago, right?

We learned the “eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers,” right? That was in 1 Peter 3:12.

Well, we also learned that WE are the “righteousness of God” through Christ, right?

So when we put all of this together, what do you see?

Jesus and Peter are both talking about the day and time in which we live. That’s number one.

Number two: Both Jesus and Peter are talking to believers.

Number three:  If you are born again, then you are a believer and re-created in the Righteousness of God through Christ, right?

Number four: The eyes of the Lord are OVER us – or you could say “watching over us.” 

Number five: The ears of the Lord are OPEN to our prayers.

Sum it all up and you can clearly see that, even though we are living in the worst times of humanity – the Lord has clearly stated that HE is going to look out for US and answer our prayers when we call on Him in Faith. Not based on anything that WE have done – but on what HE has done. 

I’ve got to stop here for today – otherwise I’m about to go into an in-depth teaching that is outside the scope of what this daily inspirational prayer teaching is supposed to be about. Praise God!

I don’t know about you, but I get excited when I start thinking along these lines. Amen!

If you’re not on fire right now for the Lord – your wood is wet. Bless God!

Let’s Pray!

Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com. And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today.

You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2

We have been studying what the Apostle James had to say about prayer. Yesterday, we shifted  over to anther disciple, Peter, to see what he has to say about prayer. Amen!

Let’s look at 1 Peter 3:2-7

“While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.   Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 

 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

This passage of Scripture is talking about prayer. Prayer WORKS! Amen! God has given us His Word to teach us how to pray and to teach us how to receive answers to our prayers. If our prayers are NOT working, we need to examine these areas which the Apostle Peter has shown us in this scripture to find out WHY!

Peter says something else in verse 12 of this chapter. He says, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 

The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous. WE are the righteous ones whom Peter is talking about here! WE are in Christ! He is the Righteous One! Amen!  As a believer, WE are in the Body of Christ, right? Therefore, we are the “Righteousness of God” in the earth (2 Corinthians 5:21)!

Let me ask you this – do you think the Body of Christ is UNRIGHTEOUS?  Certainly NOT! Amen!

Since the Head of the Church, Jesus, is Righteous, then we – THE BODY – are righteous, too! If we are IN HIM, we are now new creations IN CHRIST. Do you think God the Father created any unrighteous creatures? No! 

What does the rest of that scripture say?

“…but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” Thank God, that God is not against US! Amen! We are God’s children and we are the Righteousness of God IN CHRIST (2 Corinthians 5:21) and His ears are open to our prayers!  Amen!

I pray you are getting the concept here!

Peter is telling us in verse 7 that we – YOU AND I – can hinder our own prayer life!  God is not the one who is hindering our prayers. He doesn’t refuse to listen to us or hear us. WE HINDER our own prayers by not obeying the Scriptures!  Let’s strive to make sure that we are not hindering our prayer life so our prayers can be answered by the Most High God, through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Let’s Pray!

Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com. And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today.

You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2

We have been studying what the Apostle James had to say about prayer. Now, we are going to shift over to anther disciple, Peter, to see what he has to say about prayer. Amen!

Let’s look at 1 Peter 3:7:

“Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers are not hindered.”

Of course, Peter is talking here about a husband and wife who are both saved because he said, “being HEIRS together of the grace of life.” Amen!

This verse applies to married couples who are both born again. This verse is telling us that a husband or wife can HINDER their own prayer life!

So, I guess you could say, what Peter is trying to get across to us is “Don’t Hinder Your Own Prayers!”  Amen!

I believe we all know that a saved husband and wife can either help or hinder one another spiritually. They can pull together or they can pull apart. So Peter, in this scripture, gives both, husband and wives some clear instructions.

In verse 3, he starts off saying, “Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any is not obeying the Word (talking about the Word of God), they also may, without the Word, be won by the conversation of the wives.”

The word “conversation” here in this verse means their “manner of life or conduct.” Peter suggests that one’s Godly conduct or behavior is a way of winning folks to the Lord without necessarily preaching at them all of the time. Amen!

I can attest to this fact in my own life.

My wife was born again almost four years before I was. She kept after me to go to church with her, etc. But I usually did not go. I would drive her and the kids to church, drop them off and go to the gym. On a rare occasion, like most heathens, I would attend church at Christmas or Easter. But that was about it.

But she continued to pray for me. She was always there for me. Even though I was raised as a Lutheran by loving grandparents, I was under the false impression that I was already born again. The devil had me trapped in a lie and I was deceived.

In fact, if you would’ve looked up the word “heathen” in the dictionary back then, it probably would’ve had my picture next to the word. That’s how lost I was and did not even know it.

But, my wife kept praying. Despite all I could do or act or say to the contrary – she kept on praying! Thank God for a loving wife that is born again and saved. 

Four years later, I was on the verge of taking my own life when I received the Lord as my Savior – and my entire perspective on EVERYTHING changed!  In an instant – I realized I had been deceived about my salvation. But that night, January 25th 1992 at 1135pm ET in a little empty apartment in Columbus, GA – I was born again – FOR SURE!  Amen!

You’ve probably heard my testimony before so I will not take the time to go through it here – but the first person I wanted to share this with first was my wife! Amen!

She had been praying for me all those years – and the Lord heard her prayers. Amen! Glory to God! 

I want to pray for YOU right now as well.

Let’s Pray!

Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com. And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today.

You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2

We have been studying what the Apostle James had to say about prayer. We have been studying the verses from James 5:13-18:

“Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any Merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? 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. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it did not rain on the earth by the space of three years and six months! And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

Yesterday, I shared the reason I am able to receive prayers as answered is because I never give up on receiving my prayers as answered!  Glory to God!

Sometimes they are answered immediately and sometimes it may take a few day. In some instances, it may take years. But I never give up.

Let clarify that one minute… I never give up unless I’m moved by the Lord to “let it go.”  And usually, in those instances, it something that “I wanted to do” – but later found out, in the process of time, it would have turned out worse for me to have that prayer answered.

You may find out the same things. It could be a career change or someone you think could be your partner in life – only to find out later it would have been disastrous. Amen!

One example I can use, for me personally, was a career choice I had made. I was working and was doing really, really good. I’m talking one of the top rated agents in our company on a nationwide basis good. Amen!

But then, it started shifting. Things were not working like they were supposed to and soon, I felt it was better to move on. But I kept praying it would turn around… 

But those prayers were not being answered.

Then, one day, I sensed the Lord saying, “Let it go…”

Soon after, the entire organization I was a part of collapsed.

Things like that is what I’m talking about today. There will be times when your prayers are not being answered. There is always – ALWAYS – a reason.

It could be some sin in your life; some sin in the person you’re praying for, their life. Or it could just simply be it is NOT the Lord’s plan.  

You need to be spiritually sensitive to these things. Amen!

I want to pray for you now that you will begin to pray without ceasing, for yourself and others; that you will pray without saying anything similar to “Well, that didn’t work” and things like that. But that you will also seek the Lord’s Wisdom in matters where it seems your prayers are NOT being answered.

Amen!

Let’s Pray!

Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com. And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today.

You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2

We have been studying what the Apostle James had to say about prayer. We have been studying the verses from James 5:13-18:

“Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any Merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? 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. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it did not rain on the earth by the space of three years and six months! And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

Yesterday, I discussed the first time I was in a position to pray for someone else and they were depending on ME to do the praying and expecting the result. That person was my daughter and the subject was a abnormal sonogram that depicted the baby in her room with a head shaped like a football and no blood supply to the brain.

She was told this on Friday afternoon and the doctor office scheduled her to visit another doctor on Monday morning for her “options.”

I’m not going to go into all the details like I did yesterday, if you missed it, go back and listen. 

The bottom line though, is in 3 days-time, a baby was recreated in the womb that the specialist said, “was perfect.” 

That one event shot my Faith so high, it still has not come down. When I pray now, I EXPECT the prayer to be answered. And it usually is!  Praise God!

Sometimes, immediately. Sometimes over time.  And yes, there have been some where we did not see the prayer answered. But that is NOT of my concern. 

There are things the individual may not disclose which may be impeding them receiving the answer from manifesting.

But, I can say, that no matter what happens, answered or not, I’m still believing FOR the answer for them!  Even years later! Amen!

And I’ve received testimonies from people years later that the thing we prayed for finally came to pass! Amen!

Do not ever give up on your prayers before God!

What did Jesus teach us in Mark 11:22-23, when the disciples asked him why their prayers were not being answered?

“…Have Faith in God…whosoever should say to this mountain, be thou removed and cast yourself into the sea, and should not doubt in his heart, but shall believe those things he says shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he says…”

That is MOUNTAIN MOVING FAITH! 

And it can belong to YOU!  Amen!

Again today – I’m way over time!

Let’s Pray!

Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com. And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today.

You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2

We have been studying what the Apostle James had to say about prayer. We have been studying the verses from James 5:13-18:

“Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any Merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? 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. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it did not rain on the earth by the space of three years and six months! And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

Yesterday, we left off by pointing out that we are NOW the “Righteousness of God!” Amen!

That is a very important concept you must come to accept! This is what will get your prayers answered!

I remember a time, way back when, as I was just being introduced to the Word of Faith, where I could not pray my way out of wet paper bag. I would ask someone else to pray for me and “WHAM” I would have my prayer request answered!

Then, there came a day when I did not have someone TO PRAY with me… I will not go into all the details, but it involved my daughter who was pregnant with my granddaughter at the time. Early on in the pregnancy.

I had just graduated from a great, Faith based Bible school in Texas. I was on fire for God and BELIEVED I could move mountains by speaking to them! Amen! You get the picture?

My daughter came home crying. She said there was something very wrong with the sonogram. She had it video taped. She said the doctor told her there was no blood supply to the brain (there was a big medical term for it, but that is what it boiled down to). He was going to make her an appointment with another doctor to “give her some options.”

And we all know what kind of “options” they were talking about…

I asked her what she wanted to do? Her response was, “I believe if YOU pray, God will heal my baby.”

NOW I WAS the other person whom someone wanted to pray for them! And this was personal, too!

I called the Bible school wanting to speak to the instructor who had taught on healing and prayer, etc. But the school staff had gone on vacation after the graduation! So I was going to go it on my own.

Long story short, I started to share with my daughter some scriptures on healing. The one I started with was John 10:10 and we went through about 20 scriptures until I could see “faith” light up her eyes. She was starting to get it!

We prayed and about 1 minute later, the phone rang. It was the doctor’s office and they had scheduled her an appointment with this other doctor to “give her some options.” This was Friday afternoon about 3pm and the appointment was Monday at 8am. My son-in-law could not take off work (he had to give notice), so I went with my daughter to the appointment.

Again, she asked them to video tape the sonogram.

But the doctor kept scratching his head, referring to the chart, doing measurements and finally, he asked, “Why are you here? This is a perfectly normal little girl!”

The two videos showed, what looked like, two completely different babies! There was definitely a difference that could be seen!

Our testimony ever since has been that God healed the baby in less than 3 days – when we prayed in Faith!

I’m not a prophet. I’m nobody special. I’m not a prayer warrior or some great intercessor or some great evangelist.

But I am a Child of the Most High God, an Heir of God and a Joint Heir with Jesus Christ. I am the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God. I have the Anointing of God in me and on me. I know when I pray, I expect results.

After that incident with my granddaughter in her mothers womb – I expect to receive my prayers answered EVERY TIME I pray. And we do see our prayers answered.

I’ve prayed for people in hospice care and they were released to go home…

I’ve prayed for people that have had four quadruple bypass surgeries, and were told there was nothing else they could do…they were popping nitro glycerin pills like candy. After I prayed, they never took another pill and their cardiologist said it looked like they had brand new heart.

Those are just a couple of the many testimonies. Amen!

Again, I’m not saying that to demonstrate some great faith on my part. I’m sharing this so YOU can see what power if available if YOU will just start to walk it out and believe YOU are created in the image of Christ whose in the Image of God and that YOU possess the RIGHTEOSNESS of God!

I’m way over time today…

Let’s Pray!

Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com. And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today.

You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2

We have been studying what the Apostle James had to say about prayer. We have been studying the verses from James 5:13-18:

“Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any Merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? 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. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it did not rain on the earth by the space of three years and six months! And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

Yesterday, we left off by pointing out that James emphasized to us that “Elijah was a man who was subject to like passions” – just like us!  He faced temptations, trials and things that would go wrong when they were supposed to go right. He had bad days and good days. He caught the flu and would stub his toes and get rocks stuck in his sandals – all the things that happen to us. Amen!

James did NOT say, “Elijah was a prophet and that’s why God would answer him!”  

No!  He said, “Elijah was a man who prayed!”  Glory to God!

God will not hear a prophet pray any more quickly than He will hear any other believer pray.

Remember, it’s not the one praying who gets the job done anyway!  The James clearly says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  Right?

The Amplified Bible explains it even better. Listen to this:  “The earnest, heartfelt, continued prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available – dynamic in its working!”  Praise God!  That’s what I want in my prayer life? How about you?

I can hear someone right now, “Well, brother Bob, if I was as righteous as Elijah, I could pray that way and get results, too. But I’m not!”

Wait a minute, now!  If you are born again, you’ve been given the Righteousness of Christ!  He took your sins and gave you His Righteousness!  Are you saying the Righteousness of Christ IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH? 

Please tell me that is not what you are saying or believing!

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “YOU are the righteousness of God!”

Surely you are not saying the “Righteousness of God” is not enough?

GOD, your Heavenly Father, MADE you righteous through Christ!

Surely you are not saying that is not enough! Are you?

It is IMPOSSIBLE to make yourself righteous…that’s why Jesus had to go to the Cross!

When I first started studying Faith – that was so difficult for me to understand. But when I started to see various scripture in the Bible, which is what? The TRUTH!  Right? “They Word is Truth!”  So that means the Bible does not lie, right?

When I started to see all of these scriptures saying “I’ve been made the righteousness of God” – it finally dawned on me… “I’ve been MADE the righteousness of God!”  Praise God!

I pray you are getting that, too! Amen!

I want to pray for you, right now, that you understand this part of what we’ve been studying that James made it a point to share with us.

Let’s Pray!

Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com. And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today.

You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2

We have been studying what the Apostle James had to say about prayer. We have been studying the verses from James 5:13-18:

“Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any Merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? 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. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it did not rain on the earth by the space of three years and six months! And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

We’ve been studying about verse 15 and 16 these last few days. Mainly about the importance of someone confessing their sins to God and placing themselves, the Bible says, “cleansing ourselves,” in right-standing with God so we can be in position to receive our prayers as answered.

James concludes verse 16 by saying, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Then, in verse 17, James gives us an example of a righteous man. At first, when I read those scriptures, I did not understand what point James was trying to make! After pondering it for a bit, I realized EXACTLY what he was trying to get across to us!

James was saying the Elijah was a human man, just as we are. In other words, Elijah did not receive the answers to his prayers because he was some kind of super prophet. We may THINK he is – but the point James is trying to get us to understand is – he WASN’T!  In James 5:17, he clearly says, “Elisha (speaking of Elijah) WAS A MAN…”

That gives hope for you and me! Praise God!

Let’s read the entire verse:  “Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it did not rain on the earth by the space of three years and six months! And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

You may say, “Yeah, BUT… Elijah WAS a prophet. And that was the Prophet Elijah praying!  I’m not a prophet – I’m just lil’ ol’ me!”

Yes, Elijah was a prophet. He was a great man of God. And he certainly was righteous!  But James said he was a man, what? “subject to like passions as we are!”  

He faced the same challenges we face each and every day! He was just like us! Amen!

James did not say, “Elijah was a prophet who knew how to pray!”  He did not say, “Elijah was a prophet who had special favor with God!”  James did not say anything like that about Elijah, did he? 

NO!  He said, “Elijah was a man just like us!”  Praise God!

I’m going to stop there for today. I want you to think about that. Amen!

Let’s Pray!

Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com. And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today.

You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2

We have been studying what the Apostle James had to say about prayer. We have been studying the verses from James 5:13-18:

“Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any Merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? 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. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

 Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it did not rain on the earth by the space of three years and six months! And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit.”

Yesterday, we focused on verse 16, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

We left off yesterday discussing the need for someone to repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Savior in order to enter into a relationship with the Most High God – who CAN heal them of their sicknesses, etc. Not that God would not do it IF it was His Will to do so…

It’s just that God cannot bless what He’s already cursed. And He has cursed sin. And if the person is living in sin, unrepented sin, willful sin – WHY would God heal him (or her)?

The Bible says we are to “cleanse ourselves” of any sin that defiles us. That’s in 2 Corinthians 7:1. We can only do that through confession and repentance before God. The Bible says in First John 1:9, “If we CONFESS OUR SINS, He is faithful and just to FORGIVE OUR SINS and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.”

So, once again, we see that WE are responsible for cleansing ourselves – and we do that by confession of our sins before God.

It is not necessary that we confess them before men. It is not necessary that we confess them one at a time or try to remember them all…

“I took a cookie when I was 12 when I wasn’t supposed to…  I said something mean to my sister when I was 13…” or anything like that.

We were BORN in sin. We LIVED in sin. We ENJOYED sin. WE ARE SINNERS – and for those that confessed they are or were sinners – we were, what does scripture say?  SAVED BY GRACE!

That is what we need to make the sick person understand when they ask us to pray for them – that they NEED to receive Jesus as their Savior and have their sins cleansed once and for all time. Amen!

Lead them into that spiritual condition – and THEN pray for their healing.

You will be astounded at how fast God raises them up!

Why? Because they are His children now! Praise God!

Amen!  I could go on and on… but I won’t.

Let’s Pray!

Please subscribe to this podcast, leave us a quick 5 star review on Apple Podcasts to help us grow and be sure to visit our website for more information on our ministry: https://podcastersforchrist.com. And while you are at the website, download the free resource I have for you… it is free and is called, “How to Start a Christian Podcast.” It will bless you – go and download it today.

You can also WATCH these session on our Facebook Playlist at this link: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtKWeKtmv-BwgkquBTsSh-GznbmuUp_R2