9-25-14 James 5

13Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5)

Thoughts: This is about the power of prayer to change things.  He begins by contrasting trouble with happiness.  Trouble should elicit a cry of help, while happiness should elicit a cry of song/praise.  Sickness should call for the church to pray together for that person- led by the leaders- the elders.  He stops to say that God can answer the prayer for healing made by faith in Him.  Sin should elicit a prayer of confession for forgiveness.  We are all called to pray for each other no matter what.  The point is that prayer combined with faith and obedience changes things.  Christians should not try to leave prayer as a last resort but should see prayer as a response to life.  We should lift up to God our lives- good and bad- through prayer.  

Prayer: Lord, cause me to pray to you- when things go well and when things go poorly.  Help me to honor you with my heart and life.