A Fragrance of Christ…to God                             

   James 5:13-20 – Effective Prayer

January 27, 2008

 

 

Books starts with prayer (1:5) and ends with prayer…

 

  - 13 – Does my suffering cause me to ask?

 

Do I ask?

 

 

     Do the good things in my life cause me to praise?

 

Do I praise?

 

     …BOTH are forms of prayer…

 

 

  - 14-15 – oil

 

 

 

            … a sign of honor, refreshment, encouragement

                        (woman pouring oil – Luke 7:38)

 

 

 

 

“Christians may have combined a symbolic medicinal use

with a symbol of handing one over to God’s Spirit.”

 

 

 

     - sick = asthenei = to be weak

 

 

 

     - call for the Elders

 

 

 

 

     - spiritual, not physical

 

 

Do I call for the Elders?

 

  - the prayer – in faith  will restore…

not the oil, not the person

 

 

 

 

  - 16 – confess to one another…

 

     a- when one is wronged

     b- when help can be received by sharing it with someone

     c- when many and/or the church is sinned against

 

 

 

 

  - 17-18 – Elijah prayed earnestly

 

 

 

            … “house of prayer” – Mat, Mk, Lk

 

 

 

     …effects of prayer

 

 

  - 19-20

      - “stray” = planet = wandering (not fixed) stars

(Jude 13)

 

            …restoration, not evangelism

 

 

            …revival, not (first-time) repentance

 

 

     - Ezekiel 18:21-23