Sep. 03, 2025

“ENCOUNTERS WITH GOD”

“PATIENCE THROUGH PRAYER”

JAMES 5:13-18

The mature Christian is prayerful in the troubles of life. Instead of complaining about his situation, he talks to God about it; and God hears and answers his prayers. "Taking it to the Lord in prayer" is certainly a mark of spiritual maturity. In this section, James encourages us to pray by describing three situations in which God answers prayer.

1. Prayer for the Suffering- James 5:13

James 5:13 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”

The word suffering means “suffering in difficult

circumstances or afflicted.

2 Tim. 2:9 “for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.” 

What should we do when we find ourselves in such trying circumstances? 

God can transform troubles into triumphs. "He giveth more grace" (James 4:6).

*James indicated that everybody does not go through troubles at the same time: 

vs.13 ”Is any merry? Let him sing psalms”- God balances our lives and gives us hours of suffering and days of singing.

Job 35:10 “But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who gives songs in the night.” 

Acts 16:25 “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

2. Prayer for the Sick- James 5:14-16

James 5:14 “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.”

What are the special characteristics of this case that James is describing?

*The person is sick because of sin- James 5:15-16

James 5:15-16 “And 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. 16Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”  

The Greek text says, "if he has been constantly sinning." This parallels 1 Corinthians 11:30. 

1 Corinthians 11:30 “For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.”

*The person confesses his sins (5:16). 

5:16-"Confess your sins therefore to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed" (literal translation).

*The person is healed by "the prayer of faith” (5:15). It is not the anointing that heals, but the praying.

But what is "the prayer of faith" that heals the sick? The answer is in: 

1 John 5:14-15 “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

The "prayer of faith" is a prayer offered when you know the will of God.

Rom. 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” 

We can never sin alone, for sin has a way of growing and infecting others.

3. Prayer for the Nation- James 5:17-18

James cited Elijah as an example of a "righteous man" whose prayers released power.

James 5:16 “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

The background of this incident is found in 1 Kings 17-18.

Do we need "showers of blessing" today? We certainly do!

James 5:17-18 “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. 18And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.”

"Elijah was a man just like us," vs.17. He was not perfect; in fact, right after his victory on Mount Carmel, Elijah became afraid and discouraged and ran away.

Elijah prayed in faith, for God told him He would send the rain (1 Kings 18:1). 

“Prayer, " said Robert Law, "is not getting man's will done in heaven. It's getting God's will done on earth." You cannot separate the Word of God and prayer, for in His Word He gives us the promises that we claim when we pray.

Elijah was not only believing in his praying, but he was persistent.

"He prayed … and he prayed again" (James 5:17-18).

Elijah was determined and concerned in his praying. "He prayed earnestly" vs.17 The literal Greek reads "and he prayed in prayer.

Prayer power is the greatest power in the world today.

One of the first responsibilities of the local church is to pray for government leaders. 

1 Timothy 2:1-3 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.”