|
HELEN SANDERS
1-20-2022
FERVENT EFFECTUAL PRAYER
We learn in the book of James about prayer. Chapter 5 verses 13-18 give us a lot of insight about who and how to ask for prayer, along with our responsibility as believers.
Verse 13 says, “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing.”
To break it down let us start with the word afflicted. The Greek word is kakopatheo which means to undergo hardship, endure hardness, suffer trouble. If you are going through hard troublesome times, it is your responsibility to pray. This does not mean that you never ask someone to pray for you, but if we go by the scriptures then the responsibility lies on each of us individually. So often people call someone up whenever anything is going on that is a hardship instead of getting with God themselves.
It does not end there. It goes on to say “is anyone merry? Let him sing.” The word merry means to be of good cheer. Despite your circumstances, you have determined to be cheerful through them. Singing is a great way to show your heart is full of cheer.
Verse 14 says, “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.”
Those that are sick have the responsibility of calling the mature people in the church. Elder is not just a title. It is someone that is mature in the things of God. Someone that has proven their faith and faithfulness. There is no way leadership would know if someone were sick if they aren’t informed of it. So, the sick person calls for them to come and pray. They then are to anoint, (which means rub or smear) the sick person with oil, in the name of the Lord (Jesus).
After they have anointed the person in the name of Jesus, we move on to verse 15. This is a very important verse. It says, “and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
What about the prayer of faith? Well, it means when you pray that you believe the person will be healed. It is never a “if it be thy will” kind of prayer. It comes from the person’s innermost being, his spirit, and his faith will determine the right outcome. This kind of prayer saves the person. The word saves comes from the Greek word sozo, which means to deliver or protect, heal, do well, be or make whole. Faith brings the “sozo” to the person. It goes on to say when this person has been anointed, prayed for in faith, then the Lord shall raise him/her up and then says if they have sinned the sins will be forgiven.
How much more power can one get than that? This kind of prayer not only brings physical healing but spiritual as well.
Verse 16 goes on to say, “Confess your faults one to another and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.”
It does not say confess your faults to a priest. It does not say confess your faults to a Pastor or any other leader. It says to “one another.” The word faults is the Greek word paraptoma which means to sideslip, error, fall, offence, trespass. There are so many offenses in the body of Christ, that it is no wonder people don’t receive their healing. Confessing your faults is important in marriage so that there is healing in the house. We can’t have “anything” hindering us. Be it little or big. The Greek word for healed is iaomai which means to cure, heal, make whole. Imagine, just confessing the sin to one another makes one whole.
Verse 17 goes on to say, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
The word effectual fervent comes from the Greek word energeo which means to be mighty in showing forth your self work. It also means powerful. I would have to say this kind of power in prayer can make a difference. I see the word fervent as a mighty fire burning with passion and faith to believe for a person’s healing. It is not some passive little ditty of a prayer. It is praying with bulldog faith and not letting go until the person is healed. You are not satisfied until the healing comes forth.
If the church got back to these kinds of prayer, I believe there would be a lot of people healed. We must take this scripture seriously in the days ahead because there may not be medicine available. Let us determine to pray in faith with fervency and see God move!
Missed some of Helen's messages? click here to read
| 
