Understanding Prayer According to the Book of James

PRAYER PART 1 MENTION TONIGHT! James a small book with a lot to say about prayer. Pg 856 Prayer runs through the book like letters in a stick of rock Some of what he says is easy to understand practically Some of what James writes seems at odds with what we do and has been at the cause of differing views in churches over the years difficult verses! This week and next we will get an overview from James 1 to 5 In August we will (God willing) look at the difficult verses at the end of James 5 Hard or easy - all of what James has to say needs to be understood in a Biblical context

PRAYER BIBLICAL FRAMEWORK Paradoxes on Prayer - dangerous extremes Awe and family affection Our Father hallowed be Thy Name Confidence and humility Mark 11v24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours . The Lord resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble Desires of our hearts and the Will of God (us or God) Ps 37:1 The Lord will give you the desires of your heart, Lord s prayer Thy Will be done

PRAYER PART 1 JAMES OVERVIEW A generous Father (Encouragement) 1v5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. Matt 7 Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 1v16-17 Don t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Why look anywhere else bad or imperfect Capable and consistent in His generosity - Joseph Hart How good is the God we adore, our faithful, unchangeable friend! His love is as great as His power and knows neither measure nor end!

PRAYER PART 1 JAMES OVERVIEW A believing heart (1v6-8) But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8Such a person is double- minded and unstable in all they do. The limit is not God s ability, resources or desire to bless us. Exercise to increase the belief start praying for what we do believe and add to it as God answers. Grow to a faith that can move mountains! Lord I believe help my unbelief! Lets not pray things to sound good!

PRAYER PART 1 JAMES OVERVIEW Certain, Close and Personal 4v8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Abba Father In Isaiah the Lord says no one seeks His face in vain Takes time/emotion/tenderness not always words! May be painful as we see ourselves and the Lord Eternal Light! eternal Light! How pure the soul must be When, placed within Thy searching sight, It shrinks not, but with calm delight can live, and look on Thee! Thomas Binney That pain is for growth as a good and perfect gift!

PRAYER PART 1 FOR ALL OF LIFE 5v13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Happy and sad and everything in between In trouble suffer the evil blow of the outside world - Blanchard Natural troubles, Physical troubles, Mental troubles (1 in 5) The results of the Fall Spiritual troubles the one who prowls like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Pet 5v8). Special troubles those associated with God s work preach/teach David in Psalm 18 called, the Lord heard reached down from on high and took hold of me. 1 Pet 3v12 the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayers Not our last resort, but our first inclination in trouble Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray

PRAYER PART 1 FOR ALL OF LIFE Yellow pages not just for the nasty things in life, like a blocked drain! 5v13 Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. God gives us good thing to enjoy 1 Tim 6v17 - To the rich put your hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment Not the world s response Paul in Rom 1:21 says although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him Songs of praise marks us as Christians and brings glory to God Thomas Manton every new mercy calls for a new song Kills pride by giving credit where it is due Blessed be the name of the Lord

PRAYER PART 1 JAMES OVERVIEW For people like us! Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. Persistence prayed with prayers/praying (7 times, earnest) Thomas Edison 1000 attempts light bulb moment? Amazing power (God s power) effected climate change, but he was a human being like us! Praying for God s will revealed to Elijah (1King 17-18) Same Spirit, same invitation, same Father of heavenly lights who does not change. Do we have the same focus and persistence?

SUMMARY SLIDE TURNING POINT Prayer is for people like us not spiritual superstars Prayer should be the response to everything that happens to us happy or sad Prayer is powerful because God is powerful we pray to our heavenly Father who loves us and is ready, willing and able to bless! Abba father/Holy and awesome God Confidence and humility All encouragements what does James say about obstacles?

PRAYER PART 1 JAMES IMPLICIT Barriers to effective prayer (greed) 4v2-3 You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. Lack of prayer is a barrier to effective prayer Selfish prayer is a barrier to effective prayer Focus on material things/pleasures is a barrier

PRAYER PART 1 JAMES IMPLICIT Barriers to effective prayer (pride) 4v6 God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble. If we don t give thanks for answered prayers that is proud If we come with a demanding attitude that is proud If we see God as a goody dispensing machine If it is all about us and our will that is proud For people who are aligned! (Thy Will be done/Elijah) Need that is captured in a promise/covenant Prayer changes us not God!

PRAYER PART 1 JEREMIAH 31V33 This is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Also Heb 8v10, 10v16 Links to 10 Commandments/Links to Sermon on the mount Written on stone (minutes) written on our hearts (lifetime) Promise of the 10 commandments No other gods, love the Lord, Not murder, not commit adultery, not steal, not lie, not covet Not lust, not covet, not hate (the good that I would I do not do) Prayer has a key part in writing God s Laws on our hearts so that He will give us the desires of our hearts (Ps 37v1)

FINISHING SUMMARY SLIDE We have great encouragements to pray We come to a God who stands willing and able to bless us Our prayers should be seen as part of God s work in changing us Our prayers should be more focused on the covenant God has made to write His Law on our hearts when we delight in the Lord He will give us the desires of our hearts Next week we will look at God s Will and our prayers How to pray like Elijah