13-16
James 5:13-20
The Prayer of Faith
13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.
19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, 20 you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s[b] soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
What does the Passage say?
V. 13-16 We are asked to rally around our brothers and sisters in Christ, through prayers. Prayer is presented in good times, and bad times. The community of Christ is to rally around the person in need and support them in their journey.
V. 17-20 Elijah’s prayer was answered. When he prayed the gates of heaven opened, and God gave rain. When the people of God rally around prayer, God will open up the gates of heaven, and save souls.
What does the Passage say to me/us?
The main idea of yesterday’s devotion was how it could be difficult living in this world as a Christian, which required our patients. The world, even our own desire, continues to pull down God out of the thrown in the center of our lives. Instead of having God as our Lord, and priority, other things creep into that thrown. You name it… it is an idol we create.
That is the main reason why God established a church/ community of faith.
The community of faith is to rally around people in prayer, during good times and bad times. When the community of faith rallies around us in prayer, joys are multiplied, and burdens become bearable. (Note: that the person needs to present the need of prayer to God, and we rally around them)
Moreover, when the community of faith comes together, they will be able to save souls. As the heaven opened up and the blessing of rain poured out, the gates of heaven open when a person accepts Jesus, as their Lord and savior.
If we don’t pray, God will not continue the work of God’s Kingdom through us. We will need to pray for God’s will to be done through us. We will need to pray and rally around the mission of God.
In that, we will literally need to come together, but today, we ask you to join us in prayer wherever you are. Join us in prayer that we can be used for God’s mission.
Prayer
Lord, you invite us to your mission. Help us to pray for your mission and be used for your mission. And when you join your mission through prayer, may we see you open up the gates of heaven. Help us to praise you for saving lives. Help us to see the glimpse of your glory in our work/school today.
In Christ name, AMEN.
Click to subscribe to our Daily Devotion.
You will receive a devotion in your inbox every morning.