Powerful and Effective Prayer

Scripture Text
James 5:13-18

Intro: Prayer is mentioned in the bible 313 times! Prayer is the greatest weapon the church has against Satan, sin, and the evil we face on a daily basis. It is also the most unused weapon in the church today. We often regard prayer as merely an honored tradition and a nice thing to do, a polite formality. But sincere, effective, and fervent prayer is so much more. God our expects us to use it daily in dependence on Him.

I. Pray in the Spirit and name of Jesus. James 5:13-14 (NKJV) ¹³ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 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.

a. It is through Jesus we connect to the Father. God is only obligated to answer prayer for those who know Jesus as their Savior and pray in His Spirit and name. In other words, praying in the Spirit is praying in accordance with principles found in God's word as compared to flesh leading, wanting it's way. Praying in the Spirit has three aspects: (1) admitting our inability, (2) we enjoy the privilege of a living communion with God, and (3) pleading the promises of God with boldness and assurance. Must know God's word.

II. Prayer must be offered in faith. James 5:15 (NKJV) 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.

a. Faith means complete trust and faith in God to answer our prayer. James 1:6-8 (NKJV) ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. There can be no doubts, one minute we believe and the next we doubt.

III. Sin must be confessed and forsaken. James 5:16a (NKJV) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

a. God will not hear one who is holding on to sin their heart. Isaiah 59:2 (NKJV) But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. Are you proud, bitter, angry, resentful, unforgiving, holding a grudge, being deceptive in your dealings with others?

IV. Prayer must be effective and fervent. James 5:16b The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

a. Effective means you must have an active powerful prayer life which produces results. Fervent means your prayer must be burning with passion in your heart. Its a prayer of intensity, feeling, and enthusiasm, expecting an answer from the Father. No half hearted prayer will accomplish anything. Heart must be in it.

V. Prayer is not limited. James 5:17-18 (NKJV) ¹⁷ 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. ¹⁸ And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 

a. Prayer can be made at any time for any reason at all. Elijah was a man just like us with the same feelings and suffering that we experience. Yet when he prayed for the rain to stop it did, and when he prayed for it to start, it did. When we pray as righteous people, living in obedience to God, trusting in Him and serving Him, He will answer.

Conclusion: There is mighty power within our reach today. Prayer for change, healing, liberation, endurance, and eternal transformation in our lives and the live of those around us. Our astounding, all-powerful God waits to respond to our requests with His unlimited supernatural resources. We can be people of powerful and effective prayer. Lets begin to be faithful to God in intercession, fighting our battles on our knees, and release our faith and trust God for the needs we have. As we pray, He will hear and He will certainly answer.

Invitation: If you have never done so, pray right now the prayer of salvation. Confess you are a sinner and ask Jesus to forgive you and save your soul from hell. Invite Him into your life to take charge of you, be baptized in Jesus' name for the salvation of your soul. We will all die one day and face God. Will you be ready?

Prayer: Father in Heaven, we desire a deep fellowship with you. Help me understand the power of prayer and help me to practice it daily, and if there is one here today that needs Jesus to forgive and save them, may this be the day of their salvation, I pray in the Spirit and name of Jesus. Amen!