“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 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: 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. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”. – James 5:13-16
LIGHT FOR NOW: The prayer of faith incorporates thanksgiving in prayers as this shows an attitude that we believe we’ve received what we prayed for.
Let’s get back to our question as we provide answers; who prayed/prays the prayer of faith? Verse 14 emphasizes the sick calling on the elders of the church and then praying for him. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick… So who prays the prayer of faith? When the elders pray for him (the sick), who receives the healing? The sick. So, what’s the prayer of faith? To believe that you receive and you shall have (Mark 11:24). What if the elders don’t pray in faith? Does it matter? No! It is because James 1:5 says God gives without finding fault. Our focus must be or God who gives freely without finding fault when we pray or we are ministered to by other (like elders in James 5). Again, the prayer of faith means to receive in the place of prayer. To further aid our understanding, how do I receive in prayer? Paul’s instruction on prayer gives us a lead.
1Timothy 2:1 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men”. The phrase, “the giving of thanks” was translated from a word that implies “thankfulness, gratitude”. Observe that Paul used the same word consistently in his letters on the subject of prayer. 1 Corinthians 14:14-17 “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified”. Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God”. Colossians 4:2 “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving”. 1Thessalonians 5:17-18 “Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”. In all the texts cited above, giving of thanks was discussed last; just as it was in 1 Timothy 2:1. In essence, in the art of prayer, after making our request known to God, we don’t end prayers without giving thanks. After all, requests have been made; giving of thanks must come at the end. This shows an attitude that we believe that we have received. One of the greatest expressions of faith in prayers is to pray from the place of thanksgiving – this is you praying with confidence that he has already answered or made answers available before you pray. Thanksgiving in prayers is thus a faith action in prayers. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Pray with Thanksgiving.
CONFESSION: I am grateful because when I pray, the father hears me always; when I pray, I pray answers, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
QUOTE: It is an expression of faith in prayers to pray with thanksgiving.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1JOHN CHAPTER 4; EVENING: 1JOHN CHAPTER 5
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 