Faith Turns Prayer into Power
Scripture: James 5:13-20
Faith prays persistently
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 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. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick.” (v13-15)
“There was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice.” (Luke 18:1-8)
“Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves. . . I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.” (Luke 11:5-8)
Faith prays in purity
“And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (v15-16)
“. . . and forgive us our sin, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” (Luke 11:4)
Faith prays passionately
“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently . . . “ (v17)
“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent, or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:10-13)