Prayer Week 1 Day 1

Page 4
James 5:16b-18

What did you learn from marking the references to prayer in this passage?

Using the inductive tool of observation first, I noticed:

As I look at James 5:16b-18, I see that James is dealing with intercessory prayer, praying for those who need healing.  Then he talks about Elijah's prayer for rain.  Hmmmm…..  I was trying to find that prayer in Kings 17, where Elijah is first mentioned.  I didn't see his prayer there, only that he said to Ahab, "[As] the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word."

Then I found his prayer for fire to consume the sacrifice in I Kings 18:36-37:

"LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou [art] God in Israel, and [that] I [am] thy servant, and [that] I have done all these things at thy word.  Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou [art] the LORD God, and [that] thou hast turned their heart back again."

His prayer was for the people, the wayward nation, to be healed from unbelief so they would turn back to God.

Then using the inductive tools (concordance and expository dictionary), I learned more about these three words:

Prayer

 I noticed two different Greek words are used for prayer:

Deēsis (1162) stresses the sense of need

• It is used sometimes of request from man to man.  
• It can be translated supplication or used as the verb form beseech.

Proseuchomai (4336) is used of prayer in general, is always used of prayer to God

The literal translation of James 5:17 is "he prayed with prayer," and it is translated in our Bibles as "he prayed fervently."

Fervent is the word energeo (1754) which means "to put forth power, to be operative, to work." 

• It is rendered by the verb "to work effectually" or "to be effectual." 
• James 5:16 is the effect produced in the praying man, bringing him into line with the will of God, as in the case of Elijah.

Personal note:  Thank You, Lord, for affirming something You taught me earlier:  that praying is to bring me into line with Your will, not to fulfill my own will.

Righteous

Dikaios (1342) signifies just, without prejudice or partiality, of right conduct

Summary

I would paraphrase this verse as follows:

The energized/effectually-working prayer (stressing need) of a man (who practices right conduct) availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed (addressing the One true God) earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed (again addressing the One true God) again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Have you ever had an experience like Elijah's?  Do you feel that your prayers "accomplish much"?

Looking forward to your testimonies.

Lord, teach us to pray.

Linda

Moderator

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