SECTION C: THEMES FROM SELECTED EPISTLES (a) Therefore confess your sins to one another, and...
SECTION C: THEMES FROM SELECTED EPISTLES
(a) Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed... What other teachings did James give on effective prayer?
(b) In what three ways are Christians misusing prayers today?
Explanation
A. JAMES' TEACHING ON EFFECTIVE PRAYER(JAMES 1:2-8; 5:13-18)
i To James, effective prayer is one that God answers.
ii. And to achieve this, one needs to repent and confess one's sins to God and to one another in order to attract God's healing and forgiveness of sin,
iii James encouraged Christians to count it all joy whenever they meet trials.
iv. He says when one's faith is tested through trials, one becomes steadfast and later becomes perfect and complete.
v. According to James, if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God in prayer and he would have it generously.
vi. James holds the view that one must pray in faith without doubting
Vil. For anyone who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
vii. And that, a person who doubts will receive nothing from the Lord.
ix. He again said that if anyone is indisposed, he should call upon the elders of the church to anoint him with oil and pray in humility,.
x. And that, the prayer of faith will heal the sick.
xi. James revealed that God is glorified when people pray for the right things.
xii. Thus, prayer should be made according to the will of God.
xii. James urged Christians to pray in humility.
XiV. Christians should be persistent in prayer by praying unceasingly till their requests are met
xv. James is of the opinion that the fervent prayer of the righteous has a great effect
xvi. He gave an example of Elijah who prayed fervently for no rain and there was no rain for three and half years.
Xvii. And after three and half years, he prayed again and there was rain
B. HOW PRAYERS ARE MISUSED BY CHRISTIANS TODAY
? Paying money for prayers/ consultation fee for prayers/ Commercialisation of prayers.
ii. Cursing people in prayers/ praying against enemies.
iii Praying at the wrong time when they should be working/substituting prayer for work.
iv. Shouting making noise to disturb others.
v. Prayers for the highest donor/ bidders.
vi. Substituting prayers for righteousness.
vii. Praying with selfish motives.
viii. Praying not in accordance with the word/will of God.
ix. idolatry in prayer/praying to religious leaders rather than God.
X. Effectiveness of prayer wrongly associated with material objects, e.g. salt candle, stickers, anointing oil, etc.