WHAT MAKES PRAYER POWERFUL AND EFFECT

WHAT MAKES PRAYER POWERFUL AND EFFECT - James 5:13-18

    13 Is someone among you in trouble? He should pray. Is someone feeling good? He should sing songs of praise. 14 Is someone among you ill? He should call for the elders of the congregation. They will pray for him and rub olive oil on him in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer offered with trust will heal the one who is ill — the Lord will restore his health; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, openly acknowledge your sins to one another, and pray for each other, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was only a human being like us; yet he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and no rain fell on the Land for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the Land produced its crops. CJB

For your prayers to become more effective it does not depend on the number of hours you spent in prayers though Jesus caution His disciples that they were not able to watch with Him even an hour does not mean that your prayer becomes effective when you spent more hours in prayers, the choice of words and the usage of language does not add power or makes our prayers effective

    

i.           YOUR FAITH IN GOD  13-15

13 Is someone among you in trouble? He should pray. Is someone feeling good? He should sing songs of praise. 14 Is someone among you ill? He should call for the elders of the congregation. They will pray for him and rub olive oil on him in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer offered with trust will heal the one who is ill — the Lord will restore his health; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

·        In suffering - pray

·        In success – sing psalms

·        In sickness – call for prayers

Oil was used in the name of the Lord as a sign that the person was now set apart for God's special attention and care.

ii.         YOUR CONFESSION 16a

16 Therefore, openly acknowledge your sins to one another, and pray for each other, so that you may be healed.

iii.      YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS 16b-18

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was only a human being like us; yet he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and no rain fell on the Land for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the Land produced its crops.