PRAYER ACCOMPLISHES MUCH

Newsletter 221 November 28, 2010

James 5:13-20 (King James Version)

Three verses from 1 Thessalonians 5:16, 17, and 18 come to mind instantly, as to the importance of prayer in the life of every Christian. Verse sixteen says “Rejoice evermore.” I am not a talented person, but I like to include the verse of a hymn or a chorus in my private prayers. A chorus from my own childhood contains the words, “bubbling over, my heart’s full and bubbling over.” Let’s let our hearts bubble over with joy in the knowledge that He came to save us.

The next verse says “Pray without ceasing.“ Clearly God does not mean that we are to stay in our inner closet with the door closed and pray day and night. What he wants is an attitude of prayer always. Bring our thanks, our needs, our all to Him. He wants us to know that he is always available. We will get no annoying machine telling us to “push button 2” or “3.” When we first say “Father,” he will be there and he is listening. Why? because he cares! He knows, but he wants us to fellowship with him. He wants to be our friend. At the heart of the Facebook, yes, we have it too, is that everyone is seeking a friend.

The final verse, says, “In everything give thanks.” Teaching a child to say “thanks” is not easy, but it is good manners. I recall after many years in Africa, being shocked at how few American children ever said thanks for anything. We had grown accustomed to having every group of school children we might encounter saying “morra oom, or “tante.“ Pardon my spelling but absence and age aside, they were all greeting, “Good morning uncle, or good morning auntie.” They would even drop their own conversations to do this. Can we not interrupt our own things long enough to say thank you to our Lord. His gift is priceless.

PRAY FOR THE SICKLY

Notice two things about this verse. It says, “if you are sick, pray”, and not “pray for the sick,” though that is also important, and he is also telling the sick person to sing psalms. This guarantees a positive attitude. A positive attitude is important to healing. Once we have a positive attitude, then we can call on others to join us in prayer

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. (James 5:19, Psalm 50:15, 1 Corinthians 14:15, Colossians 3:16)

REJOICE WITH THE STRONGER

14 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: (Acts 11:30, Matthew 6:13, Matthew 16:18)

Many sicknesses are the result of sin in the life of the patient, even in the body of the church. Not all. Mind, but for a few examples, syphilis, aids, alcohol abuse, being just a few. That is why it reads, “sick among you,” and “if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” A big part of healing, is removing the cause.

That being so, it is the Lord who shall forgive and heal.

15 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. (James 1:6, 1 Corinthians 1:21, James 5:20, John 6:39, 2 Corinthians 4:14)

PRAY FOR THE WEAK IN FAITH

Since the primary work of the church is the salvation of souls, and the church is described in terms of a human body, prayer for others in the body is essential. If we get a cancer anywhere in our body, removing it is urgent. In time it invades and destroys all.

16 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. (Matthew 3:6, Mark 1:5, Acts 19:18, Hebrews 12:13, 1 Peter 2:24, Genesis 18:23-32, John 9:31)

PRAY FOR GREATER FAITH

Elijah was an ordinary an, ordinary man whom God called to serve him s a prophet. Our equivalent might be an elder chosen to shepherd the flock, the church.

17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. (Acts 14:15, 1 Kings 17:1, 1 Kings 18:1, Luke 4:25)

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. (1 Kings 18:42, 1 Kings 18:45)

PRAY FOR THE WAYWARD

19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; (Matthew 18:15, Galatians 6:1, John 3:14)

REJOICE IN THIS PROMISE

20 Let him know, that he which conveteth the sinner from the error of his shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (Romans 11:14, 1 Corinthians 1:21, James 1:21, Proverbs 10:12, 1 Peter 4:8)

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RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
NOVEMBER

28th. Sunday – Joel 1, 2, 3, 2 Peter 1, Proverbs 29:1-9
29th. Monday – Habakkuk 1, 2, 3, 2 Peter 2, Psalm 135:13-21
30th. Tuesday – Obadiah, 2 Peter 3, Psalm 136:1-12

DECEMBER

1st. Wednesday-- Daniel 1, 2, Revelation 1, Psalm 136:13-26
2nd. Thursday - Daniel 3, 4, Revelation 2:1-17, Proverbs 29:10-18
3rd. Friday – Daniel 5, 6, Revelation 2:18-29, Psalm 137
4th. Saturday-- Daniel 7, 8, Revelation 3:1-10, Psalm 138

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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
Revelation 2:10b
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No Such Thing As A Free Lunch...
The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch.

At the head of the table was a large pile of apples.

The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:

"Take only ONE. God is watching."

Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.

Little Johnny wrote a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."