EFFECTUAL PRAYER

WE ARE SORRY TO SAY THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO POSTPONE OUR STUDY ON PSALMS AND PROVERBS TIL MONDAY, SEPT 17. PLEASE BE HERE FOR THE SERIES, AS IT WILL SURELY BLESS YOUR SOULS AS IT IS OURS. THANK YOU, LJG/rECj


James 5:16
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.

Because God pardons the sins of those who confess and acknowledge them, and not those who justify themselves. Therefore the apostle adds, we ought to freely confer with one another concerning those inward diseases, that we may help one another with our prayers. He commends prayers by the effects that come of them, that all men may understand that there is nothing more effectual than they are, so that they proceed from a pure mind.

We all need healing of our sins. Let the brother confess his faults as a demonstration of repentance and let brethren pray for each other. Repentance, confession and prayer are the conditions of the forgiveness of sins committed by church members. He does not say, to the elders: this may, or may not, be done; for it is nowhere commanded. We may confess them to any who can pray in faith: he will then know how to pray for us, and be more stirred up so to do. And pray one for another, that ye may be healed - Of all your spiritual diseases.

Observe, that the saving of the sick is not ascribed to the anointing with oil, but to prayer. In a time of sickness it is not cold and formal prayer that is effectual, but the prayer of faith. The great thing we should beg of God for ourselves and others in the time of sickness is, the pardon of sin. Let nothing be done to encourage any to delay, under the mistaken fancy that a confession, a prayer, a minister's absolution and exhortation, or the sacrament, will set all right at last, where the duties of a godly life have been disregarded. To acknowledge our faults to each other, will tend greatly to peace and brotherly love. And when a righteous person, a true believer, justified in Christ, and by his grace walking before God in holy obedience, presents an effectual fervent prayer, wrought in his heart by the power of the Holy Spirit, raising holy affections and believing expectations and so leading earnestly to plead the promises of God at his mercy-seat, it avails much. The power of prayer is proved from the history of Elijah. In prayer we must not look to the merit of man, but to the grace of God. It is not enough to say a prayer, but we must pray in prayer. Thoughts must be fixed, desires must be firm and ardent, and graces exercised. This instance of the power of prayer, encourages every Christian to be earnest in prayer. God never says to any of the seed of Jacob, Seek my face in vain. Where there may not be so much of miracle in God's answering our prayers, yet there may be as much of grace.

But chiefly the strong, and those who stand, are to pray for those who have fallen; that is what this passage means. Oh, that we would pay attention to this neglected duty! Not praying for others is unloving; not to expect it from others is pride. Do not stand alone; two, indeed many, are better than one. Joint striving mutually for the good of each other makes the work prosper. “Effectual fervent,” The phrase really means a prayer wrought and excited; and so it implies both the efficacy and influence of the Holy Spirit, and the force and vehemence of an earnest spirit and feeling. A true prayer must be an earnest, fervent prayer. Be earnest and fervent, then, even if you cannot be eloquent. There is language in groans, and sighs are articulate. Prayers rightly managed cannot lack results. This is the means that God has consecrated for receiving the highest blessings. Prayer is the key by which the mighty ones of God can lock heaven and open it at will. The best of the graces is faith, and the best of the duties is prayer; these are the best because they are the most useful to our present state. It is wonderful to consider what Scripture ascribes to faith and prayer; prayer sues for blessings in the court of grace, and faith receives them.

We know that God does not listen to any but those who call upon him with truth and sincerity. For while faith alone opens the door to us to go to God, it is by a special privilege that He invites his children to Himself. The unspeakable comfort of such a man: him God hears; hears his complaints, and relieves him; hears his appeals, and rights him; hears his praises, and accepts them; hears his prayers, and answers them.


The fear of the Lord will lead us to search the Scriptures with reverence; and it will cause us to follow the leading's of the Holy Spirit. While we humbly place all our dependence on the grace of God, we are exalted in the righteousness of Christ. He hears the prayer of the righteous, accepts it, is well pleased with it, and will grant an answer of peace to it. He is nigh to them, a present help, in all that they call upon him for.

All who have felt the power and grace of the Lord Jesus, wonder at the wilfulness of others who reject him.

We may each of us know by this, whether we are of God or not. What do we do for God? What do we do for our souls? What do we do for others?

God's Blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY
John 9:31
"We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.