A sermon on Importance of Prayer.
Historical documents say that James stayed in Jerusalem and was given two nicknames ‘James the Just’ (showing his quality as an elder) and (Greek word) “Oblias” which means bulwark or a reliable person.
James went through a tragic glorious end. Following the death of Festus, the Roman Governor, Albinius took up office, but there was a gap of about 2-months in between in AD 62 when there was no Roman Governor. Jewish rulers seized the opportunity to attack Christians, since there was no ruler to oppose them. They captured James, took him to the pinnacle of the temple area and said, ‘Now blaspheme Christ or we will throw you off.’ This was the very pinnacle where Devil took Jesus to tempt Him (Matt.4). James the Just simply said “I see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of glory!” So they threw him down. But that fall did not kill him, so they started to stone him. As he lay there with his bones broken and the stones falling on him he said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they do.’ The crowd watching cried out, ‘James the Just is praying for us! What an end!’ Finally someone with big wooden club, clubbed his head and he died. He was the first person martyred for Jesus in those days. When the fellow Christians came to pick up his body, they were astonished to see his knees which just looked like the knees of a camel. Here was a man who spent more time on his knees than on his feet.
A. Prayer has amazing power in individual’s lives: (James 5:13-16):
James was a great prayerful man. Perhaps he used to spend hours and hours on his knees and pray to God for others. He gives some beautiful points and illustrations. They are:
- Pray to God in times of trouble: The church had both Jews and Gentiles. The local Jews were persecuting them the church. Prayer can remove our afflictions and at the same prayer would give us the grace to face and overcome the challenges.
- Pray to God when we are happy: When we are happy, sing to the Lord with songs of praise. After night the day will come. In the same way God would balance our lives and certainly gives us the joy and happiness.
- Pray to God in sickness: If someone is sick, call the elders of the Church and make a corporate prayer. Pray over him, anoint the sick with oil. Perhaps call for a fasting prayer or all over night prayer. The prayer offered in faith by will heal the sick person. Sometimes sin causes sickness. Even in the life of David, when he was still disobedient to God after committing adultery with Bathsheba, God’s hand was heavy upon him. “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long” (Ps.32:3). But when acknowledged his sin, he had a great healing in his body.
- Prayer makes the person to confess his sins: If we have committed sins, confess before the Lord. Confess your sins committed against your brothers. The Lord would heal our sickness and heal us completely whatsoever. Apostle Paul rebuked the Corinthian members who were living in sin (1 Cor.6), they confessed of their sins and were restored to fellowship.
- Prayer is the first tool: Some people think that prayer is the last resort, if everything fails, they come to God in prayer. But it is not so. Because of God’s omnipotent, God can amazingly transform our situation.
- Prayer of righteous person is powerful and effective: Through prayer, we have direct communication with God. The righteous person’s prayer is powerful.
Ex: We can learn a few things from the prayer life of Daniel.