James Bible Study Chapter 5: the epistle of James encourages believers to pray in times of trouble and to pray for one another; he highlights the effectiveness of fervent and righteous prayers. We must learn how to talk to God until our praying will move every mountain, every obstruction, everything that stands between us and the fulfilment of God’s promises.
The importance of prayer
Jesus our Great High Priest
Hebrews Bible Study Chapter 5. Prayer is our approach to God, and we are to come 'boldly'. Some Christians approach God meekly with heads hung low, afraid to ask Him to meet their needs. Others pray flippantly, giving little thought to what they say. Come with reverence because He is our King. But also come with bold assurance because He is your Friend and Counsellor.
The dynamic power of prayer
Powerful prayer works! The original Greek of the Bible often uses a special word for power: dunamis – it signifies miraculous, wonder-working power. From it we get the words dynamo (which generates power), and dynamite (the explosive). If you want prayer to work, to change your circumstances, then it must generate power. Jesus never once in the four Gospels told His disciples to pray for the sick. He said, ‘HEAL the sick!’ (Luke 9&10). He was speaking with authority! Yes, in James 5:14 it says ‘the prayer of faith will save the sick’ – but this is in the church. There is a big difference between the call of the evangelist and ministry within the church.
God is your Father
God speaks through signs and wonders
We are all familiar with the story of Moses and the burning bush, but I want to look at the conversation between God and Moses. What most intrigues me about the passage found in Exodus 3&4, is that this appears to be a genuine conversation between the two of them. There is a fascinating description of the relationship between God and Moses found in Exodus 33.11, 'The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.' O that God would speak to us this same way!
Faith ignited by Works
Faith is ignited by Works. In James 2.22-23, we see Abraham combined his faith with what he did: his faith was made perfect, it was imputed to him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God! Oh, that this might be said about us! “You see,” James says in v24, “by works a man’s faith is demonstrated, and not by faith alone.” Faith HAS to be followed by fact. “For,” v26 “as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is DEAD also.” The ‘works’ are the very spirit that give LIFE to the body of ‘faith’. God bless you.