Real Faith Prays

Sermon Synopsis

We’ve reached the end of our series, “What Real Faith Looks Like,” where the Apostle James has helped us better understand how those made righteous by Christ are to live out their faith for Christ. We’ve learned that real faith looks at trials as an opportunity to grow, not to gripe. That real faith hears the Word of God and acts on it. That real faith proves itself through good works. We also learned that real faith controls the tongue and it prompts the true follower of Jesus to “unfriend” the world in order to be a friend of God. As I studied the 5th chapter of James, I kept asking, “What does real faith look like?” As I focused on verses 13-18, I discovered that real faith prays. Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (James 5:13-18) Prayer is mentioned seven times in this short passage. That says to me that prayer is important to God and, therefore, it should be important to me. If it’s true that real faith prays, I wonder what our prayer lives are really saying to others about our faith. That’s where we’ll pick up on Sunday!