2021 – Year of the Lord’s Favour | In difficult times PRAY | June 13, 2021

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

St. Patrick once said, …

As you know, we are learning from an ongoing series since past few weeks, we will continue doing the same today as well, however, we will focus on today’s topic, “In Difficuilt times, Pray!“

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

This was spoken several years back but if we read this closely, we understand that this was literally written for our times.

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? 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. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

The sin of swearing is condemned; but how many make light of common profane swearing! Such swearing expressly throws contempt upon God’s name and authority. This sin brings neither gain, nor pleasure, nor reputation, but is showing enmity to God without occasion and without advantage, It shows a man to be an enemy to God, however, he pretends to call himself by his name, or sometimes joins in acts of worship. But the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. In a day of affliction, nothing is more seasonable than prayer. The spirit is then most humble, and the heart is broken and tender. It is necessary to exercise faith and hope under afflictions, and prayer is the appointed means for obtaining and increasing these graces. 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.

If we read the entire passage from the book of James 5:13-20, it appears as if this is being spoken personally during our times and situations. Trouble is surrounding us and wherever we look, the trouble exists there.

But man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.

Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.

What we understand from the aforementioned verses is that there is only one antidote for trouble, and that is only and only prayer.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Is anyone among you sick? 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.

Prayers and praise are two very vital elements in Christian life. They both go together hand in hand. Prayer and Praise is not just a religious exercise or empty words, these are two of the most important tools.

James Hudson Taylor once said, “When we work, we work. When we pray, God works!”

Now the important quest to answer today is…

If we study Luke 11 and 18, it gives us a very clear insight regarding praying.

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward, he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'”

Now what Bible is saying here is that this lady was persistent and continued to seek justice. After continuing with persistence, the judge told that he will give her justice.

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

People of God, we need to be persistent and keep on praying. Persistent prayers mean not to give up and to hold on. Daniel prayed and waited unto God for 21 days.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jacob was indulged in a fight for the entire night, yet he never gave up on receiving blessings.

Remember, impatience will kill persistence!

For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

In the book of 1st Corinthians chapter 12, the gift of tongues are done in a corporate setting. A person speaking in tongues and a person interpreting!

Few references:

This gift of the tongue is a private conversation with God, however, it is Holy Spirit is speaking through you.

Few more references:

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Prayes can move mountais…

John Wesley once said, “Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth.”

People of God, are you in trouble? If yes, bring your matter in front of God. Spend some time in praying and worshipping God. Be assured, He is listening and He will answer shortly!

We hope you all are encouraged with today’s word. We look forward to seeing you all next Sunday. God bless!