March 29, 2024
Pastor Darin Youngberg
<< Next Entry Previous Entry >>
Daily Bread
Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2017 by Bro_D
Daily Bread Nov. 16, 2017
James 5:16-18 Confess faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous one avails much. (17) Elijah was a man of like passion as we are. And he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for the time of three years and six months. (18) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth caused its fruit to sprout.
According to recent studies, the mid-week prayer meeting is now a thing of the past … non-existent in the modern church. In some cases (few) the church has instituted a prayer ministry – a group of people within the church who have committed to pray for various issues that arise. While I applaud the effort of prayer ministry groups … it is not Biblical. Before you cast this note aside … hang with me …. THE CHURCH AS A WHOLE IS TO PRAY -- not a small group within.
Consider James’ words here … there is the implication of gathering together … “with one another” .. the Greek here simply states that there is to be a time when the Body gathers in order to share with another their faults, anxieties, fears as well as their testimonies of praise, for the purpose of being encouraged, strengthened and healed. The word for “healing” not only has a physical meaning, but one of completeness, wholeness and being put back together in original design. The reader would understand that each one is to be committed to the whole, this was for the entire Body – not a select few. I am convinced that many if not all of the “ills” of our society that are perpetually getting worse could be thwarted if the Church were to follow the instruction given here by James. I am one of those guys that believes the Bible says what it means and means what it says. So when we are instructed to gather together, confess our faults, share our fear, needs, anxieties with each other – then we ought to do it. As a matter of fact, I believe that is a characteristic of one who really desires to draw closer to the LORD and His Bride.
There has been a phrase repeated many times in the last month and half at FBCO – “Prayer works!” – That’s exactly what James tells us – “The effectual fervent prayer … avails much.” This also implies that ineffectual nonexistent prayer is empty and useless. I wonder what “ills” in this ol’ world would be gone if the Church as a whole began to fervently pray?