God responds to the prayers of those who place their trust in Him. The Bible teaches us that a prayer life without faith is of little benefit to us. James exhorts we should always pray to God, “…in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by wind. (7) For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.” (Jam 1:6-7). We are to approach heaven’s throne with the expectation that God will answer our prayers for those who are sick, suffering, seeking forgiveness of sins through confession, etc…
James helps by giving us an real life example of one the Old Testament saints, Elijah. He presents his prayer life as model to those who are reading his letter. Who was Elijah?
- He was prophet of the Lord.
- He was highly esteemed by the Jews (which is likely the reason James uses him as model to support his teaching on this subject).
- He was regarded as the “forerunner” of the Messiah that the prophet Malachi prophesied about (Mal 4:5-6).
- He is mentioned in all four Gospels where John the Baptist is identified as the prophesied one who would come in the Spirit of Elijah to pave the way for our Lord, Jesus Christ (Mt 11:11-15).
Elijah was great man of God and prayer as we can observe in the Biblical accounts of him. However, James reminds us that he was a simple servant of God as you and I are, thus, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours…” In other words, he was used mightily by God to call to repentance a lost nation and wicked King of Israel (Ahab). At the same time, he was ordinary human being like any of us. He had seasons fear and depression (1 Kgs 19:1-9). Yet, his faith prevailed. He believed in the power of prayer, thus James reminds us of Elijah, “…he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. (18) Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit” (v17-18). Because of his faith, God listened to him and ended the dry spell in Israel.
Let us be like Elijah in prayer. Our focus is not his position as prophet, nor the miracles that God worked in his life. Rather, our attention should be on his relationship with God as his servant. He was chosen to be counted among the people of God. He trusted that God would answer his prayers according to his will and character. Remember, faith does not reflect on our physical limitations and resources. Faith does not look first to human salvation or refuge. Faith focuses upward to God alone and trust he will be who he says he is. That is the heart of effectual prayer of the righteous. Amen.
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D.
www.springoflivingwaters.com