Prayer 75 of Americans pray at least monthly

Prayer • 75% of Americans pray at least monthly • 55% of Americans pray daily o o 64% of women 46% of men 65% of people over age 65 41% of people under age 30

The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. James 5: 16 Today: The urgent request… July 9: …of a righteous person… July 16: …is very powerful in its effect.

13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will restore him to health; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. James 5: 13 -18

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours; yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit. James 5: 13 -18

Summary of James 5: 13 -18 1) Respond to life with prayer. Whether you are suffering, happy, or sick…PRAY! 2) When you make a request to God, be sure to CONFESS YOUR SINS. God is not just concerned about your suffering or sickness; He is (more) concerned about your spiritual health. 3) PRAYER WORKS – The urgent prayer of a righteous person is powerful in its effect. (Example: Elijah. )

The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful and effective.

The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful and effective. What makes a request “urgent? ” 1) The request itself is important, time sensitive, etc.

The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful and effective. What makes a request “urgent? ” 1) The request itself is important, time sensitive, etc. 2) The request is made with words and/or emotion and/or posture that tell God that we believe this is urgent. words + emotion + posture

words + emotion + posture When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. Right away a man with a serious skin disease came up and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean. ” Matthew 8: 1 -2 When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony!” Matthew 8: 5 -6 For this reason I kneel before the Father…. Ephesians 3: 14

The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful and effective. What makes a request “urgent? ” 1) The request itself is important, time sensitive, etc. 2) The request is made with words and/or emotion and/or posture that tell God that we believe this is urgent. words + emotion + posture + FASTING

5 The men of Nineveh believed in God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth – from the greatest of them to the least. 6 When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, put on sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 Then he issued a decree in Nineveh: By order of the king and his nobles: Jonah 3: 5 -10

“No man or beast, herd or flock, is to taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink water. 8 Furthermore, both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth, and everyone must call out earnestly to God. Each must turn from his evil ways and from the violence he is doing. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His burning anger so that we will not perish. ” 10 Then God saw their actions – that they had turned from their evil ways – so God relented from the disaster He had threatened to do to them. And He did not do it. Jonah 3: 5 -10

The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful and effective. What makes a request “urgent? ” 1) The request itself is important, time sensitive, etc. 2) The request is made with words and/or emotion and/or posture that reflect urgency. words + emotion + posture + fasting