Last week after our session on intercession, a student asked how does that lesson (enforcing God’s decrees) line up with James 4:13-17. Actually, that was a very good question and sets us up for our next lesson. Let’s look at James 4:13-17.
a. Pride and Making Plans with God
“13 Come now, you who
say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city,
spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; 14whereas
you do not know what will [happen] tomorrow. For what [is] your life? It is
even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15Instead
you [ought] to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or
that." 16But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting
is evil. 17Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do
[it], to him it is sin.
This scripture was in response by James to the boastful statements of the local “well-to-do.” They did not have to trust in God for their day to day needs to be met. They could plan out a year or more and do anything they wanted. James rebukes the foolishness of this and shows it is sinful.
This can apply to us today as well. We need to submit all major (and even minor) decisions to the Lord. The Christians greatest desire is to do what the Lord wants, not necessarily what we want. We have covered some on this in lesson six about praying with an idol in our hearts. We must seek God’s will and His provision for today and each and every tomorrow.
b. If it be your will
Matthew 26:39
39He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."
“if it be Your Will” is the prayer of dedication. In Matthew 26:39, we see that Jesus’ will and the will of the Father was contrary. Jesus sought the will of the Father and then submitted to it.
There are many decisions that we make in Life that we will not find clear-cut answers in the Word of God. Such as “Should I move to Chicago?” “Should I marry Jennifer?” and so forth.
We go before the Lord and say “Lord, if it is your will for me, I will move to Chicago” or “…marry Jennifer.” All these things are very appropriate to seek God’s guidance on.
Note: There are many things that we would NOT pray such a Prayer about. Things that are clearly marked out in the Word. God’s promises are for us as well as His commands. Does God want to meet my daily needs? Yes. In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus taught us to ask Him to “give us our daily bread” and in Philippians 4:19 Paul declares “ and my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. So our Prayer would not be “God do you want to meet my needs.” But rather “Lord, what do I need to change to be in a position for you to meet my needs.”
Another example would be: “Lord,
should I have an affair with the new young secretary at the office?” Such a
prayer is not Biblical. God’s Ten Commandments are still in force. God’s will
is his Word.
James 5:13-16
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.
Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14Is 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. 15And the prayer of
faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has
committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16Confess your trespasses to
one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective,
fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Here we see that the “prayer of faith” will bring healing to the sick. Many consider this scripture to speak of a young Christian that has not developed his faith towards healing (or like many of us, just need a little help with out faith). Therefore an Elder (one mature in Christ and knows his standing with God. i.e. righteous man) would stand in the gap and release his faith in prayer for the one needing healing. As a good Elder, I believe he ministered to the young convert, made sure there was no unconfessed sin or unforgivness that would hinder the healing flow and then prayed the Word concerning the individual. What word? “ By His stripes we are healed.”
a. Faith must rest on the Word, not feelings.
Romans 10:17
“So then faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Faith comes by knowing and allowing the Word of God to become a part of us. Faith must have a foundation to rest upon. Only the Word of God can support true faith. Faith needs something absolute or unchangeable. Feelings can change from moment to moment. They are unstable and cannot be trusted. The Word is eternal. As I feed upon God’s Word, that eternal foundation begins to build in me and my faith has something to stand on!
b.
Being FULLY
convinced
Romans 4:19-25
19And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." 23Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
Emphasis on verse 21 “ and being fully convinced that what he had been promised He was able to perform.”
Abraham had mediated on the promises of God until he was fully convinced in his
mind and spirit that God would perform exactly what He had promised. We need to
meditate upon God’s Word until it becomes a part of us. As we do, our faith will
build upon the unchanging, eternal promises of God!
c. A Prayer of Faith is a Prayer based on the
Word
The true prayer of faith is based, not upon feelings or circumstances, but upon the Word of God. The Word is eternal and will change feelings and circumstances.
1. How does the prayer of dedication differ from the prayer of faith?
2. When should we pray “ If it be Your will” and when should we not?
3. What is the prayer of faith?
4. What is the prayer of faith built upon?
Mark and Patti Virkler have granted permission to draw this information from
their book, “Communion With God Study Guide”.
You can get more information at their website www.cwgministries.org