Summary:

PRAY.  PRAY ON.  PRAY ON IN FAITH.

Key Scripture (James 5:12) But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Bad Communication Is Just As Dangerous Or Worse As No Communication.

Whenever you see “Therefore”, look to see what it’s there for.  “Above all”, serve the same purpose here.  Jakob had just finished writing about Patient Endurance & Being Careful not to Grumble & Tear People Down or Apart.  Now He Says: The Worst Offense of Impatience is The Misuse of God’s Name in Emotional, Empty Oaths & Prayers.  

Matthew 5:33-37 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

We Also Remember the 10 Commandments:

Exodus 20:7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. – ESV

Take = “Nasa” Carry, Misuse.  

Exodus 20:7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, irreverently, in false affirmations or in ways that impugn the character of God]; for the Lord will not hold guiltless nor leave unpunished the one who takes His name in vain [disregarding its reverence and its power]. – AMP

When We: Throw God’s Name Around Like a Cheap Line, Make Oath’s In Anger, Use “God” To Tear Ppl Down or Buy Credibility, God Is Listening!  He Will Not Be Not Mocked.  

James 5:13-18 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 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. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

5 Major Categories of Prayer

1) Supplication: Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.

• Kingdom Principle: Mature Christians Will Pray To God About It, Not Complain To People About It.   

2) Praise: Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

• Kingdom Principle: Mature Christians Know How To Sing Praise In Both Good & Bad Times.  

3) Intercession:  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. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up….

• Kingdom Principle: Mature Christians Do Everything Humanly Possible And Ask God To Do The Impossible.

4) Prayer of Faith: (logically, there must be faithless prayer, “doubt”).

• Kingdom Principle: Mature Christians Submit To And Trust God’s Will Even When They Don’t Understand It.

5) Confession: & Access to Grace. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

• Kingdom Principle: Mature Christians Know We Are Save From Sin, Not To Sin.

Jacob Goes On To Declare The Power of Prayer:

v. 17-18 The Prayers of the Faithful are Powerful!  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. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit

1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

We Pray In Faith, With Humble Expectation, & According To God’s Will!  We Leave Room for God’s Sovereignty.

James 5:19-20 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 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.

Jacob Doesn’t Say it But Expects Us Realize The Need To Pray for the Prodigals, Drifters, & Wanderers.

• Kingdom Principle: Mature Christians Help Bring Lost Sheep Home.

Notice All The Times Camel Knees Considered To Be Prayer Time. 

PRAY.  PRAY ON.  PRAY ON IN FAITH.

Challenge: Commit to Prayer & Fasting This Week: A Meal, Daniel fast, Juice, Social Media, TV.