(a) "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him". What else did James say about effective prayer? [ 9 marks...

(a) What James said about effective prayer (James 5:13-18)

• James asks whether any among them is suffering, and answers that such a one should pray; whoever is cheerful should sing praise.
• Concerning the sick, he directs that they call for the elders of the church, who should pray over the sick person and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
• He assures that "the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."
• He urges believers to confess their sins to one another and to pray for one another, that they may be healed.
• He gives the great principle: "The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects." Effective prayer must come from a righteous life and be offered in faith and fervency.
• He illustrates with Elijah, a man of like nature with us, who prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months; then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth its fruit.
• Thus James teaches that effective prayer is prayer offered in faith, in righteousness, fervently, in mutual love and confession, and it is powerful in its results.

(b) Three reasons why some prayers are not answered

1. Unconfessed sin and unrighteous living, which separate the one praying from God.
2. Lack of faith, since prayer must be offered believing, not doubting.
3. Wrong or selfish motives, asking amiss to spend on one's own pleasures, together with an unforgiving heart.