Chapter 13: Praying Together

James 5:13–18 – Interceding as God’s Family

Introduction

What is our first response in times of trouble? What about in times of joy? The apostle James gives a single answer for both: pray. Prayer is not a mere task; it is the way a disciple’s roots draw life from the soil of God’s presence and His community. James 5 teaches us that prayer is our constant response to God’s grace, whether we are suffering or cheerful, alone or with our church family.

Gospel Exposition: James 5:13–18

James lays out a rhythm of prayer for the entire Christian life. He begins with our individual response to life’s circumstances. When we are suffering, we are to pray, fighting against the cynicism and bitterness that hard times can produce. When we are cheerful, we are to sing praise, battling the complacency and self-reliance that can come with ease.

He then turns to corporate prayer, especially in times of severe illness. The sick should call for the elders of the church, who will pray and anoint them with oil, symbolically setting them apart for God’s special care. The "prayer of faith" that brings healing is one that submits to God’s sovereign will; it is God who heals, not our own effort. Sickness can also be a time to examine our hearts and confess sin to one another, seeking the spiritual healing and forgiveness that is always available in Christ.

Finally, James encourages us with the example of Elijah, reminding us that he "was a man with a nature like ours". He had flaws and emotional lows, yet his prayer was powerful. His effectiveness came not from his own perfection but from his status as a "righteous person," one made right with God by faith. It is Christ’s righteousness, not our own, that makes our prayers effective.

Worshipping Jesus

• Worship Jesus as our Great High Priest, who lived a life of constant prayer and now gives us access to the Father.

• Thank Him for His righteousness, which is given to us by faith so that our prayers are heard not because of our merit, but because of His.

• Ask the Spirit to prompt you to pray in every season, in suffering and in joy, and to give you the courage to pray with and for others in the church.

Reflection and Response

• In which season are you more likely to forget to pray: in times of suffering or in times of cheerfulness? Why do you think that is?

• What holds you back from asking for prayer from the elders or others in the church when you are physically or spiritually sick?

• How does the example of Elijah, a flawed man whose prayers were powerful, encourage you to pray with more confidence?

A Prayer

Father, I confess that I often turn to prayer only as a last resort in hard times, and I quickly forget you in good times. Forgive me. Thank you, Jesus, for making me righteous so that I can approach the Father with confidence. Give me a heart that is constant in prayer. Grant me the humility to confess my sins and the courage to ask for prayer from my brothers and sisters. Teach me to pray for others earnestly, believing that my prayers are effective because of You. Amen.

Discipleship Challenge

This week, put James 5:16 into practice. Reach out to two or three people from your church or small group and ask them specifically, “How can I pray for you?” Take time to earnestly bring their requests before God. Follow up with them later in the week to let them know you are continuing to pray, reminding both them and yourself that we are a family called to bear one another’s burdens in prayer.

"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." — James 5:16