Persevering in Prayer – James 5:13-20
Pastor Tan Thai · Jul 7, 2013
This sermon based on James 5:13-20 calls believers to pray in all circumstances — whether suffering or rejoicing, sick or well. Prayer is not a last resort but an ongoing communion with God, and must be accompanied by responsible action.
The sermon opens with a call for believers to pray in every circumstance — whether suffering or rejoicing. The preacher compares prayer to breathing, to food and water — indispensable to the life of faith. James was known for praying so often his knees were calloused like a camel's, and his letter consistently emphasizes prayer from chapter 1 through chapter 5. The core message is that prayer is not a fire extinguisher used only in emergencies, but a natural and ongoing conversation with God.
The central section focuses on James 5:14-15 and the practice of praying for the sick. The pastor explains that elders are called to anoint with oil and pray — and that the anointing carried a practical, therapeutic meaning, not merely a ceremonial one. There is no contradiction between seeking medical treatment and praying, since God can use both. The pastor refutes the false teaching that all sickness can be healed if one has enough faith, citing Paul's example of praying three times for the removal of his 'thorn in the flesh,' only to receive the answer: 'My grace is sufficient for you' (2 Corinthians 12:9).
The sermon also addresses the connection between sin and sickness, drawing on James 5:15-16. Believers are urged to confess sins to one another and pray for each other for healing. However, the pastor warns against hastily concluding that sick believers are being punished for sin — the same error made by Job's friends. The mutual confession in verse 16 refers to actively seeking reconciliation with those one has wronged, not mandatory public confession before the congregation.
The closing section presents four practical lessons about prayer: prayer is regular fellowship with God, not merely a crisis tool; prayer belongs in every season of life, in both joy and sorrow; prayer does not replace responsibility and action; and everyone can pray — there is no need to wait until one is as righteous as Elijah. The sermon ends by reminding the congregation that Elijah was a person of like nature with us, yet his fervent prayer accomplished much.