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The Importance of Prayer: From Complaints to Praise

In this chapter, Warren W. Wiersbe explores the different levels of using tongues for communication with God. He emphasizes the significance of prayer and praise, discussing how mature Christians can sing and pray even in the midst of suffering. The chapter also delves into the power of prayer for the sick, for the nation, and for those who have strayed from the truth. Through prayer, believers can find healing and support one another in their spiritual journeys.

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The Importance of Prayer: From Complaints to Praise

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  1. Let Us PrayChapter 13 Chapter 5:13-20 By Warren W. Wiersbe

  2. Use of Tongues: Lowest – complaining (5:9) and swearing oath (5:12) Highest – proclaiming God’s Word (5:10) and praying & praising God (5:13) Praying is a high & holy privilege “Taking it to the Lord” is a mark of spiritual maturity, instead of complaining about the situation.

  3. Praying for the Suffering (5:13) “Afflicted” means “suffering in difficult circumstances”, not the result of sin or the chastening of God Difficult situation: • Avoid grumbling and criticizing the saints (James 5:9) • Avoid blaming God • Pray for the wisdom to understand the situation (James 1:5) • Prayer can remove affliction, if it’s God’s will. • Prayer can give the grace to endure trials • He giveth more grace (4:6) • Paul (II Cor. 12:7-10) • Jesus at Gethsemane

  4. Praying and singing (5:13) Mature Christian knows how to sing while he’s suffering • Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25) • God is able to give “songs in the night” (Job 35:10). Important elements in worship. Singing: intelligent (understandable) (I Cor. 14:15), from your heart (Eph. 5:19), based on the Word of God (Col. 3:16), & motivated by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18).

  5. Prayer for the Sick (5:14-16) Special characteristics: • The person is sick because of sins (15b-16) (I Cor. 11:30) • The person confesses his sins (5:16) • Church discipline • I Cor. 5 • Literal translation- confess your sins therefore to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (5:16) • Hamartia-sin (1:15, 16)

  6. The person is healed by prayer of faith (5:15) • Praying, not anointing, heals • Prayer of faith – I John 5:14-15 “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” • Prayer of faith – a prayer offered when you know the will of God. • God’s will • Who pray? The body of elders who seek God’s will and pray

  7. Practical lessons: Disobedience to God can lead to sickness David (Psalms 32) Sin affects the whole church There is healing (both spiritual & physical) Proverbs 28:13 “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall find mercy”. Confessing occurs among the saints I John 1:9 private sin, public sin

  8. Prayer for the Nation (5:17-18) • Elijah as an example of righteous man • I King 17-18 • “Elijah was a man just like us” (5:17 NIV) • Not perfect for he was discouraged • “prayer is not getting man’s will in heaven. It’s getting God’s will done on earth” ~Robert Law • God’s Word and prayer can’t be separate • Elijah was persistent • Determined, he prayed earnestly (5:17) • Heart must be in their prayer (Ps 62:8) • Prayer power is the greatest power in the world “Tremendous power is made available through good man’s earnest prayer” (James 5:16 PH) • Prayer for our action that God will bring conviction and revival • I Timothy 2:1-3 - Pray for our government leaders

  9. Prayer for the Straying (5:19-20) • “Err” mean to wander and suggests a gradual turning away from the will of God. • Old Testament term for err is backsliding • “Overtaken in a fault” Gal. 6:1 • Sin is usually the result of slow, gradual spiritual decline • Dangerous, because he may be disciplined by the Lord • Also, he is in a danger of committing sin unto death I John 5:16-17, I Cor. 11:30 It’s dangerous to the church for the backslider can influence others & lead them astray. Ecc. 9:18 NASB – “One sinner destroys much good”

  10. Therefore, we must help the backslider. • The origin of the problem? “wander from the truth” James 5:19 • The truth is the Word of God (John 17:17) • Examples: Peter was warned that Satan was there to tempt, but Peter refused to believe what Jesus said. He slept while Jesus prayed at Gethsemane. • Peter denied three times. • The outcome, or result, of this is sin and possible death (James 5:20). This wanderer (backslider) is a Christian. The sin in the life of a Christian is worse than sin in the life of unbeliever. II Peter 2:20.

  11. What should we do when we see a fellow Christian wandering from the truth? • We should pray for him and seek to help him. He needs to be “converted” – turned back into the right path. • “When thou are converted, strengthen thy brethren” Luke 22:23 • It is important that we seek the lost and win the saved. • Matt 18:15 - Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. • Gained means “won”, same as James 4:13

  12. To help the erring friend, we must have the attitude of love, for “love shall cover the multitude of sins.” I Peter 4:8, James 5:20 Prov. 10:12 “Hate stirred up strife, but love covereth all sins.” Speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) Love helps the offenders to face the sin and deal with them and also assures him that forgiven sins are remembered no more. • A straying brother needs to be restored. • A lost sinner needs to be brought to the Saviour. • If a straying brother dies, he goes to heaven, but the sinner is condemned to hell for eternity.

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