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NASB | James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God--it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. |
Bible Question:
Friends and colleagues, Is there such a thing as 'ineffective prayer?' Explain from scripture. (I used the phrase 'passive prayer' in a posting the recently) In Christ Jesus, charis |
Bible Answer: Prayers of the Baal priests were ineffective. I think the context of verse 16 carries to verses 17-18 ... and starts in verse 13. Since Elijah's prayers were powerful and effective (NIV). He prayed and there was no rain (1 Kin. 17:1). If God's other prophets did not know about what Elijah said and believed it, their prayers were ineffective ... maybe. Prayer is not to change God's position, but, ours. The he challanged the Baal priests, who prayed with no answer, no matter what they did (18:23-29). The reason they were ineffective, is they prayed to the wrong god. Then, Elijah prayed and there was fire (vv. 30-40) and fire from Heaven (vss. 41-46). There are other reasons why a prayer is ineffective - likesin, wrong motive, babbling (reperating witout thinking); to name a few. Bottom line Pray Rearranges All in You, to know what is God's will. Steve |