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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:
Dear Steve, I thought your answer was very good! I especially liked the last statement. If you don't mind, I would like to make an adjustment, and ask again. Can believer's prayers be ineffective? I know you touched on this, but I think this important question is pertinent to the church. Blessings in Jesus' name, charis |
Bible Answer: It appears as if you are directing this only to Steve but I would like to attempt a short comment too. I think you are looking to have response on why prayers are un-answered. If so this is a very sensitive topic and it is much too important to ignore. In advance I ask for the readers patience with me as this is quite dear to my heart as well. I have found that sin in a believer’s life can indeed hinder God from answering prayer. I prefer here to let the Word of God do the talking on these matters so I will only serve primarily as compiler. (Steve, in his response gave us some nice material. To supplement them here are a few more considerations though not at all inclusive.) 1.It is also true that though God hears every prayer, He does not choose to listen to some. Is 1:15-17 “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you, Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless; Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. Jer. 11:14-15a “Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster. “What right has My beloved in My house when she has done many vile deeds? James also has some wisdom to add which is often not appreciated: You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 2. To others He delays a while in His response (God Himself often limits himself to act through predetermined channels and due to His divine laws): Dan 10: 12-13a Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. 13 “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days… 3. To others still, they are responded to collectively at a future date. Consider the incense poured upon the altar in Revelation: Rev 5:8 And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much incense was given to him, that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. 5 And the angel took the censer; and he filled it with the fire of the altar and threw it to the earth |