James 5:13-15 (NKJV)13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
This is the only time the term “prayer of faith” is mentioned in the bible. Yet people talk about the prayer of faith all the time. Most times when the “prayer of faith” is mentioned it is in connection with prayer in which the “word of faith” movement claims things from God. They take the “prayer of faith” reference in James and apply it to anything that they ask of the Lord. It is often used in conjunction with another Scripture.
Psalm 37:4 (NKJV) Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
When taken in context the “prayer of faith” referenced in James is really about the experience of the prophet Elijah. Here is the entire passage
James 5:13-18 (NKJV)13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
1 Kings 17:1 (NKJV) And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word."
1 Kings 18:41-46 (NKJV)41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain."42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,43 and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again."44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.' "45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
James’ point is that Elijah was just a man just like any believer, who has faith in God, and that He keeps every promise that He has made in His word whether we see it manifested at the time we pray or not.
This is the only time the term “prayer of faith” is mentioned in the bible. Yet people talk about the prayer of faith all the time. Most times when the “prayer of faith” is mentioned it is in connection with prayer in which the “word of faith” movement claims things from God. They take the “prayer of faith” reference in James and apply it to anything that they ask of the Lord. It is often used in conjunction with another Scripture.
Psalm 37:4 (NKJV) Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
When taken in context the “prayer of faith” referenced in James is really about the experience of the prophet Elijah. Here is the entire passage
James 5:13-18 (NKJV)13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
1 Kings 17:1 (NKJV) And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word."
1 Kings 18:41-46 (NKJV)41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain."42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees,43 and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again."44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.' "45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
James’ point is that Elijah was just a man just like any believer, who has faith in God, and that He keeps every promise that He has made in His word whether we see it manifested at the time we pray or not.
The Prayer of Faith Is One That Is Based On God’s Promises
Numbers 23:19 (GW)19 God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn't change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it.
Joshua 23:14 (GW)14 “Pay attention, because I will soon die like everyone else. You know with all your heart and soul that not one single promise which the LORD your God has given you has ever failed to come true. Every single word has come true.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (GW)20 Certainly, Christ made God's many promises come true. For that reason, because of our message, people also honor God by saying, “Amen!”
Any prayer made in faith is the “prayer of faith”.
The “prayer of faith” should have these three elements.
A Trustful Appeal
Psalm 31:1-8 (GW)1 I have taken refuge in you, O LORD. Never let me be put to shame. Save me because of your righteousness.2 Turn your ear toward me. Rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.3 Indeed, you are my rock and my fortress. For the sake of your name, lead me and guide me.4 You are my refuge, so pull me out of the net that they have secretly laid for me.5 Into your hands I entrust my spirit. You have rescued me, O LORD, God of truth.6 I hate those who cling to false gods, but I trust the LORD.7 I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy. You have seen my misery. You have known the troubles in my soul.8 You have not handed me over to the enemy. You have set my feet in a place where I can move freely.
An Intensified Appeal
Psalm 31:9-18 (GW)9 Have pity on me, O LORD, because I am in distress. My eyes, my soul, and my body waste away from grief.10 My life is exhausted from sorrow, my years from groaning. My strength staggers under {the weight of} my guilt, and my bones waste away.11 I have become a disgrace because of all my opponents. I have become someone dreaded by my friends, even by my neighbors. Those who see me on the street run away from me.12 I have faded from memory as if I were dead and have become like a piece of broken pottery.13 I have heard the whispering of many people— terror on every side— while they made plans together against me. They were plotting to take my life.14 I trust you, O LORD. I said, “You are my God.”15 My future is in your hands. Rescue me from my enemies, from those who persecute me.16 Smile on me. Save me with your mercy.17 O LORD, I have called on you, so do not let me be put to shame, Let wicked people be put to shame. Let them be silent in the grave.18 Let {their} lying lips be speechless, since they speak against righteous people with arrogance and contempt.
A Spirit of Gratitude
Psalm 31:19-24 (GW)19 Your kindness is so great! You reserve it for those who fear you. Adam's descendants watch as you show it to those who take refuge in you.20 You hide them in the secret place of your presence from those who scheme against them. You keep them in a shelter, safe from quarrelsome tongues.21 Thank the LORD! He has shown me the miracle of his mercy in a city under attack.22 When I was panic-stricken, I said, “I have been cut off from your sight.” But you heard my pleas for mercy when I cried out to you for help.23 Love the LORD, all you godly ones! The LORD protects faithful people, but he pays back in full those who act arrogantly.24 Be strong, all who wait with hope for the LORD, and let your heart be courageous.
Numbers 23:19 (GW)19 God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn't change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it.
Joshua 23:14 (GW)14 “Pay attention, because I will soon die like everyone else. You know with all your heart and soul that not one single promise which the LORD your God has given you has ever failed to come true. Every single word has come true.
2 Corinthians 1:20 (GW)20 Certainly, Christ made God's many promises come true. For that reason, because of our message, people also honor God by saying, “Amen!”
Any prayer made in faith is the “prayer of faith”.
The “prayer of faith” should have these three elements.
A Trustful Appeal
Psalm 31:1-8 (GW)1 I have taken refuge in you, O LORD. Never let me be put to shame. Save me because of your righteousness.2 Turn your ear toward me. Rescue me quickly. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.3 Indeed, you are my rock and my fortress. For the sake of your name, lead me and guide me.4 You are my refuge, so pull me out of the net that they have secretly laid for me.5 Into your hands I entrust my spirit. You have rescued me, O LORD, God of truth.6 I hate those who cling to false gods, but I trust the LORD.7 I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy. You have seen my misery. You have known the troubles in my soul.8 You have not handed me over to the enemy. You have set my feet in a place where I can move freely.
An Intensified Appeal
Psalm 31:9-18 (GW)9 Have pity on me, O LORD, because I am in distress. My eyes, my soul, and my body waste away from grief.10 My life is exhausted from sorrow, my years from groaning. My strength staggers under {the weight of} my guilt, and my bones waste away.11 I have become a disgrace because of all my opponents. I have become someone dreaded by my friends, even by my neighbors. Those who see me on the street run away from me.12 I have faded from memory as if I were dead and have become like a piece of broken pottery.13 I have heard the whispering of many people— terror on every side— while they made plans together against me. They were plotting to take my life.14 I trust you, O LORD. I said, “You are my God.”15 My future is in your hands. Rescue me from my enemies, from those who persecute me.16 Smile on me. Save me with your mercy.17 O LORD, I have called on you, so do not let me be put to shame, Let wicked people be put to shame. Let them be silent in the grave.18 Let {their} lying lips be speechless, since they speak against righteous people with arrogance and contempt.
A Spirit of Gratitude
Psalm 31:19-24 (GW)19 Your kindness is so great! You reserve it for those who fear you. Adam's descendants watch as you show it to those who take refuge in you.20 You hide them in the secret place of your presence from those who scheme against them. You keep them in a shelter, safe from quarrelsome tongues.21 Thank the LORD! He has shown me the miracle of his mercy in a city under attack.22 When I was panic-stricken, I said, “I have been cut off from your sight.” But you heard my pleas for mercy when I cried out to you for help.23 Love the LORD, all you godly ones! The LORD protects faithful people, but he pays back in full those who act arrogantly.24 Be strong, all who wait with hope for the LORD, and let your heart be courageous.
Jesus' Example Of The "Prayer Of Faith"
Mark 11:12-14, 20-23 (GW)12 The next day, when they left Bethany, Jesus became hungry.13 In the distance he saw a fig tree with leaves. He went to see if he could find any figs on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves because it wasn't the season for figs.14 Then he said to the tree, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” His disciples heard this. 20 While Jesus and his disciples were walking early in the morning, they saw that the fig tree had dried up.21 Peter remembered {what Jesus had said}, so he said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has dried up.”22 Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God!23 I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn't doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it will be done for him.
Here’s the key to the “prayer of faith”
Mark 11:24 (NKJV) Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
In this context Jesus was saying be persistent in your asking and in our faith. To keep on believing that God has already answered your prayer.
Remember that in order for God to answer our prayer it must be in His will. He will not do anything outside His will. That is how we receive the desires of our hearts, when we pray the “prayer of faith”.
Psalm 37:4 (GW)4 Be happy with the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
We can’t delight ourselves in the Lord if we are outside His will. The delight is mutual.
Zephaniah 3:14-17 (GW)14 Sing happily, people of Zion! Shout loudly, Israel! Celebrate and rejoice with all your heart, people of Jerusalem.15 The LORD has reversed the judgments against you. He has forced out your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is with you. You will never fear disaster again.16 On that day Jerusalem will be told, “Do not be afraid, Zion! Do not lose courage!”17 The LORD your God is with you. He is a hero who saves you. He happily rejoices over you, renews you with his love, and celebrates over you with shouts of joy.
What Zephaniah said is that we are to rejoice with our whole hearts. In other words delight ourselves in the Lord because He is with us. Then he says, in verse 17, that the Lord is indeed with us and, because He is, He will delight in us. We are to find our delight in our relationship with the Lord.
Isaiah 58:14 (GW) then you will find joy in the LORD. I will make you ride on the heights of the earth. I will feed you with the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob. The LORD has spoken.
Psalm 40:8 (GW) I am happy to do your will, O my God.” Your teachings are deep within me.
Romans 7:22 (GW) I take pleasure in God's standards in my inner being.
Psalm 1:1-2 (NLT) Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.
We delight ourselves in the Lord by doing what pleases Him and putting His law, His Word, in our hearts. Matthew Henry in his Exposition of the Old and New Testaments said “He has not promised to gratify all the appetites of the body and the humours of the fancy, but to grant all the desires of the heart, all the cravings of the renewed sanctified soul. What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and live to God, to please him and to be pleased in him.”
Delighting ourselves in the Lord means that our thoughts are constant towards God and that everything we do is in obedience to Him.
When you delight yourself in the Lord, and you pray, that is the “prayer of faith”
Mark 11:12-14, 20-23 (GW)12 The next day, when they left Bethany, Jesus became hungry.13 In the distance he saw a fig tree with leaves. He went to see if he could find any figs on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves because it wasn't the season for figs.14 Then he said to the tree, “No one will ever eat fruit from you again!” His disciples heard this. 20 While Jesus and his disciples were walking early in the morning, they saw that the fig tree had dried up.21 Peter remembered {what Jesus had said}, so he said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has dried up.”22 Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God!23 I can guarantee this truth: This is what will be done for someone who doesn't doubt but believes what he says will happen: He can say to this mountain, ‘Be uprooted and thrown into the sea,' and it will be done for him.
Here’s the key to the “prayer of faith”
Mark 11:24 (NKJV) Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
In this context Jesus was saying be persistent in your asking and in our faith. To keep on believing that God has already answered your prayer.
Remember that in order for God to answer our prayer it must be in His will. He will not do anything outside His will. That is how we receive the desires of our hearts, when we pray the “prayer of faith”.
Psalm 37:4 (GW)4 Be happy with the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
We can’t delight ourselves in the Lord if we are outside His will. The delight is mutual.
Zephaniah 3:14-17 (GW)14 Sing happily, people of Zion! Shout loudly, Israel! Celebrate and rejoice with all your heart, people of Jerusalem.15 The LORD has reversed the judgments against you. He has forced out your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is with you. You will never fear disaster again.16 On that day Jerusalem will be told, “Do not be afraid, Zion! Do not lose courage!”17 The LORD your God is with you. He is a hero who saves you. He happily rejoices over you, renews you with his love, and celebrates over you with shouts of joy.
What Zephaniah said is that we are to rejoice with our whole hearts. In other words delight ourselves in the Lord because He is with us. Then he says, in verse 17, that the Lord is indeed with us and, because He is, He will delight in us. We are to find our delight in our relationship with the Lord.
Isaiah 58:14 (GW) then you will find joy in the LORD. I will make you ride on the heights of the earth. I will feed you with the inheritance of your ancestor Jacob. The LORD has spoken.
Psalm 40:8 (GW) I am happy to do your will, O my God.” Your teachings are deep within me.
Romans 7:22 (GW) I take pleasure in God's standards in my inner being.
Psalm 1:1-2 (NLT) Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. 2 But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.
We delight ourselves in the Lord by doing what pleases Him and putting His law, His Word, in our hearts. Matthew Henry in his Exposition of the Old and New Testaments said “He has not promised to gratify all the appetites of the body and the humours of the fancy, but to grant all the desires of the heart, all the cravings of the renewed sanctified soul. What is the desire of the heart of a good man? It is this, to know, and love, and live to God, to please him and to be pleased in him.”
Delighting ourselves in the Lord means that our thoughts are constant towards God and that everything we do is in obedience to Him.
When you delight yourself in the Lord, and you pray, that is the “prayer of faith”
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