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Conditions for Real Answers From God James 5 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Luke 23 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive
Conditions for Real Answers From God James 5 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Luke 23 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.James 5 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.Genesis 15 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness. Romans 4 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;2 Peter 2 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man in anguish over the debauched lifestyle of lawless men, Genesis 12 So Abram left, just as the LORD had told him to do, and Lot went with him. (Now Abram was 75 years old when he departed from Haran.) Lot must have been accounted righteous by faith because he left Haran with Abraham. Romans 8 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Hebrews 7 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. WE ARE TOLD A PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN WILL SUCCEED. This has two meanings The Only one righteous of their own doing is Jesus. He is God and never sinned but positively kept Gods Law. He loved God with all His heart and His neighbour as Himself. His prayer is always answered . I have given examples of such above. He seeks a people and He succeeeds to bring a people to the Father and Paradise.The second righteous one will maybe surprise you. It is us who have believed in Jesus. Yes the longer we serve the more we realize our shortcomings. We are miserable sinners. But we reign because He IMPUTES RIGHTEOUSNESS. Do not be afraid of this it is not difficult.Imagine a court. We are guilty as charged and expect a prison sentence but we hear the judge declare SET HIM FREE why because we have a substitute. The judge has looked into the record and found the sentence already served. It is better than pardon. The law cannot have the punishment paid twice. Look at it another way. We are book keepers. We have stolen and the accounts cannot balance because we have spent what we stole. The heavenly accountant Jesus has entered another entry the books now balance and we are free. That is grace unmerited undeserved favour to rebels. God looks at us and sees the virtue of Christ in our place. He died for us. Praise God. Now this transforms our prayers. If we confess our sin He will hear us. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us fro all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.1 John 2: My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. He is the payment for our sins, and not only for our sin and he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world. This text is steeped in the Old Testament Ritual. Blood was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat in the Temple by the High priest. This act saves. It signifies Christs death was in our place. He is of infinite worth. It cost God everything but He regarded it as money well spent. He loves the murderer (us- we crucified Christ) enough to pardon him adopt him give him the sons inheritance and love him as if he were the son. Wow ! Bow in worship.We must realise our status as we pray. Because of Jesus we are righteous that is why God hears us That is the power of prayer I share this with you. It is not a carefully crafted academic study. It is the quickly written notes in an emergency. There was a sudden prayer need and we went to God straight away. This is the anointing He gave before He answered prayer and it is shared to give GLORY to God., |