Real Faith Session 6: Powerhouse Prayers: James

James 5:13-18

When I was in the seventh-grade I had buck teeth. We went to the dentist and said, "What do we need to do to help Ryan?" The dentist took some x-rays to see what it would be like to get some braces. When we got home from this long appointment, the doctor's office called, and they said, "We need you to come back to our office, because there was something wrong with the x-rays, and they didn't turn out." My mom said, "Well, we'll come back in a couple weeks, or next week, or something like that." They said, "No, you don't understand. You've got to come tonight."

It was like 5:30, 6:00 and we lived across town. They were kind of pushy and assertive about it, so my mom said, "Well, I guess we've got to go." We drove all the way back to the dentist that evening. When we walked into the office, the dentist said, "Listen, there's not really a problem with the x-rays. We just told you that because we didn't want you to panic. We need to show you something that's not right with Ryan." They put my x-ray of my mouth up on the light board and pointed to my chin, there was a huge hole in it. They said, "This is not normal. There's a problem. Ryan needs to go see the oral surgeon."

I went to see the oral surgeon. He said, "Ryan, you have a big cyst on your chin and it's been eating away at the bone; Kind of a bone-eating cyst. If we don't take that thing out, it could be really nasty." My mom said, "Well, is it cancer?" The doctor said, "Well, we don't know what it is until we get in there and take a look at it, test it, and everything like that. Ryan won't be playing football this year, because his whole jaw could collapse if you were hit in the chin. It would be a total mess." There was no support, the bone has been eaten away.

We went to the hospital the following day. I'll never forget that the leaders of our church came and laid hands on me and prayed for me. They prayed for God to heal me during that time, that I would not have cancer, nor have any other complications from this. I've got to tell you, I had a great surgery. The results came back that it was just a benign tumor. I have never had one problem with my jaw, or with any cysts, or any other issues related to that, and I really believe that the power of prayer made a huge, huge difference.

I believe the power of prayer can make a huge difference in your life today. Do you believe that? I believe God wants to do something so revolutionary, and so incredible in your life through the power of prayer that it would just shock the life out of all of us if we could really get ahold of it.


Discussion Starter

How have you seen the power of prayer in your life or someone else’s life? What was it like to experience the power of God’s answer to your prayer? Are there times when you doubt that God is even listening to you and your prayers?


Verse To Remember

Jeremiah 29:13-14 (NLT) “If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. I will be found by you,” says the LORD.”


Discussion Questions

1. When you pray, what kind of results do you think you will see? How have you seen the power of God at work in your prayer life?

2. Read James 5:17. How did Elijah pray? When you pray, do you pray with the kind of faith that you see in this verse? Why or why not?

3. Most of the time when we pray, it’s when we are desperate and out of options. How can prayer change your everyday life if it was a regular practice in good and bad times?


Application Questions

1. What is something you could do this week to begin a prayer strategy for your family, your church, and your occupation? As you begin to pray over these things, look to see where God is at work and tell the story of His power.

2. What do you need to do to begin or enhance your prayer life? Discuss ways in your group on how you can improve your relationship with God.


Prayer Focus

1. Who can you start to pray for this week that needs to hear the message of Christ? Who could you invite to church?

2. Commit this week to pray for at least 10 minutes each day for the church, life transformation with those we encounter, and our families. Would you make that commitment today and let’s see the amazing results God will bring about when we pray?