Are my prayers making a difference? Are my prayers effective? This message describes 4 characteristics of effective prayer: 1. Prayer rooted in faith 2. Prayer in the context of good relationships 3. Prayer from a lifestyle of righteousness 4. Prayer that is earnest

1. CHARACTERISTICS OF
EFFECTIVE PRAYER
JAMES 5:15-18

2. ARE MY PRAYERS MAKING A
DIFFERENCE?
ARE MY PRAYERS EFFECTIVE?

3. James 5:15-18
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.

4. 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.

5. IT IS THE DESTINY OF EVERY BELIEVER
TO RELEASE THE POWER OF GOD
THROUGH HIS/HER SIMPLE PRAYERS.

6. CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER
1.Prayer rooted in faith
2.Prayer in the context of good relationships
3.Prayer from a lifestyle of righteousness
4.Prayer that is earnest

7. 1. PRAYER ROOTED IN FAITH (V.15)
•Prayer with confidence in Jesus’ authority
over sin, sickness and Satan (Matt. 28:18)
•Prayer with confidence in the blood of Jesus
(Heb. 10:19)
•Prayer with confidence in the Father’s
desire to heal, set free and bless His people
(Luke 11:11-13)

8. JESUS EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE
OF PRAYING WITH FAITH (MARK 11:24)

9. Romans 10:17
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing
by the word of God.”

10. 2. PRAYER ROOTED IN THE CONTEXT OF GOOD RELATIONSHIPS
(V.16)
•The two values of prayer and good
relationships are complementary
•A strong prayer life will eventually lead to
strong relationships with people
• The Lord cares so much about relationships
that husbands must honor their wives so that
their prayers are not hindered. (1 Peter 3:7)

11. 3. PRAYER FROM A LIFESTYLE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (V.16)
• The righteous person – any believer who sets his/her heart to
obey Jesus as he/she seeks to walk in godly character.
• God responds to our prayers because we seek to keep His
commands and do the things that are pleasing to Him (1 John
3:22)
• Walking in obedience isn’t about seeking to earn the answers to
our prayers but about living in agreement with love because
God is love.

12. 3. PRAYER THAT IS EARNEST (V.17)
•Earnest prayer comes from a heart that’s engaged with
God
•Earnest prayer is prayer that is persistent
•Earnest prayer doesn’t have to be loud (1 Sam. 1:13,27)
•Earnest prayer doesn’t depend on what we feel

13. OUR PRAYERS REMAIN EFFECTIVE
FOREVER (REV. 5:8)