Christians desire for their prayers to be answered. This scriptures sets forth a pattern for effective prayers.  First, James urged believers to confess their “trespasses” to each other. This word is translated “faults” in the King James Version. The Greek word is G3900    παράπτωμα which means to side-slip (lapse or deviation), i.e. (unintentional) error or (wilful) transgression:–fall, fault, offence, sin, trespass.

We are instructed to confess our sins to one another “so that you can live together whole and healed.” (James 5:16, MSG)
It is important that we are open about our weaknesses with one another. We are to Confess and Pray for one another regarding our trespasses. We cannot leave this step out because it will have an influence on how effective our prayer life will be.

James teaches us to pray for ourselves, seek the prayers of the elders and to have private times with friends to pray.
Matthew Henry Commentary says this: “Those who make confession of their faults one to another should thereupon pray with and for one another. James 5:13 directs persons to pray for themselves: “Is any afflicted let him pray”; James 5:14 directs persons to seek for the prayers of ministers/elders; and the James 5:16 directs private Christians to pray one for another; so that here we have all sorts of prayer (ministerial, social, and secret) recommended.”

What is “fervent prayer”? The Greek word G1754 for “fervent” is ἐνεργέω; Pronounced en-erg-eh’-o, which means to be active, efficient:–do, (be) effectual (fervent), be mighty in, shew forth self, work (effectually in). The dictionary definition is; “having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling, enthusiasm etc.”

James is making the point that praying with passion and intensity is an important part of seeing our prayers answered. The other important part is that the prayers are prayed by a righteous person. These two elements make our prayers effective.
It is a blessing to have righteous friends whose fervent prayers are effective, powerful and acceptable to God. I thank the Lord for all of you!!

God is spirit so we can worship Him anywhere, He is more interested in how we worship, ( is it genuine and true) then where.

What does it mean to worship Him in Spirit? Romans 12:1, (NIV), says- Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God— this is your SPIRITUAL ACT of WORSHIP.
Verse 2– Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. THEN you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is— His good, pleasing and perfect will.

IN the Old Testament animals were sacrificed on the altar by the priest as a means of worship. Jesus, our example, became the ultimate sacrifice so that we might live. What a mighty God we serve.

Out of a heart of obedience and thanksgiving we can joyfully offer ourselves as a living sacrifice and be the worshiper that our Father seeks, one who WORSHIPS in SPIRIT and in TRUTH. What a privilege we have been given.

Jeremiah is the author of the book of Lamentations. To lament is to express sadness with weeping. He’s the one who cried out that God’s mercy is new every morning even as destruction surrounded him. In the middle of his sorrow, He found hope in God’s mercy and compassion and so can we. The name Jeremiah means “the Lord exalts.” God will exalt you above your lamentation and sorrow. It is our responsibility to focus on the Lord as our portion. Our hope is in Him! This world has nothing to offer us but trouble and tribulation.

On January 1, 2017, in our Sunday morning service I received this word from the Lord.
Our focus today is to meditate on the Lord as our portion and to consider what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the Church.

“My mercy is new every morning.
I am calling you to come close to me…do not be afraid.
This is your time church – this is the day of my favor for you.
Nothing is impossible for me.
Trust me to fulfill the purpose I give you.
Now is the time – today is the day.
I am releasing a fresh anointing.
A fresh anointing of my grace my favor.
Adjust your focus – bring your thoughts into alignment with my word.
I am doing a work in each one of you.
And everyone who Gathers with you will receive my grace anointing for this time. 2017 is a year of fulfillment and advancement.”

Dr. Janet Cook

God wants to have fellowship with us. Fellowship in Greek is the word koinonia.  It means intimacy, communion, and fellowship. It is translated into the word “communion” when referring to the communion supper. The communion supper is a place of intimacy between God and the members of the Body of Christ. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me.”

Our fellowship with God must be through His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. There is no other way to have communion with HIm. We can only have fellowship with God by trusting in what Jesus did for us on the cross. He was our living sacrifice. He gave Himself so we could be forgiven of our sins and have fellowship with God the Father.

Meditate today on what it means to have fellowship with God. Thank God for the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us from all of our sins so that we can have fellowship with Him. Praise God that we can “walk in the light of God” and have fellowship with one another. Rejoice that God loves us with an everlasting love and nothing can separate us from Him. God wants to have fellowship with us!!

1 John 1:5-7 – “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to 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 practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Dr. Janet Cook