O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

UNFRUITFUL PRAYERS ACCORDING TO JAMES

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:3) 

‌James 4:3 is a wonderful verse to remind us that prayers are unfruitful when we do not pray according to the will of GOD. Yet, the Word of GOD here is much richer than that one truth when the context is drawn into our understanding of what James had in mind. 

Why Were Their Prayers Unfruitful? 

‌The backdrop to James 4:3 is James’ account of the dispersed congregation (1:1). The early church was dispersed due to persecution and they were quarrelling, fighting and figuratively killing one other.‌ 

How do we know that James was writing to the church in general and not just to two or some individuals? If James had two individuals in mind, we would have known their names. Paul did that when he mentioned the names of two women in the Philippian church: “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.”‌ (Philippians 4:2). Furthermore, in 4:1, James also uses the words “among you” and “members” as he was referring to‌ the church in general. 

In peaceful Singapore, it might be startling to us that even Christians under persecution were arguing and fighting with one another.‌‌ Should we be surprised that this happened? No, we should not be surprised, because the church is filled with sinful people and very often, it is persecution and suffering that exposes what is truly in our sinful hearts. 

We should then not be surprised that as a church living in peace and prosperity we may have the same problems as the early church. We may even fare just as bad if not worse than them! Is there fighting and wars in our midst? Are there instances of character assassination?‌ 

A point to note in this Biblical text is that the quarrelling and fighting was due to personal agendas. The people in church were fighting to get what they wanted. We should not be surprised when we come across people with personal agendas jostling for favour and support. The thing that must alarm us is when they carry out their personal agenda in GOD’s name! 

It is delusional to believe that there would be no quarrelling and fighting just because we are a Christian church. The early church was a true church of Christ. They were even persecuted for their faith and yet they were fighting. 

“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:1–3) 

Now we know why their prayers were not heard! 

The Sarcasm of James 

‌‌‌In James 4:2, James used sarcasm to describe what was happening in the church: They were so busy fighting among themselves that they did not stop to pray about what they were fighting! 

Sarcasm is also found in the next verse where James said that their praying was selfish and self-centred. They were not seeking the mind of Christ over the matter in which they did not agree. They were making a mockery of this means of grace. 

The situation James saw could be something like this: Everyone in the argument wanted to be right and to win the argument. It was basically, “My way only” and “I know more than you and I do not need your input.” There was the idea that “everyone must agree with me” in their hearts and in the words that came out from their mouths. 

With all that, we should not be surprised at what happens next! There are arguments, fighting, war and character assassinations. They were so preoccupied with arguing and disagreeing that they had no time to be united in heart and mind to pray properly! 

The climax of‌ James’ sarcasm must be their sinful prayer after their fighting. ‌They used prayer, which is a holy means of grace, for selfish reasons and not for the glory of GOD. Having unfruitful prayers as a church was not the worst part. James’ sarcasm shows us that the worst part was their hypocritical attitude in prayer! 

The Real Problem 

‌What was GOD’s assessment of their problem? Well, in the next verse James likens their behaviour and attitude to that of an adulterer and an adulteress: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4) 

‌Calling a Jew a spiritual adulterer or adulteress had an Old Testament connotation. James was calling them unfaithful worshippers of GOD and hinting that they are friends of the world and ultimately, the enemies of GOD. This will be true if they continue with such behaviour and attitude. As a church, they would became be a people of GOD who have left Him for pagan gods. 

‌So, James was saying that the real problem was their selfishness and self-centredness. They were behaving like pagans who do not fear GOD. They can become OR have become friends of the world and enemies of GOD. Here, James was reminding them in the strongest of terms not to be like the non-believing pagans. The real problem in the early church was people not getting along, fighting and pretending to pray. 

Let us pause here to consider: What are we like as a church and at home? What are we like in the ministries of our church? What are we like in our relationships with one another in our church? Are we truly Christians and behaving like Christ towards one another? 

‌‌The message about GOD not answering the prayers of the church was meant to address the bigger and real problem of pride in their hearts. James was highlighting how their pride had impacted their relationships, as seen in their fighting, wars and character assassinations. Their unanswered prayers stemmed from their relationship problems with GOD and with one another.‌ 

The Solution 

James also tells them how to repent of their sins. They are to turn towards the Holy Spirit who dwells in every child of GOD in Christ Jesus.‌ In verse 5, James was saying that there is a purpose for the Scripture to state that “The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy.” 

In other words, “Do you think Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to live in us envies intensely?” In giving us the Holy Spirit, GOD has a divine envy or jealousy that comes with a sanctifying purpose. The Holy Spirit was given to save us and to make us live as saints. We, the children of GOD who have the Holy Spirit, are meant to be completely influenced by Him to have a childlike obedience to His Word.‌ 

‌So, this is the solution to the real problem in their church and to their unfruitful prayers. GOD wants to sanctify them through the Holy Spirit. They are to live a Spirit-filled life, and James then tells them what that life looks like: 

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.  Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.” (James 4:7-11) 

Conclusion 

Going back one verse to James 4:6, we are taught to have a sanctified life that starts with the generous grace of GOD in Christ Jesus. This act of GOD is to be followed by humility on our part. “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” The generous grace of GOD turns us into His saints so that we can humble ourselves and choose to live the Spirit-filled life described in James 4:7-11.‌

A sanctified life and a sanctified church were James’ instruction to deal with their quarrelling, fighting and character assassinations so that they can pray from a heart that is aligned to the will of GOD.‌ In Christ, and with humility, we have the assurance that GOD our heavenly Father will graciously answer our corporate and private prayers. 

May GOD the Father be gracious to answer our prayers for Christ’s sake and for His glory.

– Joel Seah

Shorter Catechism Question 6

Q: How many persons are there in the godhead?

A: There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.

Appointments for the Week

Monday, Jul 29

        7.30 pm     ERBL: Intro to Biblical Counselling (Mr Joel Seah)

Tuesday, Jul 30

        8.00 pm     Prayer Meeting (Rev Charles Seet)

Thursday, Aug 1

      10.00 am     Ladies’ Prayer Group

        7.30 pm     ERBL: The Book of Proverbs (Rev Lim Chee Boon)

Saturday, Aug 3

        3.00 pm     LTF / YLM

Sunday, Aug 4

   8.00 am     Righteousness Makes a Nation Great Proverbs 14:34 (Rev Colin Wong)

  8.00 am Choir Practice

  9.15 am Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  9.40 am Sunday School / Catechism Class

10.15 am Coffee Corner

11.00 am Righteousness Makes a Nation Great Proverbs 14:34 (Rev Colin Wong, with Holy Communion)

11.00 am Children’s Ministry

11.00 am Chinese Service (MPH)

12.15 pm Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  2.30 pm Thai Service (LMH)

  4.00 pm Indonesian Service (Rm 1-6)

  5.00 pm In-Person Church Prayer Meeting (Rm 2-1)  

Announcements

Life BPC Job Vacancies

1. Church Operations Manager (COM)

Responsibilities:

The COM provides active oversight and support in the mission, administrative affairs and general operations of the Church including Financial Management, HR, MIS Technology, Media Technology, Facilities and General Administration.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor degree or higher
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in operations or managerial positions
• Good interpersonal and communications skills

2. Estate Management Officer (EMO)

Responsibilities:

EMO plans, oversees and coordinates all property management and preventive maintenance activities associated for the church premises. Coordinates facilities usage for a range of Church activities and Church’s authorized users using the premises. The EMO reports to the Church Operation Manager.

Qualifications:

• Diploma or equivalent
• 5 years’ experience in real estate management and maintenance
• Certification in real estate management and maintenance is an added advantage
• Lifers are preferred

Candidates with relevant qualifications and experience may submit your application and CV to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Church Camp 2024 Recordings available in Life RTL Portal

Church Camp 2024 audio & video recordings are now available in the Life RTL Portal for members to access.

For members who have not registered with this portal, kindly log into the Life RTL site at www.lifertl.com and register for a member account, using the same email address as given to the Church Office.

Door to Door Evangelism  

4 August 2024 (Next Sunday) Meet in Beulah Room 2-11, 12.30pm Contact: Desmond  or Amos

Traffic Warden Service

We welcome all church members to join in this work. Our TW’s role is to provide godly service to facilitate worship. We need help in following time slots for Sunday: 7.30-8am or 10.30-11am with a frequency of once or twice a month. Please contact Dn Chan Yong or Bro Kelvin. 

Holy Communion Elements Preparation

Lifers are invited to serve in the Holy Communion elements preparation, clean-up and washing. Those interested may contact Jenny or Wendy.

Mailbox Club Bible Correspondence Course (MBCC)

Another Church Outreach Ministry invites Lifers to register their young children, teens, or grandchildren with our MBCC. Those whose loved ones, friends or colleagues who are either young in their faith or being non-believers, are interested to know and explore more of Christianity, are also invited to register with us by filling in the registration forms which are now available at the Church front counter and post them to:

Life B-P Church

No.10, Gilstead Road

Singapore 309064

Attention: Mrs Ong Chuay Ying

LIFE B-P CHURCH SURVEY 2024

In order to better understand the spiritual life of our congregation, our church pastoral staff is conducting an online survey of the Pulpit Ministry and the Prayer Meeting. Kindly click on the following URL or scan the QR Code below to participate in this survey. Deadline: Monday, 12 August 2024. https://lifebpc.com/survey/index.php/434388?lang=en 

Missions Seminar 2024

28 September; 3-6pm @ Beulah MPH. “Witnessing for Christ in the Last Days”

Speakers: Rev Charles Seet, Rev & Mrs Moses Hahn, Mr & Mrs Lim Kwang Taek, Bro Benjamin Heng

Registration link at: https://forms.gle/u92nfBsCWCgRDMaDA

Dementia: Making Sense, Seeking Support

Speakers: Dn Dr Koh Lip Hoe & Sis Cheung Siew Li

Date: 24 August 2024

Time: 4-6pm (followed by dinner)

Venue: Beulah MPH

Register at https://www.lifebpc.com/sfseminar by 4 August

YF Camp (for youths aged 16-25)

16-20 Dec 2024, “To live is Christ, to die is gain” by Eld Chin Hoong Chor. 

• Prev
• Next