雅各给予我们的最后一项提醒，是关于祷告的大能和果效。他借着以利亚的例子来告诉我们，以利亚跟我们一样是普通人，但是，他因为凭着信心向神祷告，所以得着神的应允，按他所求的成就。因此，我们若同样凭着信心向神祷告，应该也一样得到神的应允。

然而，我们的祷告确实会出现阻碍。那就是罪所造成的障碍──尤其是信徒之间互相得罪对方。雅各劝告我们，要赶快彼此认罪，互相代求；当认罪之后，我们将惊讶地发觉祷告又再畅通无阻。

雅各也教导我们借着为病者祷告，来使他得着医治。然而，有些人却曲解这里的教训，认为患病的人未能痊愈，是因为他没有足够的信心。这完全是歪曲了真理。

神有时让我们患病，甚或是长期抱病，是要让我们在软弱中经历祂的恩典。历世历代的信徒，包括使徒保罗，也经历过这种磨练，然而，他们仍能见证神的恩典。

无论如何，我们都应该为患病的肢体代祷，甚至是全教会的会众一同为他祷告。神往往会垂听我们同心合意的祈祷，让病者痊愈。这时，我们就一定不可忘记将荣耀归给神。

最后，雅各提醒我们，不可忘记自己有责任去看顾其他信徒，特别是当肢体陷入罪中的时候，更要设法将他挽回，帮助他寻求基督的赦免。这才是真正实践基督徒的爱心，以及过真正的相交生活。

The last challenge James gives us centres around prayer. He reminds us of the mighty power of prayer and uses the story of Elijah to tell us what God will do when we pray in faith. He also reminds us that Elijah was a man just like we are. Therefore there is no reason why we couldn't have the same results when we pray.

There is one thing, however, that can stand in a way of answers to prayer. That is sin, particularly sin against a fellow believer. James says 'get that kind of sin taken care of and you will be surprised how much difference it will make.’

James also speaks about the healing of the sick through prayer. Some people have made up a cruel thought out of these verses, saying that if you are not healed it is because you don’t have enough faith. Nothing could be further from the truth.

God sometimes allows sickness to come and even remain, so that in those circumstances we might learn about his grace in a new way. That was the case with Paul and it has been so with many of God's saints through the ages.

But we certainly should pray for those who are sick. The whole church should pray for them. Very often God does raise up the one we have prayed for. Then we need to remember to give him the glory.

James finishes with a reminder of our duty toward one another, especially to a fellow believer who has fallen into sin. The most wonderful thing we can do for that person is to point them to the way of forgiveness in Christ. That is Christian love in action and Christian fellowship at its best.