David Hathaway

Speaking about the power in prayer, from the book of James chapter 5, David says your praying will restore the broken and heal the sick.
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.”
That healing is not necessarily physical. I believe James is also talking about mental and emotional healing. When we can lay down the burden of our faults, our problems and the mistakes we’ve made in life, and pray together, there can be real restoration.
Sadly, so many churches respond to people’s failures by condemning and criticising them, sometimes even throwing them out. But that is not the answer! We should be praying together, helping people find forgiveness, healing and restoration. Even those suffering a mental breakdown or struggling with deep psychological problems need our love, compassion and prayer.
We need to restore the backslider and lift up those who have failed, not cast them out! The Church should be a place of restoration, where people can find the help and prayer they need to recover.
Then James says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
I love preaching on this Scripture because the language in the original Greek conveys something powerful. The word translated "effectual fervent" is related to the Greek word energeō, meaning to be active or at work. It speaks of prayer that is working powerfully. We often use the words dynamic or dynamite to describe that kind of power.
We need prayer that is alive, active and powerful – prayer that makes a difference!
And James gives us an example in verse 17: "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are." In other words, Elijah was an ordinary human being, just like us. Yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Then he prayed again, and the rain returned.
What an extraordinary miracle! Elijah was a man just like us, yet his prayers brought about a mighty intervention of God. James is reminding us that prayer is not reserved for a select few. We need to believe God, pray earnestly and trust Him to work powerfully through us!

Speaking about a trip he made to Moldova under communism, David shares how there is great power in prayer to heal the sick and ease troubled minds.
I needed a separate visa to enter Moldova, and I didn’t have one. They hid me in the back of a car and smuggled me across the border. We held a glorious open-air meeting, preaching the Gospel.
Among the crowd was a young woman in her twenties who was blind. She was crying and crying, and eventually she came to me for prayer. But even as I prayed for her, she continued to weep.
I looked at her and said, “Look, you believe the Scriptures, don’t you? You’re a Christian; you’re a member of the Church. If you believe God’s Word, you know you can be healed. So why are you crying? You should be laughing in the face of your circumstances!”
She took my advice and stopped crying. I prayed again, and God gloriously healed her and opened her eyes!
Afterwards, I discovered that her church had condemned her, telling her that she was blind because of her sin. But that is not what the Bible teaches. James tells us that if we have sinned, we can confess our sins and receive forgiveness. God’s healing is not a reason to condemn someone; it is an opportunity to demonstrate His mercy and power.
That young woman went away rejoicing. She was completely healed!
Now, look at verse 16: “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.”
This healing is not necessarily referring to physical healing. I believe James is also talking about emotional and spiritual healing. When we carry the burden of our faults, failures and mistakes, they can weigh heavily on us. But when we are willing to be honest with one another, to confess our faults and pray together, we can find forgiveness, freedom and restoration.

"Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock," (Matthew 7.24).
He goes on to explain that the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it was founded upon a rock.
Now, something that might surprise most people is that, about 60 years ago, when I was in the early stages of my ministry, I actually built my own house. I still live in it today.
I built it on the side of a hill, and there were seven houses built in the same location. But mine was different because I brought in a good architect. The result was that, when we cut into the hillside, we built the house on a solid concrete foundation. And after 60 years, my house hasn't moved. But many of the other houses, which didn't have that same foundation, are actually sliding down the hill.
Now, the reason I'm telling you this is because it illustrates exactly what Jesus is saying. It isn't simply a question of building a house; it's a question of what you build it on.
Jesus goes on to say that, when He had finished speaking, the people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
And this is what I want you to understand. There are two very important things we need to recognise.
First, in Christ, we must have a solid foundation. That foundation is our salvation, and everything else in our lives must be built upon it. We come to Christ, we repent of our sins, and we are converted. That is the foundation upon which we build our lives.
But there is something else. The people followed Jesus because of one outstanding thing: He taught them with authority. He wasn't like the other religious teachers, the scribes, and we could include the Pharisees. There was an authority in His teaching that they had never experienced before.
Watch the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/_IyryT5DTbI 
For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

Based on the book of James chapter 5, David shares how a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick and the Lord will make them well. There is great power in prayer.
If you’re afflicted, pray. If you’re merry, sing songs of praise. Then, in verse 14, James says:
“Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.”
There is absolutely no question about it: healing is part of the ministry of the Church. Sadly, I believe this is one of the most neglected aspects of church life today. There are so many churches that no longer believe in miracles or in the power of prayer to heal the sick.
But the Bible is very clear. If someone is sick, they should call for the elders of the church. They are to anoint that person with oil, pray over them in faith, and trust God for a miracle. James says that the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise them up. And he goes on to say that if they have committed sins, they will be forgiven.
Come on, we need to bring the miraculous back into the Church! We need to recover our faith in the power of prayer and believe God to do what His Word promises.
I remember one occasion during the communist era when I was in Ukraine. They smuggled me across the border into what I believe was Moldova. I needed a separate visa to enter Moldova, and I didn’t have one, so they hid me in the back of a car and took me across the border.
We held a glorious open-air meeting and preached the Gospel. Among the crowd was a young woman in her twenties who was blind. But God moved in power that day. He gloriously healed her and opened her eyes!

I want to challenge you today concerning the Holy Spirit. You need to seek God in a new way. You need a new power, a fresh baptism, but above all, you need a baptism of fire! We need the fire of God, the power of God, working in our lives today.
Throughout the Bible, we read how God led the Israelites through the wilderness at night with a pillar of fire. Where is that pillar of fire that we are following today? It is the presence of God, leading us towards Him.
And what happened on the Day of Pentecost? They were baptised with fire!
We need to revisit our Pentecostal experience until we truly receive that baptism of fire and power in our lives.
I could challenge you further by looking at how Jesus performed miracles. He said, “The works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do.” Jesus promised that His followers would continue His ministry and do even greater works because He was going to the Father.
He told His disciples that while He was with them, they could ask Him and He would answer. But when He had returned to the Father, they would ask in His name, and the Father would give them what they asked.
That means you have an authority to come before God and ask for power, ask for fire, and ask for that anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Am I challenging you? Let me simply say this: I am so challenged that, even at the age of 94, I am still searching for more power and more fire in my life.
And I will not give up, because I have never had enough. I will never have enough power. I will never have enough fire!
And I plead with you: seek God, and you will discover that He will answer you. He will reveal Himself in your life by fire!
Watch the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/3oVC7c4R6bo 
For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

Based on the book of James chapter 5, David gives you some simple keys to living through affliction. Firstly, keep praying; and secondly, find a reason to be thankful and sing songs of praise to God.
In James chapter 5, God gives us practical instructions for walking in integrity and triumphing over trials:  
Integrity of Speech (v. 12): James commands believers not to swear by heaven, earth, or any other oath. We should live with such honesty that our simple word is entirely trustworthy – let your "yes" be yes, and your "no" be no. We must not merely talk the talk; our actions must match our words. When we live authentically according to the truth we proclaim, our very lives stand as a powerful witness to the world.  
Prayer in Affliction and Praise in Joy (v. 13): "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms." Prayer is our direct line of comfort and strength when walking through severe adversity.  
Trials and opposition are real. In my own life, I have faced severe affliction – surviving two cancer diagnoses (in my throat and in my lung), enduring imprisonment where officials warned I would not leave alive, and surviving four separate assassination attempts. Yet through every danger, God proved faithful.  
Whatever circumstance you find yourself in today, bring it to the Lord: if you are walking through affliction, lift up your heart in prayer; and if your heart is glad, sing songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.  

Based on the book of James chapter 5, we are reminded that we will see Jesus face-to-face. But until that time, be faithful in your service.
In Job 19:26, Job proclaimed: "In my flesh shall I see God." Long before Christ walked the earth and preached the coming of the Kingdom, Job possessed a profound revelation of the bodily resurrection. He understood that he would stand in God's presence not as a ghost, a disembodied spirit, or an ethereal shadow, but fully alive in a resurrected body.  
Many imagine heaven as entirely ethereal, yet Scripture shows that we will possess physical, glorified bodies. Our ultimate proof is Christ Himself: after His resurrection, Jesus was visibly seen, immediately recognised, and invited Thomas to touch the scars in His hands and side. His resurrected body was truly tangible and immortal.  
James then gives practical guidance on how to live in light of our eternal hope:  
Maintain Pure and Direct Speech (v. 12): Do not swear oaths by heaven, earth, or anything else.  
Live with Absolute Integrity: Live in such a way that your word requires no dramatic pledges to be believed. Let your "yes" be yes, and your "no" be no – clear, honest, and straightforward in every interaction.  
Remain faithful in your service, steadfast in truth, and anchor your heart in the blessed hope of seeing Jesus face-to-face.

One of the greatest miracles today is that God calls you His son, His daughter. God loves you, He is calling you to come home to His Kingdom. God's Kingdom is home for me, it is home for you. I believe that God is calling upon us to pray, for He says, if you will call upon My Name I will answer you, I will heal your land, I will defeat your enemies. You should have no fear for today or tomorrow, God is with you, for He Himself has said I will never leave or forsake you.
'We come before Your throne' used by kind permission of Vinesong.
For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

Based on the book of James chapter 5, we are reminded that God's plan is for good. We have hope in this life, and in the life to come, when we will see Jesus face-to-face.
James 5:11 tells us: "Behold, we count them blessed who endure." True victory in the Christian walk is about remaining steadfast and faithful to the very end, just as the saints and prophets did throughout Scripture.  
James points directly to the example of Job: "You have heard of the patience of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord." Job walked through devastating losses, yet the conclusion of his story was far greater than its beginning. The restoration God brought into his life – including daughters described as the fairest and most beautiful in the land – far exceeded what he had lost. What God gave him at the end was far more glorious than what he possessed at the start.  
Even in the depths of unimaginable affliction, Job uttered words of remarkable revelation – words that I personally placed on my late wife's headstone: "Yet in my flesh shall I see God." Long before the earthly ministry of Christ and the proclamation of the Kingdom gospel, Job already anchored his soul in the promise of bodily resurrection. He knew he would not stand before the Lord as a mere phantom or disembodied spirit, but raised to life in the flesh.  
Whatever trials you face, remember that God’s ultimate purpose is redemptive. Hold fast and remain faithful, knowing that our eternal hope is secure and we will one day behold our Lord face-to-face.

Based on the book of James chapter 5, we are encouraged to look to the saints of old, who endured and remained faithful to the Lord.
Turning to James chapter 5, Scripture offers critical counsel for how we ought to live while we wait:
Guard Your Heart Against Grudges (v. 9): Do not hold bitterness or complaints against one another. Harbouring resentment only harms and hinders others, placing us under condemnation, for God alone is the Judge.  
Follow the Example of the Prophets (v. 10): Look to the Old Testament prophets who spoke faithfully in the Lord’s name. Long before Christ came and died, they faced immense suffering and persecution to preach God's kingdom and righteousness, standing as timeless examples of patience through affliction.  
Endure to the End (v. 11): Scripture declares: "Behold, we count them blessed who endure." True spiritual victory lies in remaining steadfast and loyal to God through every trial.  
Just as the prophets remained unwavering, let us stay faithful to the very end. 

If you are seeking revival – if you are seeking a genuine experience with God – you need to know how to follow the fire. God has used fire on many occasions. When I went to Jerusalem in 1961 to be there on the Day of Pentecost, it was the first time in 2,000 years that we had been able to gather in the Upper Room in Jerusalem on that day. I was looking for fire, and I believe I received it, because the experience changed my life. Everything changed. Fire changes things; it should change things. Whatever is burned is transformed.
When I think about fire, I am intrigued by Solomon’s building of the Temple. The vision began with David. David desired to build a glorious temple – something more magnificent, powerful and beautiful than anything else in the world. 
David went to the prophet Nathan, shared his dream and asked what he should do. Nathan replied, “Do what is in your heart.” This is the challenge I want to give to those who are seeking the power of God and feel called to become evangelists, or to fulfil any other calling: do what is in your heart. It is not what is merely in your head that matters; it is what is in your heart. That is why Nathan told David to act on what was within him.
As we know, God later said no, because David was a man of war, and Solomon eventually built the Temple. Yet David supplied Solomon with the people, money and materials needed for the work. When Solomon dedicated the Temple, he led a vast and powerful prayer, calling upon God to hear from heaven. You can read Solomon’s prayer in 2 Chronicles chapters 6 and 7; it extends across both chapters.
Watch the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/tJrL1rnmaL4 
For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 

In the book of James, chapter 5, we are exhorted to look at farmers who wait patiently for their precious harvest to ripen.
When Scripture speaks of the early and the latter rains (as in Joel 2, where God promises the outpouring of the Holy Spirit), we are reminded that the latter rain will be greater than the former. Just as in the natural world where a farmer must wait for a crop to grow, the same is true spiritually. When we labor for the Lord, we rarely see all the fruit of our work here on Earth.
Only God truly knows what will become of the lives we touch. When you point a young person to Christ, you cannot foresee whether they might grow up to become an evangelist. I reflect on my own father, who taught me so much and prayed over me faithfully. He did not live to witness how abundantly God would bless my ministry. Yet, what a glorious moment it will be when the Lord returns and my father can see the eternal fruit of the seeds he sowed.
James 5:8 urges us: "Be patient... establish your hearts." Why? Because even two millennia ago, James declared that the coming of the Lord draws near. Expectation was so high that when Jesus spoke about the arrival of the Holy Spirit, the disciples immediately asked: "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" In other words, "Will You establish Your earthly kingdom right now?"
Take heart, remain steadfast, and wait patiently on the Lord – no seed planted in faith is ever wasted.

If we are truly seeking God and His power, it is vital to examine what Scripture reveals about His fire. Fire is referenced over 500 times in the Bible. Ninety of those passages directly associate fire with God, and on 11 distinct occasions, God answers specifically by fire.
Even at 94 years of age, my desire as an evangelist has not waned; I am still pursuing more of God's power and fire. Scripture makes clear that the promise of the Holy Spirit is inseparably tied to fire. In the Book of Acts, when the disciples gathered in the Upper Room, visible tongues of fire rested upon them. Yet across much of today’s Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, this hunger for divine fire is largely missing.
When I was seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a young man, it took me an entire year. Many people prayed for me, but I realised they did not possess what I was searching for. Though they claimed to have received the Holy Spirit, their lives lacked the confirming evidence. I wanted what the disciples received on the Day of Pentecost: not just the rushing wind of His presence, but the evident fire resting upon them.  
Watch the YouTube version https://youtu.be/fwCAu7vkhSM 
For more information on the Ministry of David Hathaway https://www.eurovision.org.uk 
 

In this episode, based on the book of James chapter 5, we are exhorted to be patient for the Lord's return, knowing that He is the righteous judge who will avenge the evil done here.
And in verse 5: "You've lived in pleasure on the earth, you've nourished your hearts," and there's a day when you think that there is nothing more, there's only just the days down here. But he goes on in verse 6: "You condemned and killed the just, and God doesn't actually stop you. No, God doesn't stop you."
But then in verse 7 he comes onto the spiritual side; he says, "Be patient, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord." There's a great exhortation in the Scripture to the waiting and the patience, because as he says here, the farmer waits for the seed, the crops, to mature, and he has to be patient; he cannot speed up the process.
Now, that's what he's meaning to say: look, you put the seed in the ground, you plant an apple tree or a fig tree or whatever, there's nothing that you can do that will really speed that process. You have to wait patiently for the harvest. And he says you've got to have long patience until you receive the early and the latter rain.
And let me say that there is a spiritual lesson here: spiritually, we're sowing seed – when we preach the Gospel, when we witness, we're sowing the seed of the Word – and that seed needs the rain, which is the Holy Spirit.

In this episode, drawn from James chapter 5, we are reminded of the danger of hoarding earthly riches rather than storing up eternal treasure in heaven.
Scripture paints a sobering picture: one can possess immense wealth in this life, yet stand in eternity spiritually impoverished – virtually naked, having brought nothing of true worth. When we hoard treasures on earth, those very possessions will testify against us like a consuming fire. Indeed, James points toward the eternal consequences of a life lived apart from Christ, where earthly wealth cannot rescue a soul from the fires of hell.
James hits even closer to home by confronting injustice directly: the withheld wages of the laborers who harvested the fields cry out, and those cries reach the ears of the Lord.
As Jesus illustrates in the parables, what we do in this life sends ahead the materials that build our heavenly dwelling. This is why James warns in verse 3 that hoarded gold and silver corrode, their rust bearing witness against those who rely on them. The agonising realisation that earthly riches perish like fire comes when one stands before the kingdom of God with nothing of eternal value to show for it.

When I was imprisoned for Bible smuggling, who could I turn to? Who could help me? I couldn't contact the British government. There was no one who could help me. There was only one Person I could turn to: Jesus; He is our deliverer. Whatever situation you find yourself in, turn to Jesus. He'll answer every prayer and touch your heart with His love and peace. 
'Run to the Father' and 'You answered me' used by kind permission of Vinesong.