Kneeling Before the Resurrected King in Earnest Prayer: Day 8
Intention
To summon the Church to push past unbelief to unwavering faith, kneeling before the resurrected Messiah in earnest, righteous prayer for repentance for ourselves and Australia.
Scripture
“Then he appeared to James.”
– 1 Corinthians 15:7
“The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. Elijah was a human being as we are, and he prayed earnestly”.
– James 5:16–17
Reflection
One great evidence of the Christian faith is the testimonies of the very first Christians. Many of those who knew Jesus personally and claimed to see Him alive were martyred for their beliefs.
The very first Christians were in an incredible, unique position. They either saw Jesus alive, or they made it up, and, knowing they were telling fibs for fun, were willing to die for the silly little Jesus game they invented.
While people will, on rare occasions, die for something they think is true, no one dies for what they know is false.
There’s only one possible choice: those first followers of Jesus told the truth and proved it with their own blood.
One such person was James, Jesus’ brother. The Jewish historian Josephus records that James was stoned to death in Jerusalem in AD 62, steadfastly proclaiming that his brother was Israel’s Messiah and soon-coming King.
Interestingly, James was once a strident sceptic of Jesus. John 7:1–5 tells us that all of Jesus’ brothers thought He was a fraud. They taunted Him, telling Jesus to go up to Jerusalem – the very place where His enemies wanted to kill Him.
That’s some family feud.
Fast-forward a few years, and James becomes the leader of the Jerusalem church for around 30 years. He then dies a martyr’s death.
What happened to James to cause this dramatic 180?
We could guess, but thanks to Paul, we don’t need to. He gives us these four words: after Jesus’ resurrection, “He appeared to James” (1 Corinthians 15:7).
It’s hard to imagine James’ intense shock followed by inexpressible grief. The elder brother he had ridiculed and scorned was none other than God in human form.
Such an experience was truly life-changing. It led to a lifetime of repentance and seeking righteousness.
James doesn’t just demonstrate by his martyr’s death that he saw Jesus alive. He also proves it by his life.
James was given the nickname “Camel-knees”. This badge of highest honour was affectionately bestowed on James because of his devotion to prayer on his knees.
His knees were so often on the ground, bowed down in prayer, that they grew calloused.
One early Christian writer tells us that he was “frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel, in consequence of his constantly bending them in his worship of God.”
The way we position our bodies can communicate just as much, if not more, than the words that come out of our mouths. That’s one reason the Bible refers to the importance of our bodies’ posture in prayer.
“Come, let’s worship and bow down; let’s kneel before the Lord our Maker”, declares the psalmist (Psalm 95:6). The prophet Daniel kneeled “down on his knees” “three times a day” in prayer (Daniel 6:10).
Our bodies – the temples of the Holy Spirit – can and should be used in such a humble posture of holy worship.
James’ commitment to “earnest” and “righteous” (James 5:17) prayer can only be explained by the fact that he was praying to the resurrected King of kings.
James’ broken, stone-indented and battered dead body demonstrates his unwavering conviction that he saw his brother alive. So, too, his calloused knees displayed that same verdict.
This resurrection Sunday, let us live in the reality of the living, resurrected King. And, as we prepare for tomorrow’s National Day of Repentance, may we follow “Camel-knees’” humble and repentant example of earnest prayer, “begging forgiveness for the people” of Australia.
Video
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Messiah, we bow down before you in earnest prayer because You are alive! What better day to pray for Your resurrection life to flow powerfully in our Church and nation than this day?
May Your Spirit work powerfully as we beg Your forgiveness of our nation. We beg You for the precious millions of people who don’t know You. Awaken the Church in resurrection power to send out the message that You are coming soon in Your kingly glory and that You freely invite all to be a part of Your kingdom.
We beg You for a spirit of repentance to be poured out upon us. Purify us of sin, so that living in righteousness, our earnest prayers to our living Saviour can avail much.
We long for the day when we see You face to face, when every knee will bow, and we fall down before You, forever. Amen.
Author Bio 
Samuel lives with his wife and three young children in South Australia. He is fascinated by the impact of worldview and enjoys exploring how Christian faith relates to every area of life. An emerging writer and journalist, he has a background in the biological and geological sciences, ministry, and theology.
Prayer Points and Purpose for Turn the Tide 2025
1. A righteous government that upholds truth and Christian values. 1 Timothy 2:1–4
2. Wisdom for voters to perceive the true agenda of political parties. Proverbs 14:15
3. A church that disciples the nation in this window of grace. Matthew 28:18–20
We invite you to support this prayer campaign to multiply prayer in Australia for the 2025 federal election. Every donation to the Canberra Declaration helps us promote prayer and make a stand for family, faith, freedom, life, and the good news of God’s love through Jesus Christ, His Son.
View Turn the Tide: 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting Devotionals
IMPORTANT NOTICE: We invite you to register and participate in the National Day of Repentance on Easter Monday, 21 April (9 AM – 5 PM (AEST)). This event is an integral part of these 21 days of prayer and fasting. View the promotional video here. For more information and to register, click here.
Join us for our nightly Zoom prayer call:
DATES: Every night from Sunday, 13 April to Saturday, 3 May
TIME: 8 PM (AEST), 7:30 PM (SA & NT), 6 PM (WA).
ZOOM URL LINK: zoom.us/j/776881184
ZOOM TUTORIAL: youtube.com/watch?v=pAMDxH_H_Cs
___
Photo via Adobe.
3 Comments
Leave A Comment
Recent Articles:
25 June 2026
2.4 MINS
The Australian Christian Lobby is hosting screenings of the groundbreaking documentary Born Alive, Left to Die across Australia. It is time for truth, accountability, and change. Attend a screening and invite others to join you.
25 June 2026
3.9 MINS
Most Australians still believe in human dignity and inalienable rights, essential truths for a just legal system. What they’ve since abandoned is the only foundation that make those beliefs coherent.
25 June 2026
3.2 MINS
Larry Sanger helped create Wikipedia to be "the free encyclopaedia anyone can edit." Three decades later, he's been locked out — for trying to make the site more balanced.
25 June 2026
5.4 MINS
For three weeks, Women's Rights advocate Sall Grover tried to have an opinion piece published on the ABC. But the taxpayer-funded organisation refused, saying that terms such as ‘biological reality’ and ‘truth’ were offensive.
24 June 2026
4.8 MINS
After scoring the sixth-fastest goal in FIFA's 2026 World Cup, Christian footballer Felix Nmecha dropped to one knee and symbolically laid his crown at the feet of Christ. It's a gesture that captures everything about him: faith first, football second.
24 June 2026
2.9 MINS
If you’re a parent or a grandparent, you probably worry about what your child or grandchild is learning at school. In the first of its kind in Australia, a survey has been launched to measure parent attitudes to Respectful Relationship sessions in schools.
24 June 2026
5.9 MINS
Nation First looks into Keir Starmer’s resignation and why Anthony Albanese should be worried by the same policy failures now haunting Labor at home.
While I appreciate Samuel’s sentiments, I suggest that we don’t need to beg for anything, especially forgiveness. Our forgiveness is given to us through Jesus’ sacrifice, all we need to do is embrace Him and trust Him. Confessing our sins is of great importance. 1 John 1:9 ” 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. “
Understanding what you are saying Bill, but in this context we are asking for an evil and unrepentant nation. This is what intercessory pray is about.
Australia has to yet receive God’s grace through faith as a nation.
Our leaders are evil and do many evil things as do the people in general.
A intercessory prayer for national repentance acknowledges the collective sins of a nation and seeks God’s forgiveness and restoration. It involves confessing sins, asking for mercy, and praying for a renewed spiritual state within the nation. The prayer may also include petition for God’s protection and guidance, as well as for the healing of the land and its people.
Insightful and very well thought out and written – thank you Samuel.