Truth Baptist Church
James 5:13-20

      • James 5:14ESV

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      • James 5:13–20ESV

  • A Tale of Two Wisdoms

    Happy Father’s Day! Recognize!
    Ephesians 6:4 Love wife, lead family. Spiritual leader in the home.
    Psalm 103:13 Example of God our Heavenly Father.
    The main verse of the letter is probably be James 1:22 - “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only”.
    In chapter two, James taught that genuine saving faith demonstrates itself through good works. Faith without works is dead. Chapter 3 introduced another external indicator of one’s inner spiritual condition - the tongue. What we say matters and it often reveals our spiritual condition. Now, we see the solution to speaking well and living well is to have wisdom, specifically godly wisdom.
    Scripture:
    James 3:13–18 (ESV)
    13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
    Introduction
    We have called James a collection of wisdom sayings, the Proverbs of the NT. The passage today is all about wisdom.
    Last week…we saw how speech is an indicator of our spiritual condition, focusing on the power and potential harm our speech can have. James provides a remedy for taming our tongues. It is wisdom. Just as James mentioned the wisdom of God to have a divine perspective on trials (James 1:5), we also need the wisdom of God to use our tongues, to know what to say, when to say it, and how to say.
    But, what is wisdom? In the Old Testament, living a life well requires a relationship with God, and the wise person lives well by applying God’s principles to everyday circumstances.
    How do we learn to respond to life’s challenges and troubles? We need wisdom.
    How do we learn to speak good things, even in challenging circumstances? We need wisdom.
    How do parents learn to raise their children to be God fearing and Christ-exalting? Wisdom!
    Fathers need wisdom to lead, and children need a father’s wisdom. Someone once said, “Good judgment comes from experience, and experience often comes from bad judgment.” Fathers can help children benefit from lessons they learned. A father's greatest display of wisdom may not be his words but his example. A wise father helps his children avoid dangers they cannot yet see. In the same way, James points us to a wisdom from above—a wisdom that comes from our Heavenly Father, who sees what we cannot see and lovingly guides us in the path of righteousness. We need the wisdom of God to live a live well for God.
    James has already mentioned, if we lack wisdom, we should ask for it (James 1:5). 
    The passage today provides another example of the letter’s main theme of calling us to ensure our behavior (works, speech, relationships, etc.) matches what we say we believe. To borrow the “faith and works” theme, faith without good works means a life of evil works. And since the evil of the tongue is ignited by the evil of hell (James 3:6), we should ask ourselves, what is guiding us, the heavenly (James 3:17) or the hellish (James 3:15)?
    This message will reveal three truths about wisdom.

    True Wisdom is Demonstrated by Actions

    James 3:13
    If I asked you to name a wise person, some might say Solomon. Others might say, a favorite teacher, a grandparent, or a trusted mentor. What is probably similar with all of these is that we rarely describe wise people by their IQ, income, or accomplishments. We typically describe wise people by their character, judgment, and how they treat others. James would agree. To answer who is wise, James points not to what a person knows, but to how a person lives.
    James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 
    It is possible that, just as some church members were apparently taking the mantle of “teacher” upon themselves recklessly (James 3:1), so were some (maybe the same people) setting themselves up as “wise” or “understanding”. Such believers needed to be reminded of the true nature and fruits of wisdom.
    James starts with a question, “Who is wise and understanding?” We should probably see this question as one of those that you want to be careful answering. If you raise your hand, “Yes, I am wise and understanding”, James is prepared to challenge that assertion.
    “Really?”, James would say, “Show me your wisdom and understanding.” 
    James had already taught that God grants wisdom to those who ask Him in faith (James 1:5–8). In this passage, James went into more detail concerning the origin and expressions of wisdom. True wisdom is grounded in the “fear of the Lord”.
    Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
    What makes biblical wisdom distinctive, aside from it beginning with the fear of God, is that is associated with godly character., i.e., good works. Any claim to wisdom is tested by the life and demeanor of the supposed wise person. James describes wisdom as not merely intellectual but also behavioral…“by his good conduct”. By his good conduct, show his works. Again, James was asking people to prove what they say.
    If you say you have faith, show it (James 2:18). If you say that you are wise, show it by how you live.
    When one stands in proper awe and respect (fear) of God, the result is “meekness”. Meekness, which is translated “gentleness” in Galatians 5:23) was considered weakness by the Greeks. But meekness is not weakness. Meekness comes not from being weak or cowardly, but rather from trusting God and therefore being set free from anxiously promoting self (i.e., selfish ambition). Jesus elevated meekness to a primary Christian virtue (Matthew 5:5; Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.) Recognizing one’s proper place in creation and submitting to the Creator’s will in daily life is wise.
    Next, we will see the difference between two kinds of “wisdom”.

    The Fruit of False Wisdom is Disorder

    James 3:14-16
    If there are two kinds of wisdom, what does the false wisdom look like?
    James 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 
    Verse fourteen begins with the word “but” to show a contrast between the values expressed in the previous verse. While the person who is wise should show his or her wisdom by good works, this is not true for those who are not truly wise. We could read verse fourteen, “But if [you claim to be wise while at the same time] you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast [about your so-called wisdom] and be false to the truth.” 
    As opposed to the “good conduct” and humble deeds (James 3:13) that are outward expressions of true wisdom, false wisdom pours forth evil conduct and arrogant boasting. James describes the characteristics of this evil conduct, but first he looks to the inside of the person (to the “heart”). As we mentioned last week, any outward behavior is an overflow of the heart. 
    Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
    Two things “in our hearts” that James mentioned are bitter jealousy and selfish ambition. A person with false wisdom is characterized by “bitter jealousy.” God’s jealousy is legitimate as He alone deserves our worship. God is rightly jealous for His honor and the loyal devotion of His people because He deserves it. On the other hand, human jealousy often demonstrates itself as a wicked desire for the abilities, possessions, or status of another that do not belong to the one jealous.
    Whether it is sinful jealously and godly jealousy hinges on motive—do you rightly deserve what you fear losing and does it matter to God. Human jealousy, like ambition, becomes distorted by sin. James adds the word “bitter” to “jealousy” (the same word that is used to refer to “salty” in James 3:11), to make it clear that this jealousy is an attitude of resentful competition that is worse that the usual wicked desire.
    “Selfish ambition” (James 3:14) is another sinful heart condition that is contradictory to true wisdom. There is a godly ambition that should not be suppressed, which is a personal drive that seeks to honor God and benefit others. A couple of biblical passages that speak to godly ambition include 1 Timothy 3:1 about men aspiring to the office of overseer, and Colossians 3:23-24 where believers are encouraged to work heartily as for the Lord rather than for human approval. 
    But, that is not the ambition James mentioned here. James described a prideful desire to promote oneself or one’s personal concerns without reference to God or the genuine needs of others. “Selfish ambition” is a willingness to split a group in order to achieve one’s personal desires. It focuses on what “I want” instead of what God wants. This same word is translated “rivalry” elsewhere in scripture, e.g., Galatians 5:20.
    James warns us about having bitter jealousy and selfish ambition. He wrote, “Do not boast [about your supposed wisdom] and be false to the truth” (James 3:14). In other words, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, don’t pretend to be wise. Repent, and ask God to change your heart.
    James then described the characteristics of this false wisdom.
    James 3:15–16 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
    Such false wisdom is not from God. James described worldly behavior in terms that “progress” from bad to worse, recalling the list in James 3:5–6, the tongue is a “world of unrighteousness”. Rather, this false wisdom is…
    Earthly: Such behavior is ultimately earthbound. It stands for the human, rational approach to things that does not take the revealed will of God into account.
    Unspiritual: This describes someone who is self-absorbed. It means being out of touch with God—operating according to natural human impulses rather than divine guidance.
    Demonic: Its resembles the powers of darkness. Just as evil speech comes from Satan (James 3:6), so does this “worldly behavior”. Recall Jesus’ rebuke of Peter (Matthew 16:16–23) where Peter had spoken both a godly word and a demonic word. 
    Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition are, at their root, expressions of a worldly and demonic rebellion against God. The evil of the tongue and ungodly wisdom are influenced by hellish evil. Later James exhorts us to “resist the devil” (James 4:7).
    Though we can never really look into the hearts of others (and sometimes rarely within ourselves!), we can clearly see the fruit of false wisdom. The bitter jealousy and selfish ambition of a wicked heart cannot be contained but it will express itself in “disorder and every vile practice” (James 3:16). The result of such devil-driven conflict can only be disorder and every vile practice.
    Think about the damage one person or group in a church can cause by jealousy or selfishly ambition. It causes disorder or worse in the congregation. Therefore, we must resist these destructive patterns and embrace the wisdom that comes from God.

    The Fruit of True Wisdom is Righteousness

    James 3:17-18
    The answer to the “disorder” of verse sixteen is to seek wisdom from above. Whereas the earthly wisdom finds its origin in Satan, true wisdom comes from God, has godly attributes, and produces godly results.
    James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
    The wisdom that comes from God is characterized by both internal and external fruits, similar to the list Paul reveals in Galatians chapter five on Fruit of the Spirit. This should not be surprising as James reveals the characteristics of wisdom that is born from the Spirit of God.
    Internally, true wisdom is “pure” (i.e., fundamentally motivated by goodness and holiness, not by sin). Purity is the primary virtue (“first”) with the rest providing aspects of this moral purity. Pure wisdom displays the love of the believers without showing favoritism (2:1).
    Second, this wisdom is displayed by being peaceable or “peace-loving.” This fruit of wisdom is the polar opposite of “selfish ambition” and the discord it produces. Those who make peace are committed to the unity of the fellowship. Peacemaking often means unity-protecting.
    The peaceableness of wisdom has the virtue of gentleness or the quality of being “considerate.” The is similar to “a soft/gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1). These people are also going to have a willingness to yield (“open to reason”), merciful, impartial, and sincere. True wisdom is a genuine expression of a heart redirected by God. Just as false wisdom results in “disorder and every vile practice” (v. 16), so true wisdom bears distinct and recognizable good fruits.
    James then emphasized the critical attribute of peace in the last verse as the pure believer.
    James 3:18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
    Just as verse 17 referred to “fruits”, verse 18 uses the word “harvest.” This is an interesting concept to consider that what we sow produces a harvest…it could be a harvest of good or a harvest of bad. 
    Gena has been trying to grow a garden at home. While I have not really helped much in this effort, I see her hard work of planting, tending, watering and caring for things she has planted. She has already seen evidence of things growing, the fruit of her labor. Likewise, we reap good things by sowing peace. Peace is the soil in which righteousness grows.
    A truly wise person goes through life “making peace” with those around him. The legacy of those who live in peace and make peace rather than conflict is a harvest of righteousness. In other words, James ends this section by reminding us that the truly wise person is a peacemaker who leaves behind a legacy of righteous behavior and influence. Jesus said that peacemakers are truly blessed and called the children of God.
    Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
    One of Gena’s favorite things to do in her practice of law is being a peacemaker. She helps to mediate conflict between people in order to help them come to a resolution without having to go to court.
    God is the Great Peacemaker Who made peace with us through Jesus. If it were not for God wanting peace, none of us would be saved. And as God has brought peace to us through Jesus, He wants His people to make peace with one another, and help others have peace. God expects His people to be peacemakers.
    A church that is rich in reconciling activities, that is, telling others about Jesus, defending the poor, counseling the troubled, offering hospitality to the stranger, sending gospel missionaries throughout the world, and many more, reaps a rich harvest of righteousness.
    Will you seek peace with one another?
    Will you help others come to peace?
    Pursue the wisdom from above that brings peace and unity and which is consistent with the redemptive work of Christ. This affirms our calling as peacemakers, and creates an environment that reflects the kingdom of God on earth.
    Conclusion
    In closing, James calls us to be wise people who follow the Holy Spirit. But, do we actually follow our “selfish ambition”?
    When others succeed, are we jealous?
    How do we feel when someone else does something well, gets a promotion, is given a responsibility that we once had or one that we want to have?
    What is the condition of our “hearts”? Do we have bitterness, anger, resentment, or “disorder” in our hearts?
    The greatest problem James identifies is the sinful heart that produces earthly wisdom. Only Jesus can change that heart. Jesus died for our pride, envy, selfish ambition, and hypocrisy. He rose again to give us a new heart and a new way of living.
    Before making decisions this week, ask yourself this question:
    “Is what I am doing or thinking of doing from below or from above?”
    Then choose the path that looks most like Jesus.
    We can serve God boldly, moving forward in faith, knowing that even though our weak service is often tainted with sin, our gracious heavenly Father is eager to forgive His children who ask for mercy (Luke 18:13–14). We must ask for God to fill us with true wisdom, His wisdom, which reveals itself in the fruit of righteousness and peace. God chose to regenerate us (James 1:18) by implanting His saving Word inside us (James 1:21), and now He is calling us both to act and to speak as His holy people. 
    Let the Holy Spirit lead you and your words and actions will become instruments of grace rather than weapons of destruction. Choosing godly wisdom over earthly wisdom glorifies God and fosters unity among His people. Meanwhile, we look forward to the new heaven and new earth, in which all of our motives, actions, and words will be completely holy.
    This is good news. Thanks be to God. Amen.
    Closing Song: Where He Leads Me I Will Follow

  • The Power of Persistent Prayer James 5:13-20

    Bible Passage: James 5:13-20

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    Throughout the book of James we have been challenged to endure trials, reject partiality, control our tongues, pursue wisdom, humble ourselves before God, and patiently wait for Christ's return. James’ final emphasis is simple but profound: pray.
    I need this lesson. I often struggle to pray or I am just outright disobedient in praying. I know that I ought to always pray (1 Thess 5:17, Rom 12:12, Col 4:2), but I regularly fail at it. Even the “Armor of God” includes prayer as the communication line for God’s soldiers (Eph 6:18).

    Introduction

    How important is prayer? Prayer is essential to faithfully following God. If we are to obey God, not only be “hearers” but “doers of God’s Word” (James 1:22), we will practice a persistent prayer life.
    Consider the prayer habits of Jesus. He spent entire nights in prayer (Luke 6:12-13). He regularly withdrew to desolate places to pray (Luke 5:16). In what is often called the High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prayed for His disciples and those who would believe through them (John 17). He prayed with such intensity before His trial that His sweat was like drops of blood (Luke 22:39-46). Our Lord gave us the perfect example on prayer. His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1-13).
    James opened this letter by addressing the need for prayer.
    5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. (James 1:5-6)
    If we need something, like wisdom, we need to go to God and we need to go to Him in faith. As we come to the end of this letter, James closes with the necessity of prayer, almost like book ends to the letter - we begin with prayer and faith, and we end with prayer and faith.
    This passage teaches us four things about prayer:
    Pray in Any Circumstance
    Pray for One Another
    Pray with Earnest
    Pray for Restoration

    1. Pray In Any Circumstance

    When do you pray? Do you “mostly” pray when things are going well? Do you mostly pray when the world is falling apart? Of course, we ought to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17), but what motivates us to pray?
    In chapter one, James opened this letter addressing “trial of various kinds” they we may endure and to pray for wisdom as we endure them (James 1:2-3). Now, at the end of the letter, James mentioned again the suffering we may endure and what we should do about it.
    Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. (James 5:13)
    The word translated “suffering” can mean any form of hardship. So, this would be anything that might not be “good”. When we face these types of situations, what should we do? James tells us to pray. While we may be tempted to react to difficulties with grumbling, anger, or discouragement (I have!), God’s Word tells us there is one clear and proper Christian response: prayer.
    If you are going through something, you should pray about it.
    But, we ought to not only pray when we are going through a difficult time. We should also pray when things are going well, when we are cheerful. The word James used was actually “sing praise” (James 5:13).
    It may be harder for us to pray when things are going well because we may think we don’t need God, or we may not think of God during those times. Pain and suffering have a way of focusing our minds on what we cannot control, motivating us to seek God in prayer. But, times of cheerfulness may tempt us to forget the blessings of God and neglect our relationship with Him.
    James reminds us to turn to God in both happiness and hardship, reinforcing the need for prayer. By praying and praising,
    We draw closer to God,
    We trust in divine intervention, and
    We anticipate Godly deliverance.
    So, whether we find happiness or pain in life, we should always go to the Lord.

    2. Pray for One Another

    Do you remember James speaking about the problem of the tongue? One good way to “tame” one’s tongue (James 3:8) is to “pray for one another”. It is difficult to use our tongues in a vicious way when we genuinely lift others up in prayer. James calls us to pray for those in need.
    Is anyone among you sick? 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. (James 5:14)
    The sick person is probably someone who is bedridden at home and calls for the elders (plural!) of the church to come pray “over him”. We should not assume that only the elders of the church are to pray for those who are sick or in need. Praying for others is something we all should be doing (Eph. 6:18).
    Some people think that anointing with oil actually heals a person or imparts grace. The anointing oil here can be viewed as a symbol of God’s power to heal a sick person. For instance, baptism does not save or literally wash our sins aways (only the blood of Jesus does that!), but it is a symbol of the believer dying to sin and being raised to new life in Christ. Or, many will place a hand on the shoulder of the person for whom they are praying. They are not channeling any divine power or grace, but we are demonstrating the power of prayer for someone. So also, anointing oil is a symbol of the healing power of the Holy Spirit.
    Furthermore, the anointing is done “in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14), that is, we are calling on the Lord to heal. Thus, it is God that heals. When we pray, we are asking God to intervene and heal that person.
    But wait, there is more to praying for others. There is faith.
    And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:15)
    The prayer of faith here is not the faith of the sick person but the faith of those praying over him. The elders have been called to pray over the sick person, thus it is their faith that is in view. It may be best to see this as “prayer offered in faith”. The faith of the sick person here is to call for the elders to pray over him.
    Now, should we always expect healing when we pray? One distorted form of Christianity says that Christians should always expect to be healed from sickness in this life. If one is not healed, then that person lacks faith, some will say. If we read this passage in isolation, we may come away with that interpretation. However, other passages of Scripture make clear that the sick and suffering are not always healed—even the Apostle Paul was not healed of an ailment (2 Cor. 12:8–9). The 100 percent mortality rate of humanity shows the fact that all of us will eventually succumb to sickness, injury, or old age.
    James is not teaching that all illnesses will be healed if people would simply call on the elders, or try to make themselves have enough faith. Healing, when it does come, is always a gift from God, who is sovereign over all circumstances, including sickness and health. It is the sovereign God, and no one else, who determines the answers to our prayers. We may faithfully pray for someone or for something and the answer is still…“no”, or “not yet”. We need to understand that and trust God’s will and timing.
    “Will save” perhaps carries a double meaning here: (1) the sick person will be physically healed, and/or (2) the sick person may also experience spiritual salvation, or spiritual healing. Sometimes sickness is a result of sin, and when it is, “healing” can be both physical and spiritual (i.e., forgiveness). Forgiveness presumes repentance. However we should not assume that all sickness is the result of sin. Certainly, some is, but most human sickness is simply the result of living in a broken world.
    There is another way for us to pray for one another: confession.
    Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)
    Here James moves from the prayers of the elder to the prayers of the whole church. While not all the time, sometimes unconfessed sin can result in physical sickness (v. 15b). James tells us that all believers should regularly confess their sins (and, implicitly, turn from their sins in repentance). Although confession to God is the most necessary form of confession (Ps. 51:4), any genuine Godward repentance will be mirrored in relationships within the church community.
    Sometimes confession in the community is needed before healing can take place, since sin may be the cause of the illness. The healing James mentioned here may be primarily spiritual.
    Lastly, James mentioned that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful. The 80s contemporary Christian artist, Carman, released a song called “The Prayer Anthem” in which he said in the intro: "I believe in the power of prayer. I believe that prayer changes things because the Bible says the fervent prayers of the righteous man gets a whole lot done.“
    Do you believe that in the power of prayer? Do you believe that prayers gets things done?

    3. Pray With Earnest

    When you pray, do you expect God to answer your prayers exactly how you ask them and when you want them? Honestly, I suspect many of us pray at least wanting the answer to be whatever it is we want (We think we know best!), and we expect God to answer our prayers NOW! For some, if God does not answer their prayers in that way, they just give up. They may say to themselves, “Well, I tried praying and it did not work, so I am moving on.”
    James presents Elijah as an example of a righteous man who prayed effectively. The thing about mentioning Elijah is that James does not hold him up as a “super disciple of God” that we could never imitate. To the contrary, James said Elijah was just like you and me.
    17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. (James 5:17-18)
    Elijah displayed in prayer how human weakness paired with divine power can alter even natural courses. Elijah is an example of how a man like us could have the powerful prayer life of “a righteous person.” The drought recorded in 1 Kings 17–18 was punishment on King Ahab and Israel for idolatry.
    James urged the church to reflect on the potential for great spiritual impact through prayer through the example of Elijah. Notice that James says Elijah was “like us”. When we say we can’t pray like Elijah, or we can’t have the faith of Elijah, yes we can. That does not mean God will rain fire down on our enemies (actually His enemies!), nor does it mean it will rain (thought we need it!) or not rain because we pray for it. But we can pray “fervently” like Elijah and expect God to respond by His will and in His time.
    Thus, pray fervently. Pray earnestly. This means doing something in a serious, sincere, and determined manner. It means praying with strong, sincere convictions, such as eagerly hoping and strongly believing in what you are praying.
    But…maybe there are times when you have trouble praying? Maybe, you are going through something that challenges your faith and trust in God. What do you do if you do not have the words to pray? What do you do if you just don’t know what to pray, or how to pray? Have any of you felt like that? I have! Then, use someone else’s words. Use the words of someone who has gone through something similar. Where can you find that? Use God’s Word. Pray God’s Word. Pray the Psalms. But, whatever you do…don’t stop praying!

    4. Pray for Restoration

    James ends this letter with a loving exhortation not to neglect the straying sinner but to seek him out with love and truth. James calls the community to action in helping those who have fallen into sin, perhaps the sins he has dealt with in the book.
    19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20)
    We have a responsibility to one another to call one another back to faithfulness if we see someone wander from the truth. The righteous saints (“brothers”) must be vigilant in spotting anyone who wanders from the truth, namely, by not living in accord with the word of truth (James 1:18) as mentioned in this letter.
    Through gentle correction and intercessory prayer, believers can help guide people back to truth. This passage charges us with the responsibility of restoring those who stray, emphasizing grace and patience in the process. By engaging in this restorative mission, we mirror Christ's love and bring about God's healing grace, underscoring the significance of community in leading one another towards righteousness.
    Ultimately, of course, only the Lord saves a person. The one who restores the person will cover the many sins of the one who had strayed, for the one who returns from the way of error receives forgiveness. Again, only God can cover sin, but Christians can be agents of God’s forgiveness.
    One of the means God has instituted to preserve His people is the loving brotherly concern Christians are to show to one another. If a member of the Christian community begins to live as a nonbeliever, the right thing to do is warn the person that, from all appearances, he is running toward eternal death. That very warning may be the instrument God uses to preserve him.

    Conclusion

    This passage encourages the church to pray. We should cultivate an environment where accountability and mutual support flourish through prayer. The power of praying together not only strengthens our individual faith but also fosters unity and healing within the body of Christ. It reminds us of our shared dependence on God. We should not only pray individually, but we ought to pray together.
    But, when you pray, don’t pray like the unbeliever who only prays to get what he wants. We should not treat God as a divine vending machine. We deposit prayer and expect to receive what we requested. The unbeliever would pray for something, and if he did not get it would say, “I’m done with this”. 
    The believer will pray like Jesus did, not my will, but your will be done, Father. Let us remember to genuinely acknowledge, “if the Lord wills”. The righteous will pray, your will be done, recognizing that the Father in heaven is powerful enough to prevent and to resolve any problem, but His will is better and higher than ours.
    Application:
    1. Make prayer your first response, not your last resort. Ask yourself: What situation am I trying to solve without prayer? Have I spent more time worrying than praying? Commit to praying first.
    2. Don't suffer alone. God expects us to involve the church. Reach out. Ask trusted believers to pray with you. Allow the church to minister to you. This may involve confession of sin. Don’t neglect the healing that comes from a clean heart (Psalm 51).
    3. Pursue those who have wandered. Think of someone who has drifted from church or from the Lord. Don't simply talk about them. Pray. Call. Visit. Encourage. Invite them back. God often uses ordinary believers to bring wandering Christians home.
    Finally…maybe, the real power in prayer is the change it makes in us. As we continue to exercise faithful prayer, it shows our dependency on our Father in Heaven. When we come to Him,
    We acknowledge our weakness, but His strength.
    We demonstrate our trust in God’s perfect will and His perfect timing.
    We also follow the example of our Lord Jesus who modeled persistent prayer. We pray because we need Him.
    Closing song: I Need Thee Every Hour

      • James 5:13–20ESV

      • James 1:5–6ESV

      • James 5:13ESV

      • James 5:14ESV

      • James 5:15ESV

      • James 5:16ESV

      • James 5:17–18ESV

      • James 5:19–20ESV

  • I Need Thee Every Hour
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