Prayer, Confession, and Concern

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Fundraiser on Feb. 10th.

Introduction

This is our last night together in the book of James. Before we walk through this last section together, I want us to look at James 1 quickly.

James 1:2–4 ESV

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James wants his fellow Christians to know how to live and persevere through trials so that they can find joy. He wants them to be perfected through this. We’ve talked about hearing and doing God’s Word, living impartially, how a workless faith is a dead faith, how our tongues are fires, where true wisdom comes from, worldliness, boasting about our plans, partiality, warnings of wealth, and being patient in suffering.

Through all of these trials and circumstances, James wants us to persevere. To trust God. To find joy in Him.

I think he ends his letter in a similar way to how he starts it. Prayer, confession and concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ are how we persevere and find joy in the LORD.

Prayer for any Situation

James 5:13 ESV

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

It’s easy to be tempted to get upset or grumble when we are suffering. Discouragement, anger grumbling, frustration. James reminds us that there is one clear Christian response to the way we respond to difficulties: Prayer

The second question is like “are you happy?” Sing praise!

Whether we find happiness or pain in our experiences. We should always go to the LORD.

Application

I hear more grumbling come from my mouth more than I should. I think that if you were honest, you hear yourself complaining too much too. It’s no wonder that we don’t stop to praise God as often as we should. Our problem is that we turn to every other source of “venting” our frustration before turning to God in prayer. It’s either texting a friend, internet post, or phone call, but we don’t turn to the LORD first. Why? I think it’s because we’re trained to expect an immediate response from others. Someone to console us. Someone to affirm us. Someone to tell us why the other person is bad and we’re so much better. Maybe that's your idol. Burn your idols! The LORD rejects that and He wants us to patiently depend on His answer. Patience is part of the process. This generation expects too much too quickly.

James 5:14 ESV

14 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.

Quick aside: Notice how James says to call for the “elders” of the church. There should be more than just one leader in a church. We’re not lone rangers here.

This is a weird passage isn’t it? The sick person is likely bedridden which is why the elders head over to pray for them.

I don’t want to get hung up on the anointing with oil thing, but let’s address it quickly. At this time, oil didn’t have any medical application other than cleansing wounds in the first century. This is probably a symbolic way of setting a person apart for God’s miraculous intervention. It’s similar to when we put our hands on someone as we pray over them. It’s a way of setting someone apart while calling on the LORD in faith to heal that person.

James 5:15 ESV

15 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.

We should not always expect to be healed from sickness in this life. Remember, even Paul requested to have his Thorn in the flesh removed, which was most likely some kind of illness, but the Lord didn’t remove it (cf. 2 Cor 12:8-9). The mortality rate in our world is 100%.

This is best understood as a promissory statement that does not necessarily list exceptions. It’s a statement made memorable by focusing on God’s gracious invitation and our response. He invites us to turn to Him. He will raise him up (either now or in the future).

Application: Sometimes sickness, or death, come from our sin. God uses that sickness to draw us back to Himself. Our anxiety is a reflection of this too. When we operate out of anxiousness or fear, we experience lack of sleep, nervous ticks, lack of focus, and other physical and mental ticks. We need others to pray over us. God wants us to be restored to Him. He wants us to pray to Him for our healing and restoration. It is His prerogative to heal, but it is our responsibility to confess and to turn to Him. He will forgive.

Confession in Community

James 5:16 ESV

16 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.

The “therefore” here is important. We should confess our sins to one another. Believers should not only confess their sins to those they have wronged, but also their “secret sins” of pride, lust, resentment, and greed.

Application

“But, can’t I just confess them to God?” Of course we should confess our sins to God! But is that an excuse for not confessing to one another which is commanded by God? Godward repentance will be mirrored in relationships within the Christian community. Spiritual healing, if not physical healing from the sickening effects of holding onto your sin, happens with confession.

James 5:17–18 ESV

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.

Confession and prayer are vital for our lives as Christians. They are powerful means of grace, restoration, repentance, and joy! James gives the example of Elijah as one whose prayers affected rain for 3.5 years. Prayer is powerful!

Concern for straying Christians

These are our last verses.

James 5:19–20 ESV

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.

Our joy is also found in helping straying believers get back on the right path. Only God knows the hearts of a person. Someone may confess Christ, but not really believe.

1 John 2:19 ESV

19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

But that doesn’t matter here! Only God knows, that’s true. But if someone confesses Christ and are straying we are still responsible for redirecting, rebuking, or bringing a wandering soul back from their wandering.

Does a good parent let you get away with whatever you want? What about a good friend? God doesn’t want us to wander, but he doesn’t want us to sit on our hands and say nothing while our Christian friends live like the world. It’s a gift to have a friend that will hold you accountable. Be that friend, regardless of what happens to your friendship.

Small Groups

Talk about Prayer, Confession, and Concern with your groups.