Sunday Service
Morning search. Please open your Bibles to James. Chapter 5, James chapter 5 and I will join you there shortly.
Got to run to get all this stuff on there. You nobody hear me now that's James chapter 5.
so this story that Richard was reading from the scriptures is 1st Kings chapter 18, and it tells the story of Elijah
Pray and God had, shut up the rain from Israel. The Northern Kingdom of Israel has been very rebellious and had not been Had not been obeying the Covenant of God, and he may have been particularly his wife, Jezebel Jezebel work, very, very Wicked. Northern Kingdom of Israel, God has sent Elijah the prophet to try to get them to repent and one of the ways he did, that was by stopping the reins and Santa Susana this point after three years that Elijah was told by God as Richard red. Hey, Joe, you're going to confront a half and tell Elijah to meet Obadiah after they split up in any tells Obadiah. Hey, you go tell King Ahab that we're going to meet.
Going to lie, just going to disappear when overnight and goes until they have. But after some convincing open until they haven't, they have been lied to me and they decide we're going to have a we're going to have a rumble. We're going to have a client. Elijah says it's going to be the Lord the god of Israel vs. Ball and we're going to meet you on now caramel and you tell all those all those prophets and Priests of Baal, you tell them to come on down to Mount Carmel. And we'll see who the real God of Israel is. Do they call the Placer together at Mount Carmel? An eight-day. Bring the sacrifices up to Mount Carmel. In Elijah tells me, says, look, you call out to your guy, you call out to bail and see you. Spell would like to stuff your sacrifice on fire, and he stood back anyway. It in the freezer down the props to tell David, he cried and chanted. They said their prayers, they cut themselves. Even respond. And Elijah had them dragged water up to the top of this mountain. I need doubt is sacrifice. He does so much of this water that retrench around, the sacrifice filled up with water soaked anyway. And then Elijah price. And he prayed to the Lord and he said, oh Lord, the god of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel today. Let it be known that you are God and Israel and that I am your servant and I have done all these things at your word. Answer me O Lord, answer me that this people may know that you are Lord Our God and that you have turned their heart, heart doctor again. Is that that moment to fire of the Lord fell and consumed, the burnt offering in the word of the wood and the stones and the dust licked up the water that was in the trench. The fire from the Lord was so intense that burned the entire thing. Sacrifice y'all turn the water off. How many people saw the work of fire from the Lord? They fell down and worshipped God, and they dragged. All of those profits about down to the river and put them to the sword. And you would think that moment Elijah would be on cloud nine, three years of Exile, three years of injuring famine, three years of kings and pink and have agents searching all over the ancient world for him. Trying to find him to drag him back to Israel. And Elijah the prophet has just been Vindicated indicated in a mighty Way by God. His enemies. The prophets of Baal at the word of Jezebel sought-after and killed the prophets of the Lord. They haven't earned.
And now the people in turn back to God, you would think at that moment. Elijah. Because here you would think at that moment that there would be nothing that should shake his confidence. But you know the story, you know, that's not what happened. He may have went back and told Jezebel, what happened? Jezebel, send a messenger to Elijah and she said, far be it for Me by this time tomorrow. I don't put you the sword just like all those prophets path. She looks and Elijah, and said, I've seen your God and I'm not afraid. I'm going to end your life and still Elijah being a mediately looked at that and said, right. It off.
Cancel. And you ran off to the Wilderness ran off the mountain of horrible and he ran away by himself in a Day's Journey Into the Wilderness and he came and sat down under a juniper tree requested for himself. God, give me the strength and the courage and let me go back and confront on mission, right?
I'm done. I've had enough. There's nothing more. I can do here said it is enough. Now Lord, take my life for, I'm not better than my father's, but the angel of the Lord came. He came, he brought him food and strengthened him for the journey, and he sent him on his way and he came to Mount Horeb and he came to a kaveny lodge there and hold the word of the Lord came to him. And he said to him, what are you doing here, Elijah? Mighty flat where you going? And he said, Elijah said, I've been very zealous for The Horde. The god of hosts for the sons of Israel have forsaken, your Covenant. They've torn down your altars and they've killed your profits with the sword and I are alone and left. They seek to take my life away. I'm going to leave that story right there. I might come back to the hearing today. They were finishing out our series, The Book of James looking at practical wisdom from above. And if you've been here throughout the series, you know, and there's a big juxtaposition if they kind of comparison that is having all throughout the book and that comparison really is about what the life of face actually looks like, right? And also examples of what it does and all throughout this letter to James is getting us his practical wisdom about how to live out our face and was maybe some of the things that we need to avoid. And he's going to continue that same all the way through to the end of the book. And here in James chapter 5, 7, through 12, James turns, to talk about what faith Prime. Prayer really looks like. It's so let's look at James chapter 5. I'm going to start in verse 7. Doesn't James 5:7. Therefore be patient Brethren until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil being patient until the early and late rains you to be patient. He says you to be patient. Strengthen your hearts for the coming of the Lord is near. So, one of the first things he says, how we need you for How we need to practice. Our faith is to be patient. I think that's why there. I said Faith practiced in prayer just a fake practice. My mistake. That's the next. Patient has to be patient. What does it mean to be patient? I don't think times think of being patient with being patient. Memes is not being bothered by them, right? I think it's a person who's confronted with Miss Fortune, the person who's confronted the great Calamity and respond in a cool calm and collected man. Write a more popular example would kind of be like Jetta, right? Because the Jedis what do you know? There is no emotion, right? They take anything that comes and they're just cool cucumbers and I think to myself in I wish I could be that way because I'm whenever I'm confronted with any type of Calamity, that was credit when my children failed to live up to my very simple expectations. I lose my mind. There's no mention. It's like how many times do I have to tell you? I've got five Sons, do nothing kill you with Call my son, right. And it's like son, how many times do I have to tell you? You actually have to use soap on the dishes, right? And I'm like pulling my hair up son. How many times do I have to tell you that? Before you take out this trash day, please wipe the rim around the truck or not even dealing with calamities right there. So, I would be better if there was a paramedic. There's a car accident fight. Write this happens. That's what insurance is for. but as soon as I get home, my wife,
I think to myself God, I need patience and God like that's why I gave you children. That's not really, what patience is? Patience. As a disposition. We think of patients, has an internal attitude. the church is not really patience, if you're not angry and upset, It's not really patient. If inside, you're not stressed and upset and feel like you want to scream and yell. because patient, the patients that were talking about here is not an internal disposition, it's a choice that we make It's a decision that we make. When confronted with all of those feelings, It's the decision we make to not given to those feet.
Patience is a choice, and I know this. Because Paul says in 1st Corinthians 13:4, that love is patient. And I know that love is a choice because in first John were told we know love by this that he Jesus gave up his life for us. Love, just, like, patience isn't an emotion. It's a choice. It's a choice to be sacrificial. So we are very James and he said, therefore be patient, brother. I know what he say is not, you need to be as cool as a cucumber, and every situation.
Be cool as a cucumber when you're confronted with frustration. After frustration, when you are
Sickness, when you are tired. Not going your way. You're going to choose to be patient.
Choose to be patient. Are the lying on the moon. Therefore be patient brother until the coming of the Lord mean. A farmer who waits for. From the soil. Impatient about being patient for. He's being patient for the right time.
What's the right time?
Another way to look at, that would be the play.
God's Got A Plan, he's coming back. He said no man knows the time but poop the father he's going to plant, he knows what he's doing. God is in control of all things. God is in control of history there for being patient. Wait on the Lord.
Patient. Strengthen your hearts for the coming of the Lord is near gird yourself up. Make up your mind, establish and Route yourself. That's what that strength really needs. Anybody in here ever do Sports. Okay, so when you win and first started playing football, playing basketball playing volleyball, whatever sort of was maybe running track immediately. The first day, you were sprouted, right? Phenomenal at right. Nope, nope, not at all right, why you needed to practice?
It's really easy to look at this and go. Okay, preacher. I understand what you're saying. We need to be patient. Medicaid Choice, Renee. What is the choice? I fail to make a lot. I understand, I understand and so is James. Strengthen your heart. Keep practicing, don't give up. Don't stay, just because you failed in the past. You can't be patient in the future. just because we fell once doesn't mean that that's the end of it, the whole point of Christmas, Run the race.
And you to be patient, strengthen your heart for the coming of the Lord is near. He says, in verse 9, do not complain brother and against one another so that you yourselves may not be judge. The whole that judge is standing right at the door. And this is really important passage for us to understand
Greater Clements. I talked about being patient in the context of suffering for 6. But in the context, that's not what James is talking about. If we come back up here, 2, 5 1 through 6. James is talking about in the contacts. Brothers and sisters in the church. Who has misused their riches and abused their brethren.
So, what is James mean within the context? Look, don't get me wrong. It's true. We ought to be patient in the government. Abuses Christians are attacked by your culture abused on the taxes. Or if we're still struggling, her things are going. Yes, we should choose patients in those times as well, but James specifically is talking about the church. What happens when your brother or sister in the church? Mistreat you when they take advantage of you, Whitney, just missed you.
Huh. Members of the church that all good people preacher right baby. Take care of one another and love one another. After all Jesus said, the greatest commandment love the Lord, your God with all your heart, soul and mind. And the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself. And John says that you don't love God, unless you actually love your brother and sister Shirley preacher. The people in the church, Never mistreat. One another.
Or maybe down.
I want to see it. Raise your hand.
if you walk through the door and cut status, if you walk to the door and cop, look,
he walked in the door and caught judgement in the form of condemnation and, you know, exactly what I'm talking about. You don't exactly what James is talking about. Because it boils are blood shooting. The Church of all people give us the benefit of the doubt, the Church of all people know what we're struggling. Church of all people. Not be like the world. And yet, how often would we say? We're treated better by her coworkers and family in the world than we are by numbers.
Well, welcome to Christianity has been going on for $2,000. That's what Jamie is talking about. He says, notices advice. He said first, hey, we need to be patient, but then he also said, do not complain brother and against one another, Right? Don't complain about it when you're mistreated in the church. James expect two things from you first just to choose patience when we don't want. Why do I struggle so much with my own children? Because I have an expectation of, I've taught them better, they know better and I have no expectation that they're going to do what they've been told them. What they've been taught. Why do we get so frustrated with the church? Because we have an expectation and that expectation goes on that Muffin song. It's a win that expectation goes on that Jane says we ought to choose patient. Not the old patient. You're not going to be location. I don't know if that's not going to happen if you're not going to feel that way. Feel like you're being like I'm not really bothered, then it's not.
Upset angry.
That way and you will. Patient. The second thing, he tells us the truth truth. Don't play
do not. Do not complain Brethren against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judge. Behold the judge is standing right at the door. Your brother and sister is already doing the wrong thing that changed advice is don't join them because you're going to be held the time.
And if we decide to live in our heart live in our feelings live in that area, who started complaining about her brothers and sisters, the Lord hears that two and two wrongs don't make a right.
And this is cop. Because the more rights have been violated is American citizens. What are we supposed to do? Speak up, right? Janie says, be patient and don't complain don't Grumble against your brother or sister. Be patient. Don't complain. The Lord sees all And so does the Lord, see you being mistreated? Yes. Is the Lord going to see how you respond? Yes, this is why Paul says in Ephesians
strive to be patient. Because it's very difficult. It's very difficult. How do you spell relationship since the church further? Paul says, in Romans, as far as it depends on you. Are you going to have to account for the way that your brother has mistreated? You know, you're going to have to account for how you responded? He continues this concept as an example for the word of suffering and patience to take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those and verse 11 blessed to endear and I've heard of the endurance, you have her rather of the endurance of joke and a scene. The outcomes of the Lord's dealings that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful to give us a couple of examples.
The prophet east of which we have gotten in Elijah. Joe. Examples for what needs to be patient and long-suffering.
Joseph suffer, the prophet suffered, unrighteous lie. And if they committed themselves to the plan of God, they committed themselves to the working of God jove refused to curse God. even though he suffered unrighteous even though he's a righteous man to suffer the prophets like we refused to curse God, even though many of them that are in the hands of their brothers,
all of them. Remember the plan? And mission of God, all of them remembered that they serve the Lord. And that Vengeance Vengeance. Ultimately Belongs to the Lord, he says, in 1st 12, but above all my brother and do not swear either by heaven or by Earth or with any other oath, but let your yes. But your yes is to be yes rather and your No-No so that you may not fall under judgment. He tells us very simply here. Don't make a note. Why? Because when you're going through When your brothers and sisters. when everything is going sideways and Haywire in the church and you have that expectation that has not been and you're struggling in your soul.
We oversee, right? I never coming back here. Far be it from me if they ever need my help. Right? So we do it. So that's why this warning is here. He's given us three different things. Are we can have a practice faith in patient. We can choose patient when we don't want to
And here. Boy and control our tongue. Being all throughout the Book of James, this idea of controlling the tongue and James 1:19. He says, if you know my beloved brother, but everyone must be what quick to listen to. I had a quick to listen, slow to speak, does not Bridle his tongue but to seize his throne heart heart that man's religion is worthless. In chapter 3, he has a whole thing about restraining. Does God care about what we say? Yes. Does God care about what we say? To one another? Yes. So his advice here is that we be patient that we withhold judgment that we wait on the Lord and that we don't make Hasty hose.
Okay, he says, in verse 13. Is anyone among you suffering? There. He must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He has to sing praises. Is anyone among you who says, in verse 14th? Is anyone among you sick? They must call for the Elders of the church and they would pray over him anointing with oil, in the name of the Lord, not only does God want us to have a practice faith and patience. He wants his face and present nor do. I mean by that.
We're waiting on the Lord, but the Lord is with us. He said the Great Commission, right? I've been given all power under Heaven and Earth has been given all Authority Under Heaven and Earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the teaching, them to obey everything. I have commanded. You would what do you say at the end? And lo I'm with you always. When we are baptized into Christ, would we receive forgiveness of sins and what? Spirit of God, and dwells within us, right? God is with us and what James is staying here. Sing Look, it's very simple. God wants to be with you. If you are suffering, pray because God is with you. If you were cheerful, things are going well. Sing praises. God is with you. 7 vs 14.
There we go. Does a 14? Is anyone among you sick then? You must call for the Elders of the church, and they are to pray over him. Anointing him with oil, in the name of the Lord. And the Lord will raise him up. The Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Is there power in our is there power in understanding that the presence of the Lord is with his church, and with his Notice what? Austin Bobby wants us involved in his mission on the earth, saving the nation and wants us involved in keeping the same savior sway says, here you go. For someone is sick and sent, you go to them, you pray, over them, you anoint them with oil and what am I going to do?
I'll forgive them up sent. I'll restore them. I so many people come to this passage and say well I prayed, I was sick and I prayed in the elders came and they did all these things and I didn't get better, or my loved ones, didn't get better. This is not a snake. God is a vending machine if we just get the formula, right? He's going to give me the trots. but when we read literally and we're hurting, We look at things like this and forget ever.
What is God's answer to? No, innuendo. Or God answer to you is no in the mid. Or God answer key with maybe not right now when you want it so bad. Understand that you are. An excellent company is Jesus. Praying in the garden that the cut may pass from him and God also told him
Jesus Promised the apostles that if you pray, according to my Why Jesus says not my will but four wheeler. And if you were will for my life. Is that I suffer, The hands of my brethren if your will for my life. Is that I suffer in sickness or if your will for my life. As I struggle with addiction, whatever your will is, let your will be done because you
God is with us.
God is with US citizen 416. Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. What's the point of confession? the point of confession point of coming forward here in very very short time, we have an invitation that invitation is extended the church because of passages just like this it's not just for new Christian turn people who want to meet to come forward and be baptized. It's also.
I'm struggling to stay that I need for it. I'm struggling and I need help.
But it's so hard to do that. When we don't trust one another. When we finished hurt When things have gone sideways in our walk with Christ amongst each other. because for so long, if someone came forward and said I'm in, I'm in struggling, with Santa and failing and I need prayer, the immediate question and would be what what type of person I got to find out anything, right?
What you need is prayer. and the prayer of a righteous man accomplishes, much an example of a righteous man is given Are 17 and 18. He says Elijah was a man with a nation like ours and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain. And it did not rain on the earth, the three years and 6 months, then he prayed again. And this guy poured rain in the earth produced its roof. And we look at. Elijah goes, what? He says. Elijah was a man with a nation like ours. That means Elijah's trucks. That means Elijah is a perfect. And you seen the story? Do you want to buy this problem once?
Arrogant and prideful. What are you saying. I'm the last one.
Did we hear the scripture reading? And I was saving process left and right.
With Elijah, the last one. No, we want. With a lighter frightful.
Did Elijah struggle. They're going to kill me. I can't keep doing what you asked because they're coming for my life.
And yeah. James is Elijah. A man who's like us who struggles, like us prayed earnestly? That would not rain.
The righteous live by faith. The righteous lid trusting, God. I would like to pray that God told him and the sky closed up and Elijah prayed when God told him to You think maybe? if we pray, when God tells us to if we've asked when God tells us to, if we trust God and Trust in his word like he tells us to do you think maybe we can be righteous to it has less to do with perfect perfection in every jot and Tittle, and maybe more in our disposition of faith and trust in God, James seems to think so, Tells us, Elijah is a man like ours. So he's told us so far a face tractus in patients looks like a patient have a practice and patient looks like not complaining it looks like waiting on the Lord has practiced in prayer. Looks like prayer and song grabbing on to the very presence of God was with us confessing our sins. One another and raising each other up and say he's going to end it in 19 and 20 with faith practiced in truth. He says here in verse 19, my brother and if any among you who Strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his ways, will save his soul from death and will cover over a multitude of sins are there. Things we could do contrary to, what you may say, are there things that we can do. Did the Forgiveness of our sins and you better believe that. Jesus said, if you don't forgive, I might going to forgive No, do we have before? Yeah, it's right here. What does he say? he said, if you go and you turn the brother back, Covers over, how much? A multitude of sins. Is it easy to stray from the truth? Think about the context of everything we've been talking about. If you've been wrong in the church, is it easy to walk away from the tree? 100%. These are the people that are supposed to love me. These are the people that are supposed to be with me, we're going to be together for eternity. And they said they disrespected me, they hurt my feelings and I
It's really. It happened two thousand years ago and it happens today.
What are we supposed to do with our brother strange from the truth? Let's go get our sister straightening truth. When we supposed to do supposed to go get them. That doesn't mean we show up on their door and go 12:42 Hebrew to go back and now you're going to get punished.
That's not bringing anybody back. You know what Mike praying for them every single day. You don't mind reaching out. Just let him know that we miss him. You know what Mike, when they come back, celebrate.
Forgiving them. Wiping all out.
It's amazing. What happens when we look for those who are lost, right? That's the spirit of God. He left the 99 and went to search for the one that should be our spirit as well.
Story of Elijah.
In 1st Kings chapter 18. We ended and left with him. Looking at God saying like I'm the last one. I'm the only one. We know that's not true, but we can understand how we got there. We can understand why he feels the way he does. When his countrymen, and his brothers who are Israelites are trying to kill.
And he looks like God, he says, what time the last one and God says low? We're not doing this.
I know, I know. All the things you've been through. So here's what we're going to do. Go return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus. And when you've arrived, you shall anoint, Hazel, king of Erin and Jay, who the son of nimshi. You shall also annoying as king over Israel and Elijah. The son of shapot of a woman you shall anoint as prophet in your place. God's response to him. And his weakest weakness is the plan needs to keep going and you've got things to do. Get back up. Donkey Kong.
We got things to knowing, we've got a new Prophet to annoy, get back on Mission. It is probably one of the most loving things God can do in it to someone in that home. I know you're suffering. There's still work to be done and notice at the end of their, there's a, there's a profit who's going to take a place. I understand there's rust to be had. God remind Sammy says look. There are 7000 still in his real Albanese that have not bowed to Bow and every mouth that has not kissed him, You Are Not Alone.
You Are Not Alone.
So, my challenge this week going forward. Don't give up on God. He knows all the things that you've suffered in these walls and other walls in some in some congregations and churches that I don't even know. If he knows that you suffer, he's fully aware of it. Don't give up on God. Simultaneously. Don't give up on his church.
We must wait under pressure. Even from those who love and practice our faith make up your mind to do so and don't do it alone. Do it with god with your suffering. What do you have joy with the sickness with your sin practice face in presence? In the presence of God bring him in to every moments. Remember whom we serve, Remember that he knows. Bring him into every moment. Praise sing confess.
Finally, hold on to the truth. When we wander away, hold on to the truth. That forgiveness is accessible. When someone else wanders away, hold on. To the truth. That forgive forgiveness and Reconciliation is possible. Make up your mind. As far as it depends on you, you will be at peace. With every brother and sister.
Finally, this morning. If you're ready, start following Christ. That's awesome. We want to help you with that. Take me to get watered. All right. Good job water back. We got water in this week and we can start you on your journey here, not sure where you stand with Christ, we'd love to sit down and talk to you about it. But if you're here this morning and you're part of the church and you've been hurt and you thought to yourself, I'm done, I'm walking away. Or maybe you said something like that in the past or maybe you just need help.
Whatever you need this more. We want to encourage you want to pray with you, we want to help me. Is, we're all of this race together. I want to see every single one of you anytime next to my father. So, whatever you need this morning, I asked you, as we stand and ask me something.
