Patience, Perseverance, Prayer, Promise

The theme of James: Patience, Perseverance, Prayer, Promise

James 1:2–3 NASB95

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

James 1:2

Control your tongue

James 5:12 NASB95

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

Have you every had someone say, “I swear to God!”

Not talking about dirty words

Not talking about an oath in a court room

Have you every had someone say, “I swear to God!”

Prayer

James 5:13 NASB95

Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

James 5

You, as a believer in Christ have direct access to God!

John 14:6 NASB95

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Ephesians

Ephesians 2:18 NASB95

for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

We are called to pray for one another, but no one has to pray on your behalf.

There is no military style chain of command

Pray for the sick

James 5:14:

James 5:14–15 NASB95

Is anyone among you sick? Then he 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 prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

Many a church split: “I was sick and no one came.”

Anointing with oil: symbolic setting apart for prayer.

Our faith does not trump God’s will.

Learn from each other

James 5:16 NASB95

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.

James

Vernon Law: Experience is a hard teacher because she gives you the test and the the lesson afterwards.

Elijah: was a man with a nature like ours.

John 9:31 NASB95

“We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.

Jo

no rain for 3 years and 6 months; prayed again: the rains came.

Guide one another

James

James 5:19–20 NASB95

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Be accountable to each other.