Faithful in prayer and praise!

Proverbs to glean from!

In reviewing the Epistle you can see that it is full of proverbs (short witty sayings) to apply and live by. As we wrap up the Epistle there is still much to glean, but first a quick review.

Count trials as a joy (Jm1:3)

James started back in Jm1:3 about trials, to count them a joy. Tonight we will be looking at what James has to say about suffering, how we can count that a joy. He is going to address suffering in the flesh, suffering in the spirit and will couple it all with the practice of prayer.

Keep a tight rein on your tongue (Jm1:26)

Keep the royal law (Jm2:8)

Let your words be followed by your actions (Jm2:14-17)

Teachers, watch your mouth (Jm3:1)

Don’t curse with that mouth (Jm3:1-10)

Stop bickering and start submitting (Jm4:1-9)

Keep your word (Jm5:12)

As we wrap up this epistle there is much we can glean, much we can learn from all of things we have seen, so let’s see what we can learn tonight.

May we learn not just for knowledge but for application and edification too, with wisdom that comes from above (Jm3:17)

Faithful prayer: Keeps us connected

James 5:13–14 NASB95

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 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;

Prayer is commanded, prayer is conditional for prayer must come from a place of faith. Prayer keeps us connected to God and helps us stay connected together too.

(stay connected)

Prayer is important for wisdom (Jm1:5-6)

Prayer is imperative (commanded) (Jm5:13-14)

Prayer offered to the living and giving God (Jm1:4; Jm1:17; Ps6:9)

God is good, God is faithful and we need to approach him with all faithfulness knowing he hears our prayers

Psalm 6:9 NASB95

9 The Lord has heard my supplication, The Lord receives my prayer.

Prayer and praise in life situations is an imperative and commanded for you and for others (Jm5:13-14)

(suffering and cheerful)

In suffering (v.13)

What kind is not spelled out so may it include all suffering, physical, spiritual, self-inflicted and God allowed suffering

It can be sickness, bereavement, disappointment, persecutions or even accusations and allocations as well as loss of heath or wealth.

It’s OK to pray for removal, if it is the Lords will (2Cor12:8)

Paul prayed for his thorn to be removed

It’s OK to pray for strength to bear and endure (1Cor10:13)

God will not allow you to be tempted without providing a way out, a way for you to endure and bear it.

It is a good idea as Jesus commanded to pray for one another too (Lk6:28)

Pray for those who mistreat you, well, as well as others too.

So, pray in time of suffering leads us to times of cheer too, what to do then.

In times of cheerfulness, sing praises! (Jm5:13; Col3:16)

Cheerful, well that looks like the opposite of suffering does it not? It denotes a mind, heart that is free from trouble.

May we do as the psalmist did, sing praise, like Paul and Silas did while in prison, sing hymns

Singing praises can take a good situation and make it even better (Col3:16)

Colossians 3:16 NASB95

16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

(got a question)

Ever wonder why more Christians are not singing with the instrument of their heart more often or more fervently?

Is it that they are afflicted, troubled, tried, in midst of tribulation or persecution?

Have they not realized everything God has already done for them?

Do they not know how good God is and faithful and in the bad times as well as the good He is with them and will bring them through?

In reality we have no reason not to sing praises, for He is worthy of all praise. We should praise Him for all things, even the hard things. It does not matter what the praise sounds like, just let it come from your heart to His.

Singing praises is just as important and saying prayers. Someone once said “perhaps our prayers would be answered more often if we praised more often.”

In times of illness call the elders (Jm4:14)

(Jm5:14 - call for the elders)

James 5:14 NASB95

14 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;

why? They are the overseers (1Pt5:2) men of respect and wisdom (1Tim3:2-7)

It speaks of anointing with oil, what is that all about?

In time, it was medicinal and had some healing effect

Today, the practice seems to be more cultural and symbolic vs. medicinal since God has created doctors and ever changing medical field as His tools

The sickness is not described

Could it be physical? Could it be spiritual? Could it be sin?

Is the healing providential or miraculous?

Is the healing physical or spiritual

Keep these things in consideration as we press on.

Faithful prayers avail much

Prayers of faith come from faithful people and they avail much. Our passage leaves as much unsaid as it says, but what it does say is impactful and applicable.

James 5:15–16 NASB95

15 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. 16 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 5:17–18 NASB95

17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

Faithful prayers will restore

The spiritually sick, sinful that need restoration to the body

The physically sick can find relief and restoration to illness

Faithful prayers will raise up

Faithful prayers should include confession to one another, this is a strong admonition but it is in faith that we do it. This is for helping and joining not for absolution as some may believe. It is helping one another, praying for one another to help one another, to strengthen one another

Faithful prayers will bring forgiveness of sins (Jm5:15-16)

Notice that in the passage it says “if” they have committed sin (v.15) so it calls for confession (v.16)

If sin has been committed it will bring forgiveness when we confess, the real confession is to God not to man, man is not needed God is needed for only God is just and will quickly forgive your sins for we all sin (1Jn1:8-9)

1 John 1:8–9 NASB95

8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Faithful prayers example (Jm5:17-18; Gal5:22-23)

Then James offers up proof, an illustration of faithful prayer in offering up Elijah as the example.

In the example it says that the prayer brought rain and the rain produced fruit, spiritually speaking does not prayer bring about fruit too?

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control as says in (Gal5:22-23)

James heart call regarding prayer (Jm5:19-20)

James 5:19–20 NASB95

19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 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.

(restore)

Faithful prayer leads one to faithful service for restoration of faith to the one who is in error.

Bring the word of truth to lead one back, to turn back (Jm5:19)

Don’t sit idly by, help one to be restored (Mt18:15)

Don’t let one be deceived by sin (Heb3:13)

Example of a call for restorative prayer (Jude20-23)

Jude 20–21 NASB95

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

Jude 22–23 NASB95

22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.

If looking back at Jm5:7-20 there are some good things to grab hold of as we close this out.

James through the word is calling (Jm5:7)

James through the word is reminding (Jm5:8-9)

James through the word examples (Jm5:10-11)

James through the word is challenging (Jm5:12)

James through the word is commanding (Jm5:13-14)

All that for we can know the word

Brings restoration (Jm5:15)

Brings freedom (Jm5:16)

Gives exampled proof (Jm5:17-18)

Gives instructions, is sending (Jm5:19)

And, finally it is saving (Jm5:20)

Living as a slave to Christ, this is what this series has been from the proverbial writer of the N.T. James, I hope you have gained some knowledge, understanding and more importantly some application along the way.