MidWeek 21 James 5

Chapter 1

That testings and trials bring opportunity for testing your faith so welcome those trials with open arms.

That real pure religion is caring for orphans, widows, and keeping yourself from being corrupted by the world.

Chapter 2

Don’t be involved in the sin of favoritism, don’t discriminate among people, and obey the Royal Law.

Just as the body is dead and not breathing so is your faith if there are no good works to go along with it.

Chapter 3

If we could control the tongue, we could harness the world

You can’t draw good water from a salty spring. So, likewise blessings and cursings should not come from the same tongue/heart.

Chapter 4

Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you.

Chapter 5: 4 Basic Topics

Warning to the Rich

Patience and Endurance

The Power of Prayer

Restore Wandering Believers

5:1-6

James 5:1–6 NLT

Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment. For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you.

Why do we have to give up our pursuit of pleasure?

people with wealth look like they are having fun

James is reminding us that SELFISH LIFESTYLE inevitably leads to painful consequences

Maybe b/c of our past SELFISH LIFESTYLE we have already suffered pain and emptiness.

REMEMBER: Living a SELFISH LIFESTYLE never yields lasting joy and peace; it always leads to one kind of bondage or another.

When we make God’s will our will—When we make God’s plan our plan—When we follow God the Way we should follow—

We will experience freedom and become a blessing to the people around us.

5:7-11

James 5:7–11 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door! For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

Just because we have humbly surrendered to Jesus does that mean there will be no more trouble for us?

There will be times of hardship—circumstances that will test our patience.

Never forget there is coming a day that we will have no more pain.

Jesus is coming back for us

IN THE MEANTIME:

we are to bear our suffering with patience.

we must also be patient with one another too.

5:12

James 5:12 NLT

But most of all, my brothers and sisters, never take an oath, by heaven or earth or anything else. Just say a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned.

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5:13-18

James 5:13–18 NLT

Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

Why is prayer one of the most powerful tools for you and me?

One reason is because our Father has the power to heal us spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

when we pray , we display our faith that Father can help us.

Prayer is an essential part of the process of surrendering our lives to God.

As we share our needs with one another and pray for one another, God will display his active presence and power in our lives.

Admitting our faults to God and to a trustworthy person is essential to our spiritual growth.

When we share our faults with others, we give them the opportunity to uphold us in prayer.

James is reminding us that confession is an important part of our personal prayer lives.

Likewise, God invites us to admit our faults and failures to him through prayer.

5:19-20

James 5:19–20 NLT

My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

Why should we help others to come back to God who have wandered off?

When we and others bring our sins and shortcomings before God, he responds powerfully.

We then are displaying our faith by sharing our problems with him.

This is not a weak thing—this is a very strong righteous thing to do.

Bringing the lost home causes a great rejoicing in Heaven—HALLELUJAH!

Closing

Uvalde, Texas