James 5:13-20
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Lady to G. Campbell Morgan-only take the big things to God
Doesn’t want to bother him with little things.
G. Campbell Morgan- Lady anything you take to God is little.
James ending his epistle with prayer is fitting.
evidence of care. greatest assistance one believer can give another.
Must be sensitive to the needs of others, engage with them and recognize how significant those needs are.
Prayer and praise-v. 13
Greatest weakness of the church today, lack of prayer and praise.
Insensitivity
Inconsistency
Suffering calls for prayer, sufficiency for praise
illustrated in two points
Is any in trouble
Suffering from any source.
Happy
Sing praises
Supplication for needs
Sick
Weary
James not referring to physically ill
He uses Kamno, “weary” plenty of NT words for physical illness.
Talking about morally or spiritually sick
Call the Elders
Leaders encouraged to, 1 Thes 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
Oil is not used here for divine healing, rater for bestowing honor, refreshment and grooming
The fact that this is a spiritual restoration is evidenced further in “If he has sinned, his sins will be forgiven”
V. 16
Mutual concern for one another combats discouragement and downfall
-Ev. confess your sins to one another
Matt. 13:15 “For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’”
Not body but soul healing
Elijah
Earnest, persistent pray is essential
And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’ ” And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Bring the wandering back into the fold
James appeal is tender, encouraging.
These are the sick ones James has referred to.
Wandered away
Missed the path and is now lost.
Need to be brought back into the fold
Restoration, revival
not, evangelism or redemption
So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
This is the same idea seen in 1 Peter 4:8
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.