James

1. James Lesson 9 Singing praises, praying, confessing our sins and restoring straying brethren James 5:13-20

2. Introduction • No apparent theme in these last verses of James • Various quick points to encourage us to live in harmony with Christ • But, when we, or our brethren, drift away from the Lord, other faithful Christians should help to restore us back to the Lord

3. Singing praises, praying, confessing our sins and restoring straying brethren • Pray when we suffer 5:13 • Sing praises when cheerful 5:13 • Role of prayer and confession of sins in healing the sick 5:14-18 • Turning erring brethren back to the truth 5:19-20

4. Pray When We Suffer • Jas 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

5. Pray When We Suffer • 2Co 12:7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself! • 2Co 12:8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.

6. Pray When We Suffer • 2Co 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. • 2Co 12:10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

7. Pray When We Suffer • Luk 6:27 "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, • Luk 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

8. Sing Praises When Cheerful • Jas 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

9. Sing Praises When Cheerful • Heb 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

10. Sing Praises When Cheerful • Eph 5:19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; • Col 3:16 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.

11. Possible Even To Rejoice and Sing Praises While Suffering • Act 16:25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

12. Role Of Prayer And Confession Of Sins In Healing The Sick • Although some believe James writes about miraculous healing of physical illness, I believe he speaks of healing by God’s providence, power and mercy • God allows the righteous, including elders of a local church, to be involved in healing through their prayers on behalf of the sick • Elders also provided what was needed medically like anointing the ill with oil

13. Role Of Prayer And Confession Of Sins In Healing The Sick • When we are sick, it is often a time to reflect on our spiritual condition and if need be, confess our sins and turn from them that we might be restored back to the Lord whether physical sickness is healed or not • The power of the righteous praying for the sick should never be underestimated since we appeal to a powerful merciful God

14. The Sick Should Call For Righteous Elders of The Church To Help and Pray • Jas 5:14 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; • Jas 5:15 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.

15. The Sick Should Call For Righteous Elders of The Church To Help and Pray • Jas 5:16 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.

16. The Sick Should Call For Righteous Elders of The Church To Help and Pray • Luk 10:33 "But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, • Luk 10:34 and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

17. God’s Power and Mercy Can Heal The Sick • Eph 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, • Eph 3:21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

18. God’s Power and Mercy Can Heal The Sick • Php 2:27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.

19. God’s Power and Mercy Can Heal The Spiritually Sick • Act 8:22 "Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. • Act 8:24 But Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me."

20. Elijah An Example of God Hearing The Prayers of The Righteous • Jas 5:17 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. • Jas 5:18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

21. Elijah An Example of God Hearing The Prayers of The Righteous • 1Ki 17:1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." • 1Ki 18:42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees.

22. Elijah An Example of God Hearing The Prayers of The Righteous • 1Ki 18:44 It came about at the seventh time, that he said, "Behold, a cloud as small as a man's hand is coming up from the sea." And he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.'" • 1Ki 18:45 In a little while the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy shower. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.

23. Turning Erring Brethren Back To The Truth • We can fall into sin to such an extent that we need the help of brethren to restore us back to the Lord • Christians have an obligation to restore erring brethren displaying godly attitudes and conduct • Repentance, confession, prayer and the blood of Jesus needed for our restoration

24. Turning Erring Brethren Back To The Truth • Jas 5:19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, • Jas 5:20 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.

25. The Way Christians Must Behave In Restoring Erring Brethren • Gal 6:1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. • Gal 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

26. The Way Christians Must Behave In Restoring Erring Brethren • 2Co 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you. • 2Co 2:6 Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority,

27. The Way Christians Must Behave In Restoring Erring Brethren • 2Co 2:7 so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. • 2Co 2:8 Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

28. Repentance, Confession, Prayer and The Blood Christ Needed For Restoration • Rev 3:19 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. • Jas 5:16 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. • 1Jn 1:7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

29. Singing praises, praying, confessing our sins and restoring straying brethren • Pray when we suffer 5:13 • Sing praises when cheerful 5:13 • Role of prayer and confession of sins in healing the sick 5:14-18 • Turning erring brethren back to the truth 5:19-20