RESPONDING TO SICKNESS AND SIN James 5:13-20

INTRODUCTION A. Barriers to effectiveness A. Barriers to effectiveness B. Conclusion to book of James B. Conclusion to book of James

Christians should respond: –to sickness with prayer and –to sin with intervention in the lives of fellow- believers

I. Christians should pray in all situations in life 5:13-18 A. When experiencing hardship, pray for relief 5:13a A. When experiencing hardship, pray for relief 5:13a B. When doing well, praise God 5:13b B. When doing well, praise God 5:13b

C. When sick, summon elders to pray, anointing with oil 5:14-15a 1. Most important element of procedure = 1. Most important element of procedure = prayer of faith not anointing with oil prayer of faith not anointing with oil 2. Significance of anointing with oil = 2. Significance of anointing with oil = tangible encouragement to recipient tangible encouragement to recipient not merely ceremonial nor medicinal not merely ceremonial nor medicinal

3. Assured effect of procedure = healing 3. Assured effect of procedure = healing ~~but what if healing doesn’t occur? ~~but what if healing doesn’t occur? a. Remember that prayer of faith inherently includes “if the Lord wills” of James 4:15 a. Remember that prayer of faith inherently includes “if the Lord wills” of James 4:15 b. Be assured that God has something more important in His plan. b. Be assured that God has something more important in His plan.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

D. When sickness is due to sin, mutually confess sins and pray for healing 5:15b-16a D. When sickness is due to sin, mutually confess sins and pray for healing 5:15b-16a E. When praying, be assured of the great power of prayer 5:16b-18 E. When praying, be assured of the great power of prayer 5:16b-18

1. Power of prayer affirmed 16b Prayer and God’s Will We pray We don’t pray 1. Power of prayer affirmed 16b Prayer and God’s Will We pray We don’t pray God’s Will Unconditional + + Conditional + - Not God’s Will - -

2. Power of prayer illustrated by Elijah, a person just like us 5: Power of prayer illustrated by Elijah, a person just like us 5:17-18 Like us: Like us: a. Elijah lived in a world indifferent to God 2 K 18:17-21 a. Elijah lived in a world indifferent to God 2 K 18:17-21 b. Elijah lived with a fallible character 2 K 19:3-14 b. Elijah lived with a fallible character 2 K 19:3-14 c. Elijah lived with God as his companion 2 K 19:5-18 c. Elijah lived with God as his companion 2 K 19:5-18 LESSON: Elijah was like us! How much are we people of God like him? LESSON: Elijah was like us! How much are we people of God like him?

II. Christians should intervene in the lives of professing believers who are sinning 5:19-20 A. Successful interventions brings restoration 5:19-20a A. Successful interventions brings restoration 5:19-20a ~~this involves repentance ~~this involves repentance B. Successful intervention rescues sinner from death 5:20b B. Successful intervention rescues sinner from death 5:20b 1. If not true believer = saved from spiritual death 1. If not true believer = saved from spiritual death 2. If a true believer = saved from physical death 2. If a true believer = saved from physical death C. Successful intervention brings forgiveness of sins 5:20c C. Successful intervention brings forgiveness of sins 5:20c

CONCLUSION – Dialing God’s 911 Prayer is proper response for all occasions! TROUBLES GOOD TIMES SICKNESS SIN RELATED SICKNESSES OUR REBELLIOUS WORLD