2. JAMES 5:7-18 “Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil…You too be patient; strengthen you hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Don’t complain against one another that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door….”(vs. 7-9) “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but let your yes be yes, and your no, no….” (vs. 10)

3. “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 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. 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. Elijah was a man just like us and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain for three years. He prayed again and the sky poured forth rain and the earth produced its fruit.” (vs. 13-18)

4. “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, 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.” James 5:19,20

5. REVIEW OF JAMES - JAMES’ MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH:

6. TOPICS IN JAMES TRIALSFAITH OR WORKS TEMPTATIONTHE TOUNGUE AUTHENTIC FAITHWISDOM LOVING OTHERSLIVING LIFE GOD’S WAY

8. WHAT’S IMPORTANT TODAY?  IT’S IMPORTANT TO LIVE WITH PATIENCE! “Be patient, therefore brethren….” vs. 7  IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE STRONG! “Strengthen your hearts….” vs. 8  IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE READY! “Behold, your judge is standing right at the door.” vs. 9

9. II. TOGETHER, WE LIVE WITH AUTHENTICITY AND TRUTH!

10. THE MISHNA (The written law followed by the Pharisees) Jesus said: “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees…you blind guides who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; whoever swears by the gold in the temple, he is obligated. What is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing; whoever swears by the offering upon it, he is obligated. What is more important, the offering or the altar that sanctifies it? (Matthew 23:16-19) BINDING OATHS and UNBINDING OATHS!

11. TRUTH IS A MARK OF OUR FAITH! “IT’S THE TRUTH, I SWEAR TO GOD” “I PUT MY HAND ON A STACK OF BIBLES” “AS GOD IS MY WITNESS” “SCOUTS HONOR” “ON MY MOTHER’S GRAVE” “LET’S BE HONEST” “LET ME SHOOT STRAIGHT WITH YOU”

12. WHAT’S IMPORTANT?  IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE REAL! “Do not swear by heaven, or by earth, or any other oath” vs. 12  IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE CLEAR! “Let your yes by yes and your no, no….” vs. 12  IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE SAFE! “So that you may not yourself fall under judgment….” vs. 12

13. TOGETHER, WE LIVE WITH APPROPRIATE RESPONSES TO LIFE’S CIRCUMSTANCES!

14. WHAT’S IMPORTANT? FACE OUR TRIALS WITH FAITH! “IS ANY AMONG YOU SUFFERING?” IT IS IMPORTANT TO BY PRAYERFUL! “Let him pray…” vs.13

15. WHAT’S IMPORTANT? REJOICE! “IS ANYONE AMONG YOU CHEERFUL?” “Let him sing songs!” vs. 13 IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE REJOICING!

16. IS ANY ONE AMONG YOU SICK? “Let him call for the elders of the church… vs. 14 “Let them pray…anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” IT IS IMPORTANT TO ADMIT OUR NEED FOR HELP! IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE TRANSPARENT! IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE BELIEVING!

17. WHAT’S IMPORTANT? FACE OUR SIN WITH FAITH! “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/woman can accomplish much.” James 5:16 IT IS IMPORTANT TO DEAL WITH THE SIN IN OUR LIVES!

18. TRUE/FALSE: ALL SICKNESS IS BECAUSE OF SIN TRUE/FALSE: GOD FORGIVES ALL CONFESSED SIN TRUE/FALSE: I DON’T NEED TO PRAY BECAUSE GOD WILL DO WHAT HE WANTS TO DO ANYWAY TURE/FALSE: DIVINE HEALING NO LONGER HAPPENS TODAY TRUE/FALSE: PRAYING FOR ONEANOTHER IS GOD’S DESIGN

20. CONCLUSION: “What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has no works (evidence to back it up)? James 2:14 IF YOU SAY YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN LIVE AS A CHRISTIAN SHOULD LIVE WITH AUTHENTICITY OF LIFE THAT PROVIDES PLENTY OF EVIDENCE AND REMOVES ALL DOUBT!