Today we will conclude our study of the
Book of James.
I felt that the Lord wants us to finish with a
time of ministry, so my message will be
brief.
We left off last time at verse 13, but I want
to back up to verse 7, in light of recent
events.
James 5:7 says:
"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the
coming of the Lord. See how the farmer
waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
waiting patiently for it until it receives the
early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient.
Establish your hearts, for the coming of the
Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another,
brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold,
the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My
brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in
the name of the Lord, as an example of
suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count
them blessed who endure. You have heard
of the perseverance of Job and seen the
end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is
very compassionate and merciful.
12 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,” lest you fall into
judgment."
You and I live in exciting times!
We will likely witness the end of this age! I
believe that most of us will see the rapture
happen!
I HOPE that you will take part in it, and not
merely see it!
Jesus said in Matthew 24:37-39
"But as the days of Noah were, so also will
the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as
in the days before the flood, they were
eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noah entered
the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood
came and took them all away, so also will
the coming of the Son of Man be."
Luke adds, in Luke 17:28-36
"Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot:
They ate, they drank, they bought, they
sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the
day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire
and brimstone from heaven and destroyed
them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day
when the Son of Man is revealed.
31 “In that day, he who is on the housetop,
and his goods are in the house, let him not
come down to take them away. And
likewise the one who is in the field, let him
not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33
Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
34 I tell you, in that night there will be two
men in one bed: the one will be taken and
the other will be left. 35 Two women will be
grinding together: the one will be taken and
the other left. 36 Two men will be in the
field: the one will be taken and the other
left.”
While we wait for His return, James
encourages us in verse 13 of chapter 5...
James 5:13-18
"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him
pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing
psalms. 14 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. 15 And the prayer of
faith will save the sick, and the Lord will
raise him up. And if he has committed sins,
he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your
trespasses to one another, and pray for one
another, that you may be healed. The
effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man
avails much. 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 land for three years and six months. 18
And he prayed again, and the heaven gave
rain, and the earth produced its fruit."
The Jewish people still revere Elijah as their
greatest prophet.
He was raptured, and never tasted death.
But James reminds us that Elijah was only
a man!
He was a man who prayed and trusted
God, but just a man!
All of the mighty miracles credited to Elijah
were performed by God.
Elijah's part was prayer, and obedience,
and that's what you and I are called to, as
well!
Pray, and obey God's Word!
James 5:14 says:
"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. 15 And the prayer of faith will
save the sick, and the Lord will raise him
up. And if he has committed sins, he will be
forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to
one another, and pray for one another, that
you may be healed."
Today we want to take some time for this.
I'm going to invite the band to come back
up, and also I'd like Pastor JP to join me.
I'm not opening this time for ALL kinds of
prayer, ONLY for those of you who are
SICK.
I want to obey scripture, anoint you will oil,
and ask our Father to heal you.
So, ONLY if you are sick in some way,
please come forward at this time.
Would the rest of you please stay where
you are, worship together, and pray for
these to be healed of their sicknesses.