WORKING FAITH studies from the book of JAMES ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ JoLynn Gower 493-6151 jgower@guardingthetruth.org
WORD FOR THE JOURNEY v James 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. v It is important to not only have faith, but also do to the things God wants you to do v It is also important to not just do “godly” things but to also be able to share your faith in words v It is important to do and share within the boundaries of the wisdom of God v When you ask for God’s wisdom, be sure your motives are right v Don’t presume to know God’s plan for your future v Make sure that you get, guard, and give your money appropriately v Keep checking your inner condition
WHAT IS INSIDE? v James 5:7-8 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. v James 5:9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. v Complain: stenazo: grumble, sigh, murmur, groan inwardly v Romans 8:22-23 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
THOSE WHO WENT BEFORE v James 5:10 As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. v Jeremiah 20:7-10 O LORD, You have deceived me and I was deceived; You have overcome me and prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; Everyone mocks me. For each time I speak, I cry aloud; I proclaim violence and destruction, because for me the word of the LORD has resulted in reproach and derision all day long. But if I say, "I will not remember Him or speak anymore in His name," then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it. For I have heard the whispering of many, "Terror on every side! Denounce him; yes, let us denounce him” v Deceived: pathah: to allure or entice (either good or bad)
EXAMPLE OF ENDURANCE v James 5:11 We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. v Philippians 4:10-13 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
SUFFERING FOR CHRIST v 2 Corinthians 11:22-27 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
ABOUT OATHS v James 5:12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. v Matthew 23:16-18 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.' You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing, but whoever swears by the offering on it, he is obligated.’” v Hebrews 6:16 For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. v Oath-taking had apparently gotten out of control! Oaths were being worded so people could get out of them!
EXAMPLE: CORBAN v Mark 7:8-13 "Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.” …"You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. For Moses said , 'HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER' ; and, 'HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH '; but you say, 'If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God ),’ you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that." v Matthew 5:34-37… make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. "Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. “Let your word be, 'Yes, yes' or 'No, no'; anything beyond these is of evil.”
PARTICULAR SUFFERING v James 5:13-15 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. v Suffering: kakopatheo: suffering hardship from evil v Pray: proseuchomai v Ask aiteo: to ask for with urgency v Beg deomai : (from deo: to bind): to ask for something with the sense of pleading v Pray proseuchomai: from pros: toward, facing, before [emphasizing the direct approach of the one who prays in seeking God’s face] + euchomai: originally to speak out, utter aloud, express a wish, then to pray or to vow. v Pray: euchomai: vow in Acts 18:18; prayer in James 5:15 v Prayer : deesis : urgent requests for immediate need v Prayer: Proseuche: worshipful prayer before God
FOR A REASON v James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. v Cheerful: euthemeo: happy, keeping up good courage, encouraged v Sing praises: psalleto from psallo or psalmos: to worship God with music v 1 Chronicles 15:16 Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise sounds of joy. v 1 Chronicles 15:22-23 Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the singing; he gave instruction in singing because he was skillful. Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark.
IF YOU ARE ILL v James 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; v Sick: astheneo: weak or feeble v The sick person contacts the elders v Elders: presbuteros: an older man or woman; in the church an older person recognized as having wisdom in acting in a godly way; James is using the masculine form of the word v 1 Timothy 5:1-2 Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity. v In the Jewish tradition, elders were usually members of the Sanhedrin
ELDERS IN THE CHURCH v Acts 11:30 church in Antioch sent relief to Jerusalem v Acts 15 Jerusalem council; Acts 21:18 Paul reports to James concerning his ministry; Acts 14:23 elders appointed in churches after prayer and fasting; we don’t know how many – but they were appointed not elected v 1 Timothy 3:2-7 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
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