James 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
James now brings us to the people that were Christians and now have erred from the truth of God’s word or as we may say they are backsliders. These are people who have gotten out church for some reason and we know when this happens a lot times it is hard to get them back. But for us believers that that are still true to the Word of God it our job to do all we can to get them back. This also applies to those who have never accepted Christ as their savior, our friends and family. Verse 20 tells us if we can reach these people and get them to accept Christ as their savior a soul is saved from hell. It does not just benefit the one saved but also the one that helped them find their way to God, by covering a multitude of sins.We have all fallen short of being a perfect person so if we do the work God ask us to do it helps us with our own salvation.
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
This scripture in James is showing us just how powerful prayer can be. Elias was a man just like us but who had enough faith to know that his prayers would be answered. He prayed for it not rain for 3 and 1/2 years and it did not rain. He prayed again after this time period and the rains came. You know this rain could symbolize the Holy Spirit and God likes for us to pray for the Spirit to rain down on us. If we are willing to do this are we going to put enough in our prayers to to see this happen. Because of the shape our world is in today this is what we need, for the Holy Spirit to rain down on everyone. I ask you to please find a church today that teaches the word God and try to make a habit of being there whenever the doors are open. I would like to put in a word for the church I attend if you would like to join us, Luverne First Assembly on the Glenwood Hwy. Sunday School at 9:30, Worship Service at 10:30.
ames 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
This verse says a lot more than it seems, first we are to confess our faults or sins one to another. This is not saying to our pastor but to a friend who we know will help us pray that we may receive our healing. When we share our faults with one another it helps both parties to hold up each other. This also require us to put our pride aside so can confess what ever it is we need help with. When we have someone who is an energetic and passionate about prayer they usually can help us touch the throne of God. Even though we may not know the needs of the ones close to us we should always be faithful to pray for them. A lot of times because we pray for others God will take care our needs without us even asking. A lot times we my not get the answer when we want it but we should continue to pray till we get an answer. This is what the effect of the fervent prayer of a righteous man means, to pray til you get an answer.
James 5:14 Is any sick among you? 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 shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
It is the name of Jesus that heals the sick. It is very important for the person who is sick to call for prayer. This shows that he believes he can receive healing. Jesus said, when he healed, Your faith has made you whole.The anointing with oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit of God. This cannot be just any oil in your cabinet. This must be pure olive oil. Olive oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit of God.Whoever is being prayed over must believe to receive the healing. Faith is people acting in accordance with God’s known purpose, the prayer of faith discerns God’s will and perseveres until it is accomplished. God’s will, however, is not to heal in every case, and true faith can discern and accept that. Also it is just awesome that when God heals He does a perfect work in that He not only heals the body but also the soul.
James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Here we are reminded of the patience of Job and what he endured. Job is probably one of the greatest examples of what it takes to endure hardships of every kind but in the end he was restored by God to a position greater than what he had before his hardship began. When we are suffering God’s mercy and grace is at its strongest. Again James warns us about our tongue and how we use it because it reveals how we really are in our heart. When we speak we should use straight honest speech otherwise we invite God’s judgement on us. Anything more than a simple yes or no is presuming that we have more power than we do. We do not want to be condemned of God for thinking too highly of ourselves. Verse 13 is talking about hardships we go through and the best cure for these things that cause us so much discomfort is prayer. After we see how God answered our prayer it should bring joy to our life so we should sing praise to our God. We should be happy to sing praises to Him every day for the mercy and grace He showed by sending His Son to die for our salvation.
James 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Here the scripture is actually telling us not to murmur or talk bad about people or else we could be condemned because God is seeing and hearing everything we do and say every day. Jesus is sitting on ready to call his people home, do not do that which could get you left behind. James reminds us of the prophets of the old testament that endured suffering and a lot of them a terrible death but they still did the work God had for them and did it with patience. Today when some one gets their feelings hurt at church they act like they are being burned at stake when with just a little bit of patience and some forgiveness on both parties part everything could be like it should be. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be in church where everybody was on the same page and there was no confusion about anything and all the ministries in the church were working together to accomplish what God intended. For this to happen Pride has to be aside and a humble heart with patience has to surface.
James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
James here is saying to be patient with those who have oppressed God’s people, realizing the glory that awaits them at Christ’s return should motivate believers to patiently endure mistreatment. We see from this an encouragement to wait patiently on the coming of the Lord. Many believe the early and latter rain, spoken of here, is speaking of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God. Verse 8 is a call for resolute firm courage and commitment to those about to collapse under the weight of persecution to shore up their hearts with the hope of the second coming. Here we see that the great work of salvation takes place in the heart. It is the heart that must be stayed upon God.
2 Thessalonians 3:5 “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.”
James 5:4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
This scripture starts us off letting us know that those who are over us are subject to take or keep that which belongs to us. We also are aware of what theses people have taken from from us and cry out to God for this happening and he hears our cries. As you should know from Revelation, not only does God avenge His people but He also uses angels to help Him. Verse 5 continues showing how because someone desires to have all they can materially it leads to over indulging in the pleasures they have gotten themselves accustomed to, to the point of being likes cows fattened for the slaughter. Finally in verse 6 we see how far this indulgence can take someone. It may not necessarily be physical death they cause, for how many have been destroyed by what someone said. These people are the ones that helped nail Jesus to the cross,but wait, because of our sin we also helped nail Him to the cross. This is the reason we need to repent and ask God to forgive us, so we do not suffer the slaughter coming to those who have no desire to change.
James 5:2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
The riches here are corrupted because they were obtained by any means possible and by someone who puts wealth ahead of everyone and everything. It is not the riches that are evil, but the use of the riches by this corrupt man. We see in verse 3 that this rich man, spoken of here, is putting his faith in the gold and silver, rather than in God. People have stored up treasure for their last days which God will use against them in the last days. We do know that there is nothing wrong with silver and gold in their selves. The fact that silver means redemption and gold symbolizes the purity of God, tells us that the metal is not bad. It is our use, or rather misuse, that is bad. This is like anything that God has given us, we are to use it the way God intended. Today I pray you will find a church to attend and let God have His way in your life.
James 5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
James starts this chapter not just talking about the rich but about the rich that claim to be Christians. They have way more than they need and misuse it in away not pleasing to God. Their real god is the money itself. Remember God’s word says you cannot serve two masters and if you misuse the generosity God gives you then there will be punishment from God. God does not mind us having wealth as long as we do let it over take our lives to the point we make it our god. Remember in some of the earlier verses it said to know to good and do it not is a sin, well this is another area I think where we may have a tendency sometimes to fail in doing the thing God would have us do. But it is just with money but with everything God God gives us. He say to him who is given much, much is required. So let strive each day to do all we can God and His Glory.
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." I John 5:7
