James 5:13–20
[13] Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. [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 one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. [16] Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. [17] Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. [18] Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. (ESV)
It’s important to know that Elijah was a human being wioth a nature just like ours!
We can live a faith-filled life, by God’s grace.
Some examples James gives us of how to live by faith as a member of an ekklesia (church) include:
- When you’re suffering,
- When you’re cheerful,
- When you’re sick, call for the elders to anoint oil &
- When you’ve sinned, confess to each other and
We have a clue to what the “prayer of faith” is from the Greek root for the word “save” in vs 15.
It not only means “save/salvation”, it means “to rescue” and “to heal“.
Each example flows from a relationship with God based in ultimate healing found only in the
By God’s grace through faith He pronounces us…
…forgiven (atonement)
…clean (imputation)
…new (progressive sanctification leading to our final eternal state: glorification).
The goal is to believe God now and forever, not to ‘reserve’ our ticket to Heaven for ‘someday’.
What is your next step of faith to better “believe God” instead of simply “believing in God”?
Write it in the notes section below, email it to yourself, and then email a friend for accountability.
If you won’t share your “next step of faith” with a friend, you likely won’t take the step in obedience.
Right Now Media is a GREAT resource to help you and your Life Group grow in the faith and knowledge of Jesus! If you’re not already signed up, please email Pastor Matt (see email address below) to receive this FREE resource today. Here’s the link: https://www.rightnowmedia.org
If you already have a Right Now Media account, look in the Harvest Church SI channell for helpful studies that go along with our James sermon series.
We’re glad you’re here today! To contact Matt & Katrina, simply email matt@harvestchurchsi.com.
Thank you, and may God richly bless you as you follow Jesus today!
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