WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.219 Good morning, open up your Bibles to James chapter 5. 00:00:07.219 --> 00:00:11.640 Quick confession, I'm a little short of breath this morning, but we're going to be okay. 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:18.559 ! So that just means it might take me longer to get stuff out because I have a smaller airbag 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:25.100 this morning. So if you have to cut out, feel free. Anyway, let's pray together. Lord, we're 00:00:25.100 --> 00:00:33.240 just grateful for a chance to be gathered together as your people and in your presence to worship you 00:00:33.240 --> 00:00:38.800 through singing, through fellowship, into the hearing of your word and putting your word into 00:00:38.800 --> 00:00:45.700 practice when we leave. So we just offer this time to you and have your way with it. In Jesus' name, 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:52.840 amen. We're coming to the end of the book of James. Some of you are glad because it's been brutal. 00:00:52.840 --> 00:01:02.620 We've been really convicted by many things that James has said. So at the end of this letter, 00:01:03.640 --> 00:01:12.760 James is sort of doing what many faithful pastors over the centuries have done. I've heard stories of 00:01:12.760 --> 00:01:19.900 particular pastors who would look out over their congregation in the morning and just make eye 00:01:19.900 --> 00:01:25.420 contact with people and just look around simply because, not because they were trying to 00:01:26.160 --> 00:01:34.580 intimidate or scare people, but because they wanted to like see what the eyes told about the members of 00:01:34.580 --> 00:01:41.520 their congregation. Were they broken? Were they not doing well? Were they cheerful? And it seems like 00:01:41.520 --> 00:01:46.500 that's what James is doing here. But at the end of his letter, he's asking that question, 00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:52.560 how is the word of God going to reach the people of God and seeing different categories of people 00:01:52.560 --> 00:02:00.700 that are among them worshiping and hearing God's word. So let's read our passage together. James 5, 00:02:00.760 --> 00:02:10.800 we'll start in verse 13. He says, is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:19.140 Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them 00:02:19.140 --> 00:02:26.340 pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one 00:02:26.340 --> 00:02:33.300 who is sick and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 00:02:34.340 --> 00:02:39.220 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. 00:02:39.219 --> 00:02:48.719 The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like 00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:56.419 ours. And he prayed fervently that it might not rain. And for three years and six months, 00:02:56.500 --> 00:03:05.960 it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again and heaven gave rain and the earth bore its fruit. 00:03:05.960 --> 00:03:15.159 So we'll stop there. And there's one more message next week that will wrap the letter up. But as I said, 00:03:15.300 --> 00:03:22.760 James is sort of, you can see it punctuated by the use of this word four times. Anyone, anyone, 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:33.939 anyone, anyone. He's asking the spirit of God to use the word of God to minister to the people of God 00:03:33.939 --> 00:03:42.400 for the glory of God. And so different categories of people that he's addressing in a pastoral way. But 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:50.039 really simply, this would be point number one. Point number one is the gift of prayer, the gift of 00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:58.439 prayer. So throughout this passage, he mentions prayer or pray at least seven different times. 00:03:58.439 --> 00:04:05.819 So it's very evident that this passage is crystal clear about one thing, prayer. And it can be a controversial 00:04:05.819 --> 00:04:12.219 passage. I know it makes some people in reform circles uncomfortable, which I kind of, you know, can enjoy 00:04:12.219 --> 00:04:20.459 personally. But but it is a it can be a controversial passage, but it doesn't have to be. Let's just take the 00:04:20.459 --> 00:04:29.079 text as it is, is simply saying pray and prayer. So that is the main point. And the point of this is 00:04:29.079 --> 00:04:35.399 to emphasize that prayer and faith are intimately intertwined with each other. You can't separate 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:43.159 faith and you can't separate prayer from one another. And so James has gone at length to tell us what real, 00:04:43.160 --> 00:04:51.800 authentic, authentic, actual faith looks like. And now he's also saying that real faith is expressed through prayer, 00:04:52.080 --> 00:05:00.260 through a praying life. So both both out of our desire to love God and want to be in his presence. That's one 00:05:00.260 --> 00:05:07.640 reason why we pray, just not because we need something, but because we want to actually be with God. But also, prayer is a 00:05:07.639 --> 00:05:18.000 demonstration of our humble dependence on God in every situation. So our profession of faith should be 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:29.519 under question if our knees are soft and smooth and from prayerlessness, if we are not praying. Jonathan Edwards, 00:05:30.519 --> 00:05:37.620 my man from back in the day, cool wig, he he said about this, he said, a holy life is 00:05:37.639 --> 00:05:43.979 a life of faith. The life that the true Christian lives in this world. They live by faith in the son of 00:05:43.979 --> 00:05:52.479 God. But who can believe that a man lives by faith who lives without prayer, which is this natural 00:05:52.479 --> 00:06:01.479 expression of faith. Prayer is as natural an expression of faith as breathing is to life. And to say that a man 00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:10.480 lives a man lives a life of faith is in every way inconsistent and incredible as to say a man lives 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:19.879 without breathing. So prayer is a natural expression of faith. And throughout scripture, we are called, 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:27.759 encouraged, commanded to pray, to have relationship with God. In short, for all of us, just a reminder 00:06:27.759 --> 00:06:33.860 that prayer, that prayer in essence is just speaking with and talking to God as a beloved parent with 00:06:33.860 --> 00:06:41.879 fear and reverence and love and protection. It's a constant communion with God where we exchange our 00:06:41.879 --> 00:06:49.459 thoughts and our desires with one another. Paul wrote in Colossians 4, continues steadfastly in prayer, 00:06:49.459 --> 00:06:56.599 being watchful in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. And 1 Thessalonians 5, rejoice always, 00:06:56.759 --> 00:07:05.399 pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:13.779 Do not quench the spirit. So God affords us every reason and every occasion to pray in the scripture. 00:07:13.779 --> 00:07:21.479 So throughout this passage in James 5, it's a divine call to both personal prayer and corporate prayer. 00:07:22.139 --> 00:07:27.379 So we must pray. Another Puritan that I appreciate, Samuel Chadwick, he said, 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:36.439 the one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from our prayerless studies, 00:07:37.179 --> 00:07:43.279 prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at all our toil and mocks our wisdom. 00:07:43.779 --> 00:07:52.719 But he trembles when we pray. I wonder why. So that's this number one, the gift of prayer. Prayer is 00:07:52.719 --> 00:07:59.399 mentioned seven times in this passage. That's what we're talking about. So number two is the occasions 00:07:59.399 --> 00:08:10.439 of prayer. The occasions of prayer. And we see this in verses 13 through 16. So if we're careful, 00:08:10.439 --> 00:08:17.719 we have eyes to see here, we'll see that James particularly has four different categories of 00:08:17.719 --> 00:08:25.680 people that are kind of in his head at the moment. So the first one you'll see in verse 13 is suffering. 00:08:26.420 --> 00:08:33.559 Verse 13, suffering. So those who are suffering. To trust God when things are bad, when things are 00:08:33.559 --> 00:08:42.779 difficult, he says, is anyone among you suffering? Assuming that that's what's going on. So it can be 00:08:42.779 --> 00:08:49.379 very in form. It can be physical. It could be mental. It could be relational. It could be financial. 00:08:50.279 --> 00:08:58.219 A great trial that has come your way. To suffer great pain and endure tremendous affliction, 00:08:58.220 --> 00:09:05.680 as many have in our church. It seems particularly over the last couple of years, we've watched that. 00:09:05.820 --> 00:09:13.899 James has given the prophets of old a, as an example of suffering. James 5, 10, he's like, 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:20.320 as an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 00:09:21.379 --> 00:09:27.460 Micah suffered imprisonment. Isaiah suffered rejection and eventually was martyred. 00:09:27.460 --> 00:09:35.800 Jeremiah was rejected and suffered hatred and opposition. No one listened to him. 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:43.860 Ezekiel suffered bereavement. He lost people in his life. Hosea suffered marital unfaithfulness. 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:51.200 And so they suffered because they were being faithful, right? So we tend to think if I'm suffering, 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:56.920 I must not be being faithful. But they suffered as a result of their faithfulness. 00:09:57.460 --> 00:10:03.940 So, so if you're suffering, how does James counsel those who are suffering? 00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:07.639 Look what he says. He says, let him pray. 00:10:07.639 --> 00:10:16.159 And how many of you are thinking, okay, yeah, yeah, of course, pray. Right, we got it, pray. But what else? 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:19.379 Like, there's got to be something else. Is that all you're telling us to do? That's kind of like weak 00:10:19.379 --> 00:10:28.939 pastoral advice, James. Like, give us something else to hold on to. And he says, yes, that's what I'm saying. 00:10:28.940 --> 00:10:37.680 Pray. Pray. And if we respond that way, there's possibly just two answers of why we would respond that way. 00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:44.060 Either we've just simply misunderstood James or we've never actually experienced the supernatural 00:10:44.060 --> 00:10:48.280 relational exchange of God and man through prayer. 00:10:48.279 --> 00:11:01.299 And so sadly, if we're not careful to cultivate thankfulness to God for his goodness, we often forget him and slip into self-dependence. 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:09.059 We forget of our need for him. We're tempted to forget God when things are good very often. 00:11:09.059 --> 00:11:16.739 So suffering is often the very instrument God uses again to get our attention because we have forgotten about him. 00:11:17.779 --> 00:11:22.199 And so, again, quickly, we get back on our knees in humble dependence on him. 00:11:23.019 --> 00:11:26.379 So it's going to happen in this world. It's happened to a lot of us. 00:11:27.099 --> 00:11:29.319 Acts 14, 22. 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:34.399 Through many tribulations, all of us must enter the kingdom of God. 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:39.600 So then you may say, okay, like I'm on board. Like let's, let's pray. 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:44.120 But James, you're not really telling us what we ought to pray for. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:48.939 To which he would say, well, I understand you've been reading my letter for months now. 00:11:49.360 --> 00:11:55.980 But if you remember at the back of the beginning of the letter, I said in chapter one, verse two, 00:11:55.980 --> 00:12:00.399 You counted all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. 00:12:01.259 --> 00:12:04.960 For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 00:12:05.680 --> 00:12:12.560 And steadfastness, let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be complete, lacking in nothing. 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:14.840 That's what we ought to pray for. 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:17.639 That God uses what he is taking us through. 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:21.580 That we are able to meet those trials with joy. 00:12:21.699 --> 00:12:26.399 Knowing what he is producing in us as a result of those trials. 00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:29.039 It brings us to that dependency on God. 00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:33.659 So in connecting this to our passage, Romans 12, 12, it says, 00:12:33.860 --> 00:12:34.799 Rejoice in hope. 00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:37.100 Be patient in tribulation. 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:39.539 Be constant in prayer. 00:12:40.439 --> 00:12:42.340 So that's one category, suffering. 00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:45.960 And then he changes gears in verse 13. 00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:49.220 And then he identifies the cheerful. 00:12:50.220 --> 00:12:51.980 See in verse 13, the cheerful. 00:12:52.920 --> 00:12:57.139 While some Christians are suffering, others are cheerful. 00:12:58.040 --> 00:13:00.780 And cheerful doesn't mean cheer up. 00:13:00.840 --> 00:13:05.519 It doesn't mean just a happy-go-lucky attitude or outlook on life. 00:13:06.340 --> 00:13:09.540 What he's trying to say is, be of good cheer. 00:13:10.700 --> 00:13:12.300 He's in good spirits. 00:13:12.680 --> 00:13:14.540 Be of good courage. 00:13:14.539 --> 00:13:22.399 During Paul's shipwreck in the Mediterranean, the angel of the Lord assured Paul that the Lord was with him. 00:13:22.459 --> 00:13:24.620 And Paul told his shipmates, he said, 00:13:25.959 --> 00:13:28.199 Yet now I urge you to take heart. 00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:32.639 For there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 00:13:33.620 --> 00:13:35.419 And so, hey, we're going to be okay. 00:13:35.579 --> 00:13:36.519 Like, things are okay. 00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:37.439 So take heart. 00:13:37.579 --> 00:13:38.519 Be of good cheer. 00:13:38.519 --> 00:13:51.279 It's actually, I'm pretty certain, a Greek medical language used of a doctor-patient relationship where a doctor may have watched a patient suffer a great deal. 00:13:51.439 --> 00:13:56.980 And then finally, they get to that point where they turn that corner and they're actually getting better. 00:13:56.980 --> 00:13:57.779 They're on the men. 00:13:58.340 --> 00:14:04.340 And the doctor comes in and goes, sees him sitting up in the bed, eating, you know, smile on his face. 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:05.960 It looks like he got a shower. 00:14:07.560 --> 00:14:12.440 Clean clothes on, smile on his face and watching a Western on TV. 00:14:14.820 --> 00:14:15.680 Gunsmoker, Bonanza. 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:22.459 So then, he'll walk out and say, he seems like he's in good spirits today. 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:23.899 That's like what we're talking about. 00:14:23.959 --> 00:14:27.679 Like, you've turned the corner and you're doing better. 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:31.299 And that's actually a part of what we're told in Scripture. 00:14:33.079 --> 00:14:37.719 When we see Psalm 40, verse 2. 00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:42.899 But when you come through, you say, what are those of good cheer supposed to do? 00:14:42.959 --> 00:14:43.859 Like, what are we supposed to do? 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:49.980 Well, James says, if you look, he said, let the cheerful, let them sing praise. 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:52.600 You say, wait a minute, I'm not a singer. 00:14:52.840 --> 00:14:53.980 People don't like my voice. 00:14:54.100 --> 00:14:58.139 I usually just mumble so others don't hear me. 00:14:58.860 --> 00:15:02.080 But James really doesn't care if you're a good singer or not. 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:03.580 That's not what the point is. 00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:11.779 He's saying, sing as a command for we must thank God when things are good. 00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:15.100 It's not shifting the subject from prayer to singing. 00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:19.799 He's saying that singing is a form of prayer to God. 00:15:20.480 --> 00:15:22.220 Psalm 40, verse 2. 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:23.399 You'll see this example. 00:15:23.559 --> 00:15:32.720 He said, God drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 00:15:32.720 --> 00:15:37.800 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. 00:15:38.740 --> 00:15:41.740 So a healthy Christian believer is one who sings. 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:44.899 A healthy church is a singing church. 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:49.740 And I'm thankful that we have that going here in our fellowship. 00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:57.740 And so it's easy, though, to lose focus in our minds on the things. 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:03.779 We focus on the good things that are given to us, and we forget the one from whom they came. 00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:13.279 But praise causes us to lift our eyes from those good things to heaven, to God, from where those good things came from. 00:16:13.439 --> 00:16:14.919 That's what praise does. 00:16:15.559 --> 00:16:19.699 It lifts our eyes above just the gifts to the giver. 00:16:20.079 --> 00:16:24.059 And so as we sing, it's adoration to God. 00:16:24.179 --> 00:16:25.179 It's praise to God. 00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:28.519 It's prayer to God, not entertainment for man. 00:16:28.519 --> 00:16:38.399 And in Ephesians 5, 19, characterizes spirit-filled Christians as addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, 00:16:38.919 --> 00:16:43.559 singing and making melody to the Lord with their heart. 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:56.299 And so I ran in some good charismatic circles in my earlier Christian life, gospel-believing, Bible-believing, 00:16:56.299 --> 00:16:58.919 but disagree with them on certain things. 00:16:59.099 --> 00:17:09.039 But I remember in my early Christian life, I was like the really serious-looking John Wayne reserve. 00:17:10.139 --> 00:17:18.159 And I was with them at a Bible study, and they had some music, and I was just doing foot tap. 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:21.799 Then something was just convicting. 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:23.700 Like I just wanted to praise God. 00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:26.240 I wanted to sing, and I thought people are going to think I'm stupid. 00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:29.960 But everybody else looks stupid anyway, right in that context. 00:17:30.360 --> 00:17:34.680 So I went from the toe tap to the chair dance. 00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:39.940 Then eventually lifted my hands to the Lord. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:40.799 It just kind of happened. 00:17:40.900 --> 00:17:43.660 I wasn't like, hey, I'm going to lift my hands right now so people will see me. 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:51.660 But the freedom of just crying out to God and expressing to Him my gratefulness for carrying me through. 00:17:53.040 --> 00:17:55.279 So don't hear it as a license just to go crazy. 00:17:55.380 --> 00:18:00.279 I'm just saying like it was, we're told to sing praises to God. 00:18:00.820 --> 00:18:06.240 So there's enough of us here, enough good voices here to drown out your bad voice if you're worried about that. 00:18:06.320 --> 00:18:07.700 So just let it out later on. 00:18:08.360 --> 00:18:10.000 So that's what we're called to do. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:15.579 So third category, he says sick in verse, I think it's verse 13. 00:18:16.579 --> 00:18:17.680 No, verse 14. 00:18:18.279 --> 00:18:21.319 Verse 14, is any among you sick? 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:24.400 So this is a call to an accessory prayer. 00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:28.819 One of the most evident effects of living in a world wrought with sin 00:18:28.819 --> 00:18:36.059 is that our bodies are slowly falling apart, slowly decaying. 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:39.440 We will one day die. 00:18:40.940 --> 00:18:51.440 It's a sickness, diseases, and infirmities are a reminder that we do not possess life in ourselves as God does. 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:55.919 We become weak and vulnerable and feeble. 00:18:55.920 --> 00:19:01.160 There's no greater reminder that we are not sovereign and that we are not immortal. 00:19:02.600 --> 00:19:07.940 We are fallen humans made of flesh and will soon vanish like a vapor. 00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:16.880 So sickness befalls us mainly because it's one of the temporal consequences of our sin. 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:17.840 It's going to happen. 00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:21.220 It's what happens to believing people and unbelieving people. 00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:28.920 Even those who are maybe experienced temporary healing, they're eventually going to fall apart again one day. 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:32.440 Lazarus was raised from the dead, but as far as I know, he's not walking around again today. 00:19:32.600 --> 00:19:35.640 Something happened where he died. 00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:42.700 So what does James say to do when we are faced with the awful curse of sickness? 00:19:42.700 --> 00:19:46.440 He says, verse 14, 00:19:46.519 --> 00:19:54.019 Let him call for the elders of the church to pray over them, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:58.640 So the elders of the church aren't necessarily faith healers. 00:19:58.759 --> 00:20:00.039 That's not what we're saying. 00:20:00.140 --> 00:20:06.559 But 1 Timothy says elders should be able to teach the Word of God, be men of godly character to lead. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:16.419 But James here says that they also should be able to pray and intercede for those that have been entrusted to their care when they are sick. 00:20:17.379 --> 00:20:26.759 So I know that's been a major emphasis in our elder group to start carving out more time, not just to talk about members, but to pray for our members. 00:20:27.819 --> 00:20:32.759 And so if you notice, though, this is someone going to the elders saying, I need prayer. 00:20:32.759 --> 00:20:38.299 It's not the elders going, who are we going to, you know, seek out today? 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:43.119 So and that doesn't mean that other faithful believers can't pray for healing of the sick. 00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:49.500 It's just by nature of the role of elders, they ought to especially be able to pray for the sick. 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:57.000 The Bible says the elders should pray for healing, should be anointing them with oil. 00:20:57.000 --> 00:21:03.480 And so even though oil can be medicinal, I think because it's saying in the name of the Lord, 00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:09.359 it's a visible way of setting someone apart symbolically for the Lord's intervention. 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:18.220 In the Old Testament, we find that anointing with oil was representative of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon a person. 00:21:18.220 --> 00:21:23.400 That's 1 Samuel 16, 13, when David was anointed. 00:21:23.400 --> 00:21:29.940 Oil, therefore, I think is an appropriate symbol or image for God's Spirit. 00:21:30.580 --> 00:21:39.000 Since it is God's Holy Spirit who carries out the work of ministering to others through the believer, including that of healing. 00:21:40.080 --> 00:21:46.460 And so Jesus, when he sent out the 12 to minister in his name, it says, 00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:52.539 They cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:56.160 However, though, I don't run too far with this. 00:21:56.840 --> 00:21:59.000 It doesn't mean go nuts about oil. 00:21:59.100 --> 00:22:07.420 It doesn't mean people selling in a market this holy sanctified oil that's going to like somehow do something for somebody. 00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:13.220 Oil itself doesn't heal anyone any more than wet water regenerates somebody at baptism. 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:17.700 It's just a symbol, a mere symbol, and that's all. 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:24.579 Oil merely represents the healing power of the Holy Spirit to come upon a sick person. 00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:31.259 So you can write down Psalm 103, 1 through 5. 00:22:31.360 --> 00:22:39.400 But one of God's desires, one of the things that he can do for us, if he pleases, is to heal our diseases. 00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:44.880 And so I think no one will disagree that God does still heal. 00:22:45.060 --> 00:22:47.740 You can leave the gift part of that aside. 00:22:47.880 --> 00:22:51.040 All of us believe that God can and still does heal. 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:56.759 So by verse 15, he points out the prayer of faith. 00:22:57.600 --> 00:22:58.440 He says, 00:22:59.080 --> 00:23:03.140 The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. 00:23:03.140 --> 00:23:07.740 So what is the prayer of faith? 00:23:08.820 --> 00:23:09.220 Excuse me. 00:23:10.500 --> 00:23:16.120 The prayer of faith is not some special, wholly set-apart category of prayer. 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:20.540 It's just simply taking God at his word, 00:23:21.420 --> 00:23:25.500 believing him, and asking him to affect what he's promised to do. 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:31.220 It's holding on to specific promises that God has given and resting in that. 00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:38.099 If it is his good pleasure, he will fulfill those promises in that particular instance. 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:41.579 The prayer of faith, again, is not this special category. 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:46.099 But on the other hand, if we say we love God, we believe in God, 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:52.059 yet we just utter fancy words in our prayer but don't actually believe anything we are saying, 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:55.339 James would call us double-minded. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:59.579 Earlier on in chapter 1, verse 6, James says, 00:24:01.500 --> 00:24:04.119 Let him ask in faith without doubting. 00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:09.019 For the one who doubts is like the wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:14.679 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:19.460 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:20.899 So hear me. 00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:24.619 Yes, God is sovereign. 00:24:25.079 --> 00:24:26.220 God is all-knowing. 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:29.179 He works all things after the counsel of his will. 00:24:29.919 --> 00:24:30.879 Ephesians 1. 00:24:31.379 --> 00:24:33.899 However, in God's mysterious providence, 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:36.679 he has for some reason ordained our prayers 00:24:36.679 --> 00:24:40.659 as a means of accomplishing his good pleasure, 00:24:40.919 --> 00:24:42.319 accomplishing his will. 00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:46.659 But if we just have a lot of theological rhetoric, 00:24:46.659 --> 00:24:49.099 but are faithless in our prayers, 00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:51.899 we should not expect anything from God. 00:24:53.019 --> 00:24:55.700 Jesus once visited his hometown of Nazareth. 00:24:55.799 --> 00:24:59.379 And this is one of the most mind-blowing verses to me. 00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:03.299 He visited Nazareth, his hometown, where people rejected him. 00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.079 And check this out. 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:06.500 This is the Son of God, okay? 00:25:07.159 --> 00:25:08.519 Mark 6, verse 5. 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:09.079 It says, 00:25:09.079 --> 00:25:13.039 And Jesus could do no mighty works there, 00:25:13.379 --> 00:25:18.319 except lay his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 00:25:18.339 --> 00:25:21.400 And he marveled because of their unbelief. 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:27.540 So meaning like he possibly could have or would have done more, 00:25:28.280 --> 00:25:32.019 but the people's unbelief, he stopped. 00:25:33.180 --> 00:25:35.560 That's a mind-blowing verse. 00:25:36.180 --> 00:25:38.440 And the writer of Hebrews enforces this, 00:25:38.500 --> 00:25:42.000 Without faith, it is impossible to please God. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:46.059 Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists 00:25:46.059 --> 00:25:48.700 and that he is the rewarder of those who seek him. 00:25:49.740 --> 00:25:54.599 So, however, if we pray in the Spirit-filled faith, 00:25:55.180 --> 00:25:56.960 it will save the one who is sick, 00:25:57.039 --> 00:25:58.519 and the Lord will raise him up. 00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.319 Physical healing, 00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:03.879 when the Holy Spirit functions in that way 00:26:03.879 --> 00:26:05.139 and brings temporal, 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.700 underlying temporal, 00:26:06.859 --> 00:26:09.039 temporal restoration of health 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:12.139 as a foretaste of the kingdom to come. 00:26:13.079 --> 00:26:14.619 It's just a foretaste, 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:17.259 a reminder that one day we will be freed 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:19.039 from our physical weaknesses. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:23.000 And it points towards a greater fulfillment to come. 00:26:23.980 --> 00:26:26.379 And so God can heal through medical intervention. 00:26:27.559 --> 00:26:28.279 It's been me. 00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:31.039 I've had more oil dumped on me 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:32.379 than McDonald's french fries. 00:26:33.099 --> 00:26:35.039 And many godly men and women 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:36.779 praying for me to be healed. 00:26:37.420 --> 00:26:40.039 But I also have known 00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:42.440 and seen God heal instantaneously. 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.700 I've seen both. 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:47.519 And I don't know why he chooses to 00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:50.279 in certain situations and chooses not to. 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:52.660 But if you want to underline 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:54.339 and remember just one phrase today, 00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:55.639 apart from the Scripture, 00:26:56.859 --> 00:26:57.720 Spurgeon said, 00:26:58.279 --> 00:27:00.899 when you cannot trace God's hand, 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:03.859 you must learn to trust his heart. 00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:07.019 And if we know God, 00:27:07.139 --> 00:27:09.339 we know he's making the right decision. 00:27:09.839 --> 00:27:12.099 We know that what he's doing is good, 00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:14.119 even though we can't see it, 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:15.399 even though we don't know 00:27:15.399 --> 00:27:17.059 exactly what he is doing. 00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:19.240 Calvin said, 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:21.480 prayer enables us to explore the riches 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:23.519 which are treasured up for us 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.759 by our heavenly Father. 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:28.559 There is real contact between God and man 00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:30.720 where he may enter the upper sanctuary, 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:32.619 appear before him, 00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:34.099 and claim his promises. 00:27:35.359 --> 00:27:37.759 So, verse 16, 00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:41.319 there's a possible hindrance 00:27:41.319 --> 00:27:43.460 to prayer here. 00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:47.259 It calls for those, 00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:47.799 it says, 00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:49.700 confess your sins to one another 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:50.980 and pray for one another 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:53.059 that you may be healed. 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:54.700 So, it's possible, 00:27:55.400 --> 00:27:57.279 it's possible because 00:27:57.279 --> 00:27:58.519 one of the verses is falling, 00:27:58.779 --> 00:28:01.019 that someone who is harboring 00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:02.339 unconfessed sin, 00:28:03.120 --> 00:28:04.680 sin that is blatantly evil, 00:28:04.860 --> 00:28:06.420 sin that they're being convicted by, 00:28:06.980 --> 00:28:08.599 and then they go and ask for prayer 00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:09.819 and God doesn't do anything. 00:28:10.679 --> 00:28:12.159 It's possible that 00:28:12.159 --> 00:28:14.779 that very act 00:28:14.779 --> 00:28:17.460 of harboring unconfessed sin 00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:19.859 is a sin itself against God 00:28:19.859 --> 00:28:21.519 and just an act of open doubt 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:23.000 and rebellion against God, 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:24.599 even as you're asking for prayer. 00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:26.579 It could mean that, 00:28:27.299 --> 00:28:29.240 but it also could just mean 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:30.659 that as believers, 00:28:30.659 --> 00:28:32.220 we're still going to fight sin, 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:33.879 we're still going to struggle with sin, 00:28:33.939 --> 00:28:34.740 and we ought to 00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:36.439 confess those to one another, 00:28:36.599 --> 00:28:37.679 bear those to one another, 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:40.200 and pray for God 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:42.360 to sanctify us in those areas. 00:28:42.960 --> 00:28:43.660 And there's hope, 00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:44.680 1 John 1, 9, 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.880 if we confess our sins, 00:28:45.960 --> 00:28:47.799 He is faithful and just 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:49.080 to forgive us of our sins 00:28:49.080 --> 00:28:49.860 and to cleanse us 00:28:49.860 --> 00:28:51.460 from all unrighteousness. 00:28:52.360 --> 00:28:54.539 And so, remember though, 00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:56.700 that just because you might be sick 00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.180 or suffering, 00:28:57.240 --> 00:28:58.320 it doesn't mean that you've committed 00:28:58.320 --> 00:29:01.000 necessarily a particular sin 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:02.799 that's caused you to be sick. 00:29:03.700 --> 00:29:04.340 It could be, 00:29:04.580 --> 00:29:05.940 but remember John 9 00:29:05.940 --> 00:29:06.720 where they asked Jesus 00:29:06.720 --> 00:29:07.680 about the blind man. 00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:08.880 Was he blind because of his sin 00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:10.519 or his parents' sin? 00:29:10.600 --> 00:29:11.120 And Jesus says, 00:29:11.320 --> 00:29:11.519 neither. 00:29:12.299 --> 00:29:14.180 He's sick so that God's power 00:29:14.180 --> 00:29:15.920 might be displayed through him. 00:29:16.860 --> 00:29:18.140 So, although sickness 00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:21.380 is caused by sin in general, 00:29:22.120 --> 00:29:23.320 a particular sickness 00:29:23.320 --> 00:29:24.460 is not necessarily 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:26.059 from a specific sin. 00:29:27.220 --> 00:29:28.160 Thirdly and lastly, 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:29.100 sorry, we're trying 00:29:29.100 --> 00:29:29.880 to land the plane here. 00:29:30.580 --> 00:29:31.480 Thirdly and lastly, 00:29:31.480 --> 00:29:33.960 the example of prayer, 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:36.460 the example of prayer 00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:38.700 brings up Elijah, 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:40.360 our man. 00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:42.380 He uses Elijah 00:29:42.380 --> 00:29:43.940 to illustrate 00:29:43.940 --> 00:29:45.759 how a man with a nature 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:46.500 like ours 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:48.160 could have a powerful prayer life. 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:50.440 He was a righteous person, 00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.839 not because he was perfect, 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:53.140 but this idea 00:29:53.140 --> 00:29:54.299 that he had a covenant 00:29:54.299 --> 00:29:55.579 relationship with God 00:29:55.579 --> 00:29:56.140 and was aware 00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:57.039 of God's grace 00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:59.119 and lived in humble dependence 00:29:59.119 --> 00:30:00.500 on God's grace. 00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:01.899 And so, 00:30:02.220 --> 00:30:03.420 a drought was recorded 00:30:03.420 --> 00:30:05.480 in 1 Kings 17 through 18. 00:30:06.139 --> 00:30:06.920 It was a judgment 00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:08.700 against wicked King Ahab 00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.819 and the nation of Israel 00:30:09.819 --> 00:30:10.960 for their idolatry 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:12.240 and their sin. 00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:13.879 And so, 00:30:14.059 --> 00:30:15.159 God sent Elijah 00:30:15.159 --> 00:30:16.639 to speak to King Ahab 00:30:16.639 --> 00:30:18.700 in such powerful words. 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.619 1 Kings 17, 00:30:19.819 --> 00:30:20.079 he says, 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:21.220 as the Lord lives, 00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:23.779 the God of Israel lives, 00:30:24.399 --> 00:30:25.259 there shall be 00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:26.099 neither dew 00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:26.899 nor rain 00:30:26.899 --> 00:30:27.699 these years 00:30:27.699 --> 00:30:29.679 except by my word 00:30:29.679 --> 00:30:31.439 as judgment. 00:30:31.659 --> 00:30:31.899 So, 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:32.579 three years 00:30:32.579 --> 00:30:33.299 and six months 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:34.339 it did not rain. 00:30:35.299 --> 00:30:35.819 And, 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:36.720 the nation 00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:37.619 shut down. 00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.480 Nothing happened. 00:30:38.599 --> 00:30:39.659 No stimulus package 00:30:39.659 --> 00:30:40.460 could fix this. 00:30:40.919 --> 00:30:42.500 It was just dry. 00:30:43.419 --> 00:30:43.819 And, 00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:45.259 it got Ahab's attention. 00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:46.299 So, 00:30:46.359 --> 00:30:47.759 he was an ordinary man 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:49.220 that God used 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:50.599 to eventually 00:30:50.599 --> 00:30:52.059 send the rain back. 00:30:52.740 --> 00:30:53.039 But, 00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:53.539 notice though 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:54.579 that James doesn't say 00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:55.099 that Elijah 00:30:55.099 --> 00:30:56.259 was this super prophet. 00:30:56.839 --> 00:30:57.720 He was this man 00:30:57.720 --> 00:30:58.539 who was carried away 00:30:58.539 --> 00:30:59.819 by a chariot of fire 00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:00.420 into heaven. 00:31:01.079 --> 00:31:01.680 He was not, 00:31:02.299 --> 00:31:03.160 he doesn't draw out 00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:04.119 the fact that Jesus 00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:05.519 met with Elijah 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.140 and Moses 00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:06.740 on the Mount 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:07.599 of Transfiguration. 00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:09.039 He simply says 00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:10.259 Elijah was a man 00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:11.519 just like us. 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:13.200 He had a nature 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:14.640 just like ours. 00:31:15.480 --> 00:31:15.660 And, 00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:16.460 why I think 00:31:16.460 --> 00:31:17.519 he did this 00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:17.960 particularly 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:18.700 for two reasons 00:31:18.700 --> 00:31:19.079 quickly. 00:31:20.299 --> 00:31:21.440 We're very tempted 00:31:21.440 --> 00:31:22.779 to believe 00:31:22.779 --> 00:31:23.879 that those in scripture 00:31:23.879 --> 00:31:25.039 were extra holy, 00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.660 super spiritual, 00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:27.539 and forget 00:31:27.539 --> 00:31:28.259 that they were men 00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:28.779 and women 00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:30.139 just like us. 00:31:31.119 --> 00:31:31.660 Sinful, 00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:32.279 fallen, 00:31:32.579 --> 00:31:32.859 weak. 00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.119 However, 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:34.900 the difference is 00:31:34.900 --> 00:31:35.839 they had a faith 00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:36.500 and a trust 00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:37.220 and a powerful, 00:31:37.579 --> 00:31:38.539 sovereign God. 00:31:39.099 --> 00:31:39.579 So, 00:31:39.700 --> 00:31:40.519 it doesn't matter 00:31:40.519 --> 00:31:41.359 who they were. 00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:43.019 They were nothing 00:31:43.019 --> 00:31:44.000 apart from God. 00:31:44.720 --> 00:31:44.900 And, 00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.279 we know 00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:46.500 the story afterwards. 00:31:46.500 --> 00:31:47.220 Elijah just 00:31:47.220 --> 00:31:48.079 falls into 00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:48.779 Great Depression, 00:31:49.359 --> 00:31:50.240 wants to die, 00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:51.940 shows his weakness, 00:31:52.099 --> 00:31:52.859 and in some ways 00:31:52.859 --> 00:31:53.519 he doesn't really 00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:54.500 finish well 00:31:54.500 --> 00:31:55.839 his ministry. 00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:56.759 So, 00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:57.920 James cites Elijah, 00:31:58.059 --> 00:31:58.539 a prophet 00:31:58.539 --> 00:32:00.059 who prayed effectively 00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:00.680 even though 00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:01.440 he had our nature 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.039 like ours. 00:32:02.119 --> 00:32:03.220 He was a mere man, 00:32:03.359 --> 00:32:04.180 same weaknesses. 00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:05.380 We're tempted 00:32:05.380 --> 00:32:05.799 to do that. 00:32:05.819 --> 00:32:05.920 Oh, 00:32:05.940 --> 00:32:06.519 that was Elijah. 00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:07.380 That was Elijah. 00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:08.759 That was Moses. 00:32:09.019 --> 00:32:10.140 That was David. 00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:11.279 That was Paul. 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:12.319 And, 00:32:12.379 --> 00:32:12.980 we forget 00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:13.519 that they were 00:32:13.519 --> 00:32:14.359 men 00:32:14.359 --> 00:32:15.759 just like us 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.299 with a nature 00:32:16.299 --> 00:32:17.440 just like ours. 00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:19.079 Secondly, 00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:20.039 I think he brings 00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:20.539 this up 00:32:20.539 --> 00:32:21.700 because we're tempted 00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:22.379 to believe 00:32:22.379 --> 00:32:23.180 that the amount 00:32:23.180 --> 00:32:23.859 of prayer 00:32:23.859 --> 00:32:25.920 or the amount 00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:26.440 of faith 00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:27.220 is what causes 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:28.059 God to act 00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:29.039 in answering us. 00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:30.000 But, 00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:31.339 Elijah was one man 00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:32.359 who prayed 00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:33.099 a simple prayer. 00:32:33.099 --> 00:32:35.319 I don't have 00:32:35.319 --> 00:32:36.299 social media anymore. 00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:37.179 Thank goodness. 00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:38.039 I hadn't for years. 00:32:38.139 --> 00:32:38.459 It's great. 00:32:38.539 --> 00:32:39.119 You ought to try it. 00:32:39.779 --> 00:32:40.039 But, 00:32:41.119 --> 00:32:41.679 remember those 00:32:41.679 --> 00:32:42.500 like prayer things? 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:43.459 Let's get more people 00:32:43.459 --> 00:32:43.919 to pray 00:32:43.919 --> 00:32:44.719 and maybe God will 00:32:44.719 --> 00:32:45.839 like that little 00:32:45.839 --> 00:32:46.419 prayer things 00:32:46.419 --> 00:32:46.779 that were just 00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:47.359 passed on. 00:32:48.359 --> 00:32:49.099 Doesn't matter. 00:32:50.000 --> 00:32:50.779 One man 00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:52.079 prayed a simple prayer. 00:32:52.179 --> 00:32:53.099 He didn't beg God 00:32:53.099 --> 00:32:54.480 and he just simply 00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.159 asked God. 00:32:55.939 --> 00:32:56.139 And, 00:32:56.219 --> 00:32:56.899 here's what I'm 00:32:56.899 --> 00:32:57.139 going to make 00:32:57.139 --> 00:32:57.819 a connection to 00:32:57.819 --> 00:32:58.719 before we're done. 00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:00.679 He didn't just 00:33:00.679 --> 00:33:01.480 make up his own 00:33:01.480 --> 00:33:01.859 judgment. 00:33:02.019 --> 00:33:02.579 Elijah just didn't 00:33:02.579 --> 00:33:02.779 say, 00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:03.139 hmm, 00:33:03.940 --> 00:33:04.839 I think withholding 00:33:04.839 --> 00:33:05.399 the rain will be 00:33:05.399 --> 00:33:06.139 a great way 00:33:06.139 --> 00:33:07.119 to judge Ahab 00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:07.619 and this wicked 00:33:07.619 --> 00:33:08.059 nation. 00:33:09.619 --> 00:33:10.559 Remember what I said. 00:33:10.639 --> 00:33:11.359 The prayer of faith 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:12.379 is like remembering 00:33:12.379 --> 00:33:13.399 a promise of God 00:33:13.399 --> 00:33:14.420 and asking in faith 00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:14.960 that he would 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:16.819 affect that promise. 00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:18.639 Elijah knew 00:33:18.639 --> 00:33:19.339 the scripture. 00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:20.000 He knew 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:20.940 that in Deuteronomy 00:33:20.940 --> 00:33:21.539 28, 00:33:22.339 --> 00:33:22.899 the blessings 00:33:22.899 --> 00:33:23.539 and curses 00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:24.119 that are found 00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:24.740 in Deuteronomy 00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:25.279 28, 00:33:25.920 --> 00:33:26.539 he knew 00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:27.420 that one of the 00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:28.619 curses for idolatry 00:33:28.619 --> 00:33:29.119 is that God 00:33:29.119 --> 00:33:29.660 would shut up 00:33:29.660 --> 00:33:30.139 the heavens 00:33:30.139 --> 00:33:31.680 and not allow 00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:32.160 it to rain. 00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:33.779 So that's simply 00:33:33.779 --> 00:33:34.360 what he spoke. 00:33:34.860 --> 00:33:35.340 God's not going 00:33:35.340 --> 00:33:35.960 to allow it to rain 00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:37.880 until I say so. 00:33:38.880 --> 00:33:39.820 And so he believed 00:33:39.820 --> 00:33:41.080 that promise 00:33:41.080 --> 00:33:42.019 but we are tempted. 00:33:42.660 --> 00:33:43.380 There are groups 00:33:43.380 --> 00:33:44.140 of people out there 00:33:44.140 --> 00:33:44.660 that we all 00:33:44.660 --> 00:33:45.259 would harshly 00:33:45.259 --> 00:33:46.040 disagree with 00:33:46.040 --> 00:33:47.140 that we say 00:33:47.140 --> 00:33:47.820 if there's suffering 00:33:47.820 --> 00:33:48.560 or trials 00:33:48.560 --> 00:33:49.420 or pain in your life 00:33:49.420 --> 00:33:49.880 it's because you 00:33:49.880 --> 00:33:50.400 don't have enough 00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:51.240 faith in God. 00:33:52.120 --> 00:33:52.860 I can count how many 00:33:52.860 --> 00:33:53.580 times I've 00:33:53.580 --> 00:33:54.740 heard that. 00:33:54.800 --> 00:33:55.140 If you just had 00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:55.740 enough faith 00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.420 you would be healed. 00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:57.140 It's not God's 00:33:57.140 --> 00:33:58.279 will that you 00:33:58.279 --> 00:33:59.860 have cystic fibrosis 00:33:59.860 --> 00:34:01.220 or if you just 00:34:01.220 --> 00:34:02.220 had enough faith 00:34:02.220 --> 00:34:03.279 God would heal you. 00:34:04.060 --> 00:34:04.800 This is absolute 00:34:04.800 --> 00:34:05.300 nonsense 00:34:05.300 --> 00:34:06.200 and it's telling 00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:06.800 great harm 00:34:06.800 --> 00:34:07.300 and damage 00:34:07.300 --> 00:34:07.800 to people 00:34:07.800 --> 00:34:09.119 in the church. 00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:10.539 How much faith 00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:11.180 did Jesus say 00:34:11.180 --> 00:34:11.900 was required 00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:12.980 to move a mountain? 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:14.940 That much. 00:34:15.260 --> 00:34:15.599 And that was 00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:16.599 his point. 00:34:16.840 --> 00:34:17.360 And remember 00:34:17.360 --> 00:34:18.720 it's not faith 00:34:18.720 --> 00:34:19.360 that moves the mountain 00:34:19.360 --> 00:34:19.880 it's God 00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:20.659 that moves the mountain. 00:34:20.760 --> 00:34:21.159 Your faith 00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:21.900 is only as good 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:22.760 as the object 00:34:22.760 --> 00:34:24.400 of your faith. 00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:25.340 And so many ways 00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:26.180 people have faith 00:34:26.180 --> 00:34:27.760 in their faith 00:34:27.760 --> 00:34:28.800 not in the Savior 00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:30.240 of their faith. 00:34:31.100 --> 00:34:31.520 And so 00:34:31.520 --> 00:34:32.580 that little idea 00:34:32.580 --> 00:34:33.680 just a little more faith 00:34:33.680 --> 00:34:34.240 just a little more 00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:35.780 like there's this big bucket 00:34:35.780 --> 00:34:36.720 you've got to fill up 00:34:36.720 --> 00:34:37.360 and God's not going 00:34:37.360 --> 00:34:37.920 to do anything 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:38.720 until you get it 00:34:38.720 --> 00:34:40.120 all the way up. 00:34:41.120 --> 00:34:42.220 Just not true. 00:34:43.100 --> 00:34:44.140 We believe 00:34:44.140 --> 00:34:45.040 in God's promises 00:34:45.040 --> 00:34:46.040 and we ask him 00:34:46.040 --> 00:34:46.660 to act 00:34:46.660 --> 00:34:47.580 if he desires 00:34:47.580 --> 00:34:48.500 if he wills. 00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:50.080 And remember 00:34:50.080 --> 00:34:51.140 his will be done 00:34:51.140 --> 00:34:52.180 is not a cop out prayer. 00:34:52.300 --> 00:34:52.700 It's not like 00:34:52.699 --> 00:34:53.719 I don't know 00:34:53.719 --> 00:34:54.179 what's going to happen 00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:54.980 so your will be done. 00:34:55.059 --> 00:34:56.019 Like we plead with God 00:34:56.019 --> 00:34:57.019 we believe that he can 00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:57.960 but then we entrust it 00:34:57.960 --> 00:34:58.599 to his will 00:34:58.599 --> 00:34:59.379 because he knows 00:34:59.379 --> 00:35:00.980 what's best. 00:35:02.319 --> 00:35:02.579 So 00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:05.779 are we praying 00:35:05.779 --> 00:35:07.500 in our Christian lives? 00:35:07.579 --> 00:35:08.419 Are we praying together? 00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:09.399 Are we interceding 00:35:09.399 --> 00:35:10.139 for one another? 00:35:10.960 --> 00:35:11.639 Are we praying 00:35:11.639 --> 00:35:12.679 as a church? 00:35:13.379 --> 00:35:13.919 So see this 00:35:13.919 --> 00:35:14.919 as an open invitation 00:35:14.919 --> 00:35:15.619 to God 00:35:15.619 --> 00:35:17.339 to come back 00:35:17.339 --> 00:35:18.619 to have this exchange 00:35:18.619 --> 00:35:19.119 with him 00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:20.099 together 00:35:20.099 --> 00:35:21.199 and corporately 00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:22.399 and pray 00:35:22.399 --> 00:35:22.399 00:35:22.399 --> 00:35:22.919 in faith. 00:35:23.719 --> 00:35:24.599 Let's close 00:35:24.599 --> 00:35:25.219 in prayer together.