WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:27.339 Well, as you know the old saying, when the going gets tough, what does the tough do? Get going. That's right. The only problem is, what if you're not tough? When the going gets tough, the rest of us, what do we do? We get grumbling, we get running for cover, we get burying our heads in the sand like ostriches, we get working, planning solutions, we do lots of things anyway, I don't know which of those is your general response. 00:00:27.339 --> 00:00:44.239 Well, when the going got tough for the people James was writing to, they got grumbling, they got moaning. Chapter 1 verse 13, they got grumbling against God. Chapter 5, they were grumbling against one another. That's what we do, isn't it? Those kind of things. 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:57.700 Of course, the problem with the people James was writing to is that they were double-minded people. We read that earlier, chapter 1 verse 8. Their double-mindedness was seen in they would pray but not really expect an answer. 00:00:57.700 --> 00:01:11.460 Or chapter 4 verse 8. Their double-mindedness was seen in actually they were arguing with each other because they were really full of worldly ambition. They wanted what the world had to offer rather than wanting what God had to offer. 00:01:12.840 --> 00:01:23.379 And then from the rest of chapter 4 through chapter 5, we see that their double-mindedness was seen in the way they viewed the world just like their unbelieving secular neighbours would. 00:01:23.379 --> 00:01:30.500 So for the wealthy, that meant they were planning to make money, planning their travels as if God was irrelevant to the equation. 00:01:31.619 --> 00:01:43.299 To those who were poor and oppressed, it meant they were grumbling about their oppressors rather than waiting patiently for that great day when the Lord Jesus will come back and right every wrong. 00:01:43.299 --> 00:01:50.620 As we read through this letter of James, we find constantly that his readers were wavering between two opinions. 00:01:50.899 --> 00:01:55.019 They were limping on in their Christian lives. Wavering between two opinions. 00:01:55.459 --> 00:02:00.939 On Sunday, they professed faith wholeheartedly. Many of them felt they were good enough to be teachers. 00:02:01.859 --> 00:02:06.099 And yet for the rest of the week, well, they'd live like the rest of the population. 00:02:06.099 --> 00:02:14.439 But if we're honest with ourselves, how many of us are like James' readers? 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:18.979 How many of us can behave in double-minded ways? 00:02:19.539 --> 00:02:23.719 We love the Lord on a Sunday. We can sing greatest by faithfulness. 00:02:24.099 --> 00:02:29.759 But on Tuesday morning when work is tough, we can so easily live like God isn't faithful, can't we? 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:37.500 It's so easy. Double-mindedness is a temptation, if not a default setting for many of us. 00:02:37.959 --> 00:02:40.179 And so we need the medicine that James prescribes. 00:02:40.819 --> 00:02:44.639 And that medicine, in a sense, is summed up back in chapter 1, verse 17. 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:47.379 We need to remember God's character. 00:02:48.120 --> 00:02:49.299 Chapter 1, verse 17. 00:02:49.300 --> 00:03:10.240 See, James is saying, this is the medicine you need to remember. 00:03:10.860 --> 00:03:13.400 Our unchanging God who gives good gifts. 00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:15.740 He's given us the ultimate good gift. 00:03:15.740 --> 00:03:19.240 Of bringing us to life through the word of truth, through the gospel. 00:03:19.879 --> 00:03:21.020 So we can be his. 00:03:21.900 --> 00:03:28.159 He's done this single-mindedly for us, so we should single-mindedly confess our faith in him and pursue him. 00:03:28.920 --> 00:03:33.760 And as he closes this letter, he wants us to show how that single-minded response to God 00:03:33.760 --> 00:03:38.719 is seen both in our response to the circumstances in our lives, 00:03:39.180 --> 00:03:41.180 and in our response to other people. 00:03:41.740 --> 00:03:43.680 We'll sum it up with two little phrases. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:48.360 Pray in any weather, and pursue any wanderer. 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:49.920 So first of all, pray in any weather. 00:03:50.020 --> 00:03:51.700 Verses 13 to 18. 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:53.180 Here's what he says in verse 13. 00:03:53.760 --> 00:03:54.960 Is anyone among you suffering? 00:03:55.480 --> 00:03:56.219 Let him pray. 00:03:56.760 --> 00:03:57.680 Is anyone cheerful? 00:03:58.099 --> 00:03:59.140 Let him sing praise. 00:03:59.480 --> 00:04:00.760 Is anyone among you sick? 00:04:01.200 --> 00:04:03.460 Let him call the elders of the church to pray. 00:04:03.879 --> 00:04:06.280 Pray in any weather, James says. 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:08.420 Pray in any weather. 00:04:09.600 --> 00:04:10.580 When you're suffering. 00:04:10.580 --> 00:04:13.580 We often pray when we're suffering, don't we? 00:04:13.640 --> 00:04:14.719 When we know we need help. 00:04:15.420 --> 00:04:16.720 We pray for people to get jobs. 00:04:16.819 --> 00:04:17.900 We pray for people to get well. 00:04:18.280 --> 00:04:20.660 And it's clearly not wrong to pray for those things. 00:04:21.139 --> 00:04:23.939 Most of what James says in these verses is about praying for the sick. 00:04:25.020 --> 00:04:26.360 But is that all we're to pray for? 00:04:27.180 --> 00:04:31.540 Well, James has given us a clue back in chapter 1, hasn't he, of what else we can pray for. 00:04:31.540 --> 00:04:36.280 He says, count it pure joy when you make trials of various kinds. 00:04:37.280 --> 00:04:39.580 Now that is impossible naturally, isn't it? 00:04:40.500 --> 00:04:41.819 Yet James gives us the reason. 00:04:42.460 --> 00:04:45.540 He tells us these trials produce steadfastness. 00:04:45.660 --> 00:04:47.540 Test our faith for reducing steadfastness. 00:04:49.220 --> 00:04:51.120 That steadfastness has its full effect. 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:53.240 That it may be perfect, lacking nothing. 00:04:53.240 --> 00:04:58.300 So in trials we can pray that God will help us to be steadfast. 00:04:58.420 --> 00:04:59.300 That he will keep us. 00:04:59.960 --> 00:05:02.180 We can pray in chapter 1, verse 5 for wisdom. 00:05:03.180 --> 00:05:05.420 That doesn't mean wisdom so we understand our trial. 00:05:05.540 --> 00:05:08.340 But wisdom so we can see life from God's perspective. 00:05:09.840 --> 00:05:13.300 So we can fear him and honour him in our lives. 00:05:15.280 --> 00:05:18.460 These are things we can pray for in the midst of suffering. 00:05:19.259 --> 00:05:19.980 Pray for wisdom. 00:05:20.400 --> 00:05:21.620 Pray for steadfastness. 00:05:21.620 --> 00:05:25.540 Pray that by God's grace we'll count them trials as joy. 00:05:26.280 --> 00:05:27.280 Pray for endurance. 00:05:28.139 --> 00:05:29.780 Pray the Lord will make us complete. 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:33.240 Are these things we're praying for ourselves when life is hard? 00:05:34.259 --> 00:05:35.819 James encourages us to be careful. 00:05:36.579 --> 00:05:37.560 So pray when suffering. 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:39.439 But also pray when happy. 00:05:40.060 --> 00:05:40.800 Is anyone cheerful? 00:05:40.939 --> 00:05:42.060 Let him sing praise. 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:45.280 I don't know about you, but it's so easy, isn't it? 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:47.939 To stop praying when things go well. 00:05:47.939 --> 00:05:50.040 We pray for months for a job. 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:51.220 The job comes. 00:05:51.960 --> 00:05:54.580 And within a few weeks we're complaining about the job not being good enough. 00:05:55.280 --> 00:05:57.300 We're just forgetting that God has given it to us. 00:05:58.740 --> 00:06:00.280 Sing when you're cheerful, James says. 00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:02.300 Because all good gifts come from God. 00:06:03.379 --> 00:06:08.259 As one person once said to me, gratitude is the first emotion to evaporate. 00:06:08.259 --> 00:06:11.899 Gratitude is the first emotion to evaporate. 00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:13.680 It's often true, isn't it? 00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:15.579 So James says, sing. 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:18.120 Sing when you're winning, as it were. 00:06:18.219 --> 00:06:18.959 Sing when you're cheerful. 00:06:19.680 --> 00:06:21.680 Remember every good gift comes from God. 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:23.500 But not many of that. 00:06:23.740 --> 00:06:25.599 Pray when you're ill. 00:06:25.719 --> 00:06:28.579 Verses 14 to 18, really. 00:06:28.579 --> 00:06:36.379 Now in these verses, James covers a lot of ground, which leads to a lot of confusion and a lot of wrong ideas. 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:41.939 So let's kind of go through these verses carefully, so we understand what they are saying and understand what they're not saying. 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:48.219 So verses 14 and 15, James describes a specific situation of the elders coming to pray. 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:51.920 From that then, verse 16, he says, therefore. 00:06:52.940 --> 00:06:55.560 In light of that, he makes a general application. 00:06:56.320 --> 00:06:57.400 How we should pray for each other. 00:06:57.860 --> 00:07:00.860 Then in verses 17 and 18, he gives us an encouraging example. 00:07:01.720 --> 00:07:04.000 Now we need to get all these things right, or we could get very confused. 00:07:04.100 --> 00:07:06.380 Let's look first of all at the specific situation. 00:07:07.180 --> 00:07:08.440 Verses 14 and 15. 00:07:09.200 --> 00:07:10.500 Is anyone among you sick? 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:12.160 Let him call for the elders of the church. 00:07:12.520 --> 00:07:14.020 Let them pray over him. 00:07:14.580 --> 00:07:16.660 Anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 00:07:16.660 --> 00:07:19.920 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick. 00:07:20.280 --> 00:07:21.620 And the Lord will raise him up. 00:07:22.060 --> 00:07:24.800 And if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:27.200 Here's a specific situation. 00:07:28.080 --> 00:07:31.300 A person is so ill, he seems to be bedridden. 00:07:31.740 --> 00:07:33.700 He has to call the elders to come to him. 00:07:34.460 --> 00:07:35.200 Why the elders? 00:07:35.980 --> 00:07:37.280 Well, because they're the leaders of the church. 00:07:37.379 --> 00:07:38.980 They're the spiritually mature ones. 00:07:39.480 --> 00:07:44.120 They're the ones who are spiritually responsible for this individual lying in bed. 00:07:44.960 --> 00:07:46.300 Here's a few instructions. 00:07:46.660 --> 00:07:48.439 The elders should anoint him with oil. 00:07:49.280 --> 00:07:50.540 Why anoint him with oil? 00:07:51.320 --> 00:07:53.840 Is it because oil was the best medicine they had in those days? 00:07:53.920 --> 00:07:55.060 That's what some people say. 00:07:56.080 --> 00:07:58.580 I think actually the clue here, there's no magic going on. 00:07:59.080 --> 00:08:02.220 The clue here is in the word that's used in the original language. 00:08:02.840 --> 00:08:08.879 It's the same word that's used for anointing in, amongst other places, Exodus 40, verse 15. 00:08:08.879 --> 00:08:13.219 If you remember Paul's series on Exodus recently, chapter 40, verse 15. 00:08:13.719 --> 00:08:16.100 The priests are anointed with oil. 00:08:16.259 --> 00:08:16.980 Same word. 00:08:17.860 --> 00:08:20.199 They're set aside for God's service. 00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:22.040 They're set aside for the Lord. 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:28.740 And so I think here, the oil is being used to set this person aside for prayer, for God's special attention. 00:08:29.780 --> 00:08:37.759 And in a community where people were double-minded, wouldn't this reinforce to them how they used to be single-minded? 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:42.080 They're set apart singly for the Lord who has brought them to new life. 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:44.620 Brought them to life through his word of truth. 00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:47.539 And what's the result of this prayer? 00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:52.379 As the elders gather around this person lying in their bed, anointing with oil, praying for them. 00:08:53.100 --> 00:08:55.480 The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick. 00:08:55.980 --> 00:08:57.360 And the Lord will raise him up. 00:08:58.279 --> 00:09:00.019 His committed sins will be forgiven. 00:09:01.299 --> 00:09:03.860 Now it's tempting to just spiritualise that promise. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:07.159 Say, well, yes, the Lord will raise him up on that last day. 00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:09.940 And yes, Jesus will indeed raise us all up. 00:09:09.960 --> 00:09:10.919 And there is truth in that. 00:09:11.460 --> 00:09:12.399 There is truth in that. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:17.679 Those who have trusted in the Lord will be raised up from death when Christ returns. 00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:24.879 But I think here there is a more obvious promise of physical healing in this situation. 00:09:26.079 --> 00:09:28.039 Now, that raises questions, doesn't it? 00:09:28.959 --> 00:09:33.519 Does that mean if this person is not healed, the elders didn't have enough faith? 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:36.819 There are churches where that gets taught, that gets taught, doesn't it? 00:09:37.620 --> 00:09:39.819 If you're suffering, it's because you don't have enough faith. 00:09:39.820 --> 00:09:42.600 If you prayed but it didn't get better, you didn't have enough faith. 00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:44.000 The problem is you. 00:09:44.740 --> 00:09:45.540 You hear that, don't you? 00:09:46.500 --> 00:09:48.200 Is that what it means by the prayer of faith? 00:09:49.220 --> 00:09:50.560 We've got to remember, what is faith? 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:55.280 Faith is in God, in his promises. 00:09:56.960 --> 00:09:59.220 Faith is not just a kind of magic force. 00:09:59.500 --> 00:10:02.400 It's not the force on Star Wars that gets rid of things. 00:10:03.260 --> 00:10:05.920 That does Jedi mind tricks and such like. 00:10:06.040 --> 00:10:06.200 No. 00:10:06.600 --> 00:10:07.860 Faith is in what God has promised. 00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:16.519 What's therefore important is not our subjective feeling of faith, but whom the faith is in, the object of faith. 00:10:17.300 --> 00:10:25.180 And remember, we see clearly in the Bible prayers of faith that are not answered, in the sense of the person doesn't get what they wanted. 00:10:25.179 --> 00:10:32.339 So Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12, prays the Lord will take the thorn in his side away from him. 00:10:33.199 --> 00:10:36.000 The Lord says, no, my grace is sufficient for you. 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:38.799 My power is made perfect in your weakness. 00:10:39.959 --> 00:10:42.179 Well, think of the Lord Jesus himself in the Garden of Gethsemane. 00:10:42.179 --> 00:10:43.179 Gethsemane. 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:46.539 Father, if it is possible, take this cup away from me. 00:10:47.259 --> 00:10:49.279 But not what I will, but what you will. 00:10:51.139 --> 00:10:52.699 Did the Father take the cup away? 00:10:54.039 --> 00:10:55.120 No, of course not. 00:10:56.259 --> 00:10:57.620 Jesus still died. 00:10:58.819 --> 00:11:05.939 But his prayer of faith, and Paul's prayer of faith, in 2 Corinthians 12, was submitting themselves to God's purpose. 00:11:05.940 --> 00:11:09.860 He wasn't saying, God, do what I want to do because I've got enough faith. 00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:14.580 They were saying, Lord, I trust you, so that your will be done in my life. 00:11:15.500 --> 00:11:16.860 That's what the prayer of faith is. 00:11:17.220 --> 00:11:19.000 It has faith in God's sovereign purposes. 00:11:19.220 --> 00:11:22.300 It has faith that every good gift comes down from above. 00:11:23.320 --> 00:11:27.960 The prayer of faith, trust that the Heavenly Father gives good gifts, and does not change. 00:11:29.640 --> 00:11:33.840 In some cases, that will mean he takes his children home to be with him, 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:37.019 rather than giving him physical healing now. 00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:40.540 And that is because he is good. 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:42.560 That is because he is good. 00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:46.980 The prayer of faith trusts God to do what he knows is best. 00:11:47.940 --> 00:11:50.639 He doesn't try and bend God to do what we want. 00:11:51.920 --> 00:11:53.820 That said, command is still here, isn't it? 00:11:53.820 --> 00:11:54.740 We pray for healing. 00:11:55.580 --> 00:11:56.560 We pray for healing. 00:11:56.560 --> 00:11:58.360 It is good to do that. 00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:01.280 But there's another question that arises here. 00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:06.519 So, if someone isn't healed, it isn't necessarily a lack of faith. 00:12:07.539 --> 00:12:10.860 But is James saying that illness always causes diseases? 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:13.019 Well, let's look carefully at verse 15. 00:12:13.100 --> 00:12:15.279 What does James say at the end of the verse? 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:18.799 If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 00:12:19.839 --> 00:12:21.360 If he has committed sins. 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:26.679 So, James is not saying that all disease and illness is caused by particular sins we have done. 00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:27.639 No, he's not. 00:12:27.639 --> 00:12:35.360 On the other hand, he is saying that some illness may well be caused by sin. 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:39.799 Some illness may well be caused by sin. 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:42.879 You see other examples of that in the New Testament. 00:12:43.620 --> 00:12:46.179 The most dramatic example, of course, Acts chapter 5. 00:12:46.299 --> 00:12:48.220 Ananias and Sapphira lie to the Holy Spirit. 00:12:48.539 --> 00:12:50.199 Don't just get ill, get struck down and dead. 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:53.259 Or 1 Corinthians chapter 11. 00:12:53.259 --> 00:12:59.139 The Corinthians are disregarding one another as they celebrate the Lord's Supper together. 00:12:59.840 --> 00:13:01.519 So, 1 Corinthians 11 verse 30. 00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:02.919 Paul warns them about this. 00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:08.080 He says, that is why many of you are weak and ill and some have died. 00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:14.720 Because you have not recognised the body of Christ. 00:13:15.259 --> 00:13:18.620 Because you have taken the Lord's Supper as your own party. 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:20.100 You can eat and drink as you like. 00:13:20.100 --> 00:13:23.200 Some of you are getting sick and dying. 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:26.120 The Lord is disciplining you. 00:13:26.920 --> 00:13:29.240 His covenant people, Paul says. 00:13:30.560 --> 00:13:34.200 So, illness can be part of God's discipline. 00:13:34.879 --> 00:13:38.840 Can be one of the tools God uses to turn us back to himself. 00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:43.420 But, notice what James doesn't say. 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:52.100 He doesn't say, spend your life navel-gazing, trying to worry if every cough and cold, or every hospital visit, is due to an individual sin. 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:53.639 That's not the point. 00:13:54.820 --> 00:13:57.019 What he does say, though, is recognise that is a possibility. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:58.259 And pray. 00:13:58.440 --> 00:13:59.440 Pray when you're sick. 00:13:59.960 --> 00:14:01.360 Pray the Lord will heal you. 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:04.000 Pray the Lord will heal you. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:05.679 Pray in confidence. 00:14:06.200 --> 00:14:09.299 Remember in the Lord is compassionate and merciful. 00:14:09.820 --> 00:14:12.500 He uses even our suffering for his eternal good. 00:14:13.940 --> 00:14:18.580 As a loving Father, he will discipline his children to bring us back to himself. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:21.200 Well, it's a clear application, isn't it? 00:14:21.720 --> 00:14:23.539 If we're sick, we can call the elders to pray. 00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:25.899 I think of a gentleman in my last church. 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:27.379 He was very ill. 00:14:27.820 --> 00:14:29.620 Actually, he was just about well enough to come to the church. 00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:33.580 So we stood around and prayed for him, did as James says here. 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:36.899 A few weeks later, I went to see him in hospital. 00:14:37.320 --> 00:14:40.179 He was, do not resuscitate, on the bed next to him. 00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:42.440 But we carried on praying. 00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:44.980 And the Lord, in his mercy, did heal that man. 00:14:45.740 --> 00:14:48.139 He came back, he was in his early 80s at that stage. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:50.840 Came back from kidney failure and heart problems. 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:53.440 And was spared for about another two years, I think. 00:14:53.940 --> 00:14:55.560 And then his health started to decline again. 00:14:55.940 --> 00:14:58.060 And he wanted to call us around again. 00:14:58.059 --> 00:15:02.199 And he said, no, I think at this point, brother, you need to be ready to go to glory. 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:05.219 You need to be ready to pray for your family. 00:15:06.059 --> 00:15:11.279 And I believe in those last two years, he actually had good conversations with his sons who turned away from the Lord. 00:15:12.219 --> 00:15:15.439 And I think he was a helpful witness in those last years. 00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:22.119 And by the time he did finally die, he was ready and looking forward to being with the Lord. 00:15:22.179 --> 00:15:24.099 And I remember those conversations with him clearly. 00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:28.540 As he was looking forward to finally seeing the Lord face to face. 00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:30.480 Well, we can pray in conference. 00:15:31.540 --> 00:15:33.600 We don't just dial 111 or go to the doctor. 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:35.680 We can call the elders as well. 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:38.100 So that's the specific application. 00:15:38.659 --> 00:15:40.540 There's also a general application. 00:15:40.680 --> 00:15:41.320 A specific situation. 00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:42.200 A general application. 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:43.139 Look at verse 16. 00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:46.240 We pray for the sick. 00:15:46.319 --> 00:15:47.259 We pray for one another. 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:49.939 Therefore, because God answers prayer. 00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:54.379 Because God will raise up the sick person and forgive sins. 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:57.259 Therefore, confess your sins to one another. 00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:58.659 And pray for one another. 00:15:58.879 --> 00:15:59.899 That you may be healed. 00:16:00.659 --> 00:16:03.879 The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it's working. 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:06.039 So because God answers prayer. 00:16:06.340 --> 00:16:07.299 Pray for one another. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:08.379 James says. 00:16:08.740 --> 00:16:09.620 Pray for one another. 00:16:09.620 --> 00:16:14.740 See, you've noticed the whole church should have an atmosphere of mutual care and support. 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:17.560 There should be a culture of openness. 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:19.019 Independence on God's grace. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:21.360 That's why you just confess your sins to one another. 00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:25.879 We're not just afraid for physical healing. 00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:28.340 But a whole spiritual well-being as well. 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:30.679 This is the only place in the New Testament. 00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:34.340 Christians are told to confess our sins to one another. 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:37.159 Primarily, we confess our sins to the Lord. 00:16:37.460 --> 00:16:38.440 So he forgives us. 00:16:39.620 --> 00:16:44.560 So what James is commanding us to do here is not the Catholic idea of confession. 00:16:44.940 --> 00:16:47.019 Where you go to a priest to receive absolution. 00:16:47.179 --> 00:16:47.960 That is nonsense. 00:16:48.560 --> 00:16:49.480 We have one high priest. 00:16:49.560 --> 00:16:50.679 That's the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:16:51.159 --> 00:16:53.320 The confessing sins to one another is what? 00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.960 James tells us the reason. 00:16:55.340 --> 00:16:56.440 That we may be healed. 00:16:57.019 --> 00:16:58.480 Not just physically, but spiritually. 00:16:59.320 --> 00:17:00.940 We confess our needs to one another. 00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.220 Confess our weaknesses. 00:17:02.220 --> 00:17:07.160 And the language here suggests this should be habitual. 00:17:07.160 --> 00:17:09.660 It should be the characteristic of the way we are. 00:17:11.740 --> 00:17:14.279 We admit our need for God's grace. 00:17:14.380 --> 00:17:16.380 We say to one another, I'm struggling with my temper. 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:17.259 Can you pray for me? 00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:20.360 I'm struggling in work because I don't like my boss. 00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:21.460 Will you pray for me? 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:25.120 That's the kind of confession that James is talking about. 00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:30.079 The contrast is, I'm sure we all know, it's easy to pretend that we've got it all sorted. 00:17:31.120 --> 00:17:32.019 James says, don't do that. 00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:34.100 Confess your weaknesses to one another. 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:35.220 Confess your sins. 00:17:35.220 --> 00:17:37.940 What is it you need help with? 00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:41.000 What is it you're battling with right now? 00:17:41.819 --> 00:17:43.360 What are the temptations you face? 00:17:43.420 --> 00:17:45.220 What are the sins you cave into? 00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:47.120 Is it anger? 00:17:48.019 --> 00:17:48.940 Is it self-pity? 00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:51.100 Is it pride? 00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:51.900 Is it lust? 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:53.480 Is it to do with money? 00:17:54.600 --> 00:17:55.799 Seek other people's help. 00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:57.319 Ask them to pray for you in this. 00:17:57.799 --> 00:18:01.000 And the reason for confessing our sins, James says, is so that we'll be healed. 00:18:01.360 --> 00:18:04.559 It's not so that we turn the church and become Jeremy Kyle show. 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:06.039 Or Oprah Winfrey show. 00:18:06.099 --> 00:18:08.359 You know those kind of television shows where people come in. 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:10.179 I've seen some in hospital waiting rooms. 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:10.659 It is awful. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:11.659 I wouldn't otherwise watch them. 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:14.879 People come in and confess their deepest, darkest secrets. 00:18:15.659 --> 00:18:17.980 And it's all about glorying in their shame. 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:22.099 And kind of getting around as a celebrity by how terrible a mess their lives are. 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:24.059 The church is not to be like that. 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:28.319 Equally, the church is not to be a place where we all pretend we've got it sorted. 00:18:28.639 --> 00:18:29.740 We're all nicer than we are. 00:18:30.579 --> 00:18:32.220 A friend of mine said to me a few months ago 00:18:32.220 --> 00:18:35.200 about his church being the perfect church. 00:18:36.019 --> 00:18:37.980 He had his tongue firmly in his cheek when he said that. 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:40.740 What he meant was people come in on a Sunday morning 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:44.059 and they all present very beautifully, very perfectly, 00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:46.299 and they have a nice conversation over coffee, 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.559 and they go away again. 00:18:48.779 --> 00:18:50.120 And no one admits a need. 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:51.240 No one admits a fault. 00:18:51.360 --> 00:18:52.819 No one admits their brokenness. 00:18:52.819 --> 00:18:55.539 And so it's an impossible church 00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:58.099 for someone to come into who is needy, 00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.399 who is helpless, 00:19:00.179 --> 00:19:01.839 who needs to experience grace. 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:07.299 That's exactly what James doesn't want. 00:19:08.619 --> 00:19:09.639 And yet it's a... 00:19:09.639 --> 00:19:10.559 That kind of church, 00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:12.759 the kind of perfect church my friend described, 00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:16.579 is exactly the kind of church where double-mindedness is rife. 00:19:16.579 --> 00:19:20.939 Because no one can be honest with themselves and with others. 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:25.079 That's why James is encouraging this kind of mutual prayer and confession. 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:29.419 That the church should be a showcase of God's grace, 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:32.799 rather than a showcase of our perfection, 00:19:33.599 --> 00:19:34.500 or of our sin. 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:38.720 He tells us how important prayer is at the end of verse 17, doesn't he? 00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:42.700 The prayer of a righteous person has great power in its working. 00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:46.319 There was a C of E vicar one day, 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:48.980 he was sitting in his room in his rectory, 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:51.720 preparing, or praying actually, at his desk. 00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:54.380 And the window cleaner was working on the windows of the house. 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:56.839 And the window cleaner got to this window and looked in, 00:19:57.079 --> 00:19:59.680 and he needed someone to go and refill the bucket for him. 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:01.079 So he knocked on the window, 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:02.759 and the vicar, rather disgruntled, 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.860 got up, opened the window, 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:05.039 said, what can I do for you? 00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:06.759 He said, oh look mate, you're not doing anything, 00:20:06.839 --> 00:20:08.279 can you fill this bucket up for me please? 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.740 They're not doing anything. 00:20:10.120 --> 00:20:10.600 They're not doing anything. 00:20:10.600 --> 00:20:11.240 They're praying. 00:20:11.420 --> 00:20:12.339 This is my work. 00:20:13.620 --> 00:20:15.120 Get yourself and we can get the window cleaner. 00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:15.519 Can't we? 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:16.059 You look in it, 00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:17.059 but prayer doesn't do anything. 00:20:17.640 --> 00:20:19.019 Prayer is just sitting at a desk doing nothing. 00:20:20.480 --> 00:20:20.980 You've got to remember, 00:20:21.100 --> 00:20:22.460 prayer is the work. 00:20:23.360 --> 00:20:24.819 The prayer of a righteous person, 00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:25.980 we'll come to that phrase in a moment, 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:28.259 has great power in its working. 00:20:30.339 --> 00:20:31.940 There are untapped resources there. 00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:34.600 Think about some of the deserts in the Middle East. 00:20:35.380 --> 00:20:37.779 They look barren and unproductive, 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:39.839 like the vicar sitting at his desk, 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:41.079 getting unproductive. 00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:42.700 Yet underneath, 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:44.779 are vast oil resources. 00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.220 So it is with prayer. 00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:49.220 It might look unproductive to people looking on. 00:20:50.240 --> 00:20:51.359 Yet it's a way to tap in 00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:53.420 to those great reserves of God's power. 00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:56.599 Prayer has great power in its working. 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:59.500 So James is encouraging us to pray. 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.319 Pray whatever the weather. 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:03.740 Pray when you're suffering. 00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:05.059 Pray when you're happy. 00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:06.319 Pray when you're sick. 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:07.419 Pray for one another. 00:21:07.939 --> 00:21:08.919 And he finishes with this 00:21:08.919 --> 00:21:10.779 great encouraging example, 00:21:10.919 --> 00:21:12.179 verses 17 and 18. 00:21:13.639 --> 00:21:14.759 You see the example there. 00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:18.419 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. 00:21:19.779 --> 00:21:21.619 It's easy to think of these Old Testament heroes 00:21:21.619 --> 00:21:22.519 as being very different. 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:25.139 Being some kind of superheroes of the faith. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.759 Like Superman or whatever. 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:27.240 But no, 00:21:27.399 --> 00:21:29.460 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. 00:21:29.939 --> 00:21:31.859 If you read through 1 Kings and 2 Kings, 00:21:31.899 --> 00:21:32.599 where his story is, 00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:34.200 you see he was a man like us. 00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:35.380 He got tired. 00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:36.519 He got depressed. 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:38.120 He got into self-pity. 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:39.819 There were moments of pride. 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:42.279 He was a man like me and like you. 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:43.480 He was not perfect. 00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:47.480 He was righteous in just the same way we are righteous. 00:21:48.360 --> 00:21:49.759 Not through moral perfection, 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:52.160 but through trusting in God's promise. 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:55.299 And so he was accounted righteous through faith. 00:21:56.580 --> 00:21:58.440 And what does Elijah's story? 00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:00.080 James goes on, 00:22:00.120 --> 00:22:00.660 verse 17. 00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:02.140 He prayed fervently 00:22:02.140 --> 00:22:03.700 that it might not rain. 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:05.240 And for three years and six months 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:06.500 it did not rain on the earth. 00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:07.960 And then he prayed again. 00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:09.259 And heaven gave rain 00:22:09.259 --> 00:22:10.779 and the earth bore its fruit. 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:14.080 Prayed fervently. 00:22:14.580 --> 00:22:15.440 In the original language, 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.120 it literally says, 00:22:16.340 --> 00:22:17.840 he prayed in prayer. 00:22:18.600 --> 00:22:18.900 In other words, 00:22:18.940 --> 00:22:20.420 he was kind of single-minded in prayer. 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:21.360 That's what he was doing. 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:24.380 But then you think it's a curious example. 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:26.900 James has been talking about prayer 00:22:26.900 --> 00:22:27.600 being effective, 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:29.180 and particularly in a realm of healing. 00:22:30.380 --> 00:22:32.060 So why does James use this example? 00:22:33.080 --> 00:22:35.340 In 1 Kings 17, verse 21, 00:22:35.860 --> 00:22:36.800 we read of Elijah 00:22:36.800 --> 00:22:38.160 stretching himself out 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:39.800 on the widow of Zarephath's son, 00:22:39.860 --> 00:22:40.519 who is dead, 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:41.960 and praying fervently 00:22:41.960 --> 00:22:42.940 that he be healed, 00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:43.860 raised to life again, 00:22:44.080 --> 00:22:44.920 and he was. 00:22:45.800 --> 00:22:47.700 So, has James forgotten that? 00:22:47.860 --> 00:22:49.180 Why does James not use that 00:22:49.180 --> 00:22:50.600 as an example of fervent prayer 00:22:50.600 --> 00:22:52.180 if he's choosing Elijah as an example? 00:22:54.140 --> 00:22:55.580 Well, maybe it's because James 00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:58.319 actually has something bigger in mind. 00:22:58.879 --> 00:23:01.539 Maybe James has a deeper healing in mind. 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:04.139 This example of Elijah 00:23:04.139 --> 00:23:05.659 and praying for rain 00:23:05.659 --> 00:23:08.079 spans the beginning of chapter 17 00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:08.799 of 1 Kings 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:10.619 and to the end of chapter 18. 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:12.480 What happens in the intervening period? 00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.259 Well, there's drought, 00:23:13.419 --> 00:23:14.179 three and a half years. 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:15.259 But then, 00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:18.019 and if you know your Sunday school stories well, 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.720 you'll know there's a big contest 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:20.099 in the middle. 00:23:20.419 --> 00:23:22.059 The problem in those days 00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:23.259 was that Israel, 00:23:23.379 --> 00:23:24.339 under King Ahab, 00:23:24.579 --> 00:23:25.819 had forsaken God. 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.039 Instead, 00:23:27.159 --> 00:23:28.319 they were worshipping the Baals. 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:30.619 They're not wholeheartedly following God, 00:23:30.879 --> 00:23:32.079 they're worshipping a false god, 00:23:32.200 --> 00:23:32.519 Baal. 00:23:33.379 --> 00:23:34.119 And that's why 00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:35.419 there was no rain in the land. 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.980 Elijah had prayed, 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.440 and in response 00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:40.220 to God's covenant promises 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:41.379 in Deuteronomy 28, 00:23:41.559 --> 00:23:42.319 where God had said 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:44.299 if Israel was unfaithful to him, 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:45.639 he would deprive them of rain. 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:47.639 So that's how Elijah prayed. 00:23:47.640 --> 00:23:49.820 But then, 00:23:50.020 --> 00:23:50.920 there's a showdown 00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:52.380 in 1 Kings 18. 00:23:53.280 --> 00:23:54.740 And Elijah has this little contest. 00:23:55.100 --> 00:23:56.220 He gets the prophets of Baal 00:23:56.220 --> 00:23:57.300 on top of Mount Carmel. 00:23:58.120 --> 00:23:58.300 He says, 00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:59.480 okay, you guys build an altar, 00:24:00.100 --> 00:24:01.880 and you try and get Baal to send rain. 00:24:02.080 --> 00:24:03.440 You pray for Baal to send rain. 00:24:03.520 --> 00:24:04.440 Of course, they dance around, 00:24:04.520 --> 00:24:05.100 they cut themselves, 00:24:05.440 --> 00:24:06.680 and no rain comes. 00:24:07.100 --> 00:24:08.460 Because Baal is not a real god. 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.780 Then Elijah sets forward and says, 00:24:10.860 --> 00:24:11.080 okay, 00:24:12.520 --> 00:24:13.780 I'm going to pray for rain 00:24:13.780 --> 00:24:15.340 on God's altar. 00:24:15.339 --> 00:24:16.699 And you will see 00:24:16.699 --> 00:24:18.220 who the true God is. 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:20.339 Now listen to how Elijah 00:24:20.339 --> 00:24:22.419 introduces this contest. 00:24:22.659 --> 00:24:24.559 1 Kings 18, verse 21. 00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:27.799 Elijah came near to all the people 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.179 and said, 00:24:28.619 --> 00:24:30.799 how long will you go limping 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:33.039 between two different opinions? 00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:35.599 If the Lord is God, follow him. 00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:38.500 But if Baal, then follow him. 00:24:39.659 --> 00:24:40.279 See the problem? 00:24:41.439 --> 00:24:42.459 In Elijah's day, 00:24:42.619 --> 00:24:44.399 Israel were double-minded. 00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:46.280 They had two opinions. 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:48.460 They were kind of pretending 00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:49.240 to serve the Lord, 00:24:49.360 --> 00:24:50.700 but also serving Baal. 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.660 What's the problem 00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.460 for James' readers? 00:24:53.300 --> 00:24:54.120 They're double-minded. 00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.740 They are not wholeheartedly 00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.480 serving the Lord, 00:24:57.580 --> 00:24:58.480 but they're living 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:00.040 this kind of secular world view 00:25:00.040 --> 00:25:01.160 at the same time. 00:25:02.140 --> 00:25:02.820 They're limping 00:25:02.820 --> 00:25:04.100 between two opinions. 00:25:05.480 --> 00:25:06.460 So the real healing 00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:07.380 that we're praying for here, 00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:08.220 the ultimate healing 00:25:08.220 --> 00:25:09.000 we're praying for, 00:25:09.420 --> 00:25:10.280 is for the Lord 00:25:10.280 --> 00:25:11.759 to turn back hearts. 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:15.160 The Elijah story goes on 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:16.140 that the fire fell, 00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:19.059 the rain, 00:25:19.339 --> 00:25:21.740 and then the people said, 00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.839 the Lord is God, 00:25:22.940 --> 00:25:24.140 the Lord, he is God. 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:26.019 Then Elijah prayed 00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.859 for the rain to come, 00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:28.079 and the rain came. 00:25:29.879 --> 00:25:30.240 See really, 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:31.099 Elijah wasn't merely 00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:31.900 praying for weather. 00:25:32.879 --> 00:25:33.480 Underneath it, 00:25:33.500 --> 00:25:34.559 he was praying for the Lord 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:36.000 to turn people's hearts 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:37.259 back to himself 00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.099 wholeheartedly. 00:25:38.099 --> 00:25:40.039 And isn't that the problem 00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:40.399 of the people 00:25:40.399 --> 00:25:41.339 James is writing to? 00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:43.759 Their double-mindedness? 00:25:44.699 --> 00:25:45.279 Can't that be 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:46.279 our problem as well? 00:25:47.379 --> 00:25:48.119 What will it take 00:25:48.119 --> 00:25:49.459 for us to wholeheartedly 00:25:49.459 --> 00:25:50.879 follow this God of grace? 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:52.779 It will take him 00:25:52.779 --> 00:25:54.319 to turn our hearts back. 00:25:55.159 --> 00:25:56.119 And how is that possible? 00:25:56.879 --> 00:25:57.719 It's possible 00:25:57.719 --> 00:25:58.859 because prayer is effective, 00:25:59.419 --> 00:26:00.599 and the Lord is good 00:26:00.599 --> 00:26:01.219 and gracious. 00:26:05.219 --> 00:26:06.079 So that's what this 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:07.480 encouraging example is about. 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:09.699 They're to encourage us 00:26:09.699 --> 00:26:10.859 to pray for one another. 00:26:11.500 --> 00:26:12.719 To pray for one another 00:26:12.719 --> 00:26:14.059 with all our weaknesses, 00:26:14.219 --> 00:26:15.019 with all our sins, 00:26:15.099 --> 00:26:15.939 with all our illnesses. 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:18.959 To pray that the God of grace 00:26:18.959 --> 00:26:20.459 will turn our hearts back. 00:26:21.459 --> 00:26:22.839 Prayer taps in 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:24.859 for those eternal resources 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:26.419 of grace and goodness 00:26:26.419 --> 00:26:28.199 that can do that for us. 00:26:29.659 --> 00:26:30.599 So what are the areas 00:26:30.599 --> 00:26:31.339 you need prayer for? 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:31.959 What are the areas 00:26:31.959 --> 00:26:32.779 I need prayer for? 00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:34.959 Who have you got 00:26:34.959 --> 00:26:35.699 praying for you? 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.519 Let's not pretend 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:38.240 all is fine. 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:40.840 Let's not be a perfect church 00:26:40.840 --> 00:26:41.759 where we don't have 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.200 any problems. 00:26:43.400 --> 00:26:44.600 Let's pray when we're suffering, 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.580 pray when we're happy, 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:46.960 pray when people are ill. 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:47.799 Above all, 00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.819 let's pray for one another. 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:50.900 That the God of grace 00:26:50.900 --> 00:26:51.920 will do his great work 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.600 of turning hearts back 00:26:53.600 --> 00:26:54.380 wholeheartedly 00:26:54.380 --> 00:26:55.019 to himself. 00:26:56.039 --> 00:26:57.039 So let's pray any weather. 00:26:57.580 --> 00:26:58.259 And more briefly, 00:26:58.360 --> 00:26:59.240 these last two verses. 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:01.400 Pursue any wanderer, 00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:02.160 James says. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:02.920 Verse 19. 00:27:03.579 --> 00:27:04.039 My brothers, 00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:05.000 if anyone among you 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:06.000 wanders from the truth 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.500 and someone brings him back, 00:27:07.579 --> 00:27:08.099 let him know 00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:09.299 that whoever brings back 00:27:09.299 --> 00:27:10.400 a sinner from his wandering 00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:12.359 will save his soul from death 00:27:12.359 --> 00:27:13.120 and will cover 00:27:13.120 --> 00:27:14.339 a multitude of sins. 00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:16.380 If you look at almost 00:27:16.380 --> 00:27:17.079 every other letter 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:17.720 in the New Testament, 00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:18.579 they all finish with 00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:19.559 nice greetings 00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:20.940 and words like 00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:21.779 grace and peace. 00:27:22.599 --> 00:27:23.599 James doesn't do that. 00:27:24.220 --> 00:27:25.160 He stops short. 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:25.599 Why? 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:27.859 Because this is 00:27:27.859 --> 00:27:28.759 his whole point. 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:31.039 He wants us to 00:27:31.039 --> 00:27:32.319 turn one another back. 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:33.799 He sees people 00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.740 wandering in this 00:27:34.740 --> 00:27:35.279 congregation. 00:27:35.919 --> 00:27:36.980 He wants them 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:38.199 to turn each other back. 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:39.399 Now what is 00:27:39.399 --> 00:27:40.480 wandering from the truth? 00:27:41.879 --> 00:27:42.639 Wandering from the truth 00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:43.159 is not really 00:27:43.159 --> 00:27:43.879 wandering from 00:27:43.879 --> 00:27:44.919 mental ascent 00:27:44.919 --> 00:27:46.000 to a set of doctrines. 00:27:47.299 --> 00:27:48.240 It includes 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:48.959 wandering from 00:27:48.959 --> 00:27:50.500 believing something. 00:27:50.619 --> 00:27:51.119 Also wandering 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:51.879 from the behaviour 00:27:51.879 --> 00:27:53.699 that goes with that belief. 00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:55.439 And what is this truth? 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:58.000 Chapter 1 verse 18 00:27:58.000 --> 00:27:59.159 is the word of truth 00:27:59.159 --> 00:27:59.839 that saves us. 00:27:59.919 --> 00:28:01.179 It's the gospel truth. 00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:03.480 It doesn't just save us, 00:28:03.579 --> 00:28:04.779 it sanctifies us. 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:06.419 Chapter 1 verse 21 00:28:06.419 --> 00:28:07.859 as we receive this word 00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:08.779 with meekness. 00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:11.319 It changes us. 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:13.319 And all through this letter 00:28:13.319 --> 00:28:14.319 James has been showing, 00:28:14.500 --> 00:28:15.099 these believers 00:28:15.099 --> 00:28:15.939 are showing us 00:28:15.939 --> 00:28:17.019 how easy it is 00:28:17.019 --> 00:28:18.139 to wander from the truth. 00:28:18.699 --> 00:28:19.480 We do it when we're 00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:20.659 hearers of the word 00:28:20.659 --> 00:28:22.299 but not doers of the word. 00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:23.779 We do it when we 00:28:23.779 --> 00:28:24.719 profess faith 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:25.539 but our lives 00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:26.180 remain unchanged. 00:28:27.120 --> 00:28:27.860 We do it when we're 00:28:27.860 --> 00:28:29.259 very in to listening 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:29.880 to God's word 00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:30.680 being preached 00:28:30.680 --> 00:28:33.100 but never do it 00:28:33.100 --> 00:28:33.779 and we don't actually 00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.620 get on with caring 00:28:34.620 --> 00:28:35.539 for the widows 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:36.299 and the orphans 00:28:36.299 --> 00:28:38.019 which is the true religion 00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:39.079 that pleases God 00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:40.019 as James has told us 00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:40.839 back in chapter 1. 00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:43.259 We see double-mindedness 00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:45.920 in failure to control 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:46.600 our tongues. 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:48.339 Just grumbling 00:28:48.339 --> 00:28:49.200 against one another. 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:51.120 And you see the urgency 00:28:51.120 --> 00:28:52.120 in which James tells us 00:28:52.119 --> 00:28:53.659 to pursue any wanderer. 00:28:54.299 --> 00:28:55.439 Because anyone who does that 00:28:55.439 --> 00:28:56.739 will save his soul 00:28:56.739 --> 00:28:57.659 from death. 00:28:59.859 --> 00:29:00.659 The stakes are high, 00:29:00.719 --> 00:29:00.959 aren't they? 00:29:01.639 --> 00:29:02.679 If you're out for a walk 00:29:02.679 --> 00:29:03.679 down the south coast 00:29:03.679 --> 00:29:04.639 and you're wandering 00:29:04.639 --> 00:29:05.059 on all these 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:06.119 cliff-top paths 00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:06.479 and then there's 00:29:06.479 --> 00:29:07.139 a diversion 00:29:07.139 --> 00:29:08.359 leading inland 00:29:08.359 --> 00:29:09.219 saying warning 00:29:09.219 --> 00:29:10.739 land erosion 00:29:10.739 --> 00:29:11.919 take the safe path. 00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:13.059 You take the safe path 00:29:13.059 --> 00:29:13.979 if you turned around 00:29:13.979 --> 00:29:14.419 and saw someone 00:29:14.419 --> 00:29:15.339 coming behind you 00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:17.259 then just wandering 00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:18.239 on the old path 00:29:18.239 --> 00:29:18.979 next to the cliff edge 00:29:18.979 --> 00:29:19.899 would you just let them 00:29:19.899 --> 00:29:20.359 do it? 00:29:20.359 --> 00:29:21.679 Will you say 00:29:21.679 --> 00:29:22.159 that's okay, 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:22.819 that's their choice, 00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:23.379 that might interfere 00:29:23.379 --> 00:29:24.019 with their lives? 00:29:25.219 --> 00:29:25.819 No, of course not. 00:29:25.839 --> 00:29:26.659 We want to rescue them, 00:29:26.679 --> 00:29:27.459 we want to pursue 00:29:27.459 --> 00:29:28.219 that wanderer, 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:28.819 bring them back 00:29:28.819 --> 00:29:29.799 onto the true path. 00:29:31.119 --> 00:29:32.099 How much more so 00:29:32.099 --> 00:29:32.559 should we do that 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.299 in the church? 00:29:34.199 --> 00:29:34.819 We see people 00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:35.819 wandering away 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:37.419 as their attendance 00:29:37.419 --> 00:29:39.079 becomes less and less. 00:29:40.439 --> 00:29:41.139 Perhaps the things 00:29:41.139 --> 00:29:41.919 they say 00:29:41.919 --> 00:29:43.379 or the things they do 00:29:43.379 --> 00:29:45.579 you see they're not 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.500 really wholeheartedly 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:47.459 following the Lord. 00:29:49.219 --> 00:29:49.819 Surely we should 00:29:49.819 --> 00:29:50.319 plead with them 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:51.059 to come back. 00:29:51.960 --> 00:29:52.339 We're not just 00:29:52.339 --> 00:29:52.859 saving a trip 00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:54.259 to the emergency room 00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:54.939 or to A&E 00:29:54.939 --> 00:29:55.899 falling off a cliff. 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.519 Save their souls 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:59.039 from death 00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:00.259 and cover a multitude 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:01.019 of sins. 00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:05.319 Yet how do we respond 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:05.939 when we see people 00:30:05.939 --> 00:30:06.339 wandering? 00:30:08.200 --> 00:30:08.819 There's so many of us 00:30:08.819 --> 00:30:09.460 who are very British 00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:09.899 about it, 00:30:09.939 --> 00:30:10.259 can't we? 00:30:10.939 --> 00:30:11.879 I'm sure somebody else 00:30:11.879 --> 00:30:12.419 knows them better, 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:13.259 they can talk to them. 00:30:13.919 --> 00:30:14.079 Or, 00:30:14.439 --> 00:30:15.599 I don't know them 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:15.919 very well, 00:30:15.960 --> 00:30:16.740 I'm not perfect, 00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.759 I couldn't do that. 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:20.000 It's the leader's job, 00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:21.000 they should do it. 00:30:22.119 --> 00:30:22.879 I'd love to help 00:30:22.879 --> 00:30:23.599 but I don't have time 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:23.920 right now, 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.440 there's a lot of pressure 00:30:24.440 --> 00:30:24.779 at work, 00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:25.960 family life is very busy. 00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:27.200 Or, 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:28.140 I'm sure they'll be fine, 00:30:28.220 --> 00:30:29.140 they've been strong 00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:30.160 Christians in the past, 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.700 I'm sure they'll be okay. 00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:33.200 We can make any one 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:34.039 of a number of excuses, 00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:34.579 can't we? 00:30:35.900 --> 00:30:37.299 Yet James reminds us 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.440 the stakes are high, 00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:40.460 pursue any wanderer. 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:43.000 One writer says that 00:30:43.000 --> 00:30:44.579 surely this constitutes 00:30:44.579 --> 00:30:45.679 one of the most neglected 00:30:45.679 --> 00:30:46.599 responsibilities 00:30:46.599 --> 00:30:48.199 in the church today. 00:30:49.240 --> 00:30:50.139 Churches will be so good 00:30:50.139 --> 00:30:51.279 at welcoming newcomers 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.639 through the front door 00:30:52.639 --> 00:30:54.339 that we neglect people 00:30:54.339 --> 00:30:55.659 disappearing out the back door. 00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:57.960 So how do we go 00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:59.740 and pursue any wanderer? 00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:00.980 Well, 00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:01.819 we pray for them, 00:31:01.879 --> 00:31:02.179 certainly. 00:31:03.460 --> 00:31:04.319 We go and talk to them 00:31:04.319 --> 00:31:04.699 as well, 00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:06.119 encourage them, 00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:07.119 be with them, 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.579 lead them back. 00:31:09.379 --> 00:31:10.539 What did the Lord Jesus 00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:12.639 do for me and for you 00:31:12.639 --> 00:31:13.879 when we were wanderers, 00:31:13.880 --> 00:31:15.420 where we were lost sheep? 00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:17.780 In the parable 00:31:17.780 --> 00:31:18.460 of the Good Shepherd, 00:31:19.540 --> 00:31:20.140 the Good Shepherd 00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:21.060 leaves the 99 00:31:21.060 --> 00:31:22.300 to go and wander off 00:31:22.300 --> 00:31:23.080 and find the one 00:31:23.080 --> 00:31:23.920 that's wandered away. 00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:27.020 Jesus came all the way 00:31:27.020 --> 00:31:27.540 from heaven 00:31:27.540 --> 00:31:29.240 to the cross of Calvary 00:31:29.240 --> 00:31:31.200 to seek and to save 00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:32.000 lost sinners 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:32.840 like you and me. 00:31:33.700 --> 00:31:34.540 As we pursue 00:31:34.540 --> 00:31:35.660 any wanderer, 00:31:36.020 --> 00:31:36.880 we're doing what 00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:37.860 the Lord Jesus himself 00:31:37.860 --> 00:31:38.980 has done for us. 00:31:40.720 --> 00:31:41.800 And we thank him 00:31:41.800 --> 00:31:42.200 for it, 00:31:42.260 --> 00:31:42.580 don't we? 00:31:42.579 --> 00:31:44.199 The Sovereign Lord 00:31:44.199 --> 00:31:45.480 is so good to his people. 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:47.679 He uses even hard times 00:31:47.679 --> 00:31:48.359 to bring us back 00:31:48.359 --> 00:31:48.879 to himself. 00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:49.699 So we should pray 00:31:49.699 --> 00:31:50.379 any weather. 00:31:50.839 --> 00:31:51.519 We need to pursue 00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:52.859 any wanderer. 00:31:53.939 --> 00:31:55.339 Double-minded as we can be, 00:31:55.439 --> 00:31:56.299 we need to pray 00:31:56.299 --> 00:31:57.439 the Lord would unite 00:31:57.439 --> 00:31:58.559 our hearts and minds 00:31:58.559 --> 00:31:59.539 and love him wholly. 00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:01.319 Remember, 00:32:01.460 --> 00:32:02.419 prayer has great power 00:32:02.419 --> 00:32:02.899 and it's working. 00:32:04.639 --> 00:32:05.379 Let me finish 00:32:05.379 --> 00:32:06.359 with Elijah's words. 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:07.339 Answer me, 00:32:07.419 --> 00:32:07.819 O Lord, 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:08.559 answer me. 00:32:09.099 --> 00:32:09.759 That this people 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:10.759 may know that you, 00:32:10.759 --> 00:32:12.440 O Lord our God 00:32:12.440 --> 00:32:13.759 and that you 00:32:13.759 --> 00:32:14.839 have turned 00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:15.779 their hearts back. 00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:17.299 Let's pray. 00:32:17.379 --> 00:32:17.900 Amen. 00:32:17.900 --> 00:32:17.980 Amen. 00:32:18.779 --> 00:32:19.859 Amen. 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859 00:32:19.859 --> 00:32:19.859