Living on the Edge A Study in James Lesson 9 Outline of Schedule Opening Prayer (Praying the Psalms) Reading the Epistle Review Background Material Discussion Questions Application Closing Prayer Opening Prayer Psalm 146 Hallelujah! Praise the LORD, O my soul! * 2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 3 Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, * for there is no help in them. 4 When they breathe their last, they return to earth, * and in that day their thoughts perish. 5 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! * whose hope is in the LORD their God; 6 who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; * who keeps faith forever; 7 who gives justice to those who are oppressed, * and food to those who hunger. The LORD sets the prisoners free; 8 the LORD opens the eyes of the blind; * the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous 9 and cares for the stranger; * the LORD sustains the orphan and widow, but frustrates the way of the wicked. 10 The LORD shall reign forever, * your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Hallelujah! Blessed are those who put their trust in you, O God, our sure rock and refuge. Guard us from giving to any other the allegiance which belongs only to you. Lesson 9 James: Living on the Edge 1
Shine upon us with the brightness of your light, that we may love you with a pure heart and praise you forever; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Book of Common Worship, 777. Focus: Concentrate on one or more of the following questions as we work through this session: Is there something the Holy Spirit wants to teach me in this passage from James about prayer? About healing? About trusting God? About showing that my faith is real? James 5:1-13 ESV James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. Exegesis: critical explanation or interpretation of a text or portion of a text, esp. of the Bible. Summary James wants the maturing faith of Christ s people to be evident in deed as well as in feeling and attitude in all settings. So now James addresses a variety of situations, suggesting ways in which believers can give evidence of their growing faith, showing that the life of God in them is real. (DeVries, 79). Lesson 9 James: Living on the Edge 2
James seems like he got sidetracked prayer, singing, elders, confession, forgiveness. He seems like he is wandering aimlessly but we should see this more as a summary than aimless wandering. Prayer From the outset of the letter, James concern is for the Christian life. Christians are called to be different. They are called to have a radical ruthless trust in Jesus Christ. Not only that their faith (trust) should grow exponentially as they journey down the trail of faith. Paul speaks in similar language to the church at Corinth, when he wrote ESV 1 Corinthians 3:1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? James wants the maturing faith of Christ followers to be evidenced in the way they live not just in how they think, faith without works is dead! If there is trouble anywhere direct yourselves consciously toward God. Become increasingly aware of God s mercy and love pray. If you are happy and have received joy, then sing praises to God. In all that you do, give thanks to God. Is there sickness and illness in the community? Then rely on God. James is not a cookbook for healing and he is not putting forth a new formula (aka law) for gaining God s attention; instead he is saying in all your circumstances, rely on God and trust in God s goodness. In time of need people should turn purposely toward God. Anoint with oil has been hotly debated in Christian scholarship and circles. It may have been an accepted form of medical treatment in ancient Palestine (Mark 6:13; Luke 10:34). It may have been a ceremony of dedication symbolizing trust in God (Ex. 30;22-33; Ps. 133:2). But the most important focus should be on these words, in the name of the Lord. What is critical is the trust in the Lord and growth in the Christian life in community. Note that elders is plural. It is only in the strength of the Lord that we can go through trials and mature in our faith to the point of finding joy in all circumstances. Lesson 9 James: Living on the Edge 3
ESV Romans 8:27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For it s not the suffering but are we growing closer to God in all circumstances? We are to pray for each other s forgiveness. (See application #2 below). Jesus said forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. In other words, we will be forgiven in the same measure as we forgive. God has high standards! When we read about the prayer of a righteous person (5;16) we are to remember that in Christ all are righteous. Each person who trust Jesus as Lord and Savior is considered righteous and is acceptable into the presence of God. The prayer of a true believe is powerful and effective. Prayer is powerful because it helps us stay connected to God. ESV Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. James holds the prophet Elijah up to us as an example of a person who had trust in God (see the sermon, Patiently Trust, 06-06-10). Elijah had needs and fears, he had real trials and real doubts, but through it all he relied on God s provision and providence (1 Kings 17:1-7; 18:1-2; 41-46). Two features stand out about Elijah: Lesson 9 James: Living on the Edge 4
1. He was an ordinary person just like each of us. He had failings and shortcomings. He suffered depression and at one point desired to die (1 Kings 19:3-6). 2. He was righteous; not better than us, righteousness meant that he was considered righteous by God because he was committee 100% to God. When we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we are counted as righteous. ESV Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it- 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. The key to the success of Elijah s prayer was his desire to glorify God; Elijah wanted God s name and God s kingdom to flourish. James concludes his letter with the admonition to have concern for those who wander from the truth. This is a parallel to Jesus parable of the wandering sheep in Matthew 18:10-14. We all have the responsibility to look out for each other and to nudge wanderers back into the fold. Discipline in the Presbyterian Church rest with the session of the church but all are to be diligent and bring to the session s attention those who need special attention. Word Study 5:13 the Greek word for in trouble is from the same root as the word describing suffering of the prophets (5:10). 5:14 of the 2 activities that the elders do for a sick person (anoint with oil and pray) the more critical is praying. In the Greek text, the idea o anointing with oil is introduced in a subordinate participle construction, while the idea of praying is the main verb. Regardless of whether the oil is medicinal or symbolic the efficacy is in the prayer in the name of the Lord. Lesson 9 James: Living on the Edge 5
5:15 the Greek verb for will rise is similar to the verb used in describing the raising of Jesus from the dead; the connotation here is that the sick person will be able to get up from their sick bed and that their sins are forgiven. More and more physicians are rediscovering the connection between a person s spiritual and physical health. There is a study that asserts that people who pray and are prayed for heal at a faster rate than those for whom no prayer is offered. (Larry Dossey, M.D., has written several books on the subject Healing Words, Reinventing Medicine, et al.) Sources Cited The New Interpreter s Bible, Vol. XII, Luke Timothy Johnson Interpretation: First and Second Peter, James, and Jude. Pheme Perkins Calvin Commentary Vol. XXII Hebrews, 1 Peter, 1 John, James, II Peter, Jude. Translated The Rev. John Owen Johnson, L.T., The Letters of James Calvin, John, Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion, John T. McNeil, editor. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1960. Anchor Bible Dictionary, 6 vols. David Noel Friedman, ed. 1992. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Gerhard Kittel, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey W. Bromiley, 1985. De Vries, William C. James Living on the Edge, Faith Alive, 2004. Nestle-Ayland, Greek New Testament, 27 th edition. Lesson 9 James: Living on the Edge 6
Our Constitution (Book of Order and Book of Confessions) The Westminster Confession of Faith XXI.5 The reading of the Scriptures with godly fear; the sound preaching, and conscionable hearing of the Word, in obedience unto God with understanding, faith, and reverence; singing of psalms with grace in the heart; as, also, the due administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments instituted by Christ; are all parts of the ordinary religious worship of God: besides religious oaths, and vows, solemn fastings, and thanksgivings upon special occasion; which are, in their several times and seasons, to be used in an holy and religious manner. (James 5:13) W 6.3005 Care in Illness The church offers pastoral care to people in the special needs and crises of their lives. When people are ill, Christians respond with prayer, visits, and other acts which express love and support for those who are sick and for their households, their families, and their friends. When illness is critical or is prolonged, those offering pastoral care will give special attention to the needs and stresses experienced by everyone involved. Terminal illness calls for particular care which mediates trust in God, support in suffering, comfort for distress, and hope in the face of death. W 6 3008 Care in Broken Relationships The church provides pastoral care which calls people to healing and seeks to support those caught up in the hurts, hostilities, and conflicts of daily living which lead to broken relationships in families and households, in the school and the workplace, in neighborhoods and communities, and in the church. (W-4.8000) (James 5:16) Discussion 1. In what ways does God give healing in response to our prayers for the sick? When might God not give this answer to our prayers? (Ps. 66:18; Heb. 12:5-8; James 1:2-7; 4:3). 2. In what ways has God shown you through the study of James how to live more faithfully? How to preserver? How to be more Lesson 9 James: Living on the Edge 7
like Jesus? Try to shape your answers in ways that an unchurched person would understand. 3. What makes for truly living the faith? Application 1. Get a copy of Brennan Manning s book Ruthless Trust and read it. But beware, he is serious. 2. Think of someone who has hurt you or mistreated you and for whom you feel resentment. Now begin to pray for that person and yourself. Pray that you would begin to forgive them. Pray that their life will be filled with joy, happiness and peace. You may only be able to pray this prayer, God, I don t seem to have forgiveness in my heart, help me. That is the best way to start to learn to forgive. 3. Read 1 Kings 17:1 though 22:40 to learn about the prophet Elijah and the wicked king Ahab in a good study Bible. Pay attention to Elijah s faithfulness and ruthless trust in Yahweh. Closing Prayer Lord, keep me faithful. Amen. Lesson 9 James: Living on the Edge 8