July 19, 2020

FAITH WITH FEET: JAMES 5
July 19, 2020
Pastor Jonathan Falwell

All of us have a conscience that is (or should be) activated in a moment if we react quickly with anger or impatience, don’t we? If we ignore it often enough, it becomes almost silent. Can you share a time when you know you reacted badly?

Today we finish our series, “Faith With Feet.” This last chapter of the book of James is filled with four sections that are all connected by the depth of our commitment to God. Do we observe the rich focusing on their riches, forgetting God and mistreating people? Learn from their sin. Do we need patience if we are being treated unfairly?  Do we need more patience waiting on God to act in a situation? Do we have trusting faith  that He really hears our prayers? We will finish this practical book with help to live knowing we matter to God more than we can imagine!

Key Verse: James 5:8: You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Focal Passage: James 5:1-20

MOTIVES MATTER

  • Read James 5:1-6. Who had James addressed this book to in chapter one? Many of those scattered Jews had become rich and forsaken the faith, mistreating their brethren. Why did James need to address this?
  • Is it wrong to have money? Then what is the issue here? Why would rich people want to hoard their money and possessions, when they can’t “take it with them”? What would be their motive to get richer?
  • Can you think of someone wealthy who gave most of their money away? Why would a person like that be such an example of God’s heart?
  • Can you be poor and love money? How is that possible?
  • How do motives involving money matter in life? Give some examples.

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

  • Read James 5:7-12. Every generation for two thousand years has thought Jesus would return in their lifetime. Why would James say it was at hand? Why is it even more likely that we really are in the “last days”?
  • Does Jesus have to return to this earth before His “coming” happens to thousands of people every day? Why is it so important to be in a right relationship to Him?
  • What is the connection to patience that James brings into this passage ?
  • Why is it such a virtue to have patience? How many prayers have you prayed that Jesus has answered at the last hour—when you’re about to give up? Why do you think He may wait like that?
  • What was the circle of trials and patience that we learned in James 1:2-4?

THE PROPER POSTURE OF PRAYER

  • Read James 5:13-18. As we read this passage on prayer, rather than taking it apart verse by verse, focus on the passage as a whole. Why would James mention Elijah as an analogy of a man of prayer? Was Elijah perfect? How did he describe Elijah?
  • What are the three answers to prayer that God gives? (Don’t forget: He answers every prayer!) If He says “No,” how do you react? Read Matthew 26:38-39. How did Jesus pray to His Father? What lessons can we learn about prayer from these two verses in Matthew?
  • When should you ask yourself, “Why am I praying for this?” What would be the advantage of learning to ask yourself this before every prayer?

THE POWER OF PURPOSE

  • Read James 5:19-20. What is so encouraging about these verses? Does anyone ever get too sinful to be able to be saved?
  • Have you carried burdens of sin that you’ve committed since you were saved, that have made you fear God has blotted your name out of His book?
  • Read Romans 38-39. What does that verse mean to YOU?

Close:

Has James become someone you can hardly wait to meet in heaven? A half-brother of Jesus, obviously scoffing at His being the Messiah, yet doing a complete 180 after he sees Him beaten, crucified, and buried, only to rise from the grave by His own power and show Himself to James, in particular. What a meeting that was!

His leadership in the church at Jerusalem became his focus later. As the leader of the church, he must have remembered much of what Jesus had said and did at home before His ministry began. James’ personality shines through the book, and his practical style of living out your faith—which, he reminds us, if not bearing fruit, is dead—will enrich your walk. He takes almost every “common” sin known to man, and tells us how to handle it: trials, pride, giving, teaching, clean living, lying, cursing, money, power, prayer… if you want to know how to live the Christian life in a nutshell, go to James. The book will give you advice in almost all areas.

Do you still memorize? This small book is easy to commit to memory: most of his passages flow from a word or phrase (or thought) used in the preceding passage. Get a grip on the thought, and the passage is easily memorized. It will come in handy for the rest of your life!

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