A PRAYING, PRAISING AND CONFESSIONAL LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN

Scripture: James 5:13-20

WHAT DOES LIFE HOLD FOR THE CHRISTIAN?
James in addressing the church is indicating that despite being the church of the first generation pentecost, it did not mean an easy life. While asking them to be patient and enduring of the days of their life he asks questions to each of which the answer is 'Yes' in the immediate or in the days to come.
•Trouble…properly, experiencing painful hardship (suffering) that seems to be a "setback" but really isn't (2 Tim 2:8,9; 4:5)
•Cheerful…"be of good cheer, in good spirits" (high morale) (Acts 27:25)
•Sickness…can come naturally, brought about by sin or from the demonic realm.
•The Christian is somehow now not living self-sustaining life but other-centric concerned life

ADVICE TO RESPOND TO SUCH A LIFE
•If you are in trouble…Pray (e.g. Ps 86; Lk 22:39-46; Acts 16:25)
•If you are cheerful… Praise (Ps 81; Col 3:16)
•If you are sick…ask for prayer (e.g. Elijah)
 How do I interpret faith and healing? …God can always heal, however it is God who decides. Consider Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus. When Paul's healing was manifest even in pieces of cloth why was that he was ineffective in healing the two companions in his ministry?
In speaking of Elijah who was a hero of faith to the Israelites, James makes a contradictory statement for his time. He cites Elijah as a normal human being. What James is centering himself around is the faith that Elijah had in YHWH. 
•When sin affects the body (Mk 2)
•When sickness for the Glory of God (Jn 9)

THE POWER OF CONFESSION
•This is not a ‘box’ confession
•This is a confession that recognizes and believes the ‘Gospel’ behind the confession…God is sinned against and that God forgives (Js 4:7)
•The confessional life is characterized by humility of one’s own righteousness (Rom 12:3)
•The accountability partner in your life
 
PLAYING THE ‘RESCUER’
•As sheep we are prone to wander
•Keep a look out for your Brother and Sister
•If they have wandered seek to bring restore them
•Such an action saves them from ‘Death’, saving them saves them from sinning further…our action tells God of our true love for Him.
 
Take Away: Put Into Practice- Prayer, Praising and Confession, being perfected in the Gospel of Christ