For Those in Need (Part C)

They were in the fire being consumed and they were snatched out. That's what happens when we are saved and that is what happens when the backslider is brought back into the fold so blessed is that man a woman that has a heart for the backslider great is the reward.

He says in verse 20 then he who turns a sinner from the error of his way. Would James be doing this whole letter the whole letter he's been dealing with the wrong way. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher. Rick asked Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Rick is currently teaching through the book of James.

Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today pastor Rick continues his study called for those in need, as he teaches through James chapter 5 this is not mean if you had certain you know you don't say to somebody, you know what I've been thinking about stealing your truck. It's so nice and I have to confess this to you. That would be stupid. You might beat you up for thinking about touching a string of car he might say I can.

I don't know why you take it, but my truck so we are to confess our sins to God and our wrongdoings to the one we did wrong to what is tricky about that. What happens when we bottle it up when we done someone wrong and we don't go to them and say I admitted I was wrong.

What happens then. Well some of you know, you found out the hard way and so skip that step. For those of you who might not yet have realized this when you have wrong someone. Jesus said you know I don't go going to church talk about how spiritual you are and you've done someone wrong and you've not made it right. Leave your offering and fix it.

Goal fix the problem. Some are afraid that if they say you know what I was wrong to feel is okay I know you were wrong not to take advantage of you. That's not it. I can pardon a wrong done by another can I pardon the wrong done to me so confession is certainly has to be limited to that circle of need. Otherwise, it made you more harm as head of pastor's conference. Once in one of the pastors we were running three of us together room and once again all James is confess your sins to one another and so let's let's do that and he said you know I struggle with, you know, substance abuse, and went on to some of the details and in the other. Once I struggle with lust eyes can't help myself. I said I struggle with gossip and I can't wait to get out of this room help that really happen. The point is, you just can't go blabbing your mouth every body telling them what your problems are for who wants to hear. I got my own problems. This has to do when you have wrong somebody you've gotta make it right and not pretend that you're trampling on the heart of another is somehow acceptable to God because you've gotten away with it.

You think so he goes added. Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another instead of doing wrong and ignoring it. How about praying for the other. If you those of you who do struggle with gossip. For example, you can redirect that you know how you do it like they do on the train track suggests pull the lever and the track goes to another direction is one little twist instead of gossiping about the person. How about praying for the person you still get to talk to get the talk about the person you're just not talking to other people about them you're looking for solutions and then you don't pray God help so see how messed up they are annoying how I like to kick him off a cliff. Every now and then that stunt prayer, heartfelt prayer. He's going talk about that prayer is work. It doesn't come natural to us. It's a spiritual thing.

Most people do not like to pray until this something pressing down on them very hard. Even Christians are prayer meetings and never packed some prayers hard work and Satan knows it and he loves it, that the Christians just won't won't punch through Matthew seven verse 12 therefore, whatever you want men to do do you do also to them for this is the law and the prophets.

This is Scripture, pray for one another. Do you want people praying for you. Who would be foolish enough to say I don't want to buy. Praying for me you'd be a full. We all need and should want prayer. He says that you may be healed. So Scripture is connecting now unconfessed sin with sickness and it doesn't only do it here that's important. First Corinthians 11 verse 30 Paul says concerning the communion table which appeared in the early Christians began to abuse the Christian table. They were getting drunk in church, drinking too much law. This is wonderful in the early church, cut it out it will fix this is let this happen.

So he rises is for this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. The euphemism for many of died as a judgment, because the trampling of the communion table. Peter said that misbehavior towards a spouse block your prayers.

What is that mean to cut your prayers off. That's what it means discussing why my why my why even talking to me. You got stuff to deal with. You refuse to do it. This is unacceptable. This is not sin that you're struggling with. This is just blatant sin that harms others husband is likewise dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife and then he says that your prayers may not be hindered.

Jesus, Isaiah, and James. They all tell us carnality blocks prayer.

Matthew 13 Jesus quoting Isaiah for the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing in their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them suck Yasmin I don't. Although don't obey the prophets. So just keep going away because I knew I would hate for you to have to come to me and get healed. That's the kind the idea back of that sarcasm works sometimes in boot camp were pretty good. You younger Christians may be well I'll just share this much when I went to boot camp and I've said this before, they never asked my opinion. Not once. It was their way or that was invisible and big very bad for me and I'm glad they were trying to be like me. In fact, when you first arrive. It Parris Island historic and the drill instructors that you're going to have. They don't get to see you as a civilian. I think they're afraid to kill you. So they leave you go through this process. They shave your hair off and they give you about a week or so then you meet your teachers, and I guess Mike might move the point. I don't know my point is, I'm having flashbacks of no it's okay to look up to those who are trying to say I'm I want you to be up here it's okay and not resist them, submit to them.

Well, he says here, James does in verse 16.

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much effective and fervent in the Greek in this verse is a single word from our English word energy is tied to that Greek word so the energetic prayer, not the whole harm. I encourage you when you pray for your food to do more than just say you know God is great God is good.

Thank you for the grub. I encourage you to think about what you're saying yes Lord, thank you for my food. I don't encourage you to ask God to help the food. Bless your body because that would be like saying, Lord, help the water be wet food, does that.

I know I'm getting a lot of scales right now. The main point is if you do that, that's fine you going to go to hell or anything like that. For that, but when you pray, think a little bit.

Maybe God wants you to pray for something else along with your food with that be wrong would it be good for Pastor to say to his flock listen to the Holy Spirit, take a moment if you have so you have 910 meals a day and nine chances 10 chances a day to talk to the Lord about something. It can be the same thing is not a vein repetition if it is serious that is focused and the Holy Spirit is got it on your heart, Eliza says in first Kings 18 went up to the top of Mount Carmel. Then he bowed down to the ground, put his face between his knees. He was serious business. He prayed seven times that day for the rain to return why seven times I would've quit buying three or four Jesus did three that's it I'm done, he's going to pray that he knew God had told him to do this and he wasn't going to stop until he received the answer because he was told this was going to happen. This is the fervent kind of prayer that James is saying. Pray like you mean and pray according to church history.

James had a great reputation for praying. I think it's Eusebius the historian, I might be off, but the said they called him camel knees because he prayed so much as knees you know, sort of just got. In flat I don't know if that's true, because with what they wore in those days, when did you get to see anybody's knees.

I was like today where they wear shorts to weddings. Alright so anyway, I'd be careful when you read church history, some of it is you know what is not that that's a bit over the top to be careful. Don't just is not the Bible but anyway these verse 17. Eliza was a man with a nature like ours and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months, a tremendous victory had against Ahab and Jezebel that which of the Old Testament who imported idolatry into the promised land amongst the people of God was very successful with what she did she that spirit that that practice goes on to this day. Jesus deals with it in the church the Revelation to anyway had this great victory and then after the victory he finds out that the enemy was going to retaliate that Jezebel had ordered a hit put on him and he fled there the gates of the city any fleas and so he was like we all are faithful and faithless and are we not that way sometimes with God. It all the time was struggling. He prayed earnestly. It says in verse 17 that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years that's quite impressive is prayer brought judgment and then it brought relief that I think is worth thinking about. Verse 18 and he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit again were not heard for our much praying our mindless praying. Just babbling on and on but there's a difference again between vain repetitions and persistent prayer on a matter that has to be dealt with before the Lord and eyes that references Eliza praying seven times before the cloud appeared.

Verse 19 brethren if any one among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let them know verse 20 that he who turns a sinner from the era of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. Looking back up at verse 19 brethren. There's that gentle but firm touch of James in the midst of a letter that is all about correction. You come to church and you want to hear the glow, how glorious God is and change the let me just tell you how messed up you are, because of the behavior that's going on here cannot be ignored. And that's what why he's written this letter is what pretty much most of the New Testament letters written.

Jesus five of his letters to the churches about correction only to were full of of encouragement church's murder in the church at Philadelphia.

They were but they were encouraged to move forward.

One was being persecuted. The other woman to solid into the word, but the other five. They had big problems and he gave them some serious warnings. He says fix it or him leaving. While he did that with the temple of the Shekinah departed in Ezekiel talks much about that if anyone among you wanders from the truth which means that can happen in again these are to Jews. Primarily this, the majority of his audience is Jewish and some were still wanting to go back to Judaism, and others try out paganism. They were departed. Choices of anyone of you departs from the truth. Satan among his favorite weapons to chase people away from Christ to have come to Christ, persecution, prosperity and pride. Those are choice weapons and all fame you get a big head. You start thinking that it is you we talk about this Wednesday with King Hezekiah. He became fame.

He was becoming popular people and heard about what God had done for Judah and he went to his head, not his heart. When you feel the head getting bigger and not the heart you got when it gets big at all have problem so maintain your devotional time before the Lord. That is an excellent defense. Otherwise, the hyenas of hell are coming for you and they are powerful and they will take you out don't think because you keep your devotional time and you've not licked every sin that you're faced with. Somehow your devotions don't work you want to see what happens to you if you stop devoting yourself. Those of you who have you get worse and those of you who have not a devotional time with the Lord. How can you ever get better what you think just because you know it's you you going to somehow keep up with the big dogs you get a pass.

You do not have to apply yourself study to show yourself approved a workaround to God who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth that I have to do that because I'm special. I hope that's not you. I hope my cell gentle to soloist. I said, brethren never mean to sound harsh plumbing. I have another very long time and but you just can't stop every time your stressing appointment saying light flashing up.

He's being gentle now is just not coming across that way. He says and someone turns him back, the backslider has to be fetched.

We get that from the Bible, the person who goes astray, someone has to go after them and that's why Jesus and someone turns him back to any of you know someone who used to be a Christian used to be in the faith used to go to church if the doors open for you to go through it fetched him go getter Galatians 6 brethren again.

Now this is Paul writing.

If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. It's not hard to remember that we can be tempted with anything and crumble in an instant. I think most of us don't crumble to temptation because a big enough temptation is been blocked from us. Matthew 18 Jesus speaking, if a man has 100 sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the 99 and go to the mountains to seek that one that is straying you see you go after them.

That does not mean that he leaves the 99 vulnerable to walls and he comes back.

I got my one, but I was 99. That is not that is not the meaning of course he would put them in a full with another Shepherd. We goes at the one who is gone astray. That is that someone verse 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins that let him know as the let them that's the someone of verse 19.

Let the one that went after him. Encourage them, remind them okay yeah man that is big move. Zechariah 32 and Jude 23 talk about brands being plucked from the burning they were in the fire being consumed and they were snatched out. That's what happens when we are saved and that is what happens when the backslider is brought back into the fold so blessed is that man a woman that has a heart for the backslider great is their reward. He says in verse 20 then he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will James be doing this whole letter the whole letter he's been dealing with the wrong way trying to fix it. Didn't get it to be the right way will save a soul from death, the infinite value of the individual soul salvation is everything is everything and why the work in the church is so important when the church is emaciated when she is anemic when she is weak and sloppy and ridiculous. How can she save anybody save them to what and you do get soul saving and clumsy churches, nonetheless, which is quite humbling and yet there are many that act as though there saved in those environments and they are not because are so ignorant of the Scripture. So shut down to its correction.

We see so often people people championing the champions of homosexuality in churches. It's an easy one. It's like a champion adulterate well-padded people on the bank had a pretty good ultra little more untoward for you so you deal with these things and you will make enemies so you know you got your tempted in the flesh is a premium on which you learn. I don't want to sound like a tough guy in any spiritual flight judgment is real Jesus that he who believes in the son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe in the son shall not see life, with the wrath of God abides on him. I want any part of the summer you know about the wrath of your parents. I knew about my parents wrath. Imagine what God's wrath must be like on those who reject who he is, to say to him, your line when he says this is who I am in the Scripture.

They say you line my don't believe that cover a multitude of sins. James says their own as well as the one that is led back. Retrieved so he goes out his burst of encouragement.

James keeps the main thing the main thing throughout his writing and right up to the end for all of send and fallen short of the glory of God need a Savior so quick review of some of the verses in James. I'm just going to read the entire letter James chapter 1 verse eight he is a double minded man unstable in all his ways.

You read that once he said I want to be the double minded guy. James 117 every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

James 122 be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Ezekiel he said that straight out also five in the years before James was even even thought of James 219 you believe that there is one God. You do well, even the demons believe, and tremble. They believe did look at that the demons believe that God exists in his day remain demons. What a lesson is and that James three verse six the tongue is a fire world of iniquity.

The tongue is so set among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature and is set on fire by hell. These deciduous profound excerpts from this this man of God. Chapter 3 verse 14 but if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast a lie against the truth. James 316.

For wherever envy and self-seeking exist confusion and every evil thing are there but the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy, all the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James four Ritter wars and fights come from among you. Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war against your members James for four adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God. It is war with God.

Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. That's not in a lot of Bibles, humor, sarcasm. Some people I like is not in their humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up and then we close and then a comment right after rule shortly. Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins is a powerful letter.

I'm glad were done with it because it's hard to study okay. What a wonderful way to close this document, especially one as hard-hitting as this closes on a note love thanks for joining us today as we took a deeper look into the book of Jean here on cross reference radio cross reference radio is the daily radio ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia were blessed to bring you God's word with each broadcast. If you like more information want to listen to additional teachings from pastor, please visit our website cross reference radio.com if you've been blessed by this program would love to hear from you when you visit the website. Simply click on the contact us link the top of the page and leave us a message that website again is cross reference radio.com.

Please join us again next time. As we continue our study through the book of Jane right here on cross reference radio