#10: “Patience and Prayer”
SCRIPTURE: James 6:7-20
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer
waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and
the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at
hand. 9Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged;
behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10As an example of suffering and patience,
brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those
blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have
seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any
other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under
condemnation.
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. 15And 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.
INTRO:
David wrote in the 37th Psalm:
Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.