“A Final Exhortation from James”

Today, we finish our study of James’ letter to Christ’s Church. James’ purpose in writing this letter was to exhort, encourage and even rebuke believers who have had wrong spiritual priorities. I trust that the Lord has used this letter to help fine-tune your walk as He has me. In keeping with his style, James ends his letter with some final exhortations and even a charge for those of us who are walking right with the Lord to be agents of restoration towards other believers who are wandering from the faith. 

Read how James wraps up his letter in the New Living Translation…

Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. Confess your sins to each other and pray for eachother so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. James 5:13-20 (NLT)

Do you know someone who has wandered from the truth and fallenout of fellowship? Why don’t you do your part to reach out and help them come back into the fold? Be an ambassador for Christ as the Apostles were!

 “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. We then, as workers togetherwith Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:1, NKJV.

 Pastor Mike