I Know You Want To, But Will You? Part 6

Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor • September 18, 2022

To the graduates of the wisdom of James…

1) Watch out for the of the slippery slope

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. – James 4:17

2) Hold your money with for the sake of

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. ³ Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. ⁴ Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. ⁵ You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. – James 5:1-6

3) Challenge your personal paradigm of and

¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. – James 5:10-11

4) Be

¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned. – James 5:12

5) Pray in with the right

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. – James 5:13-15

6) The most profound testimony to an unbelieving world is how you:

a) Deal with

b) through adversity

The final words from James:
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
– James 5:19-20

Next Steps

James 5:16 says, “Pray for one another, that you may be healed.” But how? On Thursday, September 29 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, we will train and equip you to pray for others so that they may be healed in whatever way God chooses — spiritually, emotionally, or physically. At this training you’ll have an opportunity to learn how to listen and pray in a way that is comfortable and rooted in scripture.

We encourage you to attend this 90 minute workshop taught by Rick and Anne Campbell. The Campbells lead the After-Service Prayer Team and have 40 years of experience in prayer ministry. Sign up today in the Commons or at info.ctk.church.

Small Group Questions

1. What’s your favorite aspect of September? Why?
2. If you’ve been part of a graduation ceremony, can you remember what the guest speaker said to you? What do you wish they had said to you?
3. There are many warnings and instructions in the final chapter of James. Read James 5 aloud. Which of the warnings/instructions do you personally need to take to heart right now?
4. The prayer of faith seems to come with a promise of wellness. What do you do when the prayer of faith is answered with a no? How do you keep the faith in that moment?
5. We are all prone to wander. What has brought you back from a time of spiritual wandering?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?