Prayer, Confession & You. A Study of the Epistle of James 5:15—20.

Reach out to Jesus in prayer, reach out to each other in care. Spiritual Life Principle:

The Relation of Sickness to Sin Is sickness always a result of sin? NO. E.g. Job & Man born blind in John 9 Can Sickness be a result of sin? YES. David & his sin with Bathsheba, The man healed at the pool of Bethesda in John 5.

The Relation of Sickness to Sin Persistence in sin is always problematic. Sexual sins can result in STD’s. Unforgiveness & unconfessed sin can also manifest physically. 1 Cor. 11:28— 30. John, in 1 John 5, indicates there is a sin whose consequence is immediate death. It is not stated what that is.

The Relation of Sickness to Sin Counselor, Jay Adams, “sometimes the believer wanders off into sin and God chastises him by bringing sickness into his life to bring him back.”

The Relation of Sickness to Sin Caution: Sin is NOT always the reason! Exercise care, discretion and discernment before jumping to conclusions.

The Practice of Brotherly Confession. Accountability: To be accountable or required to answer for or explain one’s actions. James 5 DOES NOT teach Catholic perception of confession. All believers are priests, 1 Peter 2, and can forgive sin.

The Practice of Brotherly Confession. Not always public, mostly private confessions between small parties. Matthew 18:15ff; Galatians 6:1, 2. Matt. 18:19, “if two of you agree about anything they ask, it will be done for them.”

The Practice of Brotherly Confession. Elijah: A nature like ours. He experienced the high of spiritual greatness and the depth of depression. He was entirely human as we are. It doesn’t take someone special to pray. You are fully capable.

The Guild of the Guardians. “If anyone wanders.” From truth into error or into a lifestyle of sin. It is the responsibility of those who are righteous to pray for and help bring them to restoration.

Spiritual Life Principle Application: I believe that prayer is a source of great power for living, forgiving and healing. YES NO I have sin in my life that I need to confess to someone, an elder, the pastor or the one I sinned against. YES NO

Spiritual Life Principle Application: I am committed to growing a continuous prayer life interceding for those who are sick or are wayward and will watch and pray for an opportunity to lead them back to Christ. _________________