The Importance of Spiritual Health A study in the book of James

James 5:13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 

We should learn to respond to God in all the emotions that He has us go through

What does James show us? In times of trouble We should pray In times of joy We should praise

James 5:14-16  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. 15 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

James 5:14-16 forgiven. 16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 

We must confront the things we know are wrong head on

James 5:17-18 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! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. 

1 Kings 17:1 Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!”

1 Kings 18:37-45 O LORD, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” 38 Immediately the fire of the LORD flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the

1 Kings 18:37-45 dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The LORD —he is God! Yes, the LORD is God!” 40 Then Elijah commanded, “Seize all the prophets of Baal. Don’t let a single one escape!” So

1 Kings 18:37-45 the people seized them all, and Elijah took them down to the Kishon Valley and killed them there. 41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!” 42 So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the

1 Kings 18:37-45 top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. 43 Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told

1 Kings 18:37-45 him to go and look. 44 Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop

1 Kings 18:37-45 you!’” 45 And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel.

Why didn’t it just take one prayer?

James 5:19-20 My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, 20 you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

We are the example!