A congregation of righteous, healthy people!

Designer Beings! 1. Humans were created in God’s image, designed for righteousness and physical health. 2. We were designed to live in a nurturing relationship with God, resourced with a heart of peace and joy to live a life of love and power. 3. Fear and anger can be signs that we are attempting to get our basic needs of love, worth, security and significance from the world instead of from God. Fear and anger stress our physical bodies. Unrelieved, long term fear or anger can damage our bodies and cause or leave us vulnerable to sickness. 4. There are lots of contributing causes of sickness. While some sickness may not have a sin component, the stress of sin in our bodies disrupts our heart of peace and can damage our physical systems.

We were designed for righteousness and physical health. Humans lost both through sin. We were designed for righteousness and physical health. Humans lost both through sin. Jesus came to earth as a man, died and rose again to restore us to righteousness and health that goes with it, and supernatural healing. Jesus came to earth as a man, died and rose again to restore us to righteousness and health that goes with it, and supernatural healing. Today, Divine healing may come by: Today, Divine healing may come by: 1. General faithful prayer, by a sick person, or by one or more others on that person’s behalf 2. A Christian using the spiritual gift of healing for another 3. Confession to one another, prayer, anointing with oil and prayer by the Elders

As Christians in a local church, James’ instructions in Chapter 5, gives us the best directive for living in righteousness, being healed and living in health. As Christians in a local church, James’ instructions in Chapter 5, gives us the best directive for living in righteousness, being healed and living in health. James describes in chapters 1-4, subtle and not so subtle sins we’re instructed to confess to one another in chapter 5. James describes in chapters 1-4, subtle and not so subtle sins we’re instructed to confess to one another in chapter 5. Let us explore together the instructions James gives us in his letter for righteousness and health without self guilt and without judgementalism. Let us explore together the instructions James gives us in his letter for righteousness and health without self guilt and without judgementalism. Let us experience all the righteousness and health we can in God’s gracious provision with great love for one another. Let us experience all the righteousness and health we can in God’s gracious provision with great love for one another.

James’ Health Plan 5: confess your sins to each other 2. and pray for each other so that you may be healed. so that you may be healed. you will be forgiven. you will be forgiven. 3. Still sick? Ask Elders to pray for you the sick person will become well; the sick person will become well; the Lord will raise him up. the Lord will raise him up.

Confession Confessing your sins to one another isn’t about blurting out to another Christian, “I got drunk Friday night.” Confessing your sins to one another isn’t about blurting out to another Christian, “I got drunk Friday night.” Rather, it’s about developing relationships with a few other Christians, doing stuff together, studying the Bible together, discussing your lives in light of the Bible, encouraging one another, praying for each other, sharing your heartaches and dreams with each other – and in that context as you become aware of a sin, you admit it to them, receive their assurance of their forgiveness, God’s forgiveness, grace and cleansing. Rather, it’s about developing relationships with a few other Christians, doing stuff together, studying the Bible together, discussing your lives in light of the Bible, encouraging one another, praying for each other, sharing your heartaches and dreams with each other – and in that context as you become aware of a sin, you admit it to them, receive their assurance of their forgiveness, God’s forgiveness, grace and cleansing.

Deeper Benefits of Confession Having relationship of mutual confession opens up the deeper aspects of the heart/sin connection. Having relationship of mutual confession opens up the deeper aspects of the heart/sin connection.

Verbal Sin: What you say and how you say it may affect your health. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. James 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. James 1:26 If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. James 3:2 If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. James 3:2

James 1 James 2James 3James 4James 5 The tongue is involved in many sections of James’ letter to the churches. Grumbling Complaining Blaming Negative self-talk Put downs Angry words Disagreements Arguments Unrestrained tongue reveals worthless religion Self-serving flattery Demeaning words Insults Judgmental Empty words Religious words not backed up by behavior Speaking to impress others Talking without thinking first Presumptuous plans Bragging Praising God while badmouthing people Boasting Words that cause hurt and strife Arguing Quarreling Words to force others to do what I want Praying to get God to back my agenda Slander Gossip Criticism Grumbling against each other Swearing Blaming others Not speaking out about another person’s dangerous behavior/choices

The Tongue/Health Connection Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalms 34:12-14 “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,” Psalms 16:9 “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,” Psalms 16:9

The Tongue/Health Connection The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:4 Reckless words pierce like a sword, Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24 The tongue has the power of life and death, The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

Your Words : HatredLove Neutral Tongue Body Brain Other person Prov.15:4 crushes the spirit Prov.12:18 pierce like a sword Prov.18:21 power of death James 3:6 corrupts the whole person The Effect of Your Words on Your Body

Your Words: Hatred Love Neutral Tongue Body Brain Other person Prov.15:4 brings healing Prov.12:18 brings healing Prov.16:24 healing to the bones Prov.18:21 power of life The Effect of Your Words on Your Body

Warning Unleashing your tongue before your heart is in a peaceful state is extremely dangerous to you and everybody around! Unleashing your tongue before your heart is in a peaceful state is extremely dangerous to you and everybody around! Your tongue lashing may backfire!! Your tongue lashing may backfire!!

James 3:3-8 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:9-12 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Pure Peace-loving Considerate Submissive Full of mercy Good fruit Impartial Bitter envy Selfish ambition Gracious Straight Forward Kind Helpful Supportive Truthful Constructive Confrontive critical devious flatter manipulative gossip deceitful attack complaining

The Heart/Tongue Connection “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” Matthew 12:34-37 “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” Matthew 12:34-37

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:14