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James 5:12-20: Prayer, Community, Eternal Security

August 25, 2024

Is the World’s Oldest House Church in Dura Europos?

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Last Week: James 5:7-11 - Patience in Suffering

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

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This Week: James 5:12-20

12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

The Prayer of Faith

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

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Discussion:

1. How is 5:7-11 connected to 5:13-18?
1. vv7-11 focuses on patience in suffering, while vv13-18 prayer in suffering
2. Where else in scripture do we have examples of “prayer in suffering”
• 1 Samuel 1:10-18
• Psalm 30:2
1. “In this psalm David finds himself on the other side of suffering. On that other side, he has gained some new perspective. That new perspective has given him a new sense of gratitude for things he sees more clearly than he ever did before. David sees the kindness of the Lord in his times of grief and realizes that God often humbles us with momentary grief so that he might exalt us with eternal gladness. We can thank God for both.
• 1 Kings 17:17-22
3. What three types of prayer can you identify in the text?
• for self
• of elders over sick person
• for each other

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James 5:13-18: Prayer in Suffering

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Discussion:

• In combination with a review of James 5:16b, John 14:14 shares that we should pray in God’s name; what is meant here?
• “To ask for something in the name of Christ is to ask for something according to His Word and for His glory. So when you pray, you need to start by making your wants God’s wants. You express your desire to see the Word of Christ in action and the name of Christ exalted. And when that is the driving force behind your prayers, then you can (and should!) ask for whatever you want, trusting that He desires to put His Word into action in order to bring praise to the Father. Now in some situations you or I may not know precisely what God wants (i.e., whether He will heal a person). But we are free to express our desires to Him according to His Word, all the while asking Him to change our desires to accord with His will. And as we pray, we trust Him to bring about that which is best for us and most glorifying for Him.”
• Why do you think the example of Elijah is provided for prayer in vv17-18?
• “The point is just the opposite of those who say Elijah and Elisha experienced miracles because they were unique spokesmen for God. The point is: Elijah was just like you so that you can be encouraged that YOUR prayers will have great effect—like stopping the rain for three and a half years….All of us should be praying for each other and our goal in praying should be to live and pray in a way that would have the same kind of healing effects as Elijah had when he prayed for rain after a three-year drought. In other words, this text does not limit powerful praying for divine healing to the elders, and it encourages us rather than discouraging us to think of our praying in the same category with a great miracle worker of the Bible.”

James 5:13-18: Prayer in Suffering

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Discussion:

6. Can anyone explain the doctrine of eternal security and where in scripture you can read about it?
1. Romans 8:29-30
7. Based on scripture, where do some believers erroneously assume that a believers salvation is not secure?
• 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
8. What else does scripture say about eternal security?
• God Himself keeps us from falling away
1. 1 Corinthians 1:8, Philippians 1:6, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Jude 24–25
• James 5:19-20: God uses us as “agents” on behalf of God to help other believers from falling away > THIS REQUIRES A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS!

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Resources:

• Christ Centered Exposition Commentary (Psalms, James)
• Look at the Book for James 5:19-20 Part 2 (DesiringGod.com)
• The Elders, the People, and the Prayer of Faith, John Piper (DesiringGod.com), Learning from an Insane Prayer Life, Tony Merida (DesiringGod.com)

James 5:19-20: Community and Eternal Security