00:00:00:01 - 00:00:09:02
Unknown
I mean, think of how many times we have prayed for someone, you know, their souls or some or the Lord to send someone to them
00:00:09:02 - 00:00:22:21
Unknown
to witness to them, for them to be saved. How many times we have prayed for people to be saved, and we still haven't seen the manifestation of them being saved yet again, there's perseverance in waiting.
00:00:22:23 - 00:00:44:09
Unknown
And you know, there was this. There was a kid probably break it up. And so it's kind of funny, but it's not kind of funny. But there was a video, it's old. It's an old video. I mean, like probably before Joe's time, but it's and you know what I'm talking about. But he's, he's a pastor. He's passed away now.
00:00:44:09 - 00:00:59:02
Unknown
But there was an elderly lady that was speaking to speaking to his life and she said, are you yet holding on? Are you yet holding on? And he said, yes, mom, I'm yet it was an elderly lady in the church. So he would call her mama and he would say, yes, ma'am. I'm yet holding on,
00:00:59:04 - 00:01:10:08
Unknown
I said, do you remember me? She said, I long for you to do. Said, where's your mother? She said, I don't know that unlocked.
00:01:10:10 - 00:01:27:19
Unknown
I said, well, I'm Carlton Pearson and you used to encourage me a lot, mother. When, when, when I went to church, it was always telling me to keep on keeping on. I said, I've been. I was saved when I was a little boy. And your ministry has blessed me over the years. She shared all it did. I said, yeah, well, you were so sweet.
00:01:27:19 - 00:01:38:05
Unknown
She said you were sweet. She said, you get holy. No.
00:01:38:07 - 00:01:41:18
Unknown
but yet holding on is waiting on the Lord.
00:01:41:19 - 00:02:00:16
Unknown
That that's that was you remember? It's an encouragement and Imma think of it when we take a that way. Cuz it's a great song. It is, it is you, Holy Ghost. Yes, ma'am. I'm yet holding on. And she was dying at some point and she even asked him, are you yet holding on? And that is just waiting on the Lord.
00:02:00:18 - 00:02:19:22
Unknown
The chill pops, because that's exactly what James is talking about. Because, you know, he's talking about the judge at the door. And and Christ could return at any moment, right? And this isn't to frighten the believers is to encourage us. And that's what she was doing. She was encouraging him. Well, we got a little bit longer. You just keep holding on.
00:02:19:23 - 00:02:41:15
Unknown
Right, right. But there's a reverence there too. Would you not agree, Allison? Absolutely. There's a reverence there to the judge is at the door. I mean, that's serious stuff. The judge is at the door. Yes. Right. We think about again, he Jeremiah, Isaiah, you mentioned Ezekiel. He's all referencing this through James. All of these prophets suffered, yet they remained faithful.
00:02:41:16 - 00:03:02:17
Unknown
Right. And he's telling the people we we this is suffering. We are going to suffer for this cause because we're Christ's believers doesn't put us up three steps and everybody below us, and we're going to be able to point our finger and make all the rules. There's going to be times we suffer, yes, but we rejoice in the Lord.
00:03:02:17 - 00:03:30:04
Unknown
And you know the example of job. And it's an interesting fact here. James never mentioned jobs suffering. First, he did not mention it. First, he praises jobs endurance. So, I mean, James could go be a theologian. I mean, absolutely sure. Who thinks of that? Right. Because the first thing you want to talk about is suffering, because that nine out of ten messages, as we were preparing, we listened to a ton of stuff as we're preparing for these things.
00:03:30:04 - 00:03:51:16
Unknown
And when we listen to job, everybody talks about suffering, job suffering, suffering. And and they missed the whole point. James starts off and he praises jobs, endurance, perseverance and and the miracle wasn't merely that job suffered is that job remained faithful. Right, right, right. And we missed that and that for us. You know, it's like that pastor's son.
00:03:51:17 - 00:04:14:05
Unknown
He his name is pastor son. I'm not saying the pastor son. I'm saying pastor son. But pastor son was grateful for the persecution. It was grateful for the times that he had to endure the beatings because he was doing it for the Lord. He was doing it for Jesus. Yeah. So I think how many times have we thank God for the trial we're going through, right?
00:04:14:06 - 00:04:36:08
Unknown
How many times have we said, oh God, I'm so thankful for this trial. Thank you Lord, I mean pain. Thank you Lord, for this pain. We don't do that. No, that's a good point. Let's read Romans five, chapter five, verses three through five. And we're going to show what Vinita is talking about here. And some people will say, you know, that that may not be the right viewpoint, but suffering produces endurance.
00:04:36:09 - 00:05:08:11
Unknown
Absolutely. And that's exactly what James is referencing here. If you got that up, sure. Go ahead and read that. So Romans five verses three through five, not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character and character. Hope and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
00:05:08:16 - 00:05:32:01
Unknown
So. So basically, James is setting us a workout plan for our faith, right? So he's he's he's sitting here saying, suffering is what's producing this what you call perseverance? I call endurance, but it's the same, right? We have to persevere. Pushing through, pushing through. So now it gets so good that we're only going to read one verse in James.
00:05:32:01 - 00:06:00:15
Unknown
We're going to go to James five through 12 five, I'm sorry five, chapter five, verse 12, but James five, verse 12, above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your yes be yes and your no no so that you will not fall under judgment. Wow. So so James is returning back to Jesus.
00:06:00:15 - 00:06:08:03
Unknown
And while we're talking about this, finito. If you'll look up Matthew 533 through 37 and you know, here he's even saying,
00:06:08:03 - 00:06:27:01
Unknown
all you need to say is a simple yes or no, otherwise you will be condemned. So again, to me, that goes back to being double minded, you know, to really saying, you know, yes, don't be indecisive, but be yes or be no.
00:06:27:04 - 00:06:49:23
Unknown
Right. And what he's that one verse is almost an identical teaching to what you're getting ready to read, because people often exaggerate honesty with like, elaborate vows. You'll see it all the time, right? And all James is saying just the simple thing. Tell truth. Right? It's that simple. Integrity requires no decorations. You don't have to put a medal on your chest, right?
00:06:50:02 - 00:07:12:20
Unknown
Just let your yes be a yes and your no be a no. Go ahead and read what Matthew, what Jesus is saying, and Matthew. So Matthew 533 through 37 again, you will have heard that it was said to the people long ago, do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made. But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all.
00:07:12:21 - 00:07:37:01
Unknown
Either by heaven, for it is God's throne, for by earth for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply yes or no. Anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
00:07:37:03 - 00:08:10:12
Unknown
So so so so we know I'm not going to say anything. So so we know because some hair is not there. So no it's not, it's not. But it isn't. It isn't it. Once again, probably the upper example in James where he almost directly quotes Jesus. And it's just remarkable to me. It's just that, you know, he was the doubting brother, and now he's the devout disciple that's going to lead this church in Jerusalem.
00:08:10:12 - 00:08:38:11
Unknown
And it's just it's just, you know, it. To me, as a believer, it gives anyone hope. Absolutely that you can you can doubt the believer. Yet all it takes is just it's just you gotta believe, you know. And and look how much he has gotten since the resurrection, right? The death, the resurrection, this belief that all the other disciples have got right.
00:08:38:15 - 00:09:01:00
Unknown
And and obviously he was not one of the 12 chosen, but he had I mean, you're just reading. He had an encounter. He had an encounter. But he's right. Like he was right. He is. He's definitely walking out his faith. Yes. So I know we're going to get to verses 13 through 18, which is something very dear to the natives heart.
00:09:01:00 - 00:09:30:10
Unknown
So, Alison, if you read James 513 through 18, absolutely. James 513 through 18, is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with all in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.
00:09:30:12 - 00:09:59:18
Unknown
The Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Wow. So he's actually equipping us now. That's right. So he's given us one of the most powerful weapons that we could possess as a believer.
00:09:59:20 - 00:10:22:21
Unknown
You want to expound on that? Yeah. I think it's amazing how he ends this chapter. Or he ends the book in prayer. And in my notes here I put prayer for healing, prayer in suffering, prayer and joy, prayer and confession, prayer that changes history. And, you know, again, we read that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much.
00:10:22:22 - 00:10:47:03
Unknown
If my mother has said that to me 1,000,001 times in my life, she has said that to me all the time, and we don't realize the power of our prayer. He even goes in which I think you don't see churches doing this, but it says, is anyone among you sick? Let them call for the elders of the church, pray over them, and anoint them with all in the name of the Lord.
00:10:47:03 - 00:11:18:04
Unknown
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. The Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. I'm. I'm just wondering how many people do this. How many people in a church we lead a church we. I don't care if there's 10,000 people in your church, but this right here says, and the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.
00:11:18:04 - 00:11:34:21
Unknown
The Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Well, what have you got to do? Let them call for the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with all in the name of the Lord. We don't do that. I mean, we do it at our church, but I'm saying I'm.
00:11:34:21 - 00:12:01:12
Unknown
I don't see many people following what James have said. He doesn't say they may be healed. He doesn't say believed him for healing. Believe God, for he doesn't say, believe in the Lord for healing. But he says, and the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. The Lord will raise them up, and if they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
00:12:01:14 - 00:12:26:22
Unknown
Right now. It doesn't say that could be believe God. Let's see how it turns out. But it says the Lord will will raise them up right. So I ask you today, if there's people that are sick and the Lord hasn't raised them up, have they done what James is saying do here? I know it's a it's a sticky subject.
00:12:26:22 - 00:12:45:20
Unknown
It's a, it's a sticky thing because we've prayed for them to be healed and they have. Okay. But I'm, I'm, I'm saying here James is saying let them call for the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with all in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.
00:12:45:20 - 00:13:08:03
Unknown
And then it doesn't have a period there. My Bible doesn't. It has a semicolon and it says, the Lord will raise them up. And I know we don't want to get too deep in this because we don't want people calling us saying, well, I prayed, and I'm just telling you right now that is a life strategic plan right there to, if you're sick, call for the elders of the church.
00:13:08:03 - 00:13:31:01
Unknown
The Lord will raise them up and the sick person will be well. And I too, and I think, and James doesn't put this there just for us to read it and not take it seriously. He's equipping he he's telling us how to pray, who to go get to pray. And he's saying to us, this is how you take care of a sick person, right?
00:13:31:02 - 00:13:50:03
Unknown
And Allison said it before when we in the introduction, did I raise my voice. I'm sorry. I get a little passion. Sorry. No. Allison mentioned how hard of a book James is, because it's not so much to the understanding of James, but it's the it's the mirror, right? Because really, we're talking about ourselves in James talking about himself.
00:13:50:04 - 00:14:16:00
Unknown
Right. So prayer dominates the into James. But for what Vinita is talking about, there is what we talked about earlier. So we can't forget what James is talking about is the obedience of it. We. And the key thing is he's brought up a couple of points up to this point, and he keeps referencing Matthew and he keeps referencing the Old Testament.
00:14:16:00 - 00:14:41:12
Unknown
And we have to understand that he's calling us when he's equipping us, but he's also calling us in part of our obedience is to pray. Right? Right. So so what does he do to just break it down? Really easy and simple terms. He says, when you're suffering, you pray, right, right, right. When you're happy, you sing. When you're sick, you call the elders.
00:14:41:14 - 00:15:01:21
Unknown
When sinning, you confess it and you need wisdom. You pray. You know, I think a lot of times we forget that prayer is not informing God. It is literally partnering with God. You know, we're not telling him something he doesn't know. And I think sometimes that's why we get lazy about praying. Well, God already knows it's going to be what it's going to be.
00:15:01:21 - 00:15:22:10
Unknown
That is a lie from the pit of hell. And the scriptures does not say it's going to be what it's going to be. That is not the Bible. That is not the scriptures. It says the prayers of the righteous avail much. And if we don't pray, then we can't stop a thing and we surely can't make a thing happen.
00:15:22:10 - 00:15:44:22
Unknown
But when we pray, prayer changes things. And we don't, we? We don't surrender to that. We don't have time in our day to pray. We don't make it a point to pray. But there will be a coming of the day of the Lord that we will wish we did. Pray, and he will. The judges at the door of that same judge as at the door is going to tell us.
00:15:44:22 - 00:16:09:00
Unknown
If you'd have prayed about this, I'd change that. If you'd have prayed for this, I'd have brought this into your life. But because you didn't pray, I can't do anything because the prayers of the righteous avail much. And it's again, he's equipping us right there. There's. He's equipping us with a major weapon in our walk. Right. Because he knows suffering is coming.
00:16:09:04 - 00:16:30:01
Unknown
He's compelling us. That's right. He knows sickness going to come. He knows trials are going to come. He's compelling us to pray. He didn't just say pray, but he. He's telling us how to pray and who to go get to pray with us. I mean, he's given us line by line how to deal with this situation of sickness.
00:16:30:02 - 00:16:50:00
Unknown
Right. Well, let's let's look at some of the things he said. Y'all see that said right. He was talking about all in there. So James is using. Yeah. Which I thought was really neat when we were researching this. There's really he uses it intentionally and there's two applications here. A lot of theologians scholars, pastors go with these ones.
00:16:50:00 - 00:17:02:21
Unknown
The application of oil right. Is the is the consecration to God right. It's representing that it's an act of faith, right? Yes. In practical two also olive oil was
00:17:02:23 - 00:17:18:12
Unknown
used medicinally back then. Quite a bit for everything. Yes. So isn't it amazing that he's using the oil that that you can go back again in the Old Testament you're seeing this all and also you get into the New Testament.
00:17:18:12 - 00:17:36:19
Unknown
So we can't say this is an Old Testament thing because many people keep bringing up in the comments, but it's also brought up in the New Testament quite a bit. So all is a key factor in that. What about the confession part? Absolutely. Where we have to confess. So what is that about? Yes. What are we talking about?
00:17:36:20 - 00:18:10:13
Unknown
He said confessional sins to one another. Notice not confession for forgiveness to another believer, but to one another. Confession is cleansing. But going back to the oil, you know, a lot of times people call me for prayer and, you know, someone's sick or whatever. And I always say, anoint him with all. If you don't have to do water, if you don't have water, do something, anoint them with all and they'll come back to me, respond to me and say, do what?
00:18:10:14 - 00:18:33:05
Unknown
Like they don't even know. These are Christians people. These are Christians, and they don't even know to anoint with oil. And I said, well, if you don't believe it, there's no need to do it. It's an act of faith, and faith pleases God. We know this, and so why not do it as an act of faith? We had a lady, Brian will tell you.
00:18:33:06 - 00:18:55:00
Unknown
We had a lady a while back and she worked for us. And if she if she listens to this, she doesn't care. But she was working for us and she's going to move to another state. And so her husband was a diabetic. And I said, well, you can move, but you're still you're still going to work for us because she was so good.
00:18:55:01 - 00:19:18:00
Unknown
And so when they take this trip, she, she's going to wing her husband off his insulin because that's just how she that's just who she was. And so she did. Well, he ended up going into a diabetic coma there across state line. I mean, they're in the middle of the country and they're in the hospital. And she you remember this?
00:19:18:00 - 00:19:35:20
Unknown
And she called me and she was devastated. I mean, she's crying so much, so I cannot understand a word the woman saying. And I said, listen, you have to calm down. I can't even understand now, I had never talked to this lady about the Lord. I had never witnessed or just, just I just had never witnessed to her.
00:19:35:21 - 00:19:57:06
Unknown
But the Lord had a time. And so she she said, my husband, I was trying to wing him off his insulin and he's gone into a diabetic coma. He's not going to make it. He's going to die. And she says, I don't know what to do. And his organs are shutting down. And I said, listen, if you give me freedom, I'll pray like I'm going to pray what I pray.
00:19:57:06 - 00:20:15:22
Unknown
I said, but you're going to have to believe with me. And so I pray the prayer and the Lord just come upon me. And I prayed, and I even gave her some instructions. I told her to anoint him with all. And I said, and don't call me back until tomorrow morning, because he's going to get worse before it gets better.
00:20:15:23 - 00:20:36:17
Unknown
When I tell you I prayed this prayer, I had no recollection of what I was saying or praying. I just was allowing the Lord to speak through me and I and the whole time, you know, you're my mind is saying, you stupid, you're going to this is not the Lord. And so I began to pray and I said, don't call me back till tomorrow morning at 4 a.m. she calls me back and she says he's dying.
00:20:36:18 - 00:20:56:14
Unknown
He's he's not speaking. He's he's completely shut down. I said, I told you not to go. I said, told you not call me back. Don't call me back until tomorrow. Next, give me 5 or 6 hours. And I said, by the time the sun rises, he'll be speaking. And I'm I and Brian. I'll never forget. Brian is 4:00 in the morning.
00:20:56:15 - 00:21:19:03
Unknown
The bride looks. I mean, he's like, are you sure you should have said that? I said, listen, I'm speaking. I'm speaking by the Lord. I'm telling you, this man is going to be fine. At 905, she calls me and I speak to her husband, and his organs had started back working. He was he was speaking and they were going to release him from the hospital.
00:21:19:04 - 00:21:44:20
Unknown
Now, that man went to death's door all the way to the spirit of life. The aroma of life is, as Second Corinthians talks about the spirit of the aroma of life. And now I wouldn't. I wouldn't do that just on any ordinary day. But she called me, you know, when desperate people call you, you go into this realm of prayer like you, you're it's not natural.
00:21:44:20 - 00:22:02:09
Unknown
It's got to be supernatural. But you go into this realm of prayer and God begins to move. And so do you know that man? He spells his name just like my husband be or why? And that man is living today. How many years ago has that been? Over ten. That was before Covid. Yeah, it was before Covid. Wow.
00:22:02:10 - 00:22:31:23
Unknown
So it's been that man is still living today and they are traveling the nation aren't they Brian. And and I think too for for for people listening again it is it's obedience James is laying it out in prayer. Yes. In the in the things he's talking about in confession. Yes. Everything we do as an example. Right. So there could have been two sides to that thing.
00:22:31:23 - 00:22:56:04
Unknown
And the first side of it is that Brian was healed. He he became better. Yes. There's a testimony there that is set in. It could also lead to where Brian didn't get better. Right. Would that have changed our faith? Would that have changed where we, you know, we or we battling in the wind or we stay? No, we're staying obedient to what Jesus said to do.
00:22:56:04 - 00:23:24:07
Unknown
Right? The part is that we pray. That's right. There's been there's people watching and listening. They've lost a loved one. We're not here to condemn you. We're just saying in the moment of a situation, prayer is always the answer, right? Prayer is the answer. If you call 911 for your loved one, yes, call 911. But as you call 911, you also call the 911 of heaven and you begin to pray that thing you know, you pray about that.
00:23:24:07 - 00:23:58:03
Unknown
Don't just stand there and not not be in prayer. Get the oil, anoint with all and pray. Yeah I agree. I don't there's no disagreement in what you're saying. And it's hard for a believer or a nonbeliever. It's it's a grass that we believe in, a God that is a God of creation. Yes. Everything. Yes, his his bounds are only bound to what he has said because he can't lie, right?
00:23:58:04 - 00:24:23:19
Unknown
He can't if he said something is going to happen. Right. So you take that into effect. As believers, it's as simple as being obedient. You don't have to be some hypervigilant. You pray. That's right. God can hear you whether you speak it out loud or you say it to yourself, and I don't. It's hard. Don't get me wrong, we've been in situations where people were dying.
00:24:23:20 - 00:24:43:15
Unknown
I mean, we have. Yes. And you look for the best. And it's not his sovereignty rules. Nothing changes in that. And I do want to go back to the confession thing, because I, in what you said was great. I don't want somebody to mistake what I was saying about confession. So you confess your sins to one another.
00:24:43:16 - 00:25:08:13
Unknown
Right, right. So you're. It's not a confession for forgiveness from the other believer, right? That's that's not what I'm saying. Right. But what I'm saying it only Christ forgives. Right? Right. And be careful who you confess to. Right. That's right, that's right. And rather, confession for healing, restoration and accountability. Right. A lot of times we mistake in that we're trying to just get this.
00:25:08:14 - 00:25:38:07
Unknown
We got to be restored from what we're asking in that confession. Right. And in the first part of that confession comes healing. Yes, there comes restoration and then comes accountability. You know, accountability. Even the Catholic believe in confession. You know, I mean, I don't know, I don't yeah, I mean, Catholics I mean, I know many faiths that believe in an accountability and a confession, but there's only one God that can give that.
00:25:38:07 - 00:26:07:04
Unknown
That's right. So only one God can do that. So we have to be super village that we understand who our God is, who Jesus is. We ought to understand it. He died on a cross for us. He Baird. That I heard somebody say they were talking about. Well, you can't take your riches to heaven. You can't take all this and all your accolades, but and in this gentleman come back and he said, because what he did has a picture of a grave.
00:26:07:04 - 00:26:22:23
Unknown
And it was a because you're going to die one day, right? You can't take anything with you, right? You going to be in that. That's what the symbolism was. But the the gentleman come back and said what? The foot of the cross. It was level. So you lay there. Everybody will lay there. It there's no status at death.
00:26:23:00 - 00:26:44:16
Unknown
Right. And Christ took that because he was the king. Because what did we talk about? I believe in chapter three. We talk about the royal law. And there will be a royal law in place and, you know. To what you were saying about the oil prayer, confession, all this stuff. James, I want to go back. James mentions Elijah again.
00:26:44:16 - 00:27:06:16
Unknown
He's taking a very high profile prophet that the Jews just reveled in. And Elijah prayed right in the rain. Stop that happened, right? So we know that he prayed again in the rain returned. Yet James reminds us Elijah was an extraordinary. He was not extraordinary.
00:27:06:19 - 00:27:10:10
Unknown
there's no difference in faith to stop the rain and heal the sick.
00:27:10:11 - 00:27:37:13
Unknown
That's right. That's what is different. All he's saying is God answers ordinary believers. That's always saying who trust him. That's right. Who trusts? That's right. And that's part of our equipping of of what we do. And as people read, I would encourage you. We're not going to read this. They don't. But something you can go to that cross-references into these verses as first Kings 17 through 18.
00:27:37:14 - 00:28:05:13
Unknown
Right. Chapter 1718, in Luke 18. And it talks about the persistent widow. Right? Right. And in prayer and persistence belongs together. And I've James Vinita brought up in the the the very first episode when we were talking about James and who he was and his nickname was what came on his. Okay. His name was Campbell niece because he prayed so much.
00:28:05:14 - 00:28:30:03
Unknown
And they also named him James the Just, because he obviously he lived so righteously, you know, and but to this point of being prayer and persistence, the reason his knees were wore out is because he was so persistent in prayer, because he understood it. His other nickname was James the Just right. Okay. How did he get that nickname?
00:28:30:04 - 00:28:46:01
Unknown
He got it through prayer, right? I mean, he sought the Lord. He didn't see what again? No accolades. Right? No accolades. He didn't put anything on his chair. We pray the more we stay before the Lord. The more we're transformed. Right? You know, we're praying for other people, but God's really changing us,
Unknown
I mean, think of how many times we have prayed for someone, you know, their souls or some or the Lord to send someone to them
00:00:09:02 - 00:00:22:21
Unknown
to witness to them, for them to be saved. How many times we have prayed for people to be saved, and we still haven't seen the manifestation of them being saved yet again, there's perseverance in waiting.
00:00:22:23 - 00:00:44:09
Unknown
And you know, there was this. There was a kid probably break it up. And so it's kind of funny, but it's not kind of funny. But there was a video, it's old. It's an old video. I mean, like probably before Joe's time, but it's and you know what I'm talking about. But he's, he's a pastor. He's passed away now.
00:00:44:09 - 00:00:59:02
Unknown
But there was an elderly lady that was speaking to speaking to his life and she said, are you yet holding on? Are you yet holding on? And he said, yes, mom, I'm yet it was an elderly lady in the church. So he would call her mama and he would say, yes, ma'am. I'm yet holding on,
00:00:59:04 - 00:01:10:08
Unknown
I said, do you remember me? She said, I long for you to do. Said, where's your mother? She said, I don't know that unlocked.
00:01:10:10 - 00:01:27:19
Unknown
I said, well, I'm Carlton Pearson and you used to encourage me a lot, mother. When, when, when I went to church, it was always telling me to keep on keeping on. I said, I've been. I was saved when I was a little boy. And your ministry has blessed me over the years. She shared all it did. I said, yeah, well, you were so sweet.
00:01:27:19 - 00:01:38:05
Unknown
She said you were sweet. She said, you get holy. No.
00:01:38:07 - 00:01:41:18
Unknown
but yet holding on is waiting on the Lord.
00:01:41:19 - 00:02:00:16
Unknown
That that's that was you remember? It's an encouragement and Imma think of it when we take a that way. Cuz it's a great song. It is, it is you, Holy Ghost. Yes, ma'am. I'm yet holding on. And she was dying at some point and she even asked him, are you yet holding on? And that is just waiting on the Lord.
00:02:00:18 - 00:02:19:22
Unknown
The chill pops, because that's exactly what James is talking about. Because, you know, he's talking about the judge at the door. And and Christ could return at any moment, right? And this isn't to frighten the believers is to encourage us. And that's what she was doing. She was encouraging him. Well, we got a little bit longer. You just keep holding on.
00:02:19:23 - 00:02:41:15
Unknown
Right, right. But there's a reverence there too. Would you not agree, Allison? Absolutely. There's a reverence there to the judge is at the door. I mean, that's serious stuff. The judge is at the door. Yes. Right. We think about again, he Jeremiah, Isaiah, you mentioned Ezekiel. He's all referencing this through James. All of these prophets suffered, yet they remained faithful.
00:02:41:16 - 00:03:02:17
Unknown
Right. And he's telling the people we we this is suffering. We are going to suffer for this cause because we're Christ's believers doesn't put us up three steps and everybody below us, and we're going to be able to point our finger and make all the rules. There's going to be times we suffer, yes, but we rejoice in the Lord.
00:03:02:17 - 00:03:30:04
Unknown
And you know the example of job. And it's an interesting fact here. James never mentioned jobs suffering. First, he did not mention it. First, he praises jobs endurance. So, I mean, James could go be a theologian. I mean, absolutely sure. Who thinks of that? Right. Because the first thing you want to talk about is suffering, because that nine out of ten messages, as we were preparing, we listened to a ton of stuff as we're preparing for these things.
00:03:30:04 - 00:03:51:16
Unknown
And when we listen to job, everybody talks about suffering, job suffering, suffering. And and they missed the whole point. James starts off and he praises jobs, endurance, perseverance and and the miracle wasn't merely that job suffered is that job remained faithful. Right, right, right. And we missed that and that for us. You know, it's like that pastor's son.
00:03:51:17 - 00:04:14:05
Unknown
He his name is pastor son. I'm not saying the pastor son. I'm saying pastor son. But pastor son was grateful for the persecution. It was grateful for the times that he had to endure the beatings because he was doing it for the Lord. He was doing it for Jesus. Yeah. So I think how many times have we thank God for the trial we're going through, right?
00:04:14:06 - 00:04:36:08
Unknown
How many times have we said, oh God, I'm so thankful for this trial. Thank you Lord, I mean pain. Thank you Lord, for this pain. We don't do that. No, that's a good point. Let's read Romans five, chapter five, verses three through five. And we're going to show what Vinita is talking about here. And some people will say, you know, that that may not be the right viewpoint, but suffering produces endurance.
00:04:36:09 - 00:05:08:11
Unknown
Absolutely. And that's exactly what James is referencing here. If you got that up, sure. Go ahead and read that. So Romans five verses three through five, not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character and character. Hope and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
00:05:08:16 - 00:05:32:01
Unknown
So. So basically, James is setting us a workout plan for our faith, right? So he's he's he's sitting here saying, suffering is what's producing this what you call perseverance? I call endurance, but it's the same, right? We have to persevere. Pushing through, pushing through. So now it gets so good that we're only going to read one verse in James.
00:05:32:01 - 00:06:00:15
Unknown
We're going to go to James five through 12 five, I'm sorry five, chapter five, verse 12, but James five, verse 12, above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your yes be yes and your no no so that you will not fall under judgment. Wow. So so James is returning back to Jesus.
00:06:00:15 - 00:06:08:03
Unknown
And while we're talking about this, finito. If you'll look up Matthew 533 through 37 and you know, here he's even saying,
00:06:08:03 - 00:06:27:01
Unknown
all you need to say is a simple yes or no, otherwise you will be condemned. So again, to me, that goes back to being double minded, you know, to really saying, you know, yes, don't be indecisive, but be yes or be no.
00:06:27:04 - 00:06:49:23
Unknown
Right. And what he's that one verse is almost an identical teaching to what you're getting ready to read, because people often exaggerate honesty with like, elaborate vows. You'll see it all the time, right? And all James is saying just the simple thing. Tell truth. Right? It's that simple. Integrity requires no decorations. You don't have to put a medal on your chest, right?
00:06:50:02 - 00:07:12:20
Unknown
Just let your yes be a yes and your no be a no. Go ahead and read what Matthew, what Jesus is saying, and Matthew. So Matthew 533 through 37 again, you will have heard that it was said to the people long ago, do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made. But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all.
00:07:12:21 - 00:07:37:01
Unknown
Either by heaven, for it is God's throne, for by earth for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply yes or no. Anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
00:07:37:03 - 00:08:10:12
Unknown
So so so so we know I'm not going to say anything. So so we know because some hair is not there. So no it's not, it's not. But it isn't. It isn't it. Once again, probably the upper example in James where he almost directly quotes Jesus. And it's just remarkable to me. It's just that, you know, he was the doubting brother, and now he's the devout disciple that's going to lead this church in Jerusalem.
00:08:10:12 - 00:08:38:11
Unknown
And it's just it's just, you know, it. To me, as a believer, it gives anyone hope. Absolutely that you can you can doubt the believer. Yet all it takes is just it's just you gotta believe, you know. And and look how much he has gotten since the resurrection, right? The death, the resurrection, this belief that all the other disciples have got right.
00:08:38:15 - 00:09:01:00
Unknown
And and obviously he was not one of the 12 chosen, but he had I mean, you're just reading. He had an encounter. He had an encounter. But he's right. Like he was right. He is. He's definitely walking out his faith. Yes. So I know we're going to get to verses 13 through 18, which is something very dear to the natives heart.
00:09:01:00 - 00:09:30:10
Unknown
So, Alison, if you read James 513 through 18, absolutely. James 513 through 18, is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with all in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.
00:09:30:12 - 00:09:59:18
Unknown
The Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Wow. So he's actually equipping us now. That's right. So he's given us one of the most powerful weapons that we could possess as a believer.
00:09:59:20 - 00:10:22:21
Unknown
You want to expound on that? Yeah. I think it's amazing how he ends this chapter. Or he ends the book in prayer. And in my notes here I put prayer for healing, prayer in suffering, prayer and joy, prayer and confession, prayer that changes history. And, you know, again, we read that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much.
00:10:22:22 - 00:10:47:03
Unknown
If my mother has said that to me 1,000,001 times in my life, she has said that to me all the time, and we don't realize the power of our prayer. He even goes in which I think you don't see churches doing this, but it says, is anyone among you sick? Let them call for the elders of the church, pray over them, and anoint them with all in the name of the Lord.
00:10:47:03 - 00:11:18:04
Unknown
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. The Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. I'm. I'm just wondering how many people do this. How many people in a church we lead a church we. I don't care if there's 10,000 people in your church, but this right here says, and the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.
00:11:18:04 - 00:11:34:21
Unknown
The Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Well, what have you got to do? Let them call for the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with all in the name of the Lord. We don't do that. I mean, we do it at our church, but I'm saying I'm.
00:11:34:21 - 00:12:01:12
Unknown
I don't see many people following what James have said. He doesn't say they may be healed. He doesn't say believed him for healing. Believe God, for he doesn't say, believe in the Lord for healing. But he says, and the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. The Lord will raise them up, and if they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
00:12:01:14 - 00:12:26:22
Unknown
Right now. It doesn't say that could be believe God. Let's see how it turns out. But it says the Lord will will raise them up right. So I ask you today, if there's people that are sick and the Lord hasn't raised them up, have they done what James is saying do here? I know it's a it's a sticky subject.
00:12:26:22 - 00:12:45:20
Unknown
It's a, it's a sticky thing because we've prayed for them to be healed and they have. Okay. But I'm, I'm, I'm saying here James is saying let them call for the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with all in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.
00:12:45:20 - 00:13:08:03
Unknown
And then it doesn't have a period there. My Bible doesn't. It has a semicolon and it says, the Lord will raise them up. And I know we don't want to get too deep in this because we don't want people calling us saying, well, I prayed, and I'm just telling you right now that is a life strategic plan right there to, if you're sick, call for the elders of the church.
00:13:08:03 - 00:13:31:01
Unknown
The Lord will raise them up and the sick person will be well. And I too, and I think, and James doesn't put this there just for us to read it and not take it seriously. He's equipping he he's telling us how to pray, who to go get to pray. And he's saying to us, this is how you take care of a sick person, right?
00:13:31:02 - 00:13:50:03
Unknown
And Allison said it before when we in the introduction, did I raise my voice. I'm sorry. I get a little passion. Sorry. No. Allison mentioned how hard of a book James is, because it's not so much to the understanding of James, but it's the it's the mirror, right? Because really, we're talking about ourselves in James talking about himself.
00:13:50:04 - 00:14:16:00
Unknown
Right. So prayer dominates the into James. But for what Vinita is talking about, there is what we talked about earlier. So we can't forget what James is talking about is the obedience of it. We. And the key thing is he's brought up a couple of points up to this point, and he keeps referencing Matthew and he keeps referencing the Old Testament.
00:14:16:00 - 00:14:41:12
Unknown
And we have to understand that he's calling us when he's equipping us, but he's also calling us in part of our obedience is to pray. Right? Right. So so what does he do to just break it down? Really easy and simple terms. He says, when you're suffering, you pray, right, right, right. When you're happy, you sing. When you're sick, you call the elders.
00:14:41:14 - 00:15:01:21
Unknown
When sinning, you confess it and you need wisdom. You pray. You know, I think a lot of times we forget that prayer is not informing God. It is literally partnering with God. You know, we're not telling him something he doesn't know. And I think sometimes that's why we get lazy about praying. Well, God already knows it's going to be what it's going to be.
00:15:01:21 - 00:15:22:10
Unknown
That is a lie from the pit of hell. And the scriptures does not say it's going to be what it's going to be. That is not the Bible. That is not the scriptures. It says the prayers of the righteous avail much. And if we don't pray, then we can't stop a thing and we surely can't make a thing happen.
00:15:22:10 - 00:15:44:22
Unknown
But when we pray, prayer changes things. And we don't, we? We don't surrender to that. We don't have time in our day to pray. We don't make it a point to pray. But there will be a coming of the day of the Lord that we will wish we did. Pray, and he will. The judges at the door of that same judge as at the door is going to tell us.
00:15:44:22 - 00:16:09:00
Unknown
If you'd have prayed about this, I'd change that. If you'd have prayed for this, I'd have brought this into your life. But because you didn't pray, I can't do anything because the prayers of the righteous avail much. And it's again, he's equipping us right there. There's. He's equipping us with a major weapon in our walk. Right. Because he knows suffering is coming.
00:16:09:04 - 00:16:30:01
Unknown
He's compelling us. That's right. He knows sickness going to come. He knows trials are going to come. He's compelling us to pray. He didn't just say pray, but he. He's telling us how to pray and who to go get to pray with us. I mean, he's given us line by line how to deal with this situation of sickness.
00:16:30:02 - 00:16:50:00
Unknown
Right. Well, let's let's look at some of the things he said. Y'all see that said right. He was talking about all in there. So James is using. Yeah. Which I thought was really neat when we were researching this. There's really he uses it intentionally and there's two applications here. A lot of theologians scholars, pastors go with these ones.
00:16:50:00 - 00:17:02:21
Unknown
The application of oil right. Is the is the consecration to God right. It's representing that it's an act of faith, right? Yes. In practical two also olive oil was
00:17:02:23 - 00:17:18:12
Unknown
used medicinally back then. Quite a bit for everything. Yes. So isn't it amazing that he's using the oil that that you can go back again in the Old Testament you're seeing this all and also you get into the New Testament.
00:17:18:12 - 00:17:36:19
Unknown
So we can't say this is an Old Testament thing because many people keep bringing up in the comments, but it's also brought up in the New Testament quite a bit. So all is a key factor in that. What about the confession part? Absolutely. Where we have to confess. So what is that about? Yes. What are we talking about?
00:17:36:20 - 00:18:10:13
Unknown
He said confessional sins to one another. Notice not confession for forgiveness to another believer, but to one another. Confession is cleansing. But going back to the oil, you know, a lot of times people call me for prayer and, you know, someone's sick or whatever. And I always say, anoint him with all. If you don't have to do water, if you don't have water, do something, anoint them with all and they'll come back to me, respond to me and say, do what?
00:18:10:14 - 00:18:33:05
Unknown
Like they don't even know. These are Christians people. These are Christians, and they don't even know to anoint with oil. And I said, well, if you don't believe it, there's no need to do it. It's an act of faith, and faith pleases God. We know this, and so why not do it as an act of faith? We had a lady, Brian will tell you.
00:18:33:06 - 00:18:55:00
Unknown
We had a lady a while back and she worked for us. And if she if she listens to this, she doesn't care. But she was working for us and she's going to move to another state. And so her husband was a diabetic. And I said, well, you can move, but you're still you're still going to work for us because she was so good.
00:18:55:01 - 00:19:18:00
Unknown
And so when they take this trip, she, she's going to wing her husband off his insulin because that's just how she that's just who she was. And so she did. Well, he ended up going into a diabetic coma there across state line. I mean, they're in the middle of the country and they're in the hospital. And she you remember this?
00:19:18:00 - 00:19:35:20
Unknown
And she called me and she was devastated. I mean, she's crying so much, so I cannot understand a word the woman saying. And I said, listen, you have to calm down. I can't even understand now, I had never talked to this lady about the Lord. I had never witnessed or just, just I just had never witnessed to her.
00:19:35:21 - 00:19:57:06
Unknown
But the Lord had a time. And so she she said, my husband, I was trying to wing him off his insulin and he's gone into a diabetic coma. He's not going to make it. He's going to die. And she says, I don't know what to do. And his organs are shutting down. And I said, listen, if you give me freedom, I'll pray like I'm going to pray what I pray.
00:19:57:06 - 00:20:15:22
Unknown
I said, but you're going to have to believe with me. And so I pray the prayer and the Lord just come upon me. And I prayed, and I even gave her some instructions. I told her to anoint him with all. And I said, and don't call me back until tomorrow morning, because he's going to get worse before it gets better.
00:20:15:23 - 00:20:36:17
Unknown
When I tell you I prayed this prayer, I had no recollection of what I was saying or praying. I just was allowing the Lord to speak through me and I and the whole time, you know, you're my mind is saying, you stupid, you're going to this is not the Lord. And so I began to pray and I said, don't call me back till tomorrow morning at 4 a.m. she calls me back and she says he's dying.
00:20:36:18 - 00:20:56:14
Unknown
He's he's not speaking. He's he's completely shut down. I said, I told you not to go. I said, told you not call me back. Don't call me back until tomorrow. Next, give me 5 or 6 hours. And I said, by the time the sun rises, he'll be speaking. And I'm I and Brian. I'll never forget. Brian is 4:00 in the morning.
00:20:56:15 - 00:21:19:03
Unknown
The bride looks. I mean, he's like, are you sure you should have said that? I said, listen, I'm speaking. I'm speaking by the Lord. I'm telling you, this man is going to be fine. At 905, she calls me and I speak to her husband, and his organs had started back working. He was he was speaking and they were going to release him from the hospital.
00:21:19:04 - 00:21:44:20
Unknown
Now, that man went to death's door all the way to the spirit of life. The aroma of life is, as Second Corinthians talks about the spirit of the aroma of life. And now I wouldn't. I wouldn't do that just on any ordinary day. But she called me, you know, when desperate people call you, you go into this realm of prayer like you, you're it's not natural.
00:21:44:20 - 00:22:02:09
Unknown
It's got to be supernatural. But you go into this realm of prayer and God begins to move. And so do you know that man? He spells his name just like my husband be or why? And that man is living today. How many years ago has that been? Over ten. That was before Covid. Yeah, it was before Covid. Wow.
00:22:02:10 - 00:22:31:23
Unknown
So it's been that man is still living today and they are traveling the nation aren't they Brian. And and I think too for for for people listening again it is it's obedience James is laying it out in prayer. Yes. In the in the things he's talking about in confession. Yes. Everything we do as an example. Right. So there could have been two sides to that thing.
00:22:31:23 - 00:22:56:04
Unknown
And the first side of it is that Brian was healed. He he became better. Yes. There's a testimony there that is set in. It could also lead to where Brian didn't get better. Right. Would that have changed our faith? Would that have changed where we, you know, we or we battling in the wind or we stay? No, we're staying obedient to what Jesus said to do.
00:22:56:04 - 00:23:24:07
Unknown
Right? The part is that we pray. That's right. There's been there's people watching and listening. They've lost a loved one. We're not here to condemn you. We're just saying in the moment of a situation, prayer is always the answer, right? Prayer is the answer. If you call 911 for your loved one, yes, call 911. But as you call 911, you also call the 911 of heaven and you begin to pray that thing you know, you pray about that.
00:23:24:07 - 00:23:58:03
Unknown
Don't just stand there and not not be in prayer. Get the oil, anoint with all and pray. Yeah I agree. I don't there's no disagreement in what you're saying. And it's hard for a believer or a nonbeliever. It's it's a grass that we believe in, a God that is a God of creation. Yes. Everything. Yes, his his bounds are only bound to what he has said because he can't lie, right?
00:23:58:04 - 00:24:23:19
Unknown
He can't if he said something is going to happen. Right. So you take that into effect. As believers, it's as simple as being obedient. You don't have to be some hypervigilant. You pray. That's right. God can hear you whether you speak it out loud or you say it to yourself, and I don't. It's hard. Don't get me wrong, we've been in situations where people were dying.
00:24:23:20 - 00:24:43:15
Unknown
I mean, we have. Yes. And you look for the best. And it's not his sovereignty rules. Nothing changes in that. And I do want to go back to the confession thing, because I, in what you said was great. I don't want somebody to mistake what I was saying about confession. So you confess your sins to one another.
00:24:43:16 - 00:25:08:13
Unknown
Right, right. So you're. It's not a confession for forgiveness from the other believer, right? That's that's not what I'm saying. Right. But what I'm saying it only Christ forgives. Right? Right. And be careful who you confess to. Right. That's right, that's right. And rather, confession for healing, restoration and accountability. Right. A lot of times we mistake in that we're trying to just get this.
00:25:08:14 - 00:25:38:07
Unknown
We got to be restored from what we're asking in that confession. Right. And in the first part of that confession comes healing. Yes, there comes restoration and then comes accountability. You know, accountability. Even the Catholic believe in confession. You know, I mean, I don't know, I don't yeah, I mean, Catholics I mean, I know many faiths that believe in an accountability and a confession, but there's only one God that can give that.
00:25:38:07 - 00:26:07:04
Unknown
That's right. So only one God can do that. So we have to be super village that we understand who our God is, who Jesus is. We ought to understand it. He died on a cross for us. He Baird. That I heard somebody say they were talking about. Well, you can't take your riches to heaven. You can't take all this and all your accolades, but and in this gentleman come back and he said, because what he did has a picture of a grave.
00:26:07:04 - 00:26:22:23
Unknown
And it was a because you're going to die one day, right? You can't take anything with you, right? You going to be in that. That's what the symbolism was. But the the gentleman come back and said what? The foot of the cross. It was level. So you lay there. Everybody will lay there. It there's no status at death.
00:26:23:00 - 00:26:44:16
Unknown
Right. And Christ took that because he was the king. Because what did we talk about? I believe in chapter three. We talk about the royal law. And there will be a royal law in place and, you know. To what you were saying about the oil prayer, confession, all this stuff. James, I want to go back. James mentions Elijah again.
00:26:44:16 - 00:27:06:16
Unknown
He's taking a very high profile prophet that the Jews just reveled in. And Elijah prayed right in the rain. Stop that happened, right? So we know that he prayed again in the rain returned. Yet James reminds us Elijah was an extraordinary. He was not extraordinary.
00:27:06:19 - 00:27:10:10
Unknown
there's no difference in faith to stop the rain and heal the sick.
00:27:10:11 - 00:27:37:13
Unknown
That's right. That's what is different. All he's saying is God answers ordinary believers. That's always saying who trust him. That's right. Who trusts? That's right. And that's part of our equipping of of what we do. And as people read, I would encourage you. We're not going to read this. They don't. But something you can go to that cross-references into these verses as first Kings 17 through 18.
00:27:37:14 - 00:28:05:13
Unknown
Right. Chapter 1718, in Luke 18. And it talks about the persistent widow. Right? Right. And in prayer and persistence belongs together. And I've James Vinita brought up in the the the very first episode when we were talking about James and who he was and his nickname was what came on his. Okay. His name was Campbell niece because he prayed so much.
00:28:05:14 - 00:28:30:03
Unknown
And they also named him James the Just, because he obviously he lived so righteously, you know, and but to this point of being prayer and persistence, the reason his knees were wore out is because he was so persistent in prayer, because he understood it. His other nickname was James the Just right. Okay. How did he get that nickname?
00:28:30:04 - 00:28:46:01
Unknown
He got it through prayer, right? I mean, he sought the Lord. He didn't see what again? No accolades. Right? No accolades. He didn't put anything on his chair. We pray the more we stay before the Lord. The more we're transformed. Right? You know, we're praying for other people, but God's really changing us,
