"Reactions"
Notes
Transcript
How do we react to problems?
How do we react to problems?
Anger, sorrow, fear, worry, etc.
How should we react to problems?
How should we react to problems?
James is telling us here that we should react/respond to problems with prayer - in faith.
James begins and ends his letter with the theme of problems.
James 1:2-4, 12
James 5:7–11
Outline for this text...
Prayer for ourselves (v. 13)
Prayer from our elders (vv. 14-15)
Prayer from others (vv. 16-18)
When we are suffering or in sin this is what we should want.
Let’s consider the first point, and we will notice a both a response of prayer and a response of praise (v. 13).
When should we pray?
When should we pray?
Suffering
To undergo hardships of any kind, to experience physical or emotional pain for any reason
James used the same word recently in verse 10.
Everyone should expect to suffer in some way, for some reason (1 Peter 4:19; 1 Peter 5:10).
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Christians should respond differently.
Prayer
We should pray more often no matter what.
But we should not be reluctant to go to God when we are troubled (Hebrews 4:16; 1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 50:15).
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”
We think to talk to others. We should think to talk to God.
Why should we pray?
Why should we pray?
God answers prayer (vv. 15-16; 1:5; Matthew 7:7–11; John 14:13–14; 1 John 5:14–15).
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
God wants to give to us through prayer - in His way and time - and we need Him most of all.
Prayer helps our heart even if it doesn’t change our problem (Philippians 4:6–7).
6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
So a primary response that we should have to suffering is prayer.
James balances this with the response of praise.
When should we praise?
When should we praise?
Cheerful
Happy or glad, encouraged
Which means that you have something to be happy about.
Notice the contrast with suffering.
The contrast is between when you have something that causes pain and when you have something that causes happiness.
Praise is just as essential - reasons to thank God and to exalt God are just as numerous as reasons to pray to God.
So we should praise God all of the time, but especially in answered prayer.
Why should we praise?
Why should we praise?
Praise
Acknowledging , honoring, adoring a person.
We are called to glorify God.
To acknowledge Him in the need AND in the gift - remember Him in both.
This is the ultimate reason for our answers - His glory.
Sing?
There is one word here for “let him sing praises” (1 Corinthians 14:15).
What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
We should say it, but we should also feel it. Singing is an emotional saying.
That is why it is so notable that Paul and Silas were singing in a Philippian jail (Acts 16:25).
We’re commanded to say it. We’re commanded to feel it (Psalm 100:1–2; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
How can we remember to pray in times of suffering?
How can we remember to pray in times of suffering?
There is an answer here. James is telling us to look to God in the bad times and the good times. the default in our life should be looking to God (James 4:8).
Train yourself to remember God in the good times, so that you will reach out to Him in the bad times.
Benediction:
Scripture Reading: Psalm 5