April 30, 2000
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A passage commonly used for such an action is James 5:12-20
(14). However, James 5:14 will not stand on its own. It is given
in v. 14, and there are 13 verses before this verse.
First, James condemns those who pursue the almighty
dollar at the expanse of doing the will of God from the heart.
In fact, they have gained wealth at the cost of many helpless
people, vv. 1-6
Second, James urges those being taken advantage of to have patience,
and to be established in the Lord, vv. 7, 8.
Third, James then warns against grudges. GRUDGES are certain
inward complaints against other people.
These grudges are normally unknown to anyone
except the one with the grudge. The grudge can be justified or
it can be unjustified - someone has done or not done something
to deserve our hard feelings toward them. Regardless, it is never
justified to hold that grudge. INWARD COMPLAINTS.
Note James' warning, v. 10: the Lord stands at the door
to judge those who hold a grudge.
V . 11, then James holds up the prophets of old as an example
of not holding a grudge. HEBREWS 11
(Go through Heb 11 and show how these prophets did not hold a
grudge though they were grossly mistreated. Go on to Heb 12:1-3,
Christ did not grudge against anyone, and he is our example.)
2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth
in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity:
for God loveth a cheerful giver.Galatians 5:14
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt
love thy neighbour as thyself.Galatians 5:26
Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying
one another.1 Peter 4:9 Use hospitality one to
another without grudging.
Note Joshua 7:1
Here we see that one man's secret trespass cost God's army its
power over the enemy.
Note the warning in Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently
lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness
springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
In other words, one person's secret sin, grudge
or bitterness, defiles many.
Now we come to James 5:12, where James covers anointing, faith
and prayer. James makes it very clear in v. 16, that anointing
is not a magic formula for solving a spiritual
problem. The anointing will do no good for those holding secret
sins in their hearts - grudges, bitterness.
James tells us that those holding secret sins cost a church
its power. James tells us that those holding secret sins
cost themselves their good health.
James calls for anointing, but that anointing is based
upon recognizing and confessing those
sins that only the individual and the Lord know about. Only then
will any anointing have any effect.
Invitation:
Secret sins that need to be dealt with, grudges, bitterness. Deal
with those things today. Admit to the Lord that we are unable
to deal with them on our own, and give them to him.
Then we can anoint individuals for God's healing spirit to take
place.
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