“Patience and Prayer in Suffering”

James 5:7-18 Nov.8, 2009 Int’l Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church   Play AUDIO (mp3)  Play VIDEO (wmv)

●    WHEN IT’S NOT EASY TO BE GOOD

    ○    mystery of life’s complexity: God good, but evil all around (1:17, 5:11, 2Cor 4:6; Jas 1:21; Ps 14:3; Rom 3:10; Jas 5:4ff)
    ○    persecution widespread against Christians
    ○    response: cynical, dismissive, or pioneering?

●    RESPONDING WITH KINGDOM-CONSCIOUSNESS

    ○    patient like farmer awaiting suitable weather, prophets (5:7f, 10)
    ○    persevering like Job (11)
    ○    keep on praying - like ‘camel-knees’ James himself (13ff)

●    PRAYER THAT SHAKES THE HEAVENS

    ○    contrite - confessing sins (15f)
    ○    communal - praying for each other, calling on elders (14,16)
    ○    committed like crazy - like Elijah praying fervently, intensely (16f; 1Kings 18:43)

●    A WIDOW’S WORTHY WITNESS

    ○    wife of murdered Baptist pastor in India resolves to continue husband’s plan