Sermon James Chapter 5

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[2] The title of the sermon: “JAMES CHAPTER 5.”

• Let’s start there in verse 1 of James Chapter 5.

[3] James 5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

• Many of the rich in this world seek after more and more riches. They feed their fleshly desires.
• How much more money do you want? People go after riches with everything they have.
• They put all their time and effort into making money. They love that money. They love the riches.

Let me ask you a question. Do you want to be rich? Do you love money?

• Do you want hundreds of millions of dollars? Do you want billions?
• If so, why don’t you pay very close attention to the Bible today. We can trust the words of God.
• He says, “Go to now, YE RICH MEN, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.”
• I don’t want to be this type of rich man. I don’t want to weep and cry over miseries.

Now, with that said, let’s get this right. Being rich doesn’t automatically make you an evil person.

• How did you get these riches? If you work hard and take an honest pay for things, you won’t be rich.
• If you’re a CEO of a company and you make billions, what are you paying everyone else?
• What are you charging other people? Are you being fair to others?

Are you making all the money, not doing much of anything, and everyone else does all the actual work?

• Or, did you just inherit tons of money from your family? Did you use God’s people to get rich at church?
• Did you win the lottery? Did you hit oil? Did you find a gold mine? All of these things are different.

And again, there were many rich people in the Bible. Did this make them evil? No, it doesn’t.

• But, if you love money and do anything you can to cheat people, you are evil and wicked.
• And this verse applies to you. You will be in misery because you love money and nothing else.

[4] Proverbs 30:8-9 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

• Please Lord, do not give us riches. If you come to this church, I will pray for you to not have riches.
• If you don’t like that, go to a false church. Go to Shelby Christian. Go to Southeast Christian.
• Many of the people there love riches and will base your status in the church on your riches.

We don’t care what you have here. We could care less if you have riches or don’t have riches.

• I don’t want you to have riches, deny the Lord, and say, “Who is the Lord?”
• I don’t want you to be in misery. I also don’t want you to be poor. I want you to have what you need.
• And this is God’s will. He gives us what we need. Now, are we rich in this country? Yes we are.
• So be very careful with that you have and what you’re striving for in this life.

[5] James 5:2-3 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

• Are you storing up treasures for the last days just in case you need it?
• Your riches are corrupted. Why? How did you make your riches? There are others who need things.
• Did you ever think about sharing those riches with people who need just a little?
• Your gold and silver is cankered. Your garments are motheaten.
• The rust of your riches will be a witness against you. Be careful about how you make your riches.

Are you being fair? Are your balances equal? Do you charge more to one person than another?

• Are you taking from the poor so you can be rich? Why? Think about these things. Slow down and think.
• You the brain that God gave you. Why would you be unfair and charge unreasonable amounts to people?
• Why would you want to break them so you can have a bigger home that won’t make you happy?
• Why would I take your tithes to God and pay myself a ridiculous amount of money?
• Why would I need to have golden toilets or a 10,000 square foot home? These things do nothing.

I would rather purchase more King James Bibles to hand out to people. I would rather win more souls to Christ.

• I would rather make sure your son and your daughter are going to heaven.
• I don’t want your money. Money doesn’t get anyone to heaven. You can’t buy your ticket to heaven.
• Why are you heaping all of this treasure together for the last days? Why are storing up more guns?
• Why are you storing up more food? Why are you storing up more money? Why? Answer that one.

[6] Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

• If you are doing this, why are you doing it? It’s okay to save money to pay for things.
• Don’t get me wrong on this. I’m talking about storing up treasures here on earth. Why?
• For example, if you have your treasures locked in a dark basement room.
• That’s where your heart will be too. Do you want your heart in a dark, cold, basement room?

How do you lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven? Do what God says. Win souls to Christ.

• Actually care for others. Actually give to others. Stop taking everything for yourself so you can be rich.
• It won’t last long. The Book of James also taught us that our life is like a vapor.
• It’s time to understand what’s actually important and go after these things in your life.
• Don’t go after riches here on this earth. Those people are considered successful in this world.
• But, let me tell you, in God’s eyes, they are not successful.
• People who hear and do God’s word are the true successful people.

[7] James 5:4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

• This is what I was just talking about. The rich are only rich because of other people.
• But they think that they deserve all the money. If I am a manager, I will do the work.
• A manager is a leader and a leader steps us and shows everyone how to do the work and work.
• A good manager shows people how to work hard.
• If you can’t work hard as a manager, you shouldn’t be one.

If you can’t work hard doing God’s work and show others how to do it, you can’t be a pastor or deacon.

• If you don’t know your Bible well, how are you going to teach someone else?
• If you can’t get out there in the scorching heat or the freezing cold and win souls, how will you teach someone else?
• If riches here on earth are more important to you than a lost sheep, then you don’t have love.
• You don’t care for the things that God cares for. He says to STOP going after riches here on earth.
• This doesn’t mean to stop working. You need to work.

But don’t have 3 jobs so you can get rich and do nothing for God.

• For example, if you can go to work every day to get money, then why can’t you get to church?
• You’ll get up and go to work because you want that money. “I NEED THAT MONEY.”
• But you won’t get up and go to church because it’s not important to you.
• Learning what God says, in a good church, should be very important to you.

And the truth is that a good church should be a priority above your job.

• If you can’t find a good church in your area, then you need to go somewhere else.
• Where are your priorities? Do your priorities align with God’s priorities?
• For example, let’s say you can’t find a good church. Then your children won’t be in a good church.
• Then your children won’t hear and learn the word of God from a good preacher.
• A good preacher isn’t afraid to speak the truth. A good preacher isn’t afraid to call a homo evil.

A good preacher isn’t afraid to say that he hates pedophiles. He doesn’t call them Minor Attracted Persons.

• He calls them evil and wicked scum of the earth and hopes that they cease to exist very soon.
• A good preacher doesn’t want that pedophile near your children because he cares about your children.
• If people actually heard and listened to good preaching, with their families, everyone in this country wouldn’t think the homos, transgender, and queers were so great.
• People ask, “Why do you preach against them so much?”
• When they cease to exist, I will stop preaching against them.

Listen, stop doing evil and wicked things. When a laborer works hard for you, and you pay him little, you’re evil.

• When another man works with me all day long and as hard as I do, he gets paid well.
• There’s no way I can stand there and give the guy much less than me. No way.
• I think it’s so evil and wicked that people do these things.

Now, if you own a business, and you go home and do more work while that man goes home, then yes, you deserve more pay.

• If you have to pay all of these other things, then yes, you get paid more than the laborer because you’re running the business too.
• But that goes towards the business. When you work and do the same thing, though, why would you get paid so much more than the other laborers doing the same thing?
• Be fair and pay your workers. God writes things about this DIRECTLY. Pay attention.

The Bible says, “The hire of the laborers which is of you kept back by fraud.” God doesn’t agree with your fraud.

• These people you committed fraud against cry out to God. The Lord says He hears these cries.
• When you take advantage of people, God sees and hears the cries of people you cheated.

[8] James 5:5-6 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

• The rich and fraudulent men have lived in pleasure on this earth. They have been wanton.
• What does wanton mean?
• They look around to see who they can take advantage of because it’s fun to them.
• It’s like a group of teenage boys that don’t have anything to do so they go knock mailboxes down.
• Or they want to get a big group together and trash a store to show that no one can stop them.
• They do evil and wicked things for fun. It’s all a game to them.

They nourish their own hearts as in a day of slaughter. They attack the orphans and the widows.

• They go after the weak. False preachers are also included in this. They target people who need help.
• They target the broken people in this world. Catholic priests molest children because they are weaker.
• This world is targeting our children because they are easier to deceive.
• These wicked people condemn and kill the just. And they don’t resist these people either.

This is why the words of the Bible are so important. You need to be aware of all these things.

• If you think the world has more good people than bad, maybe you need a wake up call.
• A man is not a good person when he supports abortion.
• A woman is not a good person who teaches children they can be cats.

A man who thinks only Black Lives Matter is not a good person.

• Anyone who thinks the color of their skin makes them better than someone else is not a good person.
• Anyone who thinks Joe Biden is a good man is not a good person.
• Anyone who worships Donald Trump as the Savior of this country is not a good person.
• Wake up out there and stop being deceived by everything. Listen to God’s words.
• People desire to be a part of some group or a following of something. Why not Jesus Christ?

[9] James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

• When someone takes advantage of you, lies to you, and cheats you, JUST BE PATIENT.
• Forget about it. Be more careful next time. Vengeance is not yours to take. Why should you be patient?
• Because the Lord Jesus Christ is coming soon. Our life is just a vapor. Jesus Christ will take care of things.
• For the women out there who cheat men constantly out of money, your time is coming.
• For the men out there who prey on the elderly and prey on the children, your time is coming.

Why has Jesus not come back yet? Some people say, “Why is your Jesus taking so long to come back?”

• Well, He’s giving you a chance to change your mind. He’s being patient for you.
• Since He has this great patience for people who mock at Him, then we should have patience too.
• “The husbandmen waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth.” This is a farmer. A farmer plants seed.

He must wait patiently for it to grow. It’s not fast. It takes time for a seed to grow.

• We plant seeds. They need water, sunlight, air. Some things need bees. Be patient.
• Jesus is coming back. We know it’s after the tribulation but before God pours out His wrath.
• The husbandmen waits patiently until he receives the early rain and the latter rain.

Some people take longer to believe in Jesus Christ than others. But He’s patient.

• We patiently follow the Lord Jesus Christ and wait for His return. We don’t take vengeance of our own.
• “How long, O Lord, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on this earth.”
• Patience my brethren. Patience. We want all people to be saved. Have patience.

[10] James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

• Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage. Be bold in preaching His words so that people can be saved.
• Stablish your hearts. ESTABLISH THEM. What are you going to write on the tables of your heart?
• Will you watch movies and remember all the quotes from the movies?

People would always say to me, “You didn’t watch that movie. You don’t know what he said.”

• No, I didn’t. And if I did, I don’t remember what any of them said because I don’t care.
• We are to care what God says. We are to do what God says to do. Remember what He said and do it.

Stop sinning. Be ye perfect. Sanctify yourselves by choosing to walk in the Spirit.

You can’t walk in the spirit unless you are already saved and your soul is sanctified already.

• Now, choose to walk in the Spirit and STABLISH your hearts. What’s important to you?
• Choose ye this day. Who will you serve? Will you serve the flesh or the spirit within you now?
• FIX YOUR HEART PERMANENTLY IN THE LORD. Settle it right now. Who will you serve? God or mammon.
• God or riches? God or treasures on earth?

[11] James 5:9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

• We have enough to deal with in this world. We have enough problems.
• We have enough people who hate us already. We don’t need fights from within.
• We don’t need to unrighteously judge our brethren who have the same Spirit of God that we have.

“GRUDGE NOT ONE AGAINST ANOTHER, BRETHREN.” A brother is doing well. Don’t have a grudge against him.

• Let’s say another man comes here and preaches and teaches way better than me.
• Would I envy him and get rid of him as fast as I could? No way. We need that. That’s a gift.
• That’s a good thing, brethren. If you have a grudge, be careful lest YE BE CONDEMNED.
• That man who preaches the truth with the power of God’s word is welcome here.

The judge is standing before the door. You sin when you hold a grudge against someone for doing good.

• Do you get angry when someone wins more souls to Christ than you do? Why would you do that?
• Do you want to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Are you happy when a brother falls?
• Do you want someone to fail so you can take their place? This is of the flesh. Be very careful.
• God is THE JUDGE. He knows your thoughts. He know what you feel. He knows. Be careful.
• You might trick me or another human, but you don’t trick God. I don’t know your thoughts. He does.

Don’t judge your brethren unrighteously. Don’t cause them problems. Don’t take them the wrong way.

• Help them. Encourage each other. Don’t hate them.
• If you can’t love the people God loves, then something is very wrong in your heart.
• Hey, stablish your hearts in the good things. Not in the evil and wicked things.

[12] James 5:10-11 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

• We are to take our brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example.
• They suffered affliction. They had patience through this affliction.
• In other words, if you are saved and choose to follow Jesus Christ, you will suffer the same.
• People will do you wrong. They will lie about you. The will defraud you. They will cheat you.
• They will lie to you even as you help them. They will steal from you. They will hate you.
• Some of them will want to kill you. Some of them will kill you. You know the examples.

And yet, you are to be patient. You are to understand that you will suffer affliction.

• There are many Judas Iscariot’s out there. They will stab you in the back and laugh about it.
• As we endure these things, we should be happy.
• Yes, I know it’s hard to be happy when you’re going through these things.
• But God says, BE HAPPY. Count it all joy. Have happiness while you endure all of these things.
• Why? Because you know what’s coming in the future. You trust what God says.

You know Job’s story. You know his patience. You’ve seen how the Lord treated Job.

• You’ve heard what happened to Job in the end. The Lord is very pitiful meaning He has pity on us.
• He knows what we’re feeling. He is full of pity for us so always remember that.
• I’ve been to the point at times when I’ve said, “Okay, Lord, I’ve had enough. I can’t take much more.”
• And yes, I’ve cried. I can’t take much more. He has pity on us. He hears us. He eases everything for us.

He has tender mercy on us. Get your heart right. Follow His words. Be patient. Endure. Be happy.

• When you can’t take any more, God knows. It’s great to have a God who has pity and mercy on us.
• We are very small. We are very weak. He knows this. And He helps us. Know this. Remember this.

[13] James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

• God is saying that this is above all these other things we’ve been talking about.
• In other words, this is very important to understand. Swear not by heaven, neither by earth.
• By any other oath. But let your yea by yea and your nay be nay. If not, you fall into condemnation.

We don’t need to swear by God that we will do something.

• If we do take an oath or a vow, then we better do what we said we would do.
• If not, we will be condemned in the eyes of God. This is fraudulent. This is lying in God’s name.
• This is lying when you swear by something higher than you, and you don’t do it.

You don’t need to swear by someone or something higher than you. Just let YOU be enough.

• When you say YOU are going to do something, this is enough. No need to swear by God.
• Let YOUR yea be yea and YOUR nay be nay. If you make a vow, follow through.
• If you take an oath, follow through with it. LEST YE FALL INTO CONDEMNATION.

[14] Matthew 5:33-37 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: 34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: 35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

• People have told me in this life, “I swear to God I will pay you back.”
• I would give people small amounts of money in the past, such as $40.
• They say, “I swear to God I will pay you back.” They never pay me back.
• They come back again and ask for more money. “I need $150. I swear to God I will pay you back.”
• But you swore before BY GOD that you would pay the $40 back. You never paid that pack.

So, your words mean nothing to me because you swore by God above to pay me back.

• You didn’t just say, “I will pay you back. My word is good.” You brought God Almighty into this.
• You took Him, brought Him into this, swore by Him, and STILL didn’t do what you said you would do.
• When you get married, you make a vow to be with your husband or wife until death do us part.
• People break this vow constantly. Be a man or woman of your word. If you make a vow, you better do it.

If you say, “I’ll be there tomorrow.” Then do it. If you say, “I’ll be there at church,” then be there.

• If you swear by God or by heaven, then you REALLY better do it. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
• The Bible is warning us about doing these things. Yet, the world thinks this is a joke. Why?

Not many people keep their word any more. When you say yes, you better mean yes.

• When you say no, you better mean no. If you say, “I promise to never do that.” You better not do it.
• You can see the examples in the Bible. Jephthah and his daughter in Judges Chapter 11.
• Ananias and Sapphira lied unto God. You shouldn’t swear by God. If you do and lie, be careful.

[15] James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

• When you’re afflicted, what’s the best thing you can do? PRAY. Not go to the doctor. PRAY FIRST.
• If you’re merry, happy, joyful, SING PSALMS. Sing it out.
• “In the Lord put I my trust, how say ye to my soul. Flee as a bird to your mountain, for low the wicked bend their bow.”
• Sing the Psalms you know. Let’s do what God says. These are powerful things we can do.

[16] 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, 13 And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

• When you’re afflicted, it’s not time to get revenge on someone else. It’s time to pray.
• It’s not time to do anything else. It’s time to pray. Make sure you remember this and do this.
• Don’t take other actions. JUST PRAY. And trust in the Lord with all your heart.
• Sometimes we might think that He can’t hear or He can’t see.
• In Psalm 94, He tells us that He planted the ear. He can hear. He formed the eye. He can see.
• He knows what’s happening with you. He’s watching. Will you do what He says and trust Him?

[17] James 5:14-15 Is any sick among you? 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 shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

• This is the Book of James towards the end of the New Testament and the end of the Bible.
• James is the 59^th book of the Bible out of 66 books. Can God do what He says here TODAY?
• Many people believe that God doesn’t do miracles in our day and age.

They don’t believe that God will heal people through the prayer of faith.

• Then why do you act like you believe the Bible at all then? God can do miracles any time He wants.
• And He will do miracles according to His words. What are His words?

“Is there any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church. Let them ray over him.”

• “Let them anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
• If these elders in the church have faith that God will heal and if you have faith in God’s words right here, the sick shall be saved.
• The Lord shall raise that sick man or woman up from this sickness.

Now, is this sickness they have because of sin? What do the actual words of the perfect King James Bible say?

• “And IF he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
• Remember, don’t always think someone has sinned and this is the reason they are so sick.
• Could be but might not be. Remember Job. Don’t be like one of the false accusers of Job.
• “IF HE HAVE COMMITTED SINS, THEY SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM.” And the sickness goes away.

[18] 1 Corinthians 11:26-28 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

[19] 1 Corinthians 11:29-30 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

• You can be sick because of sin in your life. When we have the Lord’s Supper, it’s time to examine yourself.
• It’s time to ask forgiveness. It’s time to get things right. The Lord’s Supper can be very dangerous.
• If you eat and drink unworthily, you eat and drink damnation to yourself.

You need to know the Lord’s Supper is about Jesus Christ. We are only saved through Him.

• Because people eat and drink damnation to themselves, they are weak, sick, and dead.
• In other words, following what God says is of utmost importance. We need to do what He says.

When we don’t do what He says, we’re playing with fire. God is a consuming fire. Don’t be a liar. Don’t be a thief.

• Don’t lust. Don’t be covetous. Do what God says. Pray. Read. Study. Win souls to Christ.
• Preach His words. Don’t swear by God. You know what He says. Now is the time to do what He says.
• Remember all of these things. Be a doer. If you’ve messed up in the past, get it right starting now.
• There’s a lot of talking going on out in this world. Don’t follow the ways of the world.
• No need to talk yourself up and run your mouth. Show people you do what you say you’ll do.

[20] James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

• We are to confess our faults one to another. This isn’t talking about a Catholic confession booth.
• This doesn’t say to confess all your sins one to another. “Tell me all your bad thoughts you had today.”
• “Tell the whole world what you’ve done to your wife or husband. Tell everyone everything.”
• No, we confess our sins to God. We ask forgiveness from God. We are to confess FAULTS one to another.
• Why? So we can pray for each other and help each other through this prayer.

Foe example, if someone has trouble with lusting after food. We pray for that person and we don’t help them fail.

• We now know they have trouble with this so we change our ways to help this person.
• We sacrifice the food that we wanted to have to have food that keeps this other person from sinning.
• When we know another person has trouble with lusting after money, we help this person.
• We watch what we do. We think about what someone else will think that could lead them into sin.
• We give up things that we were going to have or do to help our brothers and sisters in Christ.

““The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” What does that mean?

• Effectual means you have the power or force to produce the effect. You have faith.
• You know God will do what He says He will do. You pray that God’s will be done.
• And you know 100% for sure that it will be done just as He says. What is fervent?
• You’re very serious about this prayer. You’re fired up for God.
• You are warm and excited for this person to be healed of their sickness.
• This prayer of these men of God will profit you. Availeth much. Profits much. Do you believe this?

[21] James 5:17-18 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

• Elias is speaking of Elijah, a prophet of God in the Old Testament. Elijah was a man just as we are.
• He had this same flesh. He was subject to all the like passions as we are. HE WAS JUST LIKE US.
• What is God saying here? Elijah had great faith in God. He prayed earnestly that it might not rain.
• “And it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.” 3.5 years no rain.

Why? Because this was God’s will and Elijah prayed for it.

• The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elijah was serious about this.
• And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
• If you want to win souls to Christ, you will pray for this fervently. God’s will be done.
• He wants people to be saved. He wants you to care. Do you? If so, pray. Win the souls to Christ.

[22] 1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

• If you pray for something like this, then you better be ready to do. Elijah said these things.
• It will not rain but according to my word. “As the Lord God of Israel liveth.” It will not rain.
• And what happened? Elijah was now on the move. He had to get going.

[23] 1 Kings 17:2-4 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. 4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

• Elijah said. Elijah did. He had to keep moving. He had troubles. He had trials. But he had faith.
• Did he ask God why certain things happened? Yes he did. Everything doesn’t work the way we want.
• Everything doesn’t turn out the way we thought or wanted. But God protected his servant Elijah.
• If you want something to happen, you better be ready to move. Get things done. Work.
• Go through trials and tribulations. Be ready to die for God. This is what it takes.

[24] James 5:19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

• Our job is not to just win souls to Christ but to also lead people the right way according to His words.
• We are to win souls, baptize them, and teach them all things here in this Bible.
• If a brother or sister is going the wrong way, it’s time to pull them back to the right path.
• Their life can be saved. You can help save them from death. You can convert them back to the right ways.

You can encourage them to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Teach them the right ways.

• For example, there are many Christians out there who think the things of this world are now okay.
• They think it’s okay to steal in certain situations. They think it’s okay for women to be pastors.
• They think it’s okay to desire riches. They think it’s okay to fornicate. They think homosexuality is good.
• They think love is accepting sin. No, it’s the opposite. We need to be working to help these people too.

Winning souls is important but it’s also important to bring saved people back to the right ways.

• There aren’t a lot of good churches out there. It’s difficult to find them.
• I do my best to help others find good churches. It’s not easy.
• Most churches won’t even answer a question. I ask, “Which Bible version do you use?”
• “Well, we aren’t going there.” Why not? Isn’t this important? They won’t answer anything.
• “What must I do to be saved?” They won’t answer. This would not be a good church. Find another one.
• Let’s get people on the right track. Hide a multitude of sins.

Let’s pray.