A congregation of righteous, healthy people!

Designer Beings!Designer Beings!1.1. Humans were created in God’s image, designed Humans were created in God’s image, designed

for righteousness and physical health.for righteousness and physical health.2.2. We were designed to live in a nurturing We were designed to live in a nurturing

relationship with God, resourced with a heart of relationship with God, resourced with a heart of peace and joy to live a life of love and power.peace and joy to live a life of love and power.

3.3. Fear and anger can be signs that we are Fear and anger can be signs that we are attempting to get our basic needs of love, worth, attempting to get our basic needs of love, worth, security and significance from the world instead security and significance from the world instead of from God. Fear and anger stress our physical of from God. Fear and anger stress our physical bodies. Unrelieved, long term fear or anger can bodies. Unrelieved, long term fear or anger can damage our bodies and cause or leave us damage our bodies and cause or leave us vulnerable to sickness. vulnerable to sickness.

4.4. There are lots of contributing causes of sickness. There are lots of contributing causes of sickness. While some sickness may not have a sin While some sickness may not have a sin component, the stress of sin in our bodies component, the stress of sin in our bodies disrupts our heart of peace and can damage our disrupts our heart of peace and can damage our physical systems. physical systems.

We were designed for righteousness We were designed for righteousness and physical health. Humans lost both and physical health. Humans lost both through sin. through sin.

Jesus came to earth as a man, died Jesus came to earth as a man, died and rose again to restore us to and rose again to restore us to righteousness and health that goes righteousness and health that goes with it, and supernatural healing.with it, and supernatural healing.

Today, Divine healing may come by: Today, Divine healing may come by: 1.1. General faithful prayer, by a sick person, General faithful prayer, by a sick person,

or by one or more others on that person’s or by one or more others on that person’s behalfbehalf

2.2. A Christian using the spiritual gift of A Christian using the spiritual gift of healing for anotherhealing for another

3.3. Confession to one another, prayer, Confession to one another, prayer, anointing with oil and prayer by the Eldersanointing with oil and prayer by the Elders

As Christians in a local church, James’ As Christians in a local church, James’ instructions in Chapter 5, gives us the instructions in Chapter 5, gives us the best directive for living in righteousness, best directive for living in righteousness, being healed and living in health. being healed and living in health.

James describes in chapters 1-4, subtle James describes in chapters 1-4, subtle and not so subtle sins we’re instructed and not so subtle sins we’re instructed to confess to one another in chapter 5. to confess to one another in chapter 5.

Let us explore together the instructions Let us explore together the instructions James gives us in his letter for James gives us in his letter for righteousness and health without self righteousness and health without self guilt and without judgementalism. guilt and without judgementalism.

Let us experience all the righteousness Let us experience all the righteousness and health we can in God’s gracious and health we can in God’s gracious provision with great love for one provision with great love for one another.another.

James’ Health Plan 5:14-James’ Health Plan 5:14-1616

1.1. confess your sins to each other confess your sins to each other

2.2. and pray for each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. so that you may be healed. you will be forgiven.you will be forgiven.

3.3. Still sick? Ask Elders to pray for youStill sick? Ask Elders to pray for you the sick person will become well; the sick person will become well; the Lord will raise him up.the Lord will raise him up.

ConfessionConfession Confessing your sins to one another isn’t Confessing your sins to one another isn’t

about blurting out to another Christian, “I about blurting out to another Christian, “I got drunk Friday night.” got drunk Friday night.”

Rather, it’s about developing relationships Rather, it’s about developing relationships with a few other Christians, doing stuff with a few other Christians, doing stuff together, studying the Bible together, together, studying the Bible together, discussing your lives in light of the Bible, discussing your lives in light of the Bible, encouraging one another, praying for each encouraging one another, praying for each other, sharing your heartaches and dreams other, sharing your heartaches and dreams with each other – and in that context as with each other – and in that context as you become aware of a sin, you admit it to you become aware of a sin, you admit it to them, receive their assurance of their them, receive their assurance of their forgiveness, God’s forgiveness, grace and forgiveness, God’s forgiveness, grace and cleansing. cleansing.

Deeper Benefits of Deeper Benefits of ConfessionConfession

Having relationship of mutual Having relationship of mutual confession opens up the deeper confession opens up the deeper aspects of the heart/sin connection. aspects of the heart/sin connection.

Verbal Sin:Verbal Sin:What you say and how you say What you say and how you say

ititmay affect your health.may affect your health.

If anyone considers himself religious If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. James 1:26his religion is worthless. James 1:26

If anyone is never at fault in what he If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. James keep his whole body in check. James 3:23:2

James 1 James 2 James 3 James 4 James 5

The tongue is involved in many sections of James’ letter to the churches.

GrumblingComplaining

Blaming

Negative self-talkPut downs

Angry words Disagreements

Arguments

Unrestrained tongue reveals

worthlessreligion

Self-servingflattery

Demeaning wordsInsults

Judgmental

Empty wordsReligious words

notbacked up

by behavior

Speaking toimpressothers

Talking without thinking

first

Presumptuousplans

Bragging

Praising Godwhile

badmouthing people

Boasting

Words thatcause

hurt andstrife

ArguingQuarreling

Words to force othersto do what

I want

Praying to get God toback my agenda

SlanderGossip

Criticism

Grumbling against

each other

Swearing

Blaming others

Not speakingout about

another person’sdangerous

behavior/choices

The Tongue/Health The Tongue/Health ConnectionConnection

Whoever of you loves life and desires Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalms 34:12-14Psalms 34:12-14 ““Therefore my heart is glad and my Therefore my heart is glad and my

tongue rejoices; my body also will rest tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,” secure,” Psalms 16:9Psalms 16:9

The Tongue/Health The Tongue/Health ConnectionConnection

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:4Proverbs 15:4 Reckless words pierce like a sword, Reckless words pierce like a sword,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing. but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18Proverbs 12:18

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. bones. Proverbs 16:24Proverbs 16:24

The tongue has the power of life and death, The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21Proverbs 18:21

Your Words:

HatredLove Neutral

Tongue

Body

Brain

Other person

Prov.15:4 crushes the spiritProv.12:18 pierce like a swordProv.18:21 power of deathJames 3:6 corrupts the whole person

The Effect of Your Words on Your Body

Your Words:

HatredLove Neutral

Tongue

Body

Brain

Other person

Prov.15:4 brings healingProv.12:18 brings healingProv.16:24 healing to the bonesProv.18:21 power of life

The Effect of Your Words on Your Body

WarningWarning

Unleashing your tongue before your Unleashing your tongue before your heart is in a peaceful state is heart is in a peaceful state is extremely dangerous to you and extremely dangerous to you and everybody around!everybody around!

Your tongue lashing may backfire!! Your tongue lashing may backfire!!

James 3:3-8James 3:3-8 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to When we put bits into the mouths of horses to

make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. wants to go.

Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:9-12James 3:9-12

With the tongue we praise our Lord and With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. have been made in God's likeness.

Out of the same mouth come praise and Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

Can both fresh water and salt water Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? flow from the same spring?

My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. salt spring produce fresh water.

James 3:13-18James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? Who is wise and understanding among you?

Let him show it by his good life, by deeds Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. good fruit, impartial and sincere.

PurePeace-lovingConsiderateSubmissive

Full of mercyGood fruitImpartial

Bitter envySelfish ambition

Gracio

us StraightForward

Kind Helpful

Supportive

Truthful

Constructive

Confrontive

critical

devious

flatter

manipulative

gossip

deceitful

attackcomplaining

The Heart/Tongue The Heart/Tongue ConnectionConnection

““For out of the overflow of the heart For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.” stored up in him.” Matthew Matthew 12:34-3712:34-37

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to

You, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalms 19:14