just a little flour

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:16-20 ESV)

This isn't the first time in the book of James that we've read about prayer. In chapter 4, he talked about how our prayers are nonexistent and/or selfish and that's why they seem to go unanswered. In yesterday's passage, James talked about some specific types of prayer requests.
In these last few verses of the book of James, he continues yesterday's discussion of printer. I like for 16 in the New American Standard, it says, "the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."
What does he mean by effective prayers? First that word can also mean continued prayers. So it may not happen as soon as you pray, it may take time! So don't give up. Also in Matthew 17:20 Jesus tells us if we even had the tiniest amount of faith, we could do great things.
What does he mean by a righteous man? A righteous person is someone whose desires are in line with God's desires. Remember, those verses in chapter 4 were all about asking with proper motives.
So what James is saying is if we are seeking to love, honor, and serve God and pray with faith that He will do the things we are asking, it will happen.

James then gives us an example of this. I don't know how much you remember about Elijah, you can read about him in 1 and 2 Kings. He was a prophet of God who showed great faith at times and also hid in fear. He was the guy who challenged the prophets of Baal and miraculously helped the widow have enough flour and oil to provide for her and her son. James says he was a guy just like us – he didn't have special powers. He was a normal guy who struggled and sinned in his attempts to love, honor and serve God, just like we do. And when he prayed for a drought, there was a drought. And then when he prayed for rain, it rained.
Through our prayers, we have access to the same powerful God that Elijah did. 

Pray continually. Pray unselfishly. Pray for others. Pray for spiritual growth and things God desires too. Pray with faith. Pray with confidence that God desires to answer your prayers.


Questions:
1) Do you pray often – continually? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Ever?
2) How does your prayer life (or lack thereof) show what you believe about God?
3) What can you do to make sure that the things you were praying for our things that God desires and not just selfish things?
4) Take some time to journal about this passage, and more specifically about a time that you saw God answer a prayer that you may have been praying about for a long time.

I wish somebody would've told me

As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (James 5:10-11 ESV)

A few weeks ago at youth group, Jim Dugan referred to a quote I’ve heard Jeff say hundreds of times. “Statistically about 70% of teens in the church will walk away from it all during college.” It literally made me tear up because that is true of my youth group :( One of the biggest reasons I became a youth leader is that I don’t want to see it become true of your youth group too.

In her book, Move On, Vicki Courtney says, “When talking about the messiness of life and faith, words like I, me and my were often far too personal and revealing.“ (64). My life is not perfect; sometimes I feel like a mess. I find it hard to go to church and see people who seem like they’ve got it all together, when I know I don’t. I think a big reason that I am one of the ones that remained in church has to do with the connections I made with people and being honest about my struggles.  I know there are people at church I can go to who are also a mess, but striving to live a Christ-like life.

In this passage, James tells us to look at the prophets who serve as examples to us of how to have patience and how to endure suffering and they were blessed in doing so. We can learn so much by reading stories in the Bible and  seeing God's character through his interactions with the prophets. He specifically points out Job-who lost everyone and everything that mattered to him as well as his health, yet he continued to persevere and trust God. 

When you are feeling down for whatever reason, Google "bible story on _________" (fill in the blank with whatever's got you down-doubt, suffering, unanswered prayer, jealousy, loss, etc). Then open your Bible and read what Google suggests. You will find examples of men and women in the Bible who went through those same feelings.

The other thing I encourage you to do is talk to an adult about it, whether it's a parent, one of us youth leaders, someone who you've seen at church and think looks cool. They've probably experienced similar feelings and would love to let you learn from the examples of their life. In Titus 2, older women are encouraged to reach out and teach younger women and likewise older men to younger men. I know that the example and relationships I've had with women like Kim, Michelle and my mom have been so beneficial to me in seeing to Scripture lived out. Take advantage of opportunities for you to do the same!

Answer This:

1) What story in the Bible has brought you comfort in a difficult time?

2) Who is an older man or woman in your life that you can turn to to see an example of someone who's living out Scripture?

3) There are people in your life that are younger than you. Are you a godly example they could turn to for comfort, support and encouragement?

4) Take some time to journal about this passage.

And that's the way the cookie crumbles...

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:1-4 ESV)

Do you ever get frustrated because you feel like God doesn't answer your prayers? I know I do!

Have you ever watched the movie, Bruce Almighty? Bruce takes over as God for a few days and he can do miracles and answer prayers. Bruce opens up the Yahweh prayer mail and reads a few prayers and it seems like the people are asking for good things, so he says "yes" to them. In one of deleted scenes, God shows Bruce what His plan was and how that is now altered. For example, chubby Philbert is getting picked on in gym, and prays, “Oh, God, please help me.” Bruce replies, “Don’t worry Philbert. Help is on the way,” then gives him supernatural power to climb the gym rope faster than anyone. Next, we see a lady named Esther about to go bankrupt. Bruce causes her to slip on milk in the grocery store and a lawyer happens to be right there to assist her. These certainly seem like the answers they wanted.

However, God shows Bruce what his plan would have been for them if the answers had been "no."

Bruce: There were so many…I just gave them all what they wanted.

God: Yeah. Since when does anyone have a clue about what they want. Remember Philbert?

(Scene cuts to Philbert beating another kid up on the playground.)

Bruce: Yeah, Philbert…what’s gotten into him?

God: Brilliant young man. He was gonna be a great poet. The soul of his work would’ve been built around his childhood pain. Now he’s headed for a career as a professional wrestler. He will eventually test positive for steroids and end up managing a muffin shop.

Bruce: Wow, that’s a disappointment.

God: He got what he prayed for. Esther Maha…(scene cuts to Esther’s living room). I love Esther. Esther was bankrupt. She was gonna have to eat her pride and call her sister. That would’ve gotten the two of them together again. Instead she bought a condo in South Florida.

James talks about how we don't ask so we don't receive, and when we do ask, we ask with wrong motives, so we still don't receive. God won't give us the things we seek for selfish or worldly reasons.

So when you don't study and then pray for God to help you pass a test... or when you speed and pray you don't get a ticket... or for the calories in this cupcake not to go to your hips… these prayers are most likely going to be answered with a "no" because your sin earned you some bad consequences.

However, when we pray for God to help us be more kind, patient, loving or godly, those are prayers He'll answer with a yes. When we pray with honorable, godly intentions, we will receive it.

Answer This:

1) Do you ever feel like God doesn't answer your prayers? Is there something you've prayed for something for a long time and God hasn't done it?

2) You do not have, because you do not _______________. You ask and do not receive, because you ask _______________, to spend it on your passions.

3) Give an example of a time you prayed for something and in hindsight you are glad God said no.

4) Spend time praying and ask God to reveal to you any selfish desires or passions you may have. Ask Him to help you seek after Him and not after friendship with the world.

look at my wisdom

Ever watch White Wolves? For those of you that haven't had the privilege, a group of teens and their leader go on a backpacking trip, very much like the Wilderness Trip we do but with less canoeing. Their goal is to get to the top of Eagle Rock. They eventually make it to the top and disaster strikes! Their trip turns into a rescue mission. All throughout the movie, one of the teens, Scott, has camping experience and just seems to be wise in making decisions and knowing how to handle these scenarios that none of them have ever been in before. Towards the end of the movie, Benny decides to leave on his own and get help. He goes in the middle of the night without discussing it with the group. When Scott wakes up, he sees a note from Benny and is ticked off! He starts complaining about how they should've discussed this and they should've decided together. Adam looks at him and responds "no you mean you should have decided. Let's face it you're just angry because you're the one that has to sit here and wait, while he's the one that got to go." Scott angrily kicks some dirt because Adam's right. Scott tries to make it seem like his concern is the group when really he's mad because he's got some jealously and selfishness.

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. (James 3:13-14 ESV)

In chapter 3, James has been talking about the tongue, and how it's so small yet powerful. He talks about how a spring or a fig tree can only produce what they are made to produce. After all that, he then starts talking about wisdom and good conduct.

If a fig tree produces really delicious figs, it doesn't have to brag about it and tell people. Its fruit speaks for it. Likewise, if you are wise and understanding, you don't need to brag about it; the way you act should demonstrate it. It's back to the whole idea of faith without works being dead.

If you are trying to be wise, but with selfish motives, you are being false to the truth. Eventually what is in your heart will be revealed.

The book of Proverbs spends a great deal of time talking about the difference between those who are full of wisdom and those who are full of folly. Here are just a few verses:

The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin... The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence... The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near. (Proverbs 10:8, 11, 14 ESV)

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. (Proverbs 15:2 ESV)

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, (Proverbs 3:13 ESV)

My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. (Proverbs 3:21-22 ESV)

The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace. (Proverbs 3:35 ESV)

Answer This:

1) Be honest- are you truly wise and understanding or do you tend to be motivated by jealously and selfishness?

2) "Who is wise and understanding among you? By his _____________________ let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom."

3) How does your conduct relate to your wisdom/understanding?

4) Take some time to journal about this passage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Written  for the youth group devotional book.

it's just this one little thing

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. (‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭10-12‬ ESV)

Based on my own life, the comments of some of the other devo writers and conversations with some of you guys, I know our speech is a big deal. It has been a stumbling block for many of us in the past or currently. Why is this even something worth talking about? Cursing, gossiping, sarcasm and what not don't seem like that big of a deal compared to stealing, lying or murder.

Normally we stick a personal story/example in here, but the example that came to mind was a Bible story:
And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (‭Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭18-25‬ ESV)

This guy did everything the Law asked of him, but Jesus said he lacked one thing; he needed to sell his stuff and give to the poor. He can't do it, his stuff is too important to him (Says so in Matt. 19:22). Now just to clarify, this isn't a command to all of us that we cannot be wealthy. In the next chapter, we read about Zacchaeus who was not required to give away his money but he did so because it was no longer important to him once he met Jesus.

Alright, so how does this story apply to James 3 and our mouths? The rich ruler did things right--he kept the commandments. However his one stumbling block was being greedy with his money. But that one issue stopped him from while-heartedly loving and serving God.

The same is true with us and our speech. We can do really well keeping all the commandments--we go to church, read our Bibles, pray, go to church. But we struggle with the words that come out of our mouths.

James says mouths shouldn't be both good and bad, the same way that a spring can't have both fresh and salt water or a tree can only produce its own kind of fruit.

Your speech can be a stumbling block that stops you from whole-heartedly loving God (just like the money did for the rich ruler). Our mouths are an indicator of what's in our hearts. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (‭Luke‬ ‭6‬:‭45‬ ESV)


Our speech should be used as a blessing, not a curse. Here's how you can do that: Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭29‬ ESV)


If your speech is not what it should be, use this verse as a prayer: Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! (‭Psalm‬ ‭141‬:‭3‬ ESV)

Answer This:
1) do you struggle with your speech--cursing, gossiping, sarcasm, inappropriate jokes/stories?
2) what is a practical step you can take this week to improve your speech?
3) "From the same ________________ come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ________________ so."
4) take some time to journal about this passage.