1. Where Your Treasure Is There Your Heart Is

James 5:1-6
1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.
2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

All of us have desires. These desires can be godly and also worldly. What are some worldly desires? [Money, pleasure, power, fame, materials etc]

James here is rebuking people who are rich and give more attention to worldly desires then to God As disciples whether we are rich or poor compared to the world we must not let worldly desires overcome us. If we live for ourselves and get richer it will end up in ruin for us.

- Are you making plans to go out of town to make more money?
- Do you borrow from people and not return promptly?
- Are you slow to pay the servants for the work they do?
- Do you think about material wealth more than being grateful for God's blessings?
- Are you selfish and holding material wealth?

All the above are instances of when worldly desires make a person. Beware! If you do not repent it will lead to death and punishment.

2. Perseverance Will Be Rewarded

James 5:7-11
7 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.
8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.
9 Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Share about a time when you got impatient and grumbled. SHARE. As disciples we will face many trials. What are some trials we face [ Persecution, rejection, illness.]

What is your attitude when in trials?

Do not grumble or do you rely on God for help?

Do you complain to other brothers and blame the church and the brothers for the situation?

We should be like Job who never complained eventhough he lost his wealth, his children, his house and he got a painful sores all over his body and did not grumble and complain to God but persevered. In the end he got back more then he had before his hard time.

3. Let Your Yes Be Yes And Your No Be No

James 5:11-12
11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.

James here is talking about integrity and reliability. As disciples when we say we will do something we must do it. We must not break promises.
- Do you make promises and miss them?
- Do you hide the truth?
- Do you exagerate or flatter?
- Do you make promises quickly and break them quickly?
- Do you give up early on attaining a goal?
- Do you take shortcuts?

People who are quick to make promises are wusually people who are slow to fulfill them. As disciples we need to be people who are careful in making promises and quick to fulfill them our "Yes" or our "No" should beof such integrity that we do not need to swear to people to win their trust.

4. Power Comes Only Through Prayer

James 5:13-19
13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.
14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.
18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,

Share about a time you were in a scary situation and how you got out of it? [Share]

In the world people deal with their problems by relying on self, on talents or money. As disciples we must rely on God to deal with problems and challenges. When you have no challenges find someone who obey help them through prayer.

Do you pray for the needs of them in the family group?

Do you pray first to God before you do anything?

The power to overcome the challenges is only through prayer. Vs 16 says, we must confess to one another and must help each other by prayer.

Do you confess your sins and pray for help to overcome regularly?

Do you pray for brothers / sisters to overcome sin when they confess?

Practical

Have everyone kneel down and in 30 secs for every person confess their biggest struggle / sin and pray for help.