Lesson 4981

 (Lesson 4981) (09-20-25) James 512-20 

   “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. Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 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: 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. 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. 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. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 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.” 

 

    In today’s lesson, James closes his letter with practical instructions for believers. He warns them not to swear an oath of any kind, but to simply let their “yes” be yes and their “no” be no, in all things. Those who suffer are urged to pray for healing, and those who are cheerful to sing praises to God for their blessings. The sick are told to call the elders of the church to pray for their healing in the name of the Lord. Believers are encouraged to confess their sins to one another and pray for one another, since the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person has the power of the Holy Spirit. The lesson ends by urging us all to find and return those who have wandered from the truth, because turning a sinner from the error of his/her ways, saves a soul from death and justifies a multitude of sins. ~