James 5:19-20 (p 180, NT) How to Rescue Wandering Sheep.

James 5:19-20 (p 180, NT)James 5:19-20 (p 180, NT)

How to Rescue WanderingSheep

In this passage James encourages us to do what he has been doing for 5 chapters: coming to the rescue of those who are in

danger of slipping away.He has talked to us about our propensity to

doubt during trials, blame others when tempted, live with anger and prejudice,

gossip, slander, judge unfairly, plan with God, live arrogantly, take advantage of others, and

lag in our prayer life…among other things.

Now he is ending his book by encouraging us to take up the mantle and join him in the

ministry of rescuing straying saints.

Robert Robinson

1735-1790

Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, mount of thy redeeming love.

O to grace how great a debtor daily I'm constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.


My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back,let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.


My brethren, if any

among you strays

James 3:2James 3:2

For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

Stumbling is a momentary failure. It does not imply a fall.Straying is a passive pattern of wandering.


My brethren, if any

among you strays

from the truth

The Truth….

Straying from Christin creed - thinkingin conduct - doing


and one “any”

turns him back,

James 5:14James 5:14Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;

II Cor 5:19-20II Cor 5:19-20

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

This is why we need to get to know each other.

This is what it means to have brothers and sisters!

This is a very real and needed ministry and we must ask God to give us a burden for this.

But be warned! God is looking for spiritual shepherds not spiritual paparazzi.

So what DOES qualify a person So what DOES qualify a person for the ministry of reconciliation?for the ministry of reconciliation?

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged.“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

– Matthew 7:1,3,5

Eye surgery requires clear vision and extreme sensitivity!

So what DOES qualify a person So what DOES qualify a person

for the ministry of reconciliation?for the ministry of reconciliation?

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. – Galatians 6:1


and one “any”

turns him “ἐπιστρέφω”back,

Epistrepho- “to convert”

Epistrepho- “to convert”

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned “epistrepho” again, strengthen your brothers.”

Jesus and Straying Jesus and Straying SaintsSaints

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned “epistrepho” again, strengthen your brothers.” – Luke 22:32“The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” – Luke 24:34So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.”


let him know that he who turns a sinner

from the error of his way

Compare the passive “strays” of v 19 and the active “turns” of v 20.There is intentionality not passivity in this action.


will save his soul from death

V 15-16 “sins” sicknessV 20 “sinning” death

“error” (sin) always leads to deathemotional

physicalspiritualeternal


and will cover

a multitude of sins.

Cover – NASB, Philips, RSV, NIV, JB, BKHide – NKJVForgive – NLT, LB, TEVCancel – NEBVeil from sight – Wade, BarclayKeep secret - DBL

Covering of sinsCovering of sins

If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? – Psalm 130:3

How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,Whose sin is covered! – Psalm 32:1

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. – I Peter 4:8

Concept behind “The Mercy Seat”

Blood of Jesus shed for mePrecious blood, my cov’ring beThe only view God has of meIs through the blood of Jesus

Ed KeenCCLI 19478

Prayer:Prayer:1. Am I a wanderer? Am I the one, like Robert Robinson, that is prone to wander?

It is imperative that we continually check for spiritual leaks in before we end up on the side of the road with a shredded soul.

2. Am I watching for others on the journey who show signs of spiritual leaks and straying?

Who can I identify that may need a fellow traveler to come alongside and offer assistance?What specifically does God want me to do this week with this passage?

James 5:19-20 (p 180, NT) How to Rescue Wandering Sheep.

Documents

Transcript of James 5:19-20 (p 180, NT) How to Rescue Wandering Sheep.