As much as we may want to return home from a vacation and eat from our own fridges, use our own showers, and sleep in our own beds, there can often be anxiety when we think of all of the responsibilities we are coming back to. We might dread the uncertainties of the emails we may be facing, the stuff left undone in our absence, or just the general surprises that may pop up in everyday life. God’s people were no strangers to anxiety from uncertainty either, though this was not God’s will for them, and it is not His will for us either. He wants us to rest no matter where we go or where we are.

In Psalm 131 David encourages God’s people through one of the Songs of Ascents (songs sung by His people as they climbed the high hill to Jerusalem as well as to the temple for worship). This Psalm which appears to be a prayer by David reveals for us some important steps to finding rest using his personal journey in this area as an example.

We all come to the holiday of Father’s Day with different life experiences in this department. Some of us have/had what might be considered a “good” father. Others of us have/had what might be considered a “bad” father. Still others grew up without a father around at all. Those experiences impact how we all define what a “good” father looks like. While our experiences all may be subjective, God’s Word shows us some objectives characteristics regarding how to define what a “good” father looks like. As we look at the wisdom literature of Psalms and Proverbs, we will see 3 of these characteristics.

I’d first like a take a minute to address the current state of our country. Things are tumultuous, scary, and heartbreaking. The first “one another” Pastor Sam did was love one another, as Christians what we are faced with is that simple. Love one another, this isn’t a political stance, I’m not here to argue because there is nothing to argue with when it comes to the command of loving one another. And friends, brothers and sisters it is a command. I say all that to acknowledge the pain and heart ache many are facing and to say I hear you, I see you and I’m sorry. In light of all of that, in light of loving one another as the base of ALL we do, tonight we are going to look at James 5:13-20 and praying for one another. Because if we can’t love one another, we can’t pray for one another. All throughout James he give practical advice for us to live out our faith, we are to be doers of the words, not hearers only, we are to not show favoritism, not to double minded, controlling our tongues and not blessing and cursing “out of the same mouth”, he also points out in chapter 2 that our faith should flow out of us it shows up for all to see though works. And we can do all those things through praying for one another. I saw this week amidst the many posts, this (insert graphic) “having a black son make you pray in a different way” it’s a sad truth many parents face, praying their sons, for their children, that they will come home safe through no fault of their own. It’s a solemn yet true thought that is echoed by each mother and father of black children. Many of us have deep hurts, illnesses, friends, family members we pray for. God wants to hear from us, he desires to hear those prayers. I put forth to you that during this time, it is of the utmost importance that we pray for one another, especially as a body of believers. In James 5:13-20 we will see how we can powerfully pray for one another. Lets take a look at the passage and then dive deeper

Our lives- gifts, homes- should be used to serve others for God’s purpose and to bring Him glory.

Will you open your home to friends and family, and sometimes strangers, like Christians did in Peter’s day without grumbling? Make the choice tonight to serve others like the believers in Peter’s day did. Make it a priority to make being hospitable a vital virtue in your life.

Are you using your gifts to serve others? If you are, great! If not, think of ways you can use all that God has given you to serve others. What about your Spiritual gifts? Maybe you don’t know what your Spiritual gift is. Or maybe you don’t know how to use it. Reach out to a church leader and ask them to discuss it with you. It brings great joy to servant leaders when it comes to helping people discover their gifts and walk alongside them as they use them.

To fail to use the gifts God has given you is to fail in serving one another.

For much of this series so far there has been a strong emphasis on the things we should “DO” regarding one another. This is important because it is beneficial to highlight the positives, to encourage people, to give hope. In preaching there has been a strong trend over the years to do this and in some cases it has been taken to the extreme, to the point of preachers living in fear that they would make anyone feel bad and potentially drive them away if they came across as negative, or scolding, or made people feel bad. Be that as it may, we cannot willingly ignore that God’s Word has warnings in it. Things that He tells us NOT to do. Things that might cause us to look inward and even feel a little bad about. God’s DO NOT’s are just as valuable as His DO’s for our growth.