When you have a need…

The One Another’s in ABC form:

Accept one another Admonish one another

Agree with one another Don’t Bite each other

Build up one another Carry one another’s burdens

Be Compassionate to one another Don’t Complain about one another

Be Concerned about one another Confess your sins to one another

Don’t Criticize one another Don’t Detest each other

Don’t Devour each other Encourage one another

Don’t Envy one another Fellowship with one another

Show Family Affection with one another Forgive one another

Greet One Another Be Hospitable to one another

Outdo each other in Showing Honor Show Humility toward one another

Instruct one another Be kind to one another

Don’t bring Lawsuits against each other Don’t Lie to each other

Love one another We are Members of one another

Be at Peace with one another Pray for one another

Pursue what is good for one another Don’t Provoke one another

Sing to one another Serve one another

Speak to one another Submit to one another

Spouses: Do not deprive one another Teach one another

Wait for one another  Wash each other’s feet

When you have a need…turn to your church leaders V. 13-15

When we call the church leaders to pray we are recognizing our complete dependence upon God in our situation.

Elders do two things when they pray over you: they minister the Word of God to your situation and they pray for your situation

After the prayer time with the church leaders, there should be great confidence that our lives are in God’s hands no matter what happens in the days ahead, and His grace will be sufficient for us to face whatever comes.

God always answers our prayer! Sometimes He answers ‘Yes,’ sometimes He answers ‘No,’ and sometimes He answers ‘Wait.’

And God said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” -2 Corinthians 12:9

When you have a need…turn to your fellow Christians V. 16-20

But here is a unique aspect of Biblical Christianity: the Priesthood of the Believer – that each of us is equipped by God at salvation to minister the truth of God’s Word to each other!

James is teaching that Christians need honest and open relationships with other Christians that help each root out the power of the sins we too often return to after confessing them to the Lord.

Confessing your sins to other believers has the following effects:

1. It helps you avoid self-deception

2. It keeps you from minimizing sin’s ugliness

3. It often robs sin of the power it has when kept in darkness

4. It allows another to minister to you, and you to another (It should be two-way)

5. It provides accountability to help defeat that sin over time (because you know the other person is going to ask you about it)

Folks, when you begin practicing mutual confession and accountability with other believers, you begin experiencing one of the highest forms of what one another can mean in your walk with God and one another!