James 5:13-20
13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is 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. 15And 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. 16Therefore 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.
17Elijah 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. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
What is an epidemic?
An epidemic is a disease that appears as new cases in the population in a period of time at a rate that substantially exceeds what is "expected," based on recent experence.
Webster defines it as “affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time”
1918-1919, a fifth of the worlds population was infected with influenza. This pandemic killed 675K Americans, 10 times more than died in WWI (over 20M worldwide).
Malaria now infects some 300 million people each year, killing at least 2 million children and adults. Two children die of malaria every minute.
The World Health Organization estimated that, worldwide, between 2.8 and 3.5 million people with AIDS died in 2004.
With modern Science and all, how can this be?
Even when medicine is available, the people who need them most often don’t receive them. Sometimes the cost is too high. In other cases—during war or after natural disasters—distribution systems break down just at the worst possible time, as infections are spreading.
What is the major cause of an epidemic?
The number one cause of a disease leading to an epidemic is an interuption in the environment.
What is the potential of an epidemic occurring due to the disater in Louissiana and Mississippi?
“Flood waters and stagnant sewage are a breeding ground for the rats, rodents, and mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as the Hepatitis A, Cholera, Typhoid, and other viruses. Local supplies of vaccines, unprepared for this natural disaster will not be sufficient,” states Dr. Jose Luis Soto, the nation’s leading medication and pharmacy expert.
Cholera is an infectious disease of the gastrointestinal tract caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium. Being exposed to water contaminated by sewage typically spreads these bacteria. Symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and dehydration. The Cholera antibiotics must be provided as quickly as possible after exposure to prevent this potentially life-threatening condition.
Another disease that is threatening Hurricane Katrina victims, due to contaminated water, is Hepatitis A, which is an inflammatory viral disease of the liver with a short incubation period that has caused many deaths, primarily in children. The Hepatitis A vaccine must be applied immediately to anyone who has made contact with stagnant waters because even people without symptoms have probably been infected.
Other potential diseases due to the mosquito increase:
Mataria, dengue fever, yellow fever, West Nile Virus
We need to pray for the hurricane victoms and the continued potential threat. The storm may be over but there are still dangers to face.
Aftermath of A Hurricane:
1. Dead bodies and raw sewage in the water
2. Injured people that need care
3. Homeless need shelter
4. Hungry need feed
5. Naked need clothes
6. Hurting due to the loss of a loved one
7. Potential outbreak of disease
The same holds true for the church. Just because we’ve stayed the course through the storm, doesn’t mean that our work is over and that it’s smooth sailing from now on. There are potential dangers that need to be dealth with.
(Matthew 25:31-46)
Church Storm Aftermath
1. People are dead in the sewage of sin
2. Others have been injured by sin and need care
3. Many don’t have a church to call home
4. They are spiritually starving
5. They need to be clothed in righteousness
6. They are hurting because of the lostness of a loved one
7. Potential outbreak of lawlessness, sin
What do we do to prevent such an epidemic?
This is what the Center for Disease Control (CDC) says could be done to help.
Educate, illiminate standing water, develop medicine
Preventative medicine – basic hygiene
I think that we can learn from Katrina, this storm that devestated America. Like Katrina, spiritual storms are devestaing the world we live in and the church is not amune. James clearly tells us to expect these storms so we best be ready to not just Stay the Course, but Prevent an Epidemic from creeping in and causing even more destruction.
Isn’t not by accident that we’ve been going through this book of James. Isn’t not coinsodence that over the past few months we’ve learned about preparing for the storm, then looking in the mirror to make sure our lives are reflecting God’s Word. It was on purpose that we were challenged in regards to favoritism and prejudice. It was meaningful that we studied how faith with out is dead. It was strategic that we were reminded to Get Serious, Plan Ahead and Stay the Course.
Tonight I believe the Lord is asking us to help prevent an epidemic. This epidemic is not just simply sin, although it is sin. This epidemic is dangerous and deadly. This epidemic not only affects you, but also can potentially bring destruction to the church. It’s an epidemic of pride, apathy, and laziness.
Sometimes people can carry a disease for years before they ever realize it.
So what do we do?...3 steps…
1. Use Common Sence
a. Keep yourself clean
(Stay out of the sewage)
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
(Psalm 119:9-11)
b. Eat healthy/Vitamines
Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. (Luke 5:31)
(Garbage in, garbage out)
c. Regular Check Ups/Tests
The crucible (testing pot) for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart. (Proverbs 17:3)
On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. (1 Thes. 2:4)
Nobody likes being probed and prodded…but it’s preventative.
2. Prayer to Be Reckoned With
a. When you’re hurting – emotional, Soul
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
b. When you’re sick – physical, Body
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well (James 5:15).
c. When you’re in sin – spiritual, Spirit
"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
Prayer can and will affect the whole person!
“The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with” (James 5:16).
3. Rescue Victims of the Storm
“My dear friends, if you know people who have wondered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wondering away from God (James 5:19-20; The Message).”
a. Those who have wandered off
Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. (Jude 22-23)
b. Those who had no means
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)
In Luke 4 Jesus reads from Isaiah 61 and said that he was anointed to preach good news to the poor…proclaim freedom for the prisoners…and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.
In Luke 7:21-23 we see him actually doing it.
c. Those who are rebellious
God didn’t give up on Paul, don’t you give up on rebellious people you know.
Illustration: My brothers
Video
Taking the Plunge: The Swimmer
