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Devotional: Confession and Healing
Read James 5:15-20
“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” (v. 16).
Throughout Scripture, men have turned to God in prayer when plagued with physical illness. The prayer for healing is both private and shared with the Church. But James suggests that sickness MAY be related to conduct — a discipline from God for disobedience. The translation “faults” is misleading as to seriousness, for the Greek word translated “fault” is the word for “sin” (see James 1:15). It will be necessary to confess to God (and man as it applies) the offending action. It is then that the prayer of faith imploring God’s will for healing may be presented.
Confession is not pleasant, but it is necessary. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper” (Prov. 28:13). Confession brings humility, and it is the humble man that finds help from God. The clear instruction of this passage is that sickness can be related to disobedience. Equally clear is that confession accompanied with prayer brings healing. Certainly confession brings healing to the soul. Practicing these divine directives can and will bring health and renewed usefulness to the kingdom of God. Perhaps the words of J. Edwin Orr would be appropriate for us to pray today. (William Snider)
Search me O God,
And know my heart today.
Try me, O Savior;
Know my thoughts, I pray
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.
Turn to God for healing.
This devotional is the Sunday, January 10, 2016 entry of Opening the Word.
Lesson 6: The Paralyzed Restored
Lesson 6 - January 10, 2016
Focus Text: Mark 2:1
Central Truth: Christ performed miracles to promote God’s glory.
Objective: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify various improper motives people have in praying for miracles.
- The Helpless Sufferer (Mark 2:1-4)
- The Compassionate Savior (Mark 2:5)
- The Murmuring Scribes (Mark 2:6-7)
- The Powerful Healer (Mark 2:8-12)
Prayer: Lesson 5 – The Lepers Cleansed
Heavenly Father, bless our teachers today as they begin a new year of ministry for you. Help them and their students never to lose their gratitude and wonder for the grace you have bestowed on us. Amen.
What Resolutions should the Sunday School Teacher Make for a New Year?
It is a new year, and many are considering New Year's resolutions, hoping to make lasting changes this year. Others are doing their best to avoid the subject, having already concluded that any commitments would be short-lived. We will leave the question whether it is most effective to make a series of resolutions at the beginning of the year to others to answer, but we would suggest that it is important to regularly evaluate where one is in life and where God wants us to be.
With that in mind, consider some areas in which you might seek improvement this new year...
- Preparing for lessons
Regardless of how long you have taught, there is always more to learn or practice in teaching. If not careful, we can become "set in our ways" presenting our lessons in a familiar (and boring?) manner. Or due to busyness and stress, we can do the minimum to get ready, relying on quick wits and charisma instead of careful study and the direction of the Holy Spirit.
- Discipling your students
Resolutions in this regard are important simply because this aspect of teaching Sunday school is so often overlooked. An important part of your ministry is shepherding your students spiritually. Do you minister to your students throughout the week or only one hour on Sunday?
- Following up on guests
With the stress of leading a lesson and the busyness of the Sunday morning worship ritual, it may be tempting to think it is someone else's responsibility to follow up on guests in your class. Yet as the teacher you are the most visible person in your class. Do you make certain to let guests know their presence was welcome, to gain contact information, and to invite them back the next Sunday?
- Growing spiritually
A common temptation for preachers and teachers is to combine sermon/lesson preparation with one's personal devotions. Making this a practice, however, can lead to spiritual malnutrition. And, if you are not growing spiritually and maturing in your faith, how will you be able to lead your students to "higher ground"?
These are just a few areas in which you, as a Sunday school teacher, may want to make a "New Year's Resolution" ... or just a commitment to Christ that you will seek improvement. (David Woods)
What spiritual resolutions would God have you make for this new year?
"Study to show thyself approved unto God... " (2 Timothy 2:15).
What causes us to become too familiar with God to worship Him?
In "Biblical Perspective", Dr. Gayle Woods writes:
Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? Do we hear a note of disappointment in the words of Jesus? Is there an indication that He seemed to be somewhat puzzled by the fact that nine of the ten men who had been healed did not seem to place great value on what He had done for them?
This account should be a serious reminder to the people of God that we must be careful not to become familiar with the work of God to the point that we lose the sense of wonder and amazement. When the awesomeness of His glory begins to dim, we need to fall on our faces at His feet once again to renew our commitment of love to the one who made the difference in our lives.
Discussion: List possible reasons why the nine lepers failed to show gratitude to God.
Discussion: What are ways we today become too familiar that we fail to worship?
Source: Miracles of Jesus: Adult Teacher's Insights, page 31.