The First Great Awakening (18th Century)

• England: George Whitfield, John Wesley, Charles Wesley

• Thirteen Colonies: William Tennent, Samuel Blair (Pennsylvania)

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James 5:13–14

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.
Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

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“Elders” — Gk. πρεσβύτερος (presbyteros)

A senior, either in age or rank

• Presbyterianism

• Qualifications for Elders: 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1

Acts 14:23 – “…appointed elders for them in every church.”

Acts 20:28 – “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

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“Sick” — Gk. ἀσθενέω (astheneō)

Used for various forms of weakness:

• Deficiency in mental capabilities (Romans 6:19)

• Weakened spiritual condition (Romans 5:6)

• Weakened physical condition (2 Corinthians 10:10)

• Weakened conscience (1 Corinthians 8:7; Romans 14:1)

• Physical illness (Gospels)

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James 5:15

“And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.
And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”

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• 2 Corinthians 12:7–9

• 2 Timothy 4:20

• Matthew 6:10

• Romans 9:20

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James 5:16

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

• 1 Peter 2:5, 9

• Revelation 1:5–6

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James 5:17–18

“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

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1. There is a Right Way and a Wrong Way to Confess Your Sin

“Confession” — Gk. ἐξομολογέω (exomologeō) — “to speak the same as”

• Full admission

• Zero justification

• Full transparency

• Zero unnecessary details (Ephesians 5:12)

• Full contrition

• Zero shame (1 John 1:9; Romans 10:11; Romans 8:1)

• Full relief

• Zero anxiety

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2. Confession is Obedience

• “Confess” — Imperative mood, middle voice

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Truth:

“God’s command to confess your sins means two things: He already knows you will sin, and He’s already prepared to show you mercy.”