Topic: STOP THE GOSSIP – Bishop Mike Okonkwo Devotional 28 November 2019 [The Redeemed Evangelical Mission]
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“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.”
James 5:16 KJV
If I tell you the things I am going through, would you keep your mouth shut? If I come to tell you where the shoe is pinching me, will it stay between the two of us and you pray about it for me? Sometimes, you tell some pastors your issue and they go on to preach on it or at most they make it a prayer topic. If I tell you my issue, would you cover me, pray with me and help me stand up again? That is what James was saying when he says ‘Confess ye your faults one to another, and pray for one another that you may be healed. As you are serving God and making conscious effort to please Him; at times, the banana peels of life would trip you and you fall. God knows and that is why the blood of Jesus cleanses from all unrighteousness. You may trip. You did not plan for it and you did not intend to do that; it just happened that you messed up. And if care is not taken the devil can cause you shame you to the point that you run away from church.
That is what James means when he says ‘Confess your faults one to another.’ If a brother gets tripped, my part is how to get him restored! So, I say: Brother, we know that this has happened but get over it. The blood cleanses you from all unrighteousness. You are still the righteousness of God. You are still strong in the Lord. God still loves you. You can still make it. Your destiny is not aborted.’ Then he is encouraged, he is healed and back to the Church. I should be comfortable to tell you what I am going through knowing that I am surrounded by people with the love of God.
Further reading: James 5: 13-20
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Ezekiel 33-34; Evening- 1 Peter 5
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