Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray.
Is any merry? Let him sing psalms.
Is any sick among you? Let him tell
the elder of the church; and let them
pray over him, anointing him with
oil in the name of the Lord: and the
prayer of faith shall save the sick,
and the Lord shall raise him up;
and if he have committed sins,
they shall be forgiven him. Confess
your faults one to another, and pray
one for another, that he may be healed.
The effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much.
James 5: 13 -- 16
There is much confusion and theological doctrines about this Scripture and the beliefs about healing that we must take a moment of time to reach clarity as to what James was teaching us. As always I want to remind the reader that it is context, context, context that determines the interpretation of Scripture. That is, that Scripture interprets Scripture and not man's presupposition and personal beliefs. The English word "afflicted" does not give us a clearer understanding of the Greek word which means to suffer hardships. Those hardships could be physical illness, or even mental illness, financial problems, marital problems, or even persecution by others because you are a Christian. It is not to be taken as a physical disease. Some do. What is a person supposed to do who finds himself in this position? Pray! What if the person finds himself to be "merry?" Let him give praise! James now addresses those who are "sick." The Greek word could be translated to six and it does so six times but it also has a greater meaning it means strengthless, feeble, to be weak or weakness within that person and their ability to live a Christian life. So as not to be taken just as physical sickness. What is that person supposed to do? He or she is to call for the elders, and noticed that it is not to call an elder got it is plural "elders." Too often a single pastor or elder is dealing with a person who is in need of counseling and prayer. This is not what James is teaching us for a person who is in this need must have more than one elder and they are to pray over that person and anointing him with oil. now here's where a lot of misuse is in regards to anointing with oil. There is nothing special about this oil and lasts this act of being anointed is in the name of the Lord and is accompanied by a prayer of faith. Two things must be understood here, one, oil was used as an ointment to heal skin diseases, two, it could mean that they simply applied or oil to that person in an act of sacrament. But the prayer of faith is not to save the sick as in some sort of disease rather the Greek word means to save the exhausted one. Why is that person exhausted? Could it be that they are living a life that is hardship? And is that healing and prayer of faith and instant thing?James does not say so poor he states that do to that person's faith and prayer of faith that person will be raised up by the Lord and is sins will be forgiven them that he may have committed. sold the Scripture is speaking more about salvation and they need to confess our failings, R. Sands, our offenses. James has been speaking earlier that we need to watch our words and if we fail in this regard we are to confess those offenses to one another, that is to the person we have offended. And if a person does so then they will be healed, not necessarily from any kind of physical or mental disease or problem, rather they will be healed by the forgiveness of your sins and that they would be raised up on the last day when Jesus Christ returns. You see the prayers and supplications of a righteous man is operative.
Do not misuse the Scripture and build upon doctrine says many of the Pentecostal and charismatic people have done were the gifts of the Spirit are misunderstood and misused. People go around finding a few other people through prayer and as I have seen by the baffle students running around trying to pray for people so that they could get healings in front of their eyes so as to have some sort of experience that makes them feel godly. Do not be one of these people! The most important thing that you can do is build your relationship with Jesus Christ and if you are in need to speak before an elder so that their prayers of intercession and your prayer of faith and their prayer of faith will heal you and your sins and offenses forgiven. This is the whole context of the book of James. Our faith is seen through our works and our works are to be merciful and loving but also we are to build this relationship would Jesus and knowing that He will heal us of our sins. What else do you need? Is there anything more than having our sins forgiven that is so important? We need nothing else for a we all know that until Jesus Christ returns and this world is changed from what it is to what it will be we will die. We do not know when or how bout we do know it will happen. We may be healed from diseases now only to died later. Lazarus did not live forever for in time he died. The man whose arm was healed lived until he died. The most important thing that we look for and to is that our sins be forgiven and we'd look to Jesus who is no one who will make intercession for us and we'll heal us. I do not mean to be morbid but I do mean to remind us that our life has a time limit on this earth and while we are on this earth we are to live as Authentic Christians and not run around teaching doctrines that are contrary to Scripture.
God does answer prayer and you will do it according to your prayer that is in line with His will and not yours. An example Elias who had the same feelings as we do and he prayed for it to rain but it did not do so and it did not do so for years. It would be easy to be discouraged but he was not for he prayed and then God or Heaven as stated here gave rain and the earth brought forth fruit. You see our prayers must be in line with the will of God knowing that he has a time for all things so that His will will be accomplished. Remember James taught us about patience and we are to wait upon the Lord and we do so with great expectation knowing that His will will be accomplished.
The book of James ends in this manner: "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know that he which converteth the center from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins" (James 5:19 -- 20). Our business, our responsibility while we build a relationship with Jesus Christ it is that that relationship should be leading us to become those who are spreading the gospel and leading others to the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn off the TV, quit finding other things to do that would hinder it this work that you have a responsibility to do for by your faith you will do these works and by those works we will be able to see that your faith is an Authentic Christian Faith. There is plenty of time to enjoy this life just do not make your goal is simply enjoy this life and leave behind your work assigned to you by Jesus Christ.
Blessed is the people that know
but joyful sound: they shall walk,
O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.
In thy name shall they rejoice all the day:
and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
For now art the glory of their strength:
and in thy favor our horn shall be exalted.
Psalm 89: 15 -- 17
Find your healing in salvation
Richard L. Crumb
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