James 5:13-16
For this lesson we’re looking at James chapter 5. We will concentrate on verse 14 and 15.
The Prayer of Faith
“13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
This is where James asked is there any sick among you. Then, he commands let them to call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him. While, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. The question is there any sick among you? In he pervious verse James dealt with affliction! There are tons of afflictions. For example, consider the following statements:
“a crippling affliction of the nervous system”
“poor people in great affliction”
“She lost her sight and is now learning to live with her affliction.”
“He died from a mysterious affliction.”
Paul told Timothy to “Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” and later in the same chapter said, “…for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned.” (2 Timothy 2:3,9)
So we see that affliction can take different forms of sickness, but an affliction is oftentimes an instrument of God in teaching us.
Consider Psalm 119:71 David said: “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.”
Often, we’re not willing or we’re not listening and God allows affliction to get our attention! This would be an example, of when an afflicted person would pray to seek the Lord.
Often, we then ask God “what are you wanting to say to me God” “what are you wanting to do in my in my life?:
James tells us that when we have afflictions we are to pray! But if there are any sick among you then you are to call for the elders of the church!
Jonah, you remember as far as afflictions he was learning an important lesson as he was trying to run from the call of God and hide from the presence of God. He learned a very important lesson that he shared with us! After three days Jonah prayed he cried unto the Lord said he cried to the Lord in his affliction. God dealt with this prophet and taught him an important lesson! Which we still share today! We can observe today that we can not escape the call of God! We can not hide from the presence of God! God’s desire for our life is always better than what we desire for ourselves. Our folly lead to hardship. And from hardship afflictions grows.
Because of this sin cursed world I believe that all of sickness is the result of the original sin of Adam and Eve. I do not believe that there would be any sickness in the world today if Adam had not sinned. I believe that when God made Adam’s body that he made it perfect and he made the body to continually reproduce itself!
Adam’s body would have never been sick or have grown old.
His teeth would have never decayed!
His eyes would never grow dimmed!
His ears would have never lost the ability to hear!
I believe that his body was perfect; thus, because of Adam’s sin we have the imperfections in the body! We have afflictions and sicknesses!
I believe that one day; we will experience, this perfection again! You bet! When we get to heaven!
Rev. 21:4 English Standard Version
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
God told Adam you’re not to eat of that tree, because on that day you will surely die! I believe that there could have been certain bacteria and or certain viruses: in the fruit of that tree! Which, may have caused the aging processes!
According to Psalms 1:2 David wrote the following:
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
We will be like a tree that’s planted by the rivers of living
Water! This is an ever-fresh supply of water for the roots! The leaf
will not wither and whatsoever he does shall prosper the law of the Lord! God gave his laws! They are the rules to the good life! They are the rules to an abundant life! A healthy life! God has not forbidden anything that is right and anything that is healthy! God does not encourage us to get involved those things that can harm you or in those things that can bring pain. God then forbid those things he forbade us to do those things only the things that are hurtful and harmful!
I believe that all sickness has resulted from the original sin; however, I strongly disagree with that teaching that says that all sickness is the result of sin of the person! Personal sin is does not have a direct cause-and-effect relationship! If a person is sick I don’t think that they are sick because they are being punished for something!
(Matthew 5:45 KJV) states: “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
We are all exposed to viruses. We have all been shopping in the mall and someone sneezes and the viruses are blown all over the place! We are just living in a world that’s filled with viruses! If you get on an airplane, after a while, your breathing the germs of someone else! The airborne viruses makes it very unlikely that you’re not going to get a cold or the sniffles or the flu! So, we see that it doesn’t mean we got theses illness because of our past sin!
Now, I have been in church when prayer request were taken. One man asked that we pray that his wife would confess whatever sin she’s guilty of because she’s been sick for a week and hasn’t been able to clean house and fix dinner! He continued to say: :you know so pray that she’ll confess the sins; so, she can get healed!” Well, I disagree with that and the preacher didn’t correct him! Again, I don’t think that there is always a direct cause-and-effect relationship to sickness!
Let me clarify a little here.. When we partake in risky business; then we may have to suffer the consequence. There is always consequences to our sins. For example, our sin always separates us from God. Consider Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”
For instance, if a person is active in a homosexual lifestyle and has several partners, he or she, is very apt to contact the HIV virus! Science tells us that this behavior and the Bible tells us that this sinful practice in which he’s being engaged in cases HIV! Therefore, in this case a person’s physical sickness can cause diseases and viruses! Here sin has a direct relationship between the sickness and the act. -But it is not common!
In the Bible, people were convinced that the sins of their fathers were the cause of diseases that suffered. But what happened? As Jesus passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” (John 9:2). And Jesus’s response was that there is no direct tie between this man’s affliction and a sins of his family! So, blanket statements like this are wrong and totally off base!
To say that your preacher is sick, because of her sin is also totally incorrect, because there is no biblical backing for such as statement!
Remember, Paul the Apostle was sick! According to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:8 ask God Three times to take it away from him.
Timothy had stomach problems! 1 Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments. Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. Don’t drink only water.
In 2 Kings 13 Elijah had an illness that would cause his death!
( We do not always become sick, because there is some sin in our lives or because we have done something wrong! However, we can become sick from not taking care of our bodies! For example, we can become sick if we eat too much or if we do not practice good hygiene. I think that God intended that we have good health practices and that we eat nourishing food, because I have read the laws and the statutes that God forbade his children from eating certain things. He even gave laws of cleanliness. When these laws and statues were followed illnesses were kept down. In addition, if you read those books of the Bible, -God promised that if they would keep those statutes that he would put none of the diseases! )
Just because we follow Jesus Christ doesn’t mean we will have automatic immunity from getting sick! You may follow the rules of good health. You may have a healthy diet but there are so many airborne viruses today that it’s almost impossible to completely escape getting a cold or a flu
According to Scripture if we are sick we are to call for the elders of the church.
I have seen, many times, that people have become very upset and some have even left the church, because when they have been sick no one checked on them. We are not psychics! If you’re not here for a month we don’t know – maybe you are on vacation! We can’t keep tabs on everybody! So, according to this scripture, I have a way out, because it puts the duty and the responsibility on the person who is sick to call l for the elders of the church! If you don’t call we can’t respond! If you don’t keep contact; then we can respond! So, it is the duty of the person who is sick to call for the elders of the church!
On the other hand, when they have called, it is then the duty of the elders of the church to pray over the person in need. I believe that God ordained this as the method by which the healing graces of God might be manifested! I believe that God places the people in the church and therefore places the faithful in line to pray. God has ordained it that way so that no person is singled out for glory or no man gets the reputation of being a healer!
But when the elders pray for you and God answers that prayer and you’re healed then we should give glory to the Lord! We are to raise up the person or elevate an individual, because it is the Lord who heals and saves the sick!
God has ordained this procedure, because he does not want us to look toward any one person for healing. God is the great physician. He calls us to a life field with prayer. He tells us this in verse Thessalonians through brother Paul.
1 Thessalonians
5:17-19
New International Version
17 pray continually,(A) 18 give thanks in all circumstances;(B) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
For this reason, James tells us to call for the elders of the church. The elders, meaning plural, which means many people. This is so that not one person gets the credit for healing through faith.
This is also why God instrumented the prayer of agreement. Or the prayer of anointing. This is when we come together and pray for something in agreement. Scripture calls for us to come together in one accord in mini locations in the Bible. But I like the following scripture:
Matthew 18:20
New International Version
20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”(A)
So we are together together, anoint the Sick or afflicted, and pray over them. This gets the ball out of our court and puts it in gods hands. I don’t know about you, but when the ball is in my court. And I have to bounce the ball; I’m a little bit nervous. I like the fact, that we can rest in Jesus Christ, and come to him in prayer. I like the fact that the ball is in gods Court, because that means God will react.
God plays no favoritisms. He hears your prayers just as he hears my prayers. Scripture tells us that he’s not a respecter of persons. And that he hears the prayers of the righteous. This is a prayer that we can bank on.
“And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:”
1 Peter 1:17, KJ
1 Peter 3:12 – “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 3. 1 John 5:15 – “And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”
Moving on now, let’s talk about anointing with oil. This is an act that is deeply invested in the old testament. Exodus 30:22-33
New International Version
Anointing Oil
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, 23 “Take the following fine spices:(A) 500 shekels[a] of liquid myrrh,(B) half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon,(C) 250 shekels[b] of fragrant calamus,(D) 24 500 shekels(E) of cassia(F)—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin[c] of olive oil. 25 Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer.(G) It will be the sacred anointing oil.(H) 26 Then use it to anoint(I) the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant law, 27 the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, 28 the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. 29 You shall consecrate them(J) so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.(K)
30 “Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate(L) them so they may serve me as priests.(M) 31 Say to the Israelites, ‘This is to be my sacred anointing oil(N) for the generations to come.(O) 32 Do not pour it on anyone else’s body and do not make any other oil using the same formula. It is sacred, and you are to consider it sacred.(P) 33 Whoever makes perfume like it and puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off(Q) from their people.’”
Now, later on in the scripture, God says this is for the use of the things in the sanctuary. I have thoroughly studied anointing oil on my own. God made plants and put them on this earth; so, they could be used as medicine. Science, has taken this knowledge and created their own medicines. I have four or five books, written, and the direction of the Holy Ghost, for purposes of healing common elements and diving deeper into the word. Sometime, we might study these as a group. But for our purposes today, I want you to know, that there is healing in what God has put on this earth. Today’s, anointing oil is most likely, pure olive oil. The power is not in the oil, but the power is in the faithful prayer of the righteous.
Just let me give you my favorite recipes!
For Lysol, especially during Covid when we couldn’t get Lysol or wipes, I use the following oils: Wild Orange Peel, Clove Bud, Cinnamon Leaf, Cinnamon Bark, Eucalyptus Leaf, and Rosemary Leaf/Flower essential oils.
Now I need to make a disclaimer right here. I want you to know that not all oil is essential. Essential oils need to be therapeutic grade. The ones you get at the grocery store are not therapeutic. They need to come from the place in which they were planted. For example a lot, of the oils come from the Middle East. For example olives grown here do not taste as good as olives grown in Israel, because they were carried from Israel and implanted over here. So they’re therapeutic grade is then different. So you need to order your oils from a company like doTERRA.
Science has proven that these oils when blended together can support a healthy immune and cardiovascular system. It promotes healthy circulation when ingested and gives off an energizing scent when diffused. Generally, I use this blend to shield me from bacteria, mold, and viruses. I wash surfaces with it, I use it as hand sanitizer, and it’s my favorite glass cleaner.
It is effective as a anointing oil, because of its ability to build the immune system and block viruses. When sprayed on a prayer cloth or prayer shawl you can use it to wipe down surfaces. The aroma also lightens the mood and gives a sense of energy. I have been using it for years, giving it as gifts, and anointing with it, and no one has ever complained of a rash or reaction.
Mydoterra.com/healingstation
In Exodus 30:30, Moses Anointed Aaron for the priesthood. Then God used his special blend to have everything anointed in the sanctuary. This was to set it apart for the use of God. Today, we are anointed with the Holy Ghost and we are to be separated from the world. Because, we are anointed with the Holy Ghost, we see marvelous miracles of healing. This healing can be spiritual and physical. When Jesus sent out the disciples he sent them to apply oil and heal the sick. Mark 6:13 “And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.” So, the question is obvious: are we disciples of Jesus Christ? Of course, the answer is yes! Therefore, we are to seek and to save into anoint. First Peter 2:3 informs us that we are priests. The scripture reads as follows:
English Standard Version
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Because we house the Holy Spirit; which does the healing, we are sent out. Remembering, we do nothing, but bring it to the Lord in prayer. The great physician, our priest, does the healing.
So, we see in the new testament that anointing with oil was continued and the practice was promoted. We see in the scripture that they anointed the sick in the afflicted. Define healing is and has been done throughout scripture. God, established in the Old Testament, with the Israelites that he was God and is God. In Exodus 15:26 he said the following: “I am the Lord God that Healeth you.” Then, throughout biblical history, we see that God responded to each prayer of faith.
For example, in numbers 12, Moses prayed for his sister to be healed of leprosy and we see that God responded positively.
We see, another answered prayer for healing, when Elisha asked God to return the meaning to life. This was found in first kings. 1 Kings 17:21-22 states: “And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, “O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again”. 22 And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.”
Then, we see Jesus in the New Testament. He healed the sick everywhere he went. People continually, brought the sick and afflicted to him. The healing of the sick was an interval part of Jesus‘s industry; while, he walked on the earth.
In speaking of healing of the sick let’s examine what Matthew said in chapter 8.
Matthew
8:16-17
King James Version
16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
Matthew was quoting from Isaiah in chapter 53 verses three and four.
Isaiah 53:4-5
King James Version
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
So, Jesus or our Greece. So, I wonder what that means? With the Holy Spirit, did some digging, and in Hebrew reefs translates to mean sickness and/or afflictions. Well on the hunt, I also looked up the word pain, and pain has an equal meaning to star row. Therefore, Matthew is Correctly quoting prophecy. Jesus took our sickness and bore our afflictions.
Now, the next verse in Isaiah says that he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. And with his stripes we are healed. For generations we have been taught that this means, Soli, that we are healed of our sin. But, as the Holy Spirit had me dive deeper into the study of healing, I realize that this also means our sicknesses and I are infirmities. I believe this, because God healed me on my deathbed and I have seen many others healed. Some , Have taught that there is no miraculous healings today. That this is only spiritual healing, but to make a point here, I just want to disagree with that. I believe in physical and spiritual healing. Or why else would James say call the elders of the church, be anointed, and pray?
Healings were a common practice of the early church. In the book of acts we can read about all kinds of different accounts that Peter, Paul, and John healed through anointing and prayer. But, we have to make a note that not everyone was healed. The question remains: why are some people healed while others are perfectly healed through death? The truth is, we don’t know why some people are healed and some are not. Does that mean that there is some sin in their life? No! God is sovereign. He will not put on us more than we can bare. I believe, it is even foolishness for us to make suggestions to why people are healed and why are they are not. God is sovereign! He is in control. He knows what is best. His ways are higher than our ways. We must learn to trust him.
1 Peter 4:19 tells us if any man suffers according to the will of God -let him commit the keeping of his soul and as unto a faithful creator. Sometimes, God has a purpose that he is working out in our life through a sickness: which in, that case could classify also as an affliction. God has a purpose in allowing it! In addition, there are many people of tremendous faith and deeply spiritual who suffer physically!
many of the great saints of the church have had great physical sickness. While, some sinners are as healthy as a horse! There are some people who are healed who really don’t have much faith at all and yet there are others with tremendous faith that are not healed! So, we don’t know why it is that some are healed and others are not healed, but we do know that if a person is sick it is their responsibility to call for the elders of the church. It is the responsibility of the elders of the church to pray for them and to anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord! Finally, when we have done this we commit the rest of it unto the Lord!
According to verse 15 the prayer of the righteous will save the sick and God will raise them up. So what is a prayer of faith? In Romans four we are told of the faith of Abraham.
Abraham’s faith in one specific promise is then held up as a model for us. God told Abraham he would have a natural-born son with his wife, Sarah and become the father of many nations. Abraham believed that and continued to believe it even as the years passed without a child. He remained faithful, even as he approached 100 years old, and Sarah approached 90. In fact, Paul insists, Abraham’s faith grew stronger, not weaker, over time. That is why God counted his faith as righteousness. The same can happen for all of us now. Those who believe in the God who handed over Jesus to pay the price of our sin with His death and then raised Him back to life for our justification will be declared righteous, as well (Romans 4:20–25).
So, there are 4 keys to faith according to the scripture about Abraham.
The first key to faith is knowing that it is impossible for a man, but believing and trusting that God will do what he says he will do.
Secondly, don’t stagger at the word of God. Lay claim to the promises of scripture.
The third key to faith is praising the Lord before it comes to pass. This will get your mind off of your problems and incline your heart to God. It’s easy to praise the Lord after the fact, but difficult to Paris before the act is complete. When we failed to praise the Lord it’s usually because of our unbelief.
The Fourth key to having faith is that wholeheartedly believe that God will come through for you.
Now, the prayer of faith will save the sick – the question is whose faith is it that renders healing? Sometimes, in the Ministry of Jesus
in the New Testament -it was the faith of the person who had come to
be healed. Jesus many times said: “your faith has made you whole.” For example, we see this with the woman who had an issue of blood.
We should also consider the leper that returned! You remember, there were ten and one came back to thank him. Jesus said, “your faith has made you whole.”
Perhaps we could mention, the home to the blind man of Jericho who Jesus said, “what you would you like and he said that I might receive my sight.” Jesus replied to him: “your faith has made you whole.”
when Peter
Consider whose faith it was when Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead. Surely, it wasn’t the faith of his sisters, because when Jesus said: “roll back the stone” they said “Lord he smells by now” Therefore, it wasn’t their faith nor was it the faith of Lazarus, because he was dead! So, I conclude that it was the faith of Jesus.
Furthermore, in the case of the Daughter of Jairus -Jesus came to the house and the people were all weeping! Jesus said “you know she’s only asleep.” But they began to laugh him to scorn. Jesus then had them removed! That left the parents, Peter, and John in the room. She was healed by Jesus, but on the faith of the ones who brought her to Him.
The next event the Holy Ghost, brought to my mind, is the time the men brought their friend to Jesus. This man had palsy. They led him down on a cot in front of Jesus. We read when Jesus saw their faith he was healed!
How about the women who brought the one vexed by the devil? Matthew 15:22-28 22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “LORD, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” 23Jesus did not answer a word. So, his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” 24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 25The woman came and knelt before him. “LORD, help me!” she said. 26He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 27″Yes it is, LORD,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” 28Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
So, the healing came on the prayers of the mother!
The prayer of faith will save the sick but whose faith? From the events in the Bible we see sometimes it is the person who is being prayed for; while sometimes it is the faith of the person who brings the sick to Jesus.
Ok! Now that we have faith and prayer we need to activate it. Consider the woman with the issue of blood again. The women said, “I know that if I can touch the hem of His garment I’ll be Healed!” So, the moment she reached out and grabbed the garment of Jesus her faith was activated!
We can compare this to anointing with oil, because when the oil is placed on our bodies or the saints’ hands touch us, we release our faith. This is why the Lord said: “to call for the elders to anoint the sick with oil.” God knew we needed a place to activate our faith! I know that is sure true for me. When the saints lay hands on me and the oil is placed that the prayers of the faithful reach God. When do this God promises to act and is cannot lie!
In the days Peter walked the Earth people would run to the streets, in hopes of getting in Peter’s shadow. The moment the shadow would follow him they would activate their faith. Thus, being healed!
Paul would get off work, take off his sweat bands, throw it down, and people would carry them to the sick. I think the handkerchief or sweatbands became a point of contact for their faith.
In the same way, people in Jerusalem brought the sick people to the pool of Bathsheba, waiting for the waters to be troubled, because when the waters were troubled healings took place.
Lastly what do you think about Communion? Remembering, the
broken body of Jesus and his death on the cross for our sins! I feel the presence of the Lord! Perhaps, because we are following the direction of Scriptures. Perhaps, it is done in faith. Or perhaps, is done with faithful prayer? Or perhaps, it is my point of faith being activated? Its worth further study and prayer.
