Prayer is a high and holy privilege.
To think that as God's children we can come into the very presence of God and share with Him all of ourselves…..concerns, worries, thanks, etc is amazing. Seven times in this section James mentions prayer. Instead of complaining about our situation we are called to pray about it.'Taking it to the Lord in prayer' is a mark of authentic spirituality. The early church inherited its tradition from its Jewish heritage.
When a Jew was ill he didn't go to the doctor he went to the Rabbi. The Rabbi anointed him with oil (best of all medicines) and prayed over him. Few communities have been so devoted to praying for their sick than the early church. Early church history was full of records of healing.
In this section James encourages us to pray by describing 4 situations in which God answers prayer. There is no blanket formula for healing and prayer. I could give you many testimonies of healing that has come as the result of prayer - my own being only one.
- Praver for the Suffering 2 v 13. The word for 'in trouble' means when you go through a time of suffering. As God's people go through life they will experience difficulties that are not the result of human sin or God's rebuke. What do we do in times of trial ? We are not to grumble. Not to criticise the folk who are having an easier time of it. Nor are we to blame God. We are called to pray. Prayer can change situations (5/6 PTL) Prayer can change us…..give us grace (Jesus in Garden - Father gave him strength to endure what was a head) We don't go through trials at same time. James asks 'Is anyone happy? Let him sing.' The early church was also a singing church - worship and prayer together were key to their life and work and ministry. The mature person in Christ knows how to sing while he is suffering (call to consider how we do this)
- Prayer for the Sick
The person is sick because of sin (v 15b -16)
The Greek text means to be constantly sinning. James is describing a church member who is sick because he is being disciplined by God. That is why the elders as spiritual leaders are involved.
They have the spiritual authority in a given place, given to them by the people. The person confesses sin - in early church believers practiced good discipline ( 1 Corinthians 5 a good example) The person is healed by the prayer of faith Anointing - literally means to massage - divine touch.
God can heal with or without means- but he can heal through the spiritual authority, using oil - but it is presence of God that is the key. But what is prayer of faith - 1 John 5 v 14 - 15 helps us 'And this is the confidence that we have in Him that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of Him.
The prayer of faith is a prayer offered when you know the will of God. Elders - all of us - are called to seek the mind of God in the matter, then pray according to His will. Many questions - raised up. Who are we to pray for healing? Am I to pray especially for healing for one and not the other. Everyone healed - no.
Not biblical model or from experience; but we are always called to be obedient and pray. PRAYER OF FAITH - NOT JUST FAITH OF PERSON BEING PRAYED FOR. They might not have much! Faith there reminds us of Jesus and woman with hemorrhage.
Some practical points:
People from our healing service - physical, emotional, spiritual help from them. What are the special characteristics of this particular case that James is speaking about?
- All Christians are called to pray - for one another...Disobedience to God can lead to sickness; David's experience when he tried to hide his sin (Ps 32). Aids in Africa.Sin affects the whole church. We never normally sin on our own. We affect others. The man in the passage - he had to confess to whole church because he had sinned against the whole church.
- There is healing still today. Also when confession done - freedom. (body, mind and spirit).
Prayer for the Community & the Nation cites Elijah righteous man but a man just like us! Background - 1 Kings 17 - 18 Wicked King Ahab & Jezebel led Israel from God into Baal worship; for 3 .5 years no rain - God's punishment.
Then Elijah challenged priests of Baal. He prayed once after repairing the altar and preparing the sacrifice. The fire came from heaven and consumed the sacrifice. Jehovah was the one true God. But the nation still needed rain. He prayed - sent his servant 7 times before the servant saw a small cloud. Then came the rain.
But Elijah was special? No - a man like us. Not just the spiritually elite. Robert Law "Prayer is not getting man's will done in heaven. It's getting God's will done on earth." Praver of Perseverance Elijah prayed…..and he prayed again. Too many times I wonder if we fail to get what God promises because we give up…..and stop praying.
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Introduction To James
'When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade'
AT WAR!!
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