Daily Bread 2010 - James 5
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.
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
In chapter 5, James continues to give some random musings on life in the church and exhortations about a variety of topics including, caring for the poor (esp. if one has an abundance of possessions), healing and confession of sins. He also teaches the believers in the early church to be patient in suffering, as in due time they will be exalted for remaining humble.
Finally, in the verses above, James gives some admonitions for how the church should care for each other in the community of faith i.e. those who are sick physically or spiritually. We see that there is to be a mutual care for those in the community, and the elders (spiritual overseers) are given power and authority to pray for those who are ill. There is a connection between a prayer of faith and a sick person being made well.
Of course it is important to not assume or suggest if we pray for someone who is sick in faith and they do not get well that it is because of our/their lack of faith. That would be a wrong assumption that could cause much damage in the community of faith. Many faithful people prayed for by faithful people do not get well. It is not our job to try to control or explain why some are healed and some are not. We are simply commanded to pray for those who are sick in faith and God will make them well.
We also see the connection between physical and spiritual healing. Part of our healing is being forgiven for our sins. Again it would be wrong to make any assumption that people get sick because of their sins. Although this could be the case, that is in God’s realm not ours. Much pain and manipulation has happened in the church as a result of interpreting these verses in a way that is anything but helpful.
Bottom line is the church is a place where we pray for each other when we are sick, and a place where we confess ours sins together in the name of Jesus, and because of what He is done, we can be healed both now in this life and also leading to eternal life the ultimate healing.
Prayer: God we pray for healing and ask for forgiveness for ours sins trusting in what You have done for us through Your Son Jesus Christ on the cross, where ultimate healing and victory took place. We entrust all healing into your hands as prayers are offered in faith! Amen.
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.
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
In chapter 5, James continues to give some random musings on life in the church and exhortations about a variety of topics including, caring for the poor (esp. if one has an abundance of possessions), healing and confession of sins. He also teaches the believers in the early church to be patient in suffering, as in due time they will be exalted for remaining humble.
Finally, in the verses above, James gives some admonitions for how the church should care for each other in the community of faith i.e. those who are sick physically or spiritually. We see that there is to be a mutual care for those in the community, and the elders (spiritual overseers) are given power and authority to pray for those who are ill. There is a connection between a prayer of faith and a sick person being made well.
Of course it is important to not assume or suggest if we pray for someone who is sick in faith and they do not get well that it is because of our/their lack of faith. That would be a wrong assumption that could cause much damage in the community of faith. Many faithful people prayed for by faithful people do not get well. It is not our job to try to control or explain why some are healed and some are not. We are simply commanded to pray for those who are sick in faith and God will make them well.
We also see the connection between physical and spiritual healing. Part of our healing is being forgiven for our sins. Again it would be wrong to make any assumption that people get sick because of their sins. Although this could be the case, that is in God’s realm not ours. Much pain and manipulation has happened in the church as a result of interpreting these verses in a way that is anything but helpful.
Bottom line is the church is a place where we pray for each other when we are sick, and a place where we confess ours sins together in the name of Jesus, and because of what He is done, we can be healed both now in this life and also leading to eternal life the ultimate healing.
Prayer: God we pray for healing and ask for forgiveness for ours sins trusting in what You have done for us through Your Son Jesus Christ on the cross, where ultimate healing and victory took place. We entrust all healing into your hands as prayers are offered in faith! Amen.
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