“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any one cheerful? Let him sing Psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, annointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:13-14 (NKJV).
James uses most of the book of James in writing about the Christian’s suffering. The letter was written to encourage Christian Jews when they were forced to leave Jerusalem because of their faith; and God used this, of course, to further the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Christians get discouraged, down, and have feelings of being neglected just as other people do, and especially so when they are being persecuted for their faith; if they have not learned to lean heavily on the Lord in those trials of faith. James has been concerned with the use of the mouth. Using the lips and tongue in such a way that the Lord is glorified, and not cursed by others, because of the actions or words of the followers of Jesus.
James asked the question above, “Is anyone among you sick?” and that was probably would get an affirmative answer of “Yes!” The sickness would mostly have been sickness caused from persecution and trial. Fear and worry can cause sickness when you let it get the best of you. When these were sick James set a pattern by which they were to seek healing. First of all “Let him…”, ie., the one who is sick; “call for the elders of the church…”. Elder is most of the time used for the pastor of the church, and James uses it here in the plural sense. Secondly, “Let them…”, ie., the elders, “pray over him…”. Do you notice what does not happen here; the “pastor/preacher” doesn’t call a big assembly, and then call for those who are sick to come to the front. The sick has called for the elder/pastor to come to them. Preachers and pastors who make housecalls; imagine that.
Another thing in this process of the prayer is annointing the sick with oil. This seems to be for medicinal reasons, however, it is called “annointing him”, so it could and should be a spiritual application of giving the care, healing and cure of this sickness entirely to the Lord. Whether this sickness has been caused or brought about due to persecution or it is just a sickness which has disabled, and robbed the individual of their health; should really make little difference.
Making this “prayer for the sick” a private matter, in the home takes away any chance of “showmanship” which is so often seen in what has been called “Healing services”.
Would I go to the home of an individual who is ill and has asked for me to come to pray for them? Most certainly, and I have a bottle of olive oil I can take along for the annointing oil, if they so choose. Will they be healed? In and according to God’s will.
Walk With God Today.
-Tim A. Blankenship
Filed under: BIBLE STUDIES, Christianity, Devotion, Discipleship, Instruction, James, Theo/Doc | Tagged: Bible Study, Christianity, Devotion, Discipleship, Healing, James, Life, Life issues, Religion