It Says What It Means! Does It Mean What It Says? Series

It Says What It Means! Does It Mean What It Says?

James 5:13-15

(13) Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.

{14} Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; {15} and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

INTRODUCTION

I have a long introduction, and a long sermon. In order for me to make a point let me ask you to turn to these verses, and answer the question; What do these verses mean? I will make a comment about each of them.

(Isa 40:31 NASB) Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

(Luke 14:26 NASB) "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.

(John 10:7 NASB) Jesus therefore said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

(John 10:9 NASB) "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

You see we have to understand the parts of speech and the type of language used to make a correct interpretation of all the parts of the text. I want to bring the following observations to your mind about the most controversial part of the verses which make up our text.

What I believe about this passage of scripture. The bottom line is I believe God Heals. I do not believe we have here a command for a practice in our worship services. What ever your preference for a personal interpretation please consider the following thoughts.

1. As all passages; It needs careful interpretation.

2. These facts need to be kept in mind.

a. Most scholars believe James was the first book written in the New Testament.

b. Paul never mentions this practice of anointing with oil.

c. Simon Peter never mentions this practice of anointing with oil.

d. John never mentions this practice of anointing with oil.

e. No other New Testament writer mentions this practice.

f. If this is a practice for all sick people why didn’t Paul advise Timothy to have himself anointed with oil for his stomach problems.

1 Tim 5:23 No longer drink water {exclusively,} but use a little wine for the sake

of your stomach and your frequent ailments. (NAS)

g. Why didn’t Paul anoint Trophimus with oil.

2 Tim 4:20 Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus

h. The GREEK word for anoint here is Strongs word #218 aleipho (al-i’-fo);

from 1 (as particle of union) and the base of 3045; to oil (with perfume):

i The Greek work for anoint in Luke 4:18 is Strongs # 5548 chrio (khree’-o);

probably akin to 5530 through the idea of contact; to smear or rub with oil, i.e. (by

implication) to consecrate to an office or religious service:

j A. T. Robertson further states "It is by no means certain that |aleiphô| here and in #Mr 6:13 means "anoint" in a ceremonial fashion rather than "rub" as it commonly

does in medical treatises.

Trench (N.T. Synonyms) says: "|Aleiphein| is the mundane and profane, |chriein|

the sacred and religious, word."

k. The bottom line is this, in James we have God and the oil as medicine, and that is precisely where we are today. The best physicians believe in God and want the help of prayer.

l. I will place oil on a person who calls and asks for it. I believe the prayer of faith is

The calling upon the sovereignty of God to heal. Some times He does and some

times He does not. I believe our faith is important, but not the all determining

ingredient in healing. James who wrote these words died, and so will you and I.

This will happen regardless of the amount of faith you have.

m. How will people die if all diseases can be healed? Our bodies are wearing out, and there are many ways for this life to end. Dying from disease is better than some ways a person can die.

n. Sin has originally caused disease to be in this world. God allows it and I think He allows some of His children to die by the cause of diseases.

The bottom line is: I believe God Heals. I do not believe we have here a command for a practice in our worship services. What ever your preference for a personal interpretation please consider the following thoughts. It Says What It Means! Does It Mean What It Says?