JAMES 5: 13-16
THE POWER OF PRAISE & PRAYER
After James' stern rebukes he continues his words of compassion and counsel for his devoted striving brothers. He has already addressed prayer (1:5-8, 4:2,3). Here we find further instruction on the high and holy privilege of prayer.
These verses are an earnest appeal to come freely and boldly with prayer and praise before the Throne of Grace in all life's situations. Life is to be handled with prayer (CIT). It does not matter if you're suffering, cheerful, sick or reclaiming sinners; life is to be handled with prayer. Pray is to be both for ourselves and others, out of a sense of need and gratitude. It is to be offered in faith and is often to be joined with confession of sin. It is best accomplished by those who are energized through a daily living out of God's will. Powerful prayer comes from this right relationship with God. And for those who learn to pray effectively nothing lies beyond its grasp, because nothing lies beyond the grasp of God.
I. PRAYER AND PRAISE, 13.
II. THE SICK RESTORED, 14-16a.
As an antidote to suffering and as a way to maintain cheerfulness, James exhorts us to pray in verse 13. "Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises"
The question, is any among you afflicted, is a reference to those in any kind of trouble, be it physical, mental, personal (financial) or relational. The context specifically addresses the exhortation to those going through ordinary trials, spiritual warfare or persecution. The Greek word means "to suffer misfortune " or "to have hard experiences" (2 Tim 2:9). It emphasizes the internal distress caused by outward circumstances. As God's people go through life, they often endure difficulties that are not the result of sin or the chastening of God.
What should we do when we find ourselves in such trying circumstances? We must not grumble and criticize...nor should we blame the Lord. We should pray, or more accurately to the text, we should keep on praying. Sufferers must not stop their prayers after a prayer for help, but they are to live in an attitude of prayer.
"Prayer can remove affliction, if that is God's will. But prayer can also give us the grace we need to endure troubles and use them to accomplish God's perfect will. God can transform troubles into triumphs. "He gives greater grace" James said (4:6). Paul prayed that God might change his circumstances, but instead, God gave Paul the grace he needed to turn his weakness into strength (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Our Lord prayed in Gethsemane that the cup might be removed, and it was not; yet the Father gave Him the strength He needed to go to the cross and die for our sins." (Wiersbe, p. 382)
The Christian life is not one of constant suffering. Thus James continues with is anyone cheerful? The Greek word means "to be in good spirits or cheerful" and could be translated "Is anyone in a happy mood" (Williams).
Prosperity and pleasant experience in life can cause a person to forget God due to complacency or worldly contentment. The light-hearted are prone to be lightheaded. Instead life's good times are given that we might sing songs of praise to God as the giver of all blessings. We are to "make music" (Eph 5:19, 1Cor 14:15) in our soul. This command does not demand the use of music but calls for the expression of words or thoughts that praise or thank God.
The great reformer, Martin Luther, stressed the positive power of praise in music: " The devil is a sad spirit and makes folks sad, hence he cannot bear cheerfulness; and therefore gets as far off from music [praise] as possible, and never stays where men are singing, especially spiritual songs." "The Lord inhabits the praise of His people." (Gregory, 112)
"Christians who face trouble often lose their awareness of the presence of God due to the pain or gloom. Christians who have elation tend to forget God in the joy of their good success. Both darkness and sunshine should lead believers to a consciousness of God." (Lea, p.346)
II. THE SICK RESTORED, 14-16a.
Verse 14 encourages the weary or sick to ask the elders to pray for them. "Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;"
Sickness includes all types of weakness (which the word asthenes from where our word asthenic or weak comes from). This weakness can be physical, mental or spiritual. (1 Cor 8:11, Jn 11:2-3, 4:46, Rom 6:19) and is the most common term for sickness in the N.T. The Greek word implies a weakness which incapacitates (lit. without strength- which can even be moral-Acts 20:35; 1 Cor. 8:11f etc.). The weak person is to take the initiative to call for the elders. The elders were the church leaders who lead by the pastor or overseer had the task of pastoring or providing spiritual leadership. They are the spiritually strong, the spiritually mature, the spiritually victorious.
[The N.T. identifies the office of elder with that of bishop and pastor (Acts 20:17, 28, Titus 1:5,7).] The elders are specifically mentioned because they above all others in the congregation should be men of prayer. Unfortunately this is not always true.
The word church is ekklesia ("called out assembly"), meaning people called out from others to assemble themselves together. The obvious reference is to the local congregation where the sick person belongs and not to some faith healer.
The elders are directed to perform two acts. They are to pray over the sick person and to anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. Some would say praying over indicates the person is so weak they cannot get out of bed, others say this could be a kneeling position. The call seems to be to come to the home or hospital room and therefore bedside would be indicated. The word translated call means summon ( , - toward, - call, call unto, summon hither).
The anointing with oil has received much attention because this is the verse the Roman Catholics use as justification for their sacrament of extreme unction. This is an obvious gross misunderstanding to refer this phrase to a ceremony intended to prepare a sick person for death. The intent is to heal or restore the sick person through the elder's prayers not send on the way to death. (The only small evidence is that this word was used of anointing an already dead body - Mark 16:11).
The anointing with oil seems to be a symbol of the touching of divine grace by the Holy Spirit (like prophets, kings and high priests; e.g.1 Sam. 16: 1-13), though it was also widely used as medicine (Lk. 10:30-37). The oil was not the means of healing, but the symbol of healing. The means of healing is the prayers of the elders. The person is anointed in the name of Lord to assure that all present realize they were there representing God and that He alone heals.
Verse 15 tells of the effect of this action upon the suffering person.
And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, (weary) and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
The results are first specified with the phrase the prayer of faith will save him. The prayer that may result in healing (the Greek word for heal and save; , are the same word) must be rooted with trust in and commitment to God that He can and wants to heal. A prayer of faith is assisted when we find the will of God in a specific situation (1 John 5:14-15). This prayer of faith by the one or ones praying is not implying that if a person has a sufficient degree of faith God will automatically heal or save. Paul was left with his thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7-9). Aphroditus remained ill (Phil. 2:25-30). Paul left Trophinus sick at Miletus (2 Tim 4:20). Faith in God is to be exhibited in all instances of life, no matter the outcome. The question in healing is not God's power but His purpose. [God eventually heals all Christians by bringing them to heaven.]
Two promises are given to those who pray in faith. First the prayer offered in faith brings about the restoration or healing of the sick person. Notice again the emphasis is on the fact that it is the Lord who raises up the sick man. The elders and even the prayer are only instruments the Lord uses. It is always God who heals.
Though the Greek word raise up is also the word for Jesus' resurrection the promise is here a reference to putting the weary person on his feet again with new strength and vitality (Mk. 2:9-12; 1:31; Mt. 9:6).
The second promise is that if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven. The wording indicates that illness in some cases is due to the sins of the sick. Though sickness and sin does not exist in ever occurrence (Jn. 9:2-3), Jesus seems to identify a relationship between sickness and sin also (Mk. 2:5; Jn 5:14). Paul also insisted that sin causes some sickness and even death (I Cor. 11:30). David stated that his physical illness was a result of his sin (Ps. 32). When sickness or weariness is due to sin of the suffer the miraculous cure is a dear indication that the sins of the afflicted person were forgiven. If sin was present the sick person is assured that forgiveness is given. Sins are sent away because God no longer holds them against the sinner. He forgives completely.
The manner as to how to receive healing from sin is clear in verse 16. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
Mutual concern for one another is the way to combat debility and down fall. Mutual interest, a real concern-love for others is powerful before God. Sin is most dangerous to an isolated believer. Sin seeks to remain private and secret, but God wants it exposed and dealt with in the loving fellowship of other believers. Therefore cure and healing is found in people's mutual and honest confession and prayer. The one who hides his sin will not prosper, (Prov. 28:13). The literal translation is "Make it a habit to confess your sins to one another. Do not hide sin or delay confession."
Maintaining open, sharing, and praying relationships with other Christians will help keep believers from bottoming out in their spiritual lives. Such relationships help give the spiritual strength that provides victory over sin. And they also provide godly pressure to confess and forsake sins before they become overwhelming to the point of total spiritual defeat.
Confess means to "say the same thing" to be in agreement with God and call your sin, sin, and become convinced of its seriousness. We must call the act, thought, word, or attitude by its true name and see it for what it is. We must acknowledge and repent or turn from specific sins, not merely offer a general confession of guilt.
The confessing James wrote about is among the saints, not just to a preacher or priest. [In the Kingdom of Christ every believers is a priest (1 Pet. 2:9.] Private sin requires private confessing, public sin or sin among others requires public confession. We confess our sin first to the Lord (1 Jn. 1:9) and then to others who have been effect by it.
This verse is also justifies public invitations and why they are so effective before God in the changing of lives. God honors public acknowledgment by way of granting cleansing and renewal.
This verse concludes by indicating the powerful effect of prayer. The purpose for the mutual prayer that James called for is that believers may be healed. [Iaomai (healed) does not necessarily refer to physical healing] [( µ µ - from energies-at work, in operation, efficient active power). The phrase literally says much (or very) is strong the supplication (petition) of a righteous man working (or operating) or the supplication of a righteous man is very powerful, the one who is working. Translators disagree on whether it is the effect of the prayer of righteous people or that righteousness and its power are necessary requirements for strong supplications. The NIV takes it as the righteous man's prayers and the NASV takes it as the strong or fervent prayer is what is powerful.]
The idea is basically the petitions that come from the righteous have energy. The strength of these supplications comes from obedience or faith being worked out in life.
Prayer is an act of faith, but it is also an act of the will, a will that has been directed by God's Word and energized through the working out of obedience.
Our energized prayers are part of God's healing process. That is why God often waits for confession and prayers of faith before intervening to heal a person. When sin has been correctly acknowledge and dealt with, then God brings healing, both physical and spiritual. Accountable confession to others brings to God's forgiveness, allowing God to make the repentant believer spiritually whole again.
People in our local church are not alone. We should be able to count on each others for support & prayer, especially when sick or suffering. Our elders respond to the call of any member, & our church should be alert for the needs of all its members.
CONCLUSION
The epistle nears conclusion with an appeal to pray in trouble, in cheerfulness, in sickness, at times of disobedience, and in working out God's will. We must bathe each event of life with prayer. No prayer uttered in faith is ever lost or ignored by God. It accomplishes a good and beneficial purpose.
The Christian's most powerful resource is communion with God through prayer. The results are often greater than we thought were possible. Some see prayer as a last resort when all else fails. This approach is backward. Prayer should come first, because God's power is infinitely greater than ours. Do you have the good sense to seek it, especially since God encourages us to do so?
God will answer the prayer of His people in ways that often differ from our expectation (2 Cor. 12:7ff), but the prayers of God's people are never wasted. God hears the prayer of righteous people and those prayers filled with the energizing strength of following His will change lives. God responds to prayer & to passionate prayers to bring strength, encouragement, stamina, healing and forgiveness. Pray in strong faith to God in times of trouble and in times of joy.
PRAYER: Lord, teach me to pray. In season and out of season, in joy or in sorrow, in sickness or in health, for my needs and for the needs of those around me. Teach me to pray. Yes, I want to use my heart & tongue to praise You, to talk to You, to love You, and to intercede for others. Let this not be a matter of pride but a matter of true faith dedicated solely to your will and for Your glory. Amen.
As the Spirit leads, you come & ask for specific prayer & we will pray for you. You come. [pastorfbc@bellsouth,net -Dennis Davidson]
