INTRODUCTION #35
1. Please open your bibles to James 5:15.
2. In a previous lesson, from James 5:14, we discussed three different instructions that James gave to those who were sick and living during the days of miraculous healing of the sick. Those three instructions were first to be applied for the sick in the days of miracles. The same three instructions can be applied to the sick that have been and are living since miracles have stopped.
(1) Instruction #1, If you are sick call for the elders of the church. Today, sick people, can call for the elders and/or other members of the church.
(2) Instruction #2, The sick in the days of miraculous healing were to welcome prayers from the elders of a local congregation and hope for a miraculous healing. Today, the sick are to welcome and want prayers, but they are to understand that even though God will be involved in divine healing, they are not to expect miraculous healing.
(3) Instruction #3, The sick in the days of miraculous healing were to allow the elders to anoint them with oil for the purpose of symbolically showing that the power of God was going to bring about their miraculous healing. Today, the sick would not want to receive any anointing of oil since the N. T. teaches that there is not going to be any miraculous healing take place.
3. Today, the sick should let as many members of the church, as possible, know that they are sick. The sick should encourage all to pray for them. The sick, instead of using any oil in a symbolic way to suggest that God is fixing to perform a miracle, should use as good of doctors, medication and/or therapy as possible to try and get well.
4. Let’s begin a discussion of James 5:15 which refers to “the prayer of faith” that was for the “saving of the sick” and “the raising up of the sick” and “for the being forgiven of their sins”.
5. Let’s read James 5:15, “15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
DISCUSSION
I. FIRST, JAMES 5:15a SAYS, “AND THE PRAYER OF FAITH WILL SAVE THE SICK”.
1. This is a prayer that is offered from a person [in James 5:14&15, specifically prayer offered by an elder] in the first century that had “the miraculous gift of faith” mentioned in 1 Cor. 12:9 and 1 Cor. 13.2. “The prayer of faith” would have been a prayer that would haved “saved the sick” because of the faith of the ones doing the praying.
(1) Turn to 1 Cor. 12:7-11. This passage informs us that one of the nine spiritual gifts identified in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 is “the gift of faith”. Let’s read this passage, “7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:{ Let me make a comment: In the first century different miraculous gifts were given to different members in local congregations for the profit of all or for the profit of the entire congregation. Local congregations had one member with one miraculous gift and then two to eight other members with tow to eight other miraculous gifts. Some members might have more than one spiritual gift. The apostles each had all nine of the spiritual gifts.) 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
1) The apostles received all of these gifts and would transfer the power for others in the congregations to have them by laying their hands on them.
2) Most likely the elders that had been appointed in each local congregation would have been privileged to have had the apostles to lay their hands on the most of them.
3) Brother Guy N. Woods made the following comment in his commentary relating to James 5:15 and the phrase “the prayer of faith”: “It should be observed that James declares that it is the prayer of faith which accomplishes this; not prayer and oil; not prayer and medicinal treatment; not prayer and the laying on of hands. The “prayer of faith” was that prayed by the elders in which, of course, the interested one, who called for the elders, joined”. (p.302).
2. Turn to Matt. 17:14-21. This passage reports that the apostles were not able to heal a sick child with epilepsy and a demon and it was because, even though they had been given miraculous faith, they had not prayed and fasted properly to maintain the faith that they should have had. Let’s read Matt. 17:14-21, “14 And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
(1) The lack of faith, was not on the part of the one that needed the healing, but the lack of faith was on the part of the apostles who were suppose to be able to pray for God to do the healing.
(2) James 5:15 is talking about the same kind of miraculous faith that was for elderships in local congregations back in the days of miracles.
3. This miraculous gift would enable the elders, who obviously possessed that special power, to heal the sick person supernaturally. After “the prayer of faith”, by the power of God; the healing would be done instantly and completely.
4. Turn to Acts 3:14-16. This passage provides an example of the faith of Peter and John making possible the healing power of Jesus for the lame man. Peter begins his remarks to those who were so amazed at the lame man being healed, by rebuking them due to their failure to believe in Jesus, whom they had killed.
(1) Let’s read Acts 3:14-16, “14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His [Jesus’] name, through faith [that is through mine and John’s faith] in His [Jesus’]name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him [Jesus] has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”
(2) Peter announced the real source of the lame man's healing: the Prince of Life whom God had glorified. It was through faith in the name of Christ that the man was made whole. The statement does not identify whose faith was meant, but a brief look at the context of the miracle shows that it was the faith of the apostles, not of the lame man.
(3) Let’s read Acts 3:2-9 and point out what teaches that the lame man did not have any faith in regard to his being healed because he didn’t even know that he was fixing to be healed. “2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms [“alms” would have been some coins or some kind of benevolent gift. The lame man was not asking to be healed.] from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. [Again, he did not ask to be healed. He was not expressing faith toward the possibility of being healed.] 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. [But not expecting to receive any kind of healing.] 6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. [Notice, that up to this point it is Peter and John’s faith that was being expressed.] 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. [The man didn’t prove his faith, but his walking & leaping proved Peter and John’s faith.] 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
(3) The faith was not that of the cripple; for it is clear, from the report in Acts 3, that he had no faith. When Peter said to him, 'Look on us,' the man looked up, expecting to receive alms, not looking and thinking that he was going to be healed.
1) And even when Peter told him, in the name of Jesus, to rise up and walk, he did not attempt to move till Peter 'took him by the right hand, and lifted him up.' He exhibited no faith, either in Jesus, or in Peter's healing power, till after he found himself able to stand and walk.
2) The context teaches that the faith was the faith that the apostles had in Christ. A fact is established in this example that is proven over and over in the New Testament. That fact is that the performing of miracles by the apostles or those they had laid their hands upon and given the power to perform miracles would only be performed if the one who had the miraculous power also had adequate faith.
5. In Matt. 14:28-31 Peter was given the power to walk upon the water; but, when his faith wavered, he began to sink; Jesus said, 'O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?'
6. Also, from the context of Matt. 17:14-21, we read a moment ago, Jesus saying to Nine of the apostles, once, having failed to cast out a demon, asked Jesus, 'Why
could we not cast him out?' He replied, 'Because of your unbelief.'
7. Let’s point out some conclusions, based upon the scriptures [James 5:15, 1 Cor. 12; Matt. 17 & Matt. 14], that can be drawn.
(1) Conclusion # 1, Faith was necessary for the apostles and those they laid their hands upon before they could use the spiritual gifts that had been imparted or given to them. When the apostles or those they had laid hands upon were weak in faith the miracle would not be performed.
(2) Conclusion #2, Those who had never been given a miraculous gift could never work a miracle, even if they had faith that was tremendously and extremely strong!
(3) Conclusion #3, The thinking which has existed in the thinking of many religious people, since the apostles and those they laid their hands upon have died, that if our faith were strong enough, we, too, could work miracles, has no scriptural support.
(4) Conclusion #4, Miracles that we read about in the bible happened instantly and if it related to healing someone there was complete and immediate healing right then and there and even the dead could be raised. Things that people call miracles today have no true comparison to the miracles that we read about in the New Testament.
(5) Conclusion #5, “The prayer of faith that will save the sick” mentioned in James 5:15 is the prayer by elders that lived back in the first century that would save and/or heal the sick, if those elders, along with having the miraculous gift of healing that an apostle imparted upon them, also had adequate faith.
p. s. [You may want to conclude this lesson at this point and let the remainder be a second lesson, otherwise it may take about 60 minutes to deliver all ten pages.]
II. SECOND, JAMES 5:15b TEACHES THAT “THE PRAYER OF FAITH” WOULD HEAL ONE AND ALLOW THEM TO GET OUT OF THEIR SICK BED.
1. Let’s read James 5:15b, “and the Lord will raise him up.”
2. The reason the sick person called for the elders was because they were ill. The “raising up” of this individual would naturally be from his sick-bed—he would be healed.
3. In James 5:15a “the prayer of faith” is said to “save the sick”. The word “save” comes from the same Greek word that is translated “made you well” in Luke 8:48.
(1) Luke 8:48 is in the context of the woman who had had the issue of blood for 12 years. Jesus was traveling to the home of Jarius to heal Jarius’ daughter. The woman expresses her faith in Jesus and reaches and touches the hem of his garment. Jesus stops and ask who touched him.
(2) The apostles ask, “Lord how can you ask who touched you when there are multitudes thronged around you”? Jesus said, “that he perceived power going out of him”.
(3) The woman trembling, falling down before Jesus declared that she had touched Him and that she was healed immediately”.
(4) In Luke 8:48 Jesus said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
(5) In the Greek language the main meaning of the word is to make one well and for that one to longer be sick. Keep in mind it the same Greek word that is translated “save” in James 5:15. The healing that took place for the woman of Luke 8:48 illustrates what James is talking about.
4. James 5:15 is teaching that sick people back in the days of miracles could expect elders who adequately prayed “the prayer of faith” to be able to pray a prayer that would bring about immediate healing and allow them to instantly get out of their sick bed.
5. Since the days of miracles have ceased elders and members of the church are to continue to pray prayers for the sick. Just because miracles have ceased, we should not cease to pray.
(1) We can know that God is involved in healing those who are sick, but He is not promising that the healing is going to be instant and miraculous as it was in the first century.
(2) God does not promise that everyone will be healed.
III. FOR OUR THIRD POINT OF DISCUSSION LET’S SPEND A FEW MOMENTS AND DISCUSS A FEW PASSAGES THAT TEACH WHAT THE REAL PURPOSE OF MIRACLES WAS FOR.
1. Turn to Mark 16:17-20. This passage teaches that one of the purposes for miracles being performed was to confirm that the teaching being done was from God. Let’s read Mark 16:17-20, “17 And these signs will follow those who believe: [Other passages and especially Acts 8:5-25 teach that “those who believe” would refer to the apostles and others that they had laid hands on and had given the miraculous gifts to. “Believe” is used like that it is in many N. T. passages, in a broad and general manner and in reference to have obeyed the commands to believe, repent, confess and be baptized.]
Let’s read on from Luke 16:17b, “In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they [“they” referring to the apostles and those that they had laid their hands upon] went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.”
1) The miracles proved that the apostles and those that they laid their hands upon were true teachers and God approved spokesmen.
2) The teaching of the apostles and the other inspired men of the first century was teaching that was different than what the people had been following back over the past 1500 to 4000 years.
3) O. T. ways of worship and service to God and the use of animal sacrifices was being replaced with teaching that makes up the N. T.
4) As N. T. teaching was proclaimed and written, God made it possible for the apostles and those that they laid hands upon to perform miracles so that the people would know that they were hearing God approved teaching.
2. Turn to John 20:30&31. This passage teaches that miracles were performed to prove that Christ was the Son of God – that he was divine and had all the characteristics of deity.
(1) Let’s read John 20:30&31, “30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
(2) Jesus performed multitudes of miracles and all of them proved Him to who He and all the prophets claimed that He was: the Divine Son of God!
3. Turn to Hebrews 2:1-4. This passage teaches that the word of God “was confirmed” in the first century. In the Mark 16:17 passage we read, “that the Lord was working with them and confirming the word”.
(2) In Hebrews 2:3 we will read that the word “was confirmed”. This let’s us know that we do not still need miracles, nor new and additional teaching. The N. T., which came from those who were inspired writers in the first century, is all we need.
(3) Let’s read Hebrews 2:1-4, “ 1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?”
1) This passage teaches, as Mark 16:17-20 does, that miracles were for the purpose of confirming the word of God.
2) Hebrews 2:1-4 teaches that God’s word was confirmed and that it was confirmed by signs, wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
4. Turn to Jude 3. This passage teaches that God’s word was once and for ever received in the first century.
(1) There is no new revelation coming and there is no new revelation needed. All of what Christians need for instruction and teaching was given in the first century.
(2) Let’s read Jude 3, “3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
(3) Since God’s word was “once for all delivered to the saints” then Christians in each generation should be students of and obedient to the N. T., that dates from the 1st century.
5. Turn to 2 Peter 1:3. This verse teaches that God has given to man all that relates to spiritual life and godly living.
(1) Let’s read 2 Peter 1:3, which teaches that all that we need to be able to please Him was given to man in the 1st century. “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue”.
(2) Since the N. T. contains all that a person needs to obtain and enjoy “spiritual life” and to live a “godly life” then we should understand that the bible is correct when it teaches that miracles and miraculously inspired teaching has ceased. The N. T. is a sufficient guide and message from God.
6. Turn to John 14:25&26. On the night Jesus was taken to be crucified He told the apostles that the Holy Spirit would bring to their remembrance what he had taught and that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth.
(1) Thus we don’t need miracles. Every generation since the first century is to study and obey the same thing taught and practiced in the first century.
(2) Let’s read John 14:25&26, “25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
7. Turn to John 16:12&13. Again, Jesus on the night before he was crucified taught the apostles that they would be guided into all truth.
(1) This passage also teaches that what the Holy Spirit would teach the apostles would not originate with the Holy Spirit, but that the authority in the message would come from God.
(2) Let’s read John 16:12&13, “12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
CONCLUSION
1. From the things that we have studied in this lesson, it very clear, to the serious and honest student of the bible that James 5:15 refers to the period of miraculous gifts in the church and limited to that miraculous period and not to other generations
2. For those who want to insist that what is said in James 5:15 is applicable to every generation since the first century they would have to draw the following conclusion: if the sick called for the elders as James 5:15 teaches, and the elders did their duty, no one in the church would ever die!
(1) However, Hebrew 9:27 emphatically declares, “It is appointed unto men once to die...”
(2) As we seriously pay attention to what we have studied, common sense as well as the bible, teaches that James 5:15 refers to the days of miracles.
3. The things that we have studied also let us know that what the Catholics call Extreme Unction (which is bringing an anointing oil to the sick bed of the ones that they think are about to die) is an erroneous practice.
4. Let’s quickly read and explain the last phrase of James 5:15c. The statement is: “And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
(1) In most of our prayers, we include a petition for forgiveness; this is true of our private and public prayers. Nothing would be more natural than that the elders would include such an entreaty in their prayers.
(2) Implied in this is the repentance and confession of sin on the part of the ailing person.
(3) All the people involved in the passage of James 5:15 are N. T. Christians. The sick person was a Christian and the elders were Christians.
(4) Acts 8:22-24, to whom the second law of pardon applies for one who is already a Christian who needs forgiveness of sins, states: 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” 24 Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.”
5. If for any reason you need to come forward, please come as we stand and sing.
Acknowledgments for a lot of thoughts in the development of all the sermons on the book of James are to go to:
(1) Bob Winton CD Commentary on Matthew 27:50-54. 464 Ridgewood Drive Manchester, Tennessee 37355. If interested in CD covering many O. T. & N.T. books call (866) 753-8456.
(2) Miscellaneous commentaries by numerous others.
