As James concludes his letter, he encourages believers with the exhortation, “Be prayerful!” James uses the word “prayer” or “pray” seven times in these final verses. And as he speaks about the need to be prayerful, James mentions four things about which we should pray.
1. Pray for the hurting - v. 13
The word James uses here that is translated “trouble,” means “suffering in difficult circumstances.” As God’s people go through life, they can encounter difficulty that is not of their own making. One should pray for those who are enduring such difficulty so that either it may be removed or so that the person might grow in Christ through it as he endures it by the grace of God. We are reminded of how Paul said we are to respond to the hurts and happiness of one another.
“If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.” - 1 Corinthians 12:26 (The Message)
A story is told about a soldier in a communist country who was wounded in battle and ordered to report to the nearest hospital. When he arrived at the hospital entrance, he saw two doors. One was marked, “For Minor Wounds” and the other was marked, “For Serious Wounds.” he entered the first door and walked down a long hallway. At the end of the hall, he saw two more doors. The first said, “For Officers” and the other said, “For Enlisted Men.” The soldier walked through the second door. Again, he found himself walking down a long hallway. Again he discovered two more doors at the end of the hall. One door said, “For Party Members” while the others said, “For Non-Party Members.” the wounded soldiers took the second door and found himself back out on the street. When he got back to his unit, his buddies asked, “How did your trip to the hospital go?” He replied, “To tell you the truth, the people really didn’t help me much, but man, are they well organized!”
Evangelist Leonard Ravenhill said “the church today needs fewer organizers and more agonizers” - those who will agonize in prayer for those who are in agony. We need to pray for the hurting.
2. Pray for the sick - vs. 14-16a
There are three types of sickness mentioned in the Bible:
A. Sickness unto chastisement.
“That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.” - 1 Corinthians 11:30 (NLT)
B. Sickness unto death.
C. Sickness unto God’s glory.
1) Sometimes God is glorified through the person’s healing -
“As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been blind since birth. Jesus’ disciples asked, ‘Teacher, why was this man born blind? Was it because he or his parents sinned?’ ‘No, it wasn’t!’ Jesus answered. ‘But because of his blindness, you will see God work a miracle for him.’” - John 9:1-3 (CEV)
2) Sometimes God is glorified through the person’s perseverance -
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
James mentions two circumstances to pray for each other’s healing.
A. Prayer for the severely ill - vs. 14-15
This refers to a person who is severely ill, as indicated by the fact that if they are healed, “the Lord will raise him up.” This why the church leaders to them. James raises the possibility sin is a contributing factor and gives assurance that if confession is made, sin will be forgiven.
1) What does “anointing with oil” refer to?
Oil had a medicinal purpose. Greek scholar A.T. Robertson said oil was “one of the best remedial agencies known to the ancients.” The Expositors Bible Commentary says “oil was the most common medicine in biblical times.” Josephus records “during Herod’s last illness, he was given a bath in oil in hopes of effecting a cure.”
We can see this use of oil in the parable of the good Samaritan.
“He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.” - Luke 10:34 (NIV)
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary says “There are a number of reasons for understanding this application of oil as medicinal rather than sacramental. The word aleipsantes (“anoint”) is not the usual word for ritualistic anointing. James could have used the verb chrio if that had been what he had in mind.”
There is a ceremonial use for anointing oil, but that doesn’t seem to be in view here. The point here is, we are to take advantage of every
healing process available, but we mustn’t forget the value of prayer and the seriousness of sin.
2) What does “praying in faith” refer to?
We are to pray knowing the will of God.
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.” - 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)
With respect to sickness, I believe one should pray in keeping with God’s revelation regarding the different types of sickness mentioned in the Bible as directed by the Spirit. This is how I prayed for my dad.
Steps to follow in praying for the sick:
Step One: Pray as directed by the Holy Spirit.
“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.” - Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)
Step Two: Pray for God to be glorified.
“Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” - 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT)
Step Three: Pray for them to be healed.
If God makes it clear to the sick person that their illness has to do with sin in their life, encourage them to confess it so they might be healed. Continue to pray for healing until God makes it clear that isn’t His will.
Step Four: Pray for them to persevere.
Ask God to give them grace that is sufficient. Continue to pray for this until it is clear that God is taking them home.
Step Five: Pray for them to be ready to meet the Lord.
B. Prayer for the routinely ill - v. 16a
James again emphasizes the possibility that sin can be at the root of illnesses, especially sins that affect our relationship with each other.
There is no greater cause of illness than stress; and there can be no greater cause of stress than relationships that are not right.
3. Pray for the nation - vs. 16b-18
Elijah was a righteous man. The incident referred to is found in 1 Kings 18:19-45. Ahab and Jezebel had turned Israel to Baal worship. God punished them by withholding rain for 3 1/2 years. Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal. The people declared, “The Lord - He is God!” This was a fulfillment of 2 Chronicles 7:13-14:
“When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” - 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NIV)
Note how in this instance of healing, confession of sin is also involved!
God’s order is: revival among believers; leads to awakening among unbelievers; which leads to reformation of society. We’ve tried too long to reform society; let us begin with confession of sin.
4. Pray for the straying - vs. 19-20
Prayer is implied here as James encourages us to seek to restore those believers wander from the truth. James is echoing the words of John:
“If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life - to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.” - 1 John 5:16-17 (ESV)
Believers can rebel and as a result, lose their life as God determines they are no longer of use to His kingdom. John says not to pray about that. In other words, it’s not our place to decide when God is through with one of His children. We are to always pray for their restoration.
During the Apollo missions to the moon, they would get off course more than 90% of the time. But through continual communication with Mission Control, they were able to make the necessary corrections to get back on course.
“Intercession is praying prayers that others would pray if they had enough sense to pray them.” - Adrian Rogers
Conclusion: What sin do you need to confess today? Do you need to pray for someone who is hurting? Sick? Lost? Straying?
