Introduction
In his profound book on the importance of prayer in the life of a congregation, John Onwuchekwa shares this quote - which is attributed to several different people including Martin Luther:
To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.
Martin Luther (Founder of the German Reformation); R. Scott Pace; David Wheeler
Prayer is a vital tool in the lives of believers, and yet so often it is a tool that is under utilized, if it’s utilized at all.
Last week, we began considering the conclusion to James’ letter to exiles as he urged honest communication. Today, we get to the second of his three final instructions on the topic of prayer. Open your Bibles to James 5. We are considering verses 13-18 today.
Prayer is something that is mentioned some seven (or 8 times - including fervently in vs. 17) times in these 6 verses - James uses three different words for prayer. If you’d like to mark something in your bible to note the difference, feel free. I have added markings to the slide in the following way:
p??se???µa? (proseuchomai) (four times) - pray (underline) - this is the most common word for prayer in the NT.
e???/e???µa? (euche/euchomai) (twice)- (ehCHE) vow - prayer offered on behalf of another (elders for sick - prayer of faith, one another) - rare use of the word - euche is only used 2 other times in NT for a vow; euchomai is used more times - a prayer (5), would (1), wish (1) [brackets]
d??s?? (deisis) (once) - supplication (noun, singular) {braces}
James 5:13–18 (ESV)
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 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. And the [prayer] of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and [pray] for one another, that you may be healed. The {prayer} of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
If we could consolidate all that James say here into one sentence, it might be:
Theme: Individual, pastoral, and community prayer is an effective and important, God-given instrument for every aspect of the believer’s life.
Now, in this passage, James does not provide an exhaustive exposition on prayer, but he makes some very strong points about when we should pray, with whom we should pray, and why we should pray. But it is important to realize that prayer is not just some aimless communication into the sky. It’s not a ritualistic endeavor designed to garner favor. Prayer is our lifeline to God. Prayer is our means of communication with the Spirit of God. Prayer is the resource that Jesus instructed us to use. Because of that, in all of our communication with God, we have an underlying premise:
Prayer and praise presume Providence
In other words - when we pray and when we offer praise, we do so because we know there is a Sovereign God who rules and reigns over all things. He is the one who can change the circumstances of our lives and is the reason for us to experience joy or happiness. Because of that, we get to pray bold prayers, desperate prayers, hope-filled prayers, confessional prayers. What’s more, we get to pray at a variety of times, with a variety of people, for a variety of reasons. James here limits his instruction to three categories and then provides a fourth example.
James begins by telling us that we should…
Pray Individually (13)
James 5:13 ESV
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.
So James here provides two instructions for two specific circumstances - suffering should prompt prayer, cheerfulness or happiness of heart should prompt praise.
Suffering prompts prayer
While there are seasons when we will face suffering together as a congregation or a group - often this suffering will be more individualistic. Much like the Apostle Paul’s thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7) or the various trials and tests that James alluded to in chapter 1 (James 1:2-4), it seems like God allows suffering in our lives individually for specific reasons. For Paul, his thorn was the keep him from being conceited. God had blessed him with so much knowledge and insight that it would have been easy, even tempting, for him to make it about himself and not about Christ. The thorn in his flesh (whatever that was) was a reminder that God is God and Paul is not.
2 Corinthians 12:7–10 ESV
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
In this case, God did not bring Paul relief, because the suffering served a greater purpose.
What form does suffering take in our lives?
physical ailments
financial difficulties
vocational conflicts
nagging disagreements with friends
family strife
We could go on and on. The point being that suffering, in whatever form it takes should prompt us to pray. Sure, we can pray for relief, but we can also pray for boldness and strength to endure.
When the early church began to suffer through persecution they prayed for boldness. John and Peter had been arrested and then released. They thanked God for challenges and then concluded their prayer with this profound request.
Acts 4:29–30 ESV
And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
But life does not always bring challenges. Sometimes our hearts are marked with joy and happiness.
Cheerfulness prompts praise
When we feel encouraged or joyful or generally happy, we can and should praise God for that. It’s not a lucky time that we’re experiencing, it’s a grace from God.
There is so much that should prompt our praise - the world in which we live, the air we breathe, the salvation we receive. Cheerful circumstances should inform our times of praise.
So, James begins by urging us to pray (and praise) individually. Secondly, he urges us to…
Pray Pastorally (14-15)
Now, this is not to say that we should all try to sound like pastors or elders, as if there is a certain way that pastors and elders pray, but rather should reach out for help from elders in certain circumstances.
James 5:14–15 ESV
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. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
So, let’s make a couple of brief observations about this - when does this happen, what should be done, how should this be done and what is the result:
When: in sickness
Several commentators suggested that this is not for a passing illness like a cold - but something severe - maybe a terminal illness, cancer, or some other long term sickness. The point being that this person is weak and likely desperate - maybe even out of options. Maybe this person is confined to home or to a bed.
What: call the elders
The sick person is instructed here to call or summon the elders - the spiritual leaders in the congregation. These are people who have some responsibility for the spiritual health and of the individual. In our context - that would be any or all of our elders - Armal, Bryan, Carl, Vern, me.
How: anointing and prayer of faith
The elders are then instructed to go to that person and pray (prosechomai) over that individual. This doesn’t have to be with laying on hands, but can simply be a prayer. They are also instructed to anoint this individual with oil (likely olive oil). In the NT, olive oil was used as a salve or a healing agent. Douglas Moo notes that, “As the elders pray, they are to anoint the sick person in order to symbolize that that person is being set apart for God’s special attention and care.”
He goes on to say that, “the fact that anointing a sick person is mentioned only here in the NT epistles, and that many healings were accomplished without anointing, shows that the practice is not a necessary accompaniment to the prayer for healing.”
The point here is prayer. In fact their act of prayer and anointing are then sort of summarized as the “prayer (euche) of faith.” As I mentioned earlier, this word is used only 2 other times in the NT and both of those are translated as “vow.” I wonder, and this just my own speculation on the implication of why James would use this word here, if this “prayer of faith” is a sort of fulfillment of a vow. On the part of the sick individual - seeking help from the spiritual leaders. On the part of the elders, providing that help as people who are called to care for/shepherd the flock of God (1 Peter 5). In Acts 6, when the church appointed deacons, they did so in order that the leaders - in that case specifically the twelve disciples or apostles - could devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. So this prayer of faith, this vow of faith, is part of the work to which these leaders have committed themselves.
So, the sick person calls the elders who come and pray a prayer of faith.
Result: saving and raising and forgiving
In the next sentence, James makes some bold statements.
the sick will be saved and raised
sins will be forgiven.
Is it a promise that healing will happen if all of the steps are followed? Not necessarily. God doesn’t work like that. The word translated “save” often deals with salvation in a spiritual sense. It seems then like a non-sequitir or that one thing doesn’t follow the other. Sickness - call for prayer - salvation - raising - where is the healing in this? And what is the relationship between sins and sickness?
There was a belief in the ancient world that some sickness is a result of sin. That is sometimes that case to be sure, but not always. Where sickness is the cause - confession is needed. Where sickness is simply a reality of life, the prayer becomes a submission to God’s will and a hope or longing for healing. Moyter notes in his commentary that healing may actually be a lesser benefit of answered prayer. God may have something greater to accomplish in the lives of his people (p. 200).
God may bring healing through this.
God may bring more through this.
God will bring salvation to the one who comes in faith.
So we are urged to pray individually and at times have the elders pray over us. Thirdly, we are instructed to…
Pray Communally (16a)
James 5:16 (ESV)
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
Because sin can be such a sticky element in the lives of God’s people, it is something that we’re encouraged to deal with together. The challenge is that it’s not something we want to deal with together, it’s rather something we want to address alone.
Why confess sin to one another?
There are certainly times when we offend and sin against each other. In those times, we need to confess sin to each other in order to restore fellowship and unity.
There are other times when our confession is not an offense against a brother or sister, but an offense against God - in reality all sin is that. Confession then becomes a means of us seeking help from a brother or sister in dealing with that sin. James’ encouragement here is that it’s worth it - because the follow up to that confession is prayer for one another.
Since we are a covenant community, we are not alone in this journey. While we each have to respond to the gospel, we are saved into a family, we are baptized into a body - the church. Together we get to help each other put off works of the flesh and put on characteristics of righteousness.
After urging the people of Colossae to put off the old self and it’s practices, Paul writes…
Colossians 3:12–14 ESV
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
So, as we spend time in Community Groups, reading and discussing the word, let’s make time to be praying for one another so that spiritual healing can happen, physical healing can happen, communal healing can happen.
As you know, we’re in the process of updating our church directory. In fact I’ll have a copy in the back if you want to look at what Reneta has ready - we can make any changes (add pictures, birth dates, anniversaries, etc.). When the directories are finally ready, let me encourage you to pray for a page each day or a family each day. Even consider reaching out ahead of time and asking - I’m going to pray for you on this day - how can I pray for you.
No matter when, why, or with whom we pray, James seems to urge us to finally…
Pray fervently (16b-18)
James concludes with this admonition:
James 5:16 (ESV)
The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Throughout this process, prayer has been the key. Prayer has been mentioned in every verse - sometimes multiple times. There is not a formula that we need to follow - but rather an act of faith - a dependence on the one to whom we are asking.
Prayer is something that is available for all of us. It’s not reserved for the super spiritual or even superheroes. While he may be considered by some to be a spiritual giant, James uses the testimony of Elijah as an example of a regular human being who prayed fervently and God acted mightily.
James 5:17–18 ESV
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
Elijah was called to a special work. We read about that earlier from 1 Kings 17-18. As a prophet, he was called to preach to the people of Israel and her Kings in order to bring them back to righteousness. He was called to be God’s instrument through profound means - but he was a person just like us. James’ encouragement here is that prayer does powerful things in and through the lives of the righteous person.
How is someone righteous?
made righteous by coming to faith in Jesus Christ
becoming righteous by progressive sanctification - becoming more holy/righteous, by the power of the Spirit, by conviction that comes through the word, by being in community with others who can spur you on
How does prayer work so powerfully?
through faith in the One who does mighty deeds - who works wonders! - It’s not about our effort, though we should be serious about it. It’s not about our purity - though we should strive for holiness. It’s about the One to Whom we pray - His power, His will, His plan, Him.
Closing Thoughts
Beloved, let’s be people of prayer - individually and together.
Let’s pray fervently and watch God work wonderfully.
Benediction
1 Corinthians 15:58 CSB
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Questions For Reflection and Discussion:
?Read: James 5:13-18.
When does James call us to pray?
Are those the only times that we should pray?
What are the promises of prayer?
How does this challenge to pray relate to the rest of the book and to our call to be a covenant community or a family (brothers and sisters)?
What is the purpose of the example of Elijah? Does that give you hope or discouragement?
Sources:
Mangum, Douglas, ed. Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament. Lexham Context Commentary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020.
Moo, Douglas J. The Letter of James. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2000.
Moyter, J.A. The Message of James. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grover, IL; Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1985.
Nystrom, David P. The NIV Application Commentary: James. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1997.
Onwuchekwa, John. Prayer: How Praying Together Shapes the Church. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018.
