Lesson 12

KEY TEXT

“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”

James 5:16

People are fascinated by the miraculous and the magical. They often are drawn to such things as spectacles or matters of curiosity and nothing more. So, when Jesus was asked to perform a miracle merely for entertainment (Luke 23:8, 9) or as a sign of His Messiahship(Matt. 12:38–41) or even to satisfy a legitimate need of His own (Matt. 4:2–4), He refused. The Spirit, by which Jesus taught authoritatively and effected miraculous healings, is not simply a power to be used; we are to be instruments in His hands. God would gladly heal everyone who is sick, but He is interested in a more substantial, lasting healing.

Thus, in this context, we will look at some crucial questions: How do we understand the words in James about the healing of the sick? Is there a relationship between healing and forgiveness in answer to prayer? Elijah is presented as an important model of prayer in a time of widespread apostasy. What can we learn from his life of prayer and his work of calling Israel back to God and true worship?

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.” (James 5:13)

Mood changes are part of people’s lives. James wanted us to feel God’s presence anytime, no matter our mood.

Are we grief-stricken? Let’s talk to God through prayer. Are we happy? Let’s talk to God through singing.

In addition, hasn’t our sorrow become happiness many times after singing a hymn?

“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 sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” (James 5:14-15)

The elders anoint the sick and pray for him, like the apostles did as Jesus told them to do.

“And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.” (Mark 6:13)

It seems like James introduced a specific case; a Christian who suddenly contracts a serious disease that he wants to put in God’s hands.

“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 sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” (James 5:14-15)

“The Lord will raise him up” may be a double entendre in this text.

Ultimately, God heals the sick (He “raises him up” from his bed), or lets him rest until the day of the resurrection when he will be “raised up”.

Lastly, prayer for healing must always be prayed with the desire of living according to God’s will. Therefore, true repentance and forgiveness of sins must be part of that kind of prayer.

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another,

that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16)

James first wrote about healing for the body. Then he wrote about healing for the soul.

Confessing our trespasses to one another and intercessory prayer will bring both healing for the soul and physical healing.

The prayer of a righteous man is effective, but that’s not because he is perfect. He is righteous because he has asked for forgiveness of his sins. He has confessed his trespasses, so he prays for his brothers too.

“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.

And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth producedits fruit.” (James 5:17-18)

James used the example of a “righteous man” who ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire. That way he reaffirmed how important is to pray for healing.

God heard the prayer of a person like any of us. God worked wonders through him. That is the example of a prayer with power to heal.

According to Malachi 4:5-6, Elijah also represented the precursor of the Messiah (both in His First and in His Second Coming).

We are the people of god. We are called to a work of revival and reformation that will prepare this world for the Second Coming.

“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20)

The end of the epistle of James was written for the Elijah who will rise at the End Time.

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5-6)

This is a calling to restore broken relationships and to lead others back to God.

“Christ is the same compassionate physician now

that He was during His earthly ministry. In Him

there is healing balm for every disease, restoring

power for every infirmity. His disciples in this time

are to pray for the sick as verily as the disciples of

old prayed. And recoveries will follow; for ‘the

prayer of faith shall save the sick.’ We have the Holy

Spirit’s power, the calm assurance of faith, that can

claim God’s promises. The Lord’s promise, ‘They

shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover’

(Mark 16:18), is just as trustworthy now as in the

days of the apostles. It presents the privilege of

God’s children, and our faith should lay hold of all

that it embraces. Christ’s servants are the channel of

His working, and through them He desires to

exercise His healing power. It is our work to present

the sick and suffering to God in the arms of our

faith. We should teach them to believe in the Great

Healer.”

E.G.W. (The Ministry of Healing, cp. 16, pg. 226)

JAMES, THE BROTHER OF JESUS

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