HEALING (James 5:14-16)
Yesterday I said that in this we see evidence of both a wide-angle lens and a zoom lens. We used the wide-angle lens yesterday to look at Elijah as a model for effective praying. This morning we take the zoom lens out of our camera bags and focus on one particular aspect of prayer. Praying for the sick. In the OT God chooses to reveal Himself with a number of names. One of those names is Jehovah Rophe, the Lord who heals. Praise God for that.
- THE SICK PERSON AND HIS REQUEST
“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church.” There are two different Greek words used to describe this sick person. The first one found in vrs 14 is astheneo, and literally means, without strength. The second Greek word which is found in vrs 15 is kamno, which means the weary, worn out one. Weariness of mind often accompanies a lingering illness. The person that James has in mind here is not suffering from a minor ailment such as a headache or an attack of indigestion or a bout of flu or a pulled back muscle. Annoying though these ailments are they do not provide sufficient warrant to call the elders out. The person in our text then is suffering from a prolonged ailment. What is such a person to do? Such a person is encouraged to call the elders of the church. Notice two important things in this regard. Firstly, who is responsible for the calling? The sick person! Secondly, who is the sick person to summons? The elders of their church. There is no warrant in scripture for people running around with bottles of oil in their pockets and anointing all the sick they come across and praying for them. What should the sick person do while they wait for the elders? They should be examining their own souls. In vrs 15 we go on to read, “if he has sinned, he will be forgiven.” Not every sickness is the due to sin in the sufferer’s life (John 9:2, 3). However, some sickness is due to sin (1 Corinthians 11:30). - THE ELDERS AND THEIR MINISTRY
When the elders arrive at the home of the sick person what are they to do? Two things are specified. Firstly, the elders would want to enquire after the sufferer’s spiritual health before they address their physical health. As the sufferer searched his/her heart were they made aware of certain sin? Secondly, the elders are to anoint with oil. What is the significance of the oil? Oil was commonly used as a medicine (Isaiah 1:6). In the parable of the Good Samaritan we are told that the Samaritan bound the wounds of the person who was mugged on his way to Jericho and poured oil and wine on them (Luke 10:34). Part of the elders’ ministry to the sick person then will be to ascertain whether they have sought proper medical care. But oil also has a spiritual significance. The anointing is a spiritual act with a symbolic significance. It is a way of directing everyone’s faith to the power of the Holy Spirit. - THE PRAYER OF FAITH AND ITS OUTCOME
In vrs 15 we go on to read, “and the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.” We find this phrase perplexing because James does not say that the prayer offered in faith may make the sick person well but will do so. Two Christians call for the elders of the church. They are prayed over and anointed with oil. One never recovers but the other is healed. Why? Must we conclude that there was something defective about the praying? Could it be possible that the elders did not pray long enough or loudly enough? Is it possible that they did not muster enough faith in their praying? NO! As believers we have to bow before the sovereign will and purpose of God. In 1 John 5:14 we are clearly taught, “this is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask for 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” (cf Matthew 6:10; Luke 22:42). When the elders arrive at the home of the sick person they will pray acknowledging that God is Jehovah Rophe, the Lord who heals, and they will earnestly ask him to stretch out his powerful arm to heal the sick person. It is however altogether possible that at times the Lord will give a strong sense of assurance that, that which is prayed for will indeed come to pass. JI Packer testifies to praying for a friend who had cancer. He was going in for surgery the next day. He prayed for his friend’s healing and upon going home still in an attitude of prayer was overcome with an overwhelming conviction that the prayer had been heard and that he need not continue. The next day the operation revealed no trace of cancer. This is the prayer of faith. JI Packer only testifies to two such occurrences throughout his ministry. It is comparatively rare. John Piper says
you might find yourself drawn to pray for one person with remarkable, expectant faith and see that person healed, but then pray for others and not experience that same gift. This is what is meant by the prayer of faith.