Hello Friends!
Welcome Back! Let’s continue our journey through “The
Book of James: Putting Faith to Work!”
The Book of James: Putting Faith to Work! (Chapter 5:13-20)
This
week we will conclude by reading verses
13-20 in the completion of chapter
5 as we consider Praying in Suffering and for Souls…
In
considering this final passage of our wonderful study in the book of James, we now arrive at one of the most interesting and most encouraging sections of this rich letter.
It is one that has quite frankly been a battleground for interpreters through
the centuries and there are certainly many people today
left in “confusion” as to its
true “meaning” and “application” for our “Christian” lives – TODAY!
This
section of Scripture represents the one passage in which the Roman
Catholic Church wrongly references to support what they refer to as
their sacrament of “Extreme Unction” or “Final
Anointing” administered as one of their “Last Rites”. It
is also a passage that many would-be “faith-healers” and
advocates of the modern-day “healing”
movement wrongly wrangle to propound the notion that “we” have an absolute and all-encompassing promise
from God for guaranteed healing if we will simply “pray” in “faith”
under the proper circumstances. It is also a passage that
is wrongly represented in support of putting “oil”
on “sick” people. James will
address all of these ideas in this final and phenomenal section of his
excellent epistle. It is certainly a curious passage – Creating even more curiosity!
QUIZZING QUESTIONS: Here are some important questions to
ponder prior to our study of this poignant passage studied in its proper and
complete CONTEXT:
What
kind of “suffering” is James
referring to here?
What
kind of “sickness” is James
referring to here?
What
kind of “anointing”
is James referring to here and why is “oil” mentioned?
What
kind of “prayers” do the “elders of the church” have to “offer” and do they
have a special access to God?
What
kind of “healing”
is James referring to here and why is an illustration of “rain” placed in the middle
of this passage?
Will the
“prayer of faith” always
restore the “one” who is “sick” and how will
the “Lord raise him up” as
promised?
How
does “sin” appropriate itself
into these commonly misrepresented passage references?
Great questions! We will address these often challenging
concerns in this final “study”
session – Very thrilling!
Praying in Suffering and for Souls
The
main KEY to proper interpretation
of any Bible passage is always the clear CONTEXT. In other words, each section of
“Scripture” must
be interpreted in the light of the entire book,
it's corresponding chapter, the paragraph before
and the paragraph after. Therefore, CONTEXT is the environment of thought in
which any passage of “scripture”
is contained – We must
study God’s Word in its proper context!
The
main theme in this entire epistle is
a host of various TESTS
through “suffering” of which
is the overarching message for James’ readers. In addition, verses 13 to 18 found in this chapter are all
about one important subject: “prayer.” And sure enough, “prayer” is mentioned in every
verse of this passage! Beloved, when “we” want to “endure”
through “suffering” what can
we DO?
We must “pray“ earnestly. Why? Because “we”
are depending upon “our”
amazing and all-powerful Divine
resource – We go to God!
Therefore,
let’s do that! As we conclude this passage, we will find FOUR resources of “prayer” for the loyal “Christian” who is “suffering” much “grief“ in his spiritual life:
RESOURCE
number ONE: “Prayer” and comfort!
RESOURCE
number TWO: “Prayer” and restoration!
RESOURCE
number THREE: “Prayer” and fellowship!
RESOURCE
number FOUR: “Prayer” and power!
POINTS TO PONDER: James is telling “us” that the heart of
our “endurance” is fervent “prayer” and if we “remember” back in verse 6 of this same chapter, James speaks to
the “rich” oppressors: “You have condemned, you have
murdered the just; he does not resist you." In other
words, this “persecution” of
the “brethren” was very
severe. They were devastated and consumed by spiritual weariness
and weakness. In fact, there were some “unbelieving” worldly “rich” people who were literally killing
these Jewish “believers” without
care. Therefore, many of the “brethren”
were suffering bodily injury and physical wounds
to even the point of death – Serious
suffering for Jesus Christ!
RESOURCE
number ONE: “Prayer” and comfort!
Therefore,
we're not surprised when James opens here by “proclaiming”
to the individual “believers”
at hand:
Is
anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing
psalms – James 5:13
The
word for “suffering”
here is “persecuted” also used
back in verse 10 of which means to suffer
evil treatment. Therefore, James says: "Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray"
as appropriate. How? In a continual
pleading to God! On the other hand, James also
asks: "Is anyone cheerful?"
And he answers: "Let him sing psalms.”
Why? Because “we” must turn to God for “comfort“ with a “cheerful” attitude of spirit
– The other side of suffering for the
Lord!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Consequently as we approach the next
passage, James moves beyond the “one” who is “suffering” to those “among you” who have lost the ability
to “endure” his “suffering” for Jesus Christ. Here we have
the true “believer” of whom is
a wounded warrior, is spiritually “sick” and
completely exhausted in his “walk” with Jesus Christ – The Weary Christian!
RESOURCE
number TWO: “Prayer” and restoration!
James
continues by addressing the plurality of “elders” in the proper Biblical shepherding
of God’s people:
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 – James 5:14
THEOLOGICAL THOUGHTS: There are several Greek terms for “sick” found throughout
the New Testament of which can refer to “illness”
or “disease” but the original
Greek term here is a very important
one. The particular word used here is astheneo and all Greek
lexicons agree that its primary meaning is to be weak,
feeble or impotent in matters of “faith” and life. In fact, throughout the
Apostle Paul’s four prison Epistles
as well as Doctor Luke’s Book of Acts,
the Greek word astheneo is used in most
passages in the CONTEXT of
spiritual “weakness” – A weak and wandering walk of faith!
To
further explore this poignant point, let’s also consider the Apostle Paul’s
infamous “thorn in the flesh”
for a very interesting use of this same Greek word astheneo as he
laments in his second epistle to the “believers”
in Corinth:
And He
said to me, “My grace is sufficient
for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me – 2
Corinthians 12:9
Here
Paul is speaking in the CONTEXT
of his persecutions and difficulties
experienced in his life for “following”
Jesus Christ. And he says in verse 7
that he has a “thorn in the flesh”
of which in verse 8 he “prayed three times” that God would “take” it away, but He never
did! With that said, was Paul’s “thorn in the
flesh” a physical ailment of sorts?
Perhaps. But we are not given any
specifics or details of Paul’s particular plight. However,
we do indeed know for sure that Paul “suffered” very much
in his life for the “sake”
of the Gospel:
Are
they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of
Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in
labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in
deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was
shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in
perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in
perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in
perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in
sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the
churches – 2 Corinthians 11:22-28
Therefore,
God “said” to Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, my power is perfected in
weakness." And then in humble “weakness” of reply Paul says:
Therefore
I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in
distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong – 2
Corinthians 12:10
The
same word Paul used in this passage for his “weaknesses”
is astheneo of which come to the “fallen”
and “sinful” human “flesh” as a result of the difficult “distresses”
of life – Common to us all!
Then
James says “we” should “call for the elders of the church”
and “let them pray over him.”
Why? Because the “elders” are
the spiritual strength and encouragement
that “we” can “call” upon as an example
to follow! In other words, “we”
can go to the spiritually strong and victorious
men who are “patiently enduring”
the many hardships of life – Draw on their strength for battle!
Next
James says the “elders” should
also be “anointing him with
oil in the name of the Lord” as this is consistent with
the caring “Christian” life! How? The Greek word for “anoint” here is aleipho of
which means to vigorously rub or to crush
over the body through massage in an effort to cleanse or sooth
a wound. Incidentally, the word aleipho is never
used anywhere in Scripture to speak of a ceremonial
anointing for either “impartation” or “last rite” purposes. In
fact, that's a completely different Greek word chrio
of which was used for the washing or pouring
of “oil” over someone's head
and feet. There is nothing “mystical” or “magical” spoken
of pertaining to “oil” found anywhere
in the Scriptures. Rather, as compassionate “shepherds”
of God’s flock, James instructs the “elders”
to strengthen and stimulate, to “bind up the broken heart,” to “pray over” and even aleipho
physical “wounds” of the body
if necessary – A true ministry of love and care!
Is
it any wonder than that James continues in this manner concerning “faith” and the power of “prayer” to God?
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 5:15
This
“prayer of faith”
offered by the “elders of
the church” will “save the sick” and the “Lord” will “raise him up” from his spiritual
deadness. Incidentally, this Greek word for "sick" here is komnonta and means to
be weary or burdened in “spirit.” In fact, komnonta
regarding the word “weary” is
used only ONE other place
in the entire New Testament:
For consider Him who has
endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow
weary and lose heart – Hebrews 12:3
The
writer of Hebrews also “admonishes”
us to “consider” Jesus Christ
whom has “endured” much “hostility” by “sinners against Himself” so that we may
not komnonta and “lose heart”
for Him! Similarly, James is referring to those “believers”
who in the midst of great “persecution”
are foolishly “fixing their eyes”
on their TROUBLE rather
than on their SAVIOR and ”Author and Perfecter of our faith” and
thus are not able to humbly “endure” their spiritual battles.
Rather, we are to “look” upon
Jesus Christ as He “endured the cross”
and “despised the shame”
considering Him always in our lives – That's what komnonta has to say!
Notice
what James also says: “And
if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” What does this mean? This CONTEXT of wording “save the sick” proves for certain
that James is not referring to “sickness” of disease
but one of “spiritual” forgiveness
through Jesus Christ. In other words, James is stating that if our “weariness” and spiritual defeat
is a direct result of an un-confessed and habitual
issue of “sin” residing in our
lives, God will “restore” us
to a right “relationship” with
Him if we “pray” to Him for
His “forgiveness!” Brethren,
it is within a “loving”
environment of fervent “prayer”
and “repentance” in “confessing” your “sins” to God
that you will not “grow weary”
or be komnonta and – He will forgive
you!
RESOURCE
number THREE: “Prayer” and fellowship!
James
continues adding to our “prayer”
resources by addressing “one
another” within the entire
congregation:
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
Up
to this point, James has said if you're spiritually weak
get alongside someone spiritually strong and let him “pray” for you. And if your “heart” is sincere in that you want God to
“raise” and restore
you, He will do it! And since the
“prayers of a righteous man”
can “avail”
greatly in your life, James now says you are to “confess your trespasses to one another”
and to “pray for one another”
to God. Why? So that you may be “healed” of
your “sins” against God. How? Because the “effective” and energetic “fervent prayer”
of the “righteous man”
pleases the Lord! Therefore, true POWER
is found in “prayers” that are
according to God’s “will” and
Word – Sharing in the needs of others!
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: The CONTEXT of verses
14-16 clearly comprise a poignant passage about “healing” our spiritual weakness,
weariness, exhaustion and depression
of which calls for spiritual means of address. Therefore,
there's NO compelling reason to hold to the premise that
James has now inserted an unconditional promise for physical
“healing” here in this
passage. Why? Because the
passages before and after these verses would NEVER
cause one to expect that to be the case, not to mention the entire
book of James itself! And as we will also find, the final two verses of this chapter shouldn't cause
us to expect that either. However, a beautiful passage on how
to help other “brethren” who
are spiritually troubled makes perfect
sense! With that as a background of “understanding”
we now clearly see that the CONTEXT
of this passage is regarding “persecution”
that is focused on “prayer”
and is NOT a PROMISE for physical “healing” of the “believers” body simply because we claim
it – HOWEVER…
POIGNANT POINT: Is God ABLE to physically “heal” people TODAY as HE “wills”
in accordance with His Sovereign
“plan” for humanity? ABSOLUTELY! In fact, He is God and “does
whatever He pleases”
– Whenever
He pleases!
But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases – Psalm
115:3
And
“we” as “believers” certainly have the wonderful privilege
to “pray” for each other in
the perfect “will”
of God. However, physical bodily “healing” is clearly not the main
point James is making here in this excellent passage – The CONTEXT is very important!
RESOURCE
number FOUR: “Prayer” and power!
And
to wrap up this little series of powerful points on “prayer,” James gives us an illustration
from the life of Elijah
from the Old Testament:
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 produced its fruit – James 5:17-18
Most
of the Jews within the “assembly”
considered “Elijah”
to be the most romantic and adventurous of the Old Testament Prophets and
everyone was very familiar with him. And “Elijah” was certainly not
a “sinless” super-saint to be
sure, but he was full of passions and possessed a “nature like ours” because he was human
just like “we” are today.
Therefore, James says this godly man “prayed earnestly” in regards to “rain” matters. This is an amazing Greek
phrase of which means “prayed with prayer“ and is a compound way
to say “Elijah”
had really prayed! Many professing “believers” will “pray” but they don't really
“pray” to God in this
manner. Rather, they “sinfully“
speak to God as if He was simply a buddy or a divine
waiter on stand-by just waiting to receive His orders. Or as if He
was a divine secretary dictating the diabolical and “evil” desires of their “sinful” and fallen “hearts” – Wicked!
James
says this godly man’s prayers were so powerful that it “would not rain” and did not do so
for “three years and six
months” by God’s Sovereign
design. Then “Elijah”
had “prayed again’
and the sky “gave rain”
and the earth “produced its fruit”
as it should! The only thing we know about this “prayer”
is what James tells us here. And the only thing we know about the draught is
what James tells us here. This “Elijah”
was a man like we are: strong at some points and weak
at other points. So, James said “look at him”
as an example when he “prayed”
in power and look what God did in
response! Therefore, “Elijah”
really “prayed with prayer“ and we can read all about his
spectacular life in the Old Testament book of 1
Kings 17 – Elijah really
prayed!
This
is an interesting illustration of the power
of God here concerning the powerful
purpose of “prayer” shared by
James! Again, if James had been referring to physical healing
all along, he could have used a myriad of other illustrations on the topic.
Therefore, this illustration says: God sent the “rain”
in response to the powerful godly “prayers” of this “righteous” man “Elijah” according to God’s “will” in the matter. Likewise, in response
to the powerful and “righteous
prayers” of men TODAY,
God will send the restoring spiritual “fruit” of Holy Spirit filled “joy”
and “patience” to the parched,
weary, exhausted, weak
and struggling true “believer”
who so desperately “needs” a
refreshing touch from heaven – A magnificent
ministry!
Saving a Soul!
These
final
two verses are a very fitting conclusion
to this wonderful “epistle” as
they express the main objective of James' entire letter – Salvation:
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
As
we have discussed, the term “sinner”
is always used in the “Scriptures”
to refer to those feeble folks who are outside the spiritual
“Kingdom of God.” And James’
entire “letter” is intended to
convert the lost “sinner”
from the error of his way and to “save” his “soul”
from spiritual “death”
through God’s “forgiveness” of
“sin.” Its evangelistic
emphasis is primarily directed at a professing
person within the “assembly”
who outwardly names the “Name”
of Jesus Christ but inwardly is “dead” in spirit. Therefore, James informs
the “brethren” to be aware
of the unregenerate person “among you” who “wanders from the truth” due to an errant
theology and the “error
of his way” lived out through an – Errant life style!
In
fact, the Apostle Paul further warns of “such people” within the “assembly” of God:
For men
will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers,
without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but
denying its power. And from such people turn away! – 2 Timothy 3:2-5
These
“lost” people within the “church” have a false faith
holding to a “form of godliness”
but “denies” the “power” of “God”
through the “Holy Spirit” – Just as the Apostle Paul warns Timothy!
Similarly,
the Apostle John's first epistle was
also “written” to confront
the “assembly” of professing
“Christians” to “examine” their profession
to “be sure” it is a real
“faith” in Jesus Christ rather
than a dead “faith”
producing nothing for God:
And
this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in
His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the
Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe
in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,
and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God – 1 John 5:11-13
In
other words, James, John and Paul want to be “certain“
that no one is “deceived”
about their “salvation” claim.
In fact, The “Lord” Jesus
Himself first prompted this emphatic thought on His Sermon on the Mount when He somberly
said:
Not
everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but
he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many
will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name,
cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I
will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness! – Matthew
7:21-23
With
that very eternally frightening statement, our “Lord” introduced the “truth” that there will
be “many” people who will name
His “Name” and even “preach” His “Gospel” message. In fact, they will also do “many wonders”
in His name – But will not be genuine
Christians!
And
now as James closes chapter 5, he has
one more “salvation” appeal
for his “hearers” to heed. But
this time he's not “preaching”
directly to the unsaved as he did
back in chapter 4. Here he is
directing the “Brethren”
to personally pursue the “lost”
souls “among”
themselves. Notice also that James is not
referring primarily to the “elders”
here. Rather, this is a fervent “call”
of responsibility for ALL
true “believers” within the “assembly” to the “ministry” of “evangelism” towards the lost “souls” found “among you” from within the
church – A very important
point of distinction!
REAL REFLECTIONS: Do you know any people like that “among you”
in your “church”
family? Do you know people
“among you”
who used to “talk”
about honoring “Jesus Christ”
and are now “living” an overt
“sinful” life? Do you know people “among you” who used
to “say” they belonged
to the Lord Jesus but now deny the “faith” and have joined a cult
or another religious system? These are the very people “among you”
of whom James is concerned of here as he closes his “letter” to the Jewish “brethren” within the “assembly.” Sadly, such people “among you”
will have indeed FAILED
these TESTS in their ENTIRERTY of which are outlined
throughout James’ excellent epistle and “we”
indeed must help to “turn”
them from their “sins” as the
Lord leads – They have turned their back on
Jesus Christ!
Therefore,
“we” ought to “consider” anyone who used
to be a part of the “church”
naming the “Name” of Jesus
Christ and “reach out” to
those people. Why? Because the
threat of eternal judgment for those “among you” is much greater
than the “someone” who has never
professed Jesus Christ:
How much severer punishment do
you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has
regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and
has insulted the Spirit of grace? – Hebrews 10:29
And on
some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling
them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh – Jude 22-23
Beloved,
our “Gospel” efforts should
definitely include the people “among” us who profess
to “know” Jesus Christ but of
whom do not truly “know”
Him as “Lord” and “Savior” – What
an incredible opportunity!
In closing:
We
all communicate using CONTEXT! For example, if I simply said to you:
"It
moved up and then down…"
With
this limited statement, you don’t have any idea what I'm
talking about here. I might be talking about my temperature,
my weight, a roller coaster, an airplane
flight or perhaps even a car ride – You need full and proper CONTEXT!
Beloved,
that's a very simple and silly way to describe how every conversation
with any meaning surely must have a CONTEXT for proper “understanding” of what is being
communicated. And reading God’s “Word”
is definitely NO EXCEPTION! In fact, every passage
of “Scripture” has a “truth” of which makes plain sense
when properly considered and “interpreted” in its full CONTEXT as we “study” God’s eternal Word – Praise the Lord!
And
as someone has once said:
“If the plain sense makes good sense
seek no other sense!”
The
Apostle Paul perhaps said it best concerning the handling
God’s eternal “word of truth”:
Be
diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth – 2 Timothy 2:15
Therefore,
if we want to properly “understand”
and “obey” God and His Word – CONTEXT is the KEY!
Thank you for taking this
wonderful journey with us! We hope
you have been blessed by God’s Word through this exciting study of “The
Book of James: Putting Faith to Work!”
Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah
and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com
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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"Lighthouse Publications <><
