Scripture Lesson: James 5:15: "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."

        INTRODUCTION: James carefully links the anointing of the sick with oil and the "prayer of faith" which

        It was as natural for first century Christians to turn to their brethren as, in our day, it is to call a doctor. While an "anointing with oil" was an aid to the faith of all involved, the vital human factor in restoration was "the prayer of faith". It should be profitable for us to understand just what James meant by this expression: "the prayer of faith".

        Some insist that there are no miracles today only because the majority of God's people have not faith! They believe that if we only had enough faith, then miraculous healings would be common in 20th century churches. If this is true we are in a very shameful condition; if not, we need to understand WHY this assurance of James, to his dispersed brethren, is not valid for 20th century churches.

        James wrote to a people in the apostolic age - while the majority of the 12 were still living and exercising their particular ministry-gifts. The ministry of Jesus Christ had been attested, or accredited, by the miracles and signs that He wrought in the name and power of God. He had also conferred upon His apostles the authority to work miracles in His Name.

        The book of Acts reveals just how potent these miracles were in proving that Jesus was still alive and working through His people, and that the Gospel they proclaimed, of His death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and second coming to establish on earth a Kingdom of righteousness, was divine truth! The miracles manifested through the early church were "signs" of God's authorization of its message and ministry.

        Miracles of healing were an integral part of the function of New Testament churches in the first century. All the followers of Jesus Christ were young in the faith and constantly confronted by: ridicule, hostility and persecution. "As a seal of their own faith, as well as upon their witness to others, miracles were wrought among them and through them." However, as times passed and the church became more mature in the faith, the special gifts were manifested more rarely and the healing of people outside the church ceased. After the completion of the New Testament, the validity of the Christian message might be verified by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever, and by which all must be judged in the last day.

        During this period of transition, the gifts were no longer being bestowed by the apostles. Those previously bestowed were still operative, but the bestowal of gifts upon others ceased.

        Though there is from time to time a resurgence of the concept that Christians ought to "get back to the first principles of New Testament times", a renewed emphasis on miracles has never convinced those familiar with God's order for the church that the Spirit of God was operating through such activity as He did in the apostolic age.

        This does NOT mean that there is no such thing as Divine Healing in our day. God is the ultimate Healer of all! The Great Physician still lays His hands on whom He will, and says, "Arise!" - sometimes adding: "Thy faith hath made thee whole". Such healings are according to the exercise of His own free grace, and according to His own sovereign will. It is never because He has been constrained, or obligated to do so by human instrumentality!

        There is no satisfactory evidence that, if the instruction James gave to his dispersed brethren in the first century were followed today, then healing would inevitably follow. To put it bluntly, there is no compelling reason to believe that "anointing with oil" and "the prayer of faith" will, today, guarantee that raising up of the sick!

        Then, just what do the words of James mean? Is this a promise that, if the sick person has enough faith, healing will come? Or, is the healing dependent on the ability of the elders to express "the prayer of faith". The miracles of Christ seem to imply the former; while the words of James suggest the latter.

        In either case, if the healings were due to faith - on the part of either - this would remove the act of healing out of the realm of divine grace and into the realm of human faith: just have enough faith, and healing is guaranteed!

        The Scriptures clearly disprove such an implication! They nowhere indicate that God's gifts are dependent on a specific measure of quality of faith in the recipient, (comp. Matt. 17:20). Some translations minimize our Lord's rebuke of His disciples by rendering this: "because of your little faith"; but this is not necessarily justified by the text.

        On this occasion Jesus' own disciples came in the range of His rebuke to "a faithless and perverse generation". It is NOT "little faith", but lack of faith that Jesus deplored. This is attested by the fact that He proceeded to say that faith "as a grain of mustard seed" would remove mountains!

        Our Lord always tried to strengthen and deepen faith, and rejoiced when a Roman centurian manifested such faith as He had not seen in Israel. However, He never said, or even implied, that faith must reach a particular standard before it would be honored. He did insist on a faith that was true, sincere and unwavering; yet He never rebuffed the most trembling faith, but encouraged it! And it is contrary to the teaching and spirit of the New Testament to suggest that faith must be keyed up to a particular pitch before God will respond to it.

        Surely Paul, who wrought many miracles of healing, "prayed in faith" when he asked the Lord to remove his "thorn in his flesh". But, the Lord did NOT remove it! Who would suggest that it was because he did not have enough faith? Or that is was not intense enough to be "the prayer of faith"?

        God's reply to the apostle was: "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness!" (II Cor. 12:9).

        Did Paul resent the fact that God did not heal him? On the contrary, he wrote: "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong!"

        Furthermore, Paul who had healed many people of various diseases, did not anoint Timothy with oil, or lay his hands on this beloved son and faithful colleague - praying "the prayer of faith" over his constantly recurring infirmities. Rather, he advised him to "take a little wine" for his stomach's sake, (I Tim. 5:23). And, in II Timothy 4:20, he wrote of having left Trophimas at Miletum sick! Not raised and restored to health!

        Can James mean to say that, in every case of sickness, where "the prayer of faith" is prayed, the prayers of the elders will produce effects which did not always attend the prayers of this beloved apostle?

        Just what did James mean, then, by the expression: "the prayer of faith"?

1. It is NOT a demanding from God whatever it is that we want! Some folk seem to think they must simply make up their minds what they want and then hammer away at the gates of heaven long enough and loudly enough that God will grant it! That is not only presumption; it's a travesty of genuine, Christian faith!
2. In fact, faith is a joyful yielding of all to the revealed will of God; a child-like trust in the Heavenly Father's wisdom and goodness.
1. Our Lord's life on earth was one of supreme expression and exemplification of such a faith. It is epitomized in these words, taken from the Psalmist; "Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God!"
2. The faith exemplified in Him found its highest and ultimate expression in His struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane: "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not my will but thine be done."

        That was the supreme "prayer of faith". He did not demand what He wanted, but submitted everything to His Father's perfect will.
        A faith that is real does not loudly demand what it wants, but bows in reference and awe in the presence of the Almighty - seeking His mind, His will and His purpose. He who desires the best for each of His children is pleased and highly honored when, with confident hearts, we simply commit the objects of our heart's desire into His hands - for the disposal of His perfect and gracious will!

        I have not the slightest doubt that it is proper for a Christian, when sick, to use whatever medical means is available - prayerfully trusting the Lord to bless that to his recovery - if it be God's will. Even in cases where diseases are declared "incurable" by medical means, "the prayer of faith" will commend the afflicted on unto God's will - confident that He will do what is right and best. He may be trusted with ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!

        What application, then, do these words have for us today? I will let Herbert Stevenson speak.

        "While medicine will do marvels - as we call modern miracles of healing - the underlying principles remain in all their abiding validity. In every case the sick believer, in bonds of spiritual fellowship with other members of the church, through its appointed representatives … would do well to seek the mind and will of God, prepared to receive from his hand whatever that will might appoint. If it is healing, then it is still true that "the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up."

        "The days of Miracles have not ended: through medical means and by direct divine intervention they are wrought continually. But we cannot command them, by faith or otherwise. The mystery of pain and suffering, of sustained disability and incurable disease, and the problem of the will of God concerning them, are to0 vast for our solving. To many sufferers the Lord's reply is still the same as he gave to Paul: "My grace is sufficient for thee". And those who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true".



JAMES 5:16-18 - "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed."

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much", (Gen. 8:23-32; John 9:31; Ps. 34:15; 66:18; 145:19; Prov. 15-29; 28:9; Is. 1:15-20).

Who was Elijah?

        The character of Elijah was a powerful influence among the Jews of the first century. According to Malachi 4:5, it was expected that he would re-appear to usher in the coming of Messiah. Thus, many thought of him when they heard of John the Baptist, (Matt. 11:14; 17:13; comp. Luke 1;17).

        When the influence of Jesus later overshadowed that of John, He was associated in the popular mind, with Elijah the prophet, (Mark 6:15; 8:28). On the Mount of Transfiguration, Elijah, along with Moses, was seen by the disciples - conversing with their glorified Lord concerning His coming suffering and death, (Matt. 17:1-3; Mark 9:4).

        When, from the cross, Jesus cried: "Eloi, Eloi", many of those standing by thought He was calling for the help of Elijah, (Mark 15:34).

        Yet, James declares that "Elias was a man subject to like passion [nature] as we are".

Why do you suppose he would tell us that?

        Following his glorious triumph over the priests of Baal, Elijah was overcome by a mood of depression that totally overwhelmed him, (I Kings 19:4). He was aroused from his despondency only by a sharp rebuke from the Lord, (I Kings 19:9, 15).

        Then James tells us that Elijah, a man just like ourselves, "prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit", (vs. 17-18).

        The book of First Kings simply relates that Elijah announced the forth-coming drought, (17:1-2). Later, when told of the appearance of a small cloud "about the size of a man's hand" he announced that the end of the drought was at hand, (I Kings 18).

        That the rain was first withheld, and later sent forth, at the desire of Elijah is confirmed by the words of out Divine and omniscient Lord Jesus Christ, (Luke 4:25).