James 5:13-14

FAITHFUL PRAYER

James 5:13-14

Jas 5:13  Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Jas 5:14  Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.

I feel very inadequate to write on this subject. I have been involved with anointing with oil on someone who was sick. Eventually the person did heal but it was not immediate. There are many factions involved within this. I have highlighted issues that need to be fulfilled in order for God to work through your prayers. I have used the commentary of the Life Application New Testament Commentary for help. The first two are revenge and anger. These emotions can keep the elders from being able to help. read Psalms 50:15 we are to trust God for the correction needed. The second issue is Elders. Do you pick you elders because they are popular or give the most to the church financially? There are guidelines throughout the bible that show how and who should be an elder. NOTE if you do not believe the healing will happen you have become the weak link in the prayer. God has said the faith of a mustard seed could move a mountain. All involved in a healing need the mustard seed.

Life Application New Testament Commentary  5:13 There are many responses to suffering. Some of us worry; some of us vow revenge against those who have caused the suffering; some of us let anger burn inside us. Some grumble. But James says the correct response to suffering is to keep on praying about it (Psa_50:15; Psa_91:15). This is not necessarily a prayer for deliverance from the trouble, but for the patience and strength to endure it.

If we are fortunate enough to be happy, we should thank God by singing praises to the Lord (see also 1Co_14:15; Eph_5:19; Col_3:16). Because our praise is directed to God, singing is actually another form of prayer.

5:14 One characteristic of the early church was its concern over and care for the sick. Here James encourages the sick to call for the elders of the church for counseling and prayer. The elders were spiritually mature people responsible for overseeing local churches (see 1Pe_5:1-4). The elders would pray over the sick person, calling upon the Lord for healing. Then they would anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. As the elders prayed they were to voice clearly that the power for healing resided in the name of Jesus. Anointing was often used by the early church in their prayers for healing. In Scripture, oil was both a medicine (see the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luk_10:30-37) and a symbol of the Spirit of God (as used in anointing kings; see 1Sa_16:1-13). Thus the oil may have been a sign of the power of prayer, and it may have symbolized the setting apart of the sick person for God’s special attention.

1 Peter 5:1-4Living Bible (TLB)

5 And now, a word to you elders of the church. I, too, am an elder; with my own eyes I saw Christ dying on the cross; and I, too, will share his glory and his honor when he returns. Fellow elders, this is my plea to you: ² Feed the flock of God; care for it willingly, not grudgingly; not for what you will get out of it but because you are eager to serve the Lord. ³ Don’t be tyrants, but lead them by your good example, ⁴ and when the Head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honor.