LIGHT OF FAITH FOR HEALING (2)

“And the PRAYER of FAITH will save the SICK, and the Lord will raise him up...” – James 5:15a

Prayer is a divinely-ordained medium for partaking in the LIGHT of FAITH for HEALING: “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. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be HEALED” (Jam.5:14-16). The Lord Who forgives sins also heals sicknesses.

Let’s brief look at the larger context of this epistle. James was writing to an assembly of Jews who were scattered abroad (Jam.1:1). These Believers had been scattered out of Jerusalem by the persecutions of Acts 7 and 8, and were in a situation of tremendous stress; they were under trials and persecution. James encouraged them to endure it all without wavering, being unstable, or doubting, to look pass the pain and the persecution to the glory, to look for the crown of life. This is how he began to conclude his epistle to the troubled Christians: “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful” (v.11). He was calling them again to be faithful in persecution; telling them to hang on during trials.

James mentioned Prayer in every verse from 13 to 18. The heart of Christian Life, the heart of endurance is Prayer. When things are not going well, we lean on the Divine. We go to God in Prayer! It’s so simple and so direct. James touched on four features of a Believer’s prayer: (a) Prayer brings Comfort (v.13); (b) Prayer brings Healing (v.14); (c) Prayer enhances Fellowship (v.16); (d) Prayer sustains Power (v.17). We can cast all our anxiety on the Lord, pray for and obtain His Comfort, because He cares for us (1Pet.5:7). Whether we’re emotionally weak, spiritually sick, or diagnosed with a condition, if we cannot pray effectively, we can find else – a spiritually strong person – to pray.

James assured that Prayer offered in faith by the strong in faith, will restore and revive the sick and weak: “The Lord will raise them up”! However, rather than lean on irregular prayers, we are encouraged to sustain healthy fellowship with brethren and mutual prayer relationships with other believers: “Confess your trespasses to one another, and PRAY for one another, that you may be HEALED” (v.16a). As a man, Elijah was hungry, afraid, and tired from battle (1Kgs.17:11; 19:3). He was strong at points and weak at points; but he prayed earnestly and prevailed! We too can pray in faith, and God will send rains of Restored Health and Refreshing to dry, exhausted, parched, and weary souls!