Hello Friends!
Welcome back to the conclusion of our multi-part
Monday morning Daily Devotions summer series titled “The Book of James: Putting Faith to Work!”
The Book of James: Putting Faith to Work!
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 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 cite 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 used 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 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 theme for James’ readers. In addition, verses 13 to 18 found in this chapter are all
about one 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 on “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. 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. They were
devastated and consumed by weariness and weakness
– Serious suffering for Jesus Christ!
RESOURCE number ONE: “Prayer”
and comfort!
Therefore,
we're not surprised when James opens here by saying to the individual “believers”:
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" in a continual
pleading to God. On the other hand, James also asks "Is anyone cheerful?" And he answers:
"Let him sing psalms" by
turning 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” 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 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 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
and 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!
Let’s
consider the Apostle Paul’s famous “thorn in the
flesh” for a very interesting use of this same Greek word astheneo
as he describes 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 God never did! 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 know that Paul “suffered”
much in his life for the “sake”
of the Gospel. Therefore, God said to Paul: "My
grace is sufficient for you, my power is perfected in weakness."
Then in verse 10 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.
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 un-confessed and habitual
“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 will indeed 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 a 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. And as we
will also find, the final two verses of this chapter shouldn't cause
us to expect it 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 – 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 “will” of God. However, physical
bodily “healing” is clearly not
the 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 another Old
Testament illustration from the life of Elijah:
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. “Elijah”
was not a perfect super-saint to be sure! But he was a man with passions and a
“nature like ours” because he was human
just like us. 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 for His orders. Or as if He was a divine
secretary dictating their 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 design. Then he “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. The only thing we know about the draught is what
James tells us here. And “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 here, 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:
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 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 even
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 to 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” for ALL
true “believers” within the “assembly” to the “ministry”
of “evangelism” towards the lost “souls” found “among you” from within
the church – An 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, these people “among you” will have
indeed FAILED all of these TESTS outlined throughout James’
excellent epistle and we 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 “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
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
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 driving up hill – 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 full 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!
The
Apostle Paul perhaps said it best concerning the handling God’s “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
And
as someone has once said:
“If the plain sense makes good sense seek no
other sense!”
Therefore,
if we want to properly “understand”
and “obey” God and His Word – CONTEXT is 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!”
Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s continued study of The
Book of James: Putting Faith to Work!…
May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect
love, mercy and grace!
Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah
and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!
Blessings!
Shane <><
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