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How prayer and divine healing are connected

Prayer and divine healing

James–Part 27

There is a lot of confusion about the relationship between prayer and healing. The Bible teaches us that all illnesses are a result of sin, but some sicknesses are purposeful. Sometimes the purpose is discipline (1 Corinthians 11:27-32), and sometimes the purpose is to reveal God’s glory (John 9:1–3; 11:4). There is nothing terribly complicated about this, but Christians have developed very opposing attitudes about healing:

  • Some cite Jesus’s words (“ask and you shall receive”) and conclude prayer obligates God to give us what we want.

  • Others are convinced that divine healing was operational only during apostolic times and is no longer happening.

  • And some of us can’t find support in the Bible for either of these positions. We recognize two facts: fact #1 is God still heals people today, but fact #2 is that not everyone gets healed.

James helps us sort through the confusion, and he says the key lies in our relationships:

Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will make the sick well, and the Lord will raise them up. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
James 5:14–16a

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Christianity’s best kept secret

Power of prayer

James–Part 26

Prayer is a mystery to most people, and many Christians are not satisfied with their prayer life. And because we do not understand the purpose and power of prayer, we often neglect it. Pastor James helps relieve our confusion. He teaches us when to pray and how to pray effectively.

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will make the sick well, and the Lord will raise them up. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.
James 5:13-15

James mentions three occasions that especially call for prayer. He first asks, “Are any among you suffering?” The Greek word translated “suffering” is cacopathia, “to be in distress or under great pressure.” The word is used in verse 10 to describe the hardships of the prophets. Their writings reveal that much of their suffering derived from spiritual and emotional anguish. When you are hurting spiritually or emotionally, how do you tend to respond? Many of us become angry or fearful, but James says the appropriate response is to pray. We can pray for deliverance, and we can pray to the strength to persevere, but most of all we are to pray for the wisdom that will enable us to see our troubles from the right perspective and celebrate them (James 1:2–5).

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Verbal integrity

Verbal integrity: Words have power

James–Part 25

The 2016 Oxford Dictionary word of the year is “post-truth,” an expression that was frequently heard during 2016 election season. Post-truth basically means, “belonging to a time in which the truth has become unimportant or irrelevant.” Do we live in a post-truth world? Yes. But is this something new? No. The truth has been irrelevant to our world for a long, long time. Power and profit are what the world deems important, and if the truth must be sacrificed to get ahead, so be it.

James wrestled with a similar mindset in his day. People sought influence, and oaths were often used to persuade others of a person’s sincerity. The ultimate oath was to God, and the Lord was clear about the gravity of breaking such a vow: “You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:12). Violating this law was equivalent to breaking the Third Commandment. Since the penalty was death, it is understandable that people were not quick to make a vow to God. And when they did swear an oath, they made sure they fulfilled it.

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Patience: how to develop it

How to develop patience

James–Part 24

The dictionary defines patience as “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.” Many of us have learned the value of patience the hard way: by living without it. James uses three examples to explain why we need patience and how to develop it.

Last week we looked at the primary reason we need patience–because much in life happens unexpectedly and is beyond our control. That much we all know. What most of us don’t know is how to build patience into our everyday life. James does not provide us with a step-by-step plan, but his comments about farmers, prophets, and Job give us some clues:

Be patient, brothers and sisters, as you await the coming of the Lord. Consider the farmer who waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the autumn and the spring rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be judged. Behold–the Judge is standing at the door! As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
James 5:7-11

James uses three examples–farmers, prophets, and an ancient patriarch–to teach us about patience. What can I do to build this quality into my life?

  • Like the farmer, I can look to the future expectantly.

  • Like the prophets, I can wait quietly.

  • Like Job, I can live faithfully.