James 5:13-18 (Verse-by-verse)

Pastor Ray Bollas

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James 5:13–18

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Passage: James 5:13-20

Title: The Test of Prayerfulness

Summary: We close this wonderful book with the “Test of Prayerfulness”. Prayer is our power source. The disciples came to Jesus and said teach us to pray. I find that so interesting that they didn’t say master teach us how to preach, teach us how to perform miracles, teach us how to walk on water, but they asked, teach us to pray. They knew the power in it, for they observed by personal observation that Jesus power came through His prayer time with the Father. They saw it in His preaching, evangelism, miracles, loving on the kids to the compassion on a sick woman. They could see that all those things tied back to His prayer and commune with the Father. That all success and fruit flowed from His prayer life. And now we get practical guidance and application for our prayer lives as we close this wonderful epistle out.

James 5:13–20 (NKJV) 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 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. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. 19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 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.

Prayer

The Word of God is Living and Powerful, and is ready, and will do a mighty work in our lives.

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In Every Study

· Who Is God? (How Great is He?)

· What Does He Think of Me? (How Wonderful Are His Thoughts Towards Me?)

· What Does He Want Me to Do?

· What Can I Boldly Request of Him?

· What Do I Need to Be on Guard of When I Leave Here Today?

Boldly come to the throne of grace, ask God to reveal Himself in a mighty way to you, and to do I might work in you, and through you.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need

Written by James / Didn’t believe – to Leader / Hindsight / Everyday Living

The Book of James was written by none other than Jesus’ brother James. James was a leader in the church, a pillar in the church (Acts 21). James didn't believe that Jesus was God when He walked this earth (John 7:5); but after the resurrection Jesus appears to him (1 Cor 15:4-7), and everything changed. James is going to write us this letter, he will talk about everyday practical stuff. He will talk about trials in life, our works, our tongue, prayer, and other things; as he writes these things, no doubt he will be remembering how Jesus handled them, reflecting back on watching situations, and watching his oldest brother. He will reflect on Jesus’ life of love, and a life of sinlessness, in a world that can be so hateful at times, and so full of sin. James will write these things based on hindsight, based on first hand witnessing of how his older brother lived life, everyday. James watched Jesus handle everyday life, and that is what this book is about; it is about living everyday life as a Follower of God, in a fallen world.

Jesus Rubbed Off / Nature Illustrations / Favorite Teacher - Sermon on Mount

We can see how much Jesus rubbed off on James, for James style resembles his brother so much. Like Jesus used nature as illustrations for His teaching points, so does James some 30 times. He uses nature analogies such as the sea, flowers, sun, fire, horses and ships to name a few). It is obvious who James favorite teacher was, because this epistle covers every topic that Jesus covered in the Sermon on the Mount. There is amazing parallelisms between the two; James does not actually quote the Lord’s words, but he obviously had internalized Jesus’ teachings and reproduced them with spiritual depth. Jesus covered about 30 topics in the Sermon on the Mount, and we will see that James touches on every one of them in this epistle. The Book of James is Sermon on the Mount 2. The Book is also very quick and concise, moving from thought-to-thought quickly. So the Book of James is the New Testament Version of the Old Testament Proverbs. It resembles Proverbs because it is very poetic the way it flows its thoughts using illustrations and analogies.

So We can Examine Self / How am I Doing

Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount so that we might examine ourselves and ask the question, “so how am I doing in each of these areas?” James writes to the church, to us, and as we read, we have to ask ourselves, “so how am I doing in these areas?” This book is practical and applicable for us living in the year 2022, and the ultimate goal of this epistle is giving to us in verse 4 of chapter 1, to bring us into maturity, perfect and lacking nothing.

As in school, we take tests to see how much of a handle and mastery we have on a subject, we will do the same in this book.

3 Key Verses

Here are three key verses to get us going:

James 2:20 (NKJV) 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

James 1:22 (NKJV) 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 1:4–5 (NKJV) 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

The Outline of the Book of James:

Chapter 1

Introduction (1:1)

The Test of Perseverance and Suffering (1:2-12)

The Test of Blame in Temptation (1:12-18)

The Test of Response to the Word (1:19-27)

Chapter 2

The Test of Partiality (2:1-9)

The Test of the Law (2:10-13)

The Test of Faith and Works (2:14-26)

Chapter 3

The Test of the Tongue (3:1-12)

The Test of Wisdom Applied (3:13-18)

Chapter 4

The Test of the World’s Influence (4:1-12)

The Test of Dependence (4:13-5:6)

Chapter 5

The Test of Endurance (5:7-12)

The Test of Prayerfulness (5:13-20)

Intensely Practical / In Your Face / Hebrews / Earthly Scene /Promised Blessing

This book is an intensely practical book that packs a powerful punch. James is the kinda book that is in your face, and get it right. In Hebrews we explored the heavenly scene, now James we explore the earthly scene. It was wonderful spending a few months in the heavenlies, I could have stayed in Hebrews for another year, but the fact is until heaven, we are living here (so the blessings of verse-by-verse studying). Studying this book will have a great effect on you, This book is that practical, God even promises us that as we saw last study:

(James 1:25 NKJV) But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

Test of Prayer / Power Source / Disciples Ask Teach us to Pray

We close this wonderful book with the “Test of Prayerfulness”. Prayer is our power source. The disciples came to Jesus and said teach us to pray. I find that so interesting that they didn’t say master teach us how to preach, teach us how to perform miracles, teach us how to walk on water, but they asked teach us to pray. They knew the power in it, for they observed by personal observation that Jesus power came through His prayer time with the Father. They saw it in His preaching, evangelism, miracles, loving on the kids to the compassion on a sick woman. They could see that all those things tied back to His prayer and commune with the Father. That all success and fruit flowed from His prayer life. And now we get practical guidance and application for our prayer lives as we close this wonderful epistle out.

(Luke 11:1 KJV) And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

We said this epistle is about “Real Faith that shows up in Real life”, and prayer is becomes that ultimate place of faith…… do I trust You enough to come to You and ask. Do I believe in prayer enough that I will dedicate and commit to it, that I believe (by faith), that prayer matters. I believe we end here in our study of this epistle, in prayer, because it truly is the avenue and means that all other places of faith will either be solidified or not. Prayer is where Jesus solidified, entrenched, did not faint and we too have the same opportunity for this “POWER”. We are called to have the mind of Christ, and we will obtain for the majority, through intimacy of prayer. As Jesus would know and learn the will of the Father through prayer, so we shall know and learn the mind of God (Father – Son – Holy Spirit) and receive faith and power for what is before us as we walk in the world.

Luke 18:1 (NKJV) 1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

Philippians 2:5 (NKJV) 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

Outline

Outline: The Test of Prayerfulness (5:13-20)

· The Prayers for the Mind – (5:13)

· The Prayers for the Body – (5:14-15)

· The Prayers for the Soul – (5:16)

· The Prayers of the Righteous – (5:16-20)

The Prayers for the Mind – (5:13)

(James 5:13 NKJV) Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.

Sermon on Mount Cross-Reference:

(Matthew 6:6 NKJV) "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

(Matthew 6:7 NKJV) "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

(Matthew 6:8 NKJV) "Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

Sermon on Mount Cross-Reference:

(Matthew 6:17 NKJV) "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

(Matthew 6:18 NKJV) "so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Emotional Troubles

Verse 13 - Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Suffering - other translations say afflicted or tormented. It is speaking of emotion troubles, not physical ailments (that’s next verse). Is there something troubling your emotions, then pray! Go to the Lord first:

(Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV) 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

Go to the Lord First

Don't turn on the television, or go to the bar, but pray. Also, don't go tell everyone; don't email everyone on your distribution list; those things are fine; don't do them until after you pray. We have a tendency to pray after we have done all the other things.

Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus declares Himself gentle and lowly, absolute invitation to “come”., He offers us rest! And the only requirement we need to fulfill as those who are heavy laden….. is to “come”. If you want your prayer life to ignite, remember the nature of Jesus, gentle and lowly, who says…..come. If you want your prayer life to fizzle, forget his nature, that He is gentle and lowly, for His invitation because He cares for you, and think He is distant, unconcerned, or worse that you are in this alone because of your personal failings, and your prayer life will be faithless and empty, and you will continue to live in lacking peace and joy in your life and those personal situations.

Matthew 11:28–30 (NKJV)28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

God Who Sees Me – Me Who Sees God

I am reminded of the story in genesis 16 where Abraham is being mistreated afflicted suffering greatly and she goes on the run fleeing. And the Lord appears before her engages her in conversation and Christian what is conversation between the Lord it's simply prayer what is prayer its conversation with the Lord too often we make it more complicated than that in prayer is conversation between two people who love each other the Lord and you. God hears her heart she pours her heart out before him God speaks a word of strength of comfort of assurance a word of compassion a word of understanding she shares her heart and he understands her heart he meets her in her heart's pain. And this place becomes known as “the well of the living one who sees me”, as verse 13 gives us a name and attribute of our heavenly father our God and that is the God who sees (El-Roi). but it doesn't end there and so often we just say (El Roi) the God who sees but Hagar will go over and say something mighty that all of us should lean into and say what is it and that is that she says and I also seen him who sees me. Beloved not only does He see you in your pain and affliction, but …….. He shows Himself in such a way that we “see Him”. I also find it significant that is a well, for wells tap into an underground unseen source, many into underground rivers, or caverns, and I think of the invitation form the Lord today to come all who are thirty and drink from the well of life, and that He is the Living water, and He promises rivers of living water. Yes, even when we are hurting and suffering and afflicted.

Genesis 16:1–12 (NKJV) 1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. 3 Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. 4 So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The Lordjudge between you and me.” 6 So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence. 7 Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.” 9 The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.” 10 Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” 11 And the Angel of the Lord said to her: “Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the Lord has heard your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

Genesis 16:13–14 (NKJV) 13 Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” 14 Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

John 7:37–38 (NKJV) 37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

Only God can Straighten Out / Always Point People to Jesus

God is the only one that can straighten it out, go to Him first. Here is an important ministry key, always point people to the Lord. Never try to be their sole place of comfort, let’s face it we can't stand seeing our loved ones suffer, and we want to fix it, and get them out of their pain. Again that is fine, but only as an extension of God's love and comfort. This is important for you parents, start early and start young, bringing your kids to Jesus for their comfort. Teach them to come to Jesus, teach them to seek their Heavenly Father in times of needs, so that when they grow and mature it will be a way of life for them. That is hard for a parent because a parent wants to be wanted and needed.

We are so Complicated / God not a Force – Shepherd – Father – Groom - Savior

Here is what I have come to realize after years of ministry, human beings are so complicated, who can understand them. How can I fully understand someone when emotions come into play. I even don’t understand myself a lot of times, but God always does, and He will speak to me, and minister to me. Emotions sometimes affects our health, or sometimes health effects our emotions, or the weather, lighting in a room, we are so complicated, so dynamic, that I cannot understand all that is going on, all the questions, but I do understand the answer - Jesus Christ. He is not a cosmic-force, He is the Shepherd, a Father, the Groom, He is the living Savior and He calls us who are afflicted into fellowship with Him. It is by His power we are or will be comforted, delivered, and given peace. Call unto Me and I will show you great and mighty things which you do not know.

Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV) 3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

Philippians 4:6–7 (NKJV) 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Verse 13 - Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.

Is there? Let him pray – I think right now would be a good time, for if not now, when? I think the best prayers are the now prayers.

· Lord I am suffering, I am suffering from __________, I pray Lord, for I know You see me, please minister to me right now like You did Hagar.

Sing Psalms / Valleys and Mountains

Verse 13 - Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Are things going well for you, then sing unto the Lord, give Him praise. When you are in the valley seek God, when you are on the mountain sing to God. In either case God has allowed the situation for you. Why did James put this here? Because when we are afflicted in the valley we pray with fervency for the Lord's presence, but on the mountaintop we so easy forget Him.

Worship is Prayer

Do you realize that worship is also prayer? If you haven't realized this, or haven't tried this, then take your praise and make it a prayer form your heart. Think of a worship song, then think of it as a prayer unto God:

More Love: More love, more power, more of you in my life, and I will sing your praise, with all of my heart Simple Song of Love: My heart is glad, that you call me your own, there is no place I’d rather be, than in your arms of love, holding me close, holding me near, in your arms of love. Your Love oh Lord: And I will lift my voice, to worship you my king, and I will find my strength, In the shadow of your wings

Worship vs Song

Please let me make a clarity that robs worship, and that is who the “audience is”. God is the audience of worship, not man. Absolutely fine listening to songs on radio and podcast, that minister to your soul…. Absolutely. But when it comes to worship, man, congregation, are not the audience…. God is. Worship is to go before Him, because He is worthy.

4 Areas of Prayer – Worship Too

Prayer falls into one of these four areas, and all worship songs will too (See Study – Acts the Prayer):

· Acknowledgment - Acknowledging Him for all that He is, Creator, Savior, all-powerful, all loving.

· Confession - confessing all things that beak and disrupt our commune and fellowship with him

· Thanksgiving - thanking Him for all that He has done for us, from salvation to daily provisions.

· Supplication - Coming to Him as our Father, seeking Him to supply all our needs and the needs of others.

Matthew 6:7–15 (NKJV) 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Your Worship Will never be the Same

Pray you worship, in good times and hard times, all the time, and your worship will never ever be the same.

The Prayers for the Body – (5:14-15)

(James 5:14 NKJV) 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 5:15 NKJV) 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.

v.14 - Is anyone among you sick? Sick - astheneo, as-then-eh'-o; to be feeble (in any sense):--be diseased, impotent folk (man), (be) sick, (be, be made) weak. This sickness means to be laid down and unable to get up.

We see this word used in the following Scriptures;

Lazarus

(John 11:1 NKJV) Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

Sick man at pool of Bethesda,

(John 5:5 NKJV) Now a certain man was there who had an infirmitythirty-eight years.

(John 5:6 NKJV) When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"

Dorcas (Tabitha) in Acts that peter came to:

(Acts 9:36 NKJV) At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.

(Acts 9:37 NKJV) But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

Person Without Strength / Request Elders / Humble Thyself – Lay down Pride

This is a situation where the body is without the strength or response to move on its own. These people are to request the elders (plural) and the elders are to come to them. Notice it is the responsibility of those who are sick to call upon the elders, not the elders to call upon them. People say I was sick and nobody came to visit me, possibly nobody knew. But what the Lord is saying here is that the sick person is to call for prayer, because asking for prayer is a very humbling thing, it is a place of I can do nothing in and of myself, I need help:

(James 4:10 NKJV) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

A person who won't call for prayer, isn't humble, but proud

(James 4:6 NKJV) But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

Elders Plural

V.14 - Let him call for the elders of the church -Notice that it is elders plural. It is plural so that if God should heal, no one person can take the credit. God is protecting the elder from their flesh and ego. God is so wise.

Oil Symbolic of Holy Spirit

Verse 14 - anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: They are to anoint the sick person with oil. Oil in the Scriptures is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, God Himself coming upon the person. In Mark 6 we saw the disciples anointed with oil before they were sent out for ministry, it was symbolic of being empowered by God for the work of the ministry. In Luke 10 we see oil was used medicinally to heal the sick. In both cases it represents God moving and working in the person's life. God empowering, or God healing, for He is a God that is personally and intimately involved in every persons life whether they are doing miracles in His name, or need a miracle in His name.

The woman with the issue of blood for 12 years, if I can only touch the hem of His garment. There was no power in the hem of the garment, the power was in Him, but to the woman the hem of the garment was symbolic of Him. So too the oil. It is just symbolic.

(James 5:15 NKJV) 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.

Sick – Everyday / Repercussion of Sin

Verse 15 - And the prayer of faith will save the sick - This word for sick is different from the one in verse 14, it is your everyday illness. kamno, kam'-no; appar. a prim. verb; prop. to toil, i.e. (by impl.) to tire (fig. faint, sicken):--faint, sicken, be wearied.

Verse 15 - And the prayer of faith will save the sick – In a moment we will talk more about the prayer of faith when we talk about the prayers of the righteous.

Why Doesn’t God Heal All The Time

The question has to be asked, why doesn't God heal all the time, and for that I do not know the answer, other than His ways are above my ways.

(Romans 11:33 NKJV) Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

(Romans 11:34 NKJV) "For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?"

Don’t Rely on Miracles / Finite Mind / Forget God / Word Endures Forever

One thing I have recognized over the years of walking with the Father is that he doesn't want people relying on the miracles, but His Word. Line by line, here a little, there a little, and it will change us. The miracles may change the circumstance, but it the Word that changes our lives. My finite mind cannot comprehend a miracle, but my mind can comprehend His Word, and it is through His word that I come to know Him, and be transformed into His image. I've watched people get miraculously healed, and then walk away from the Lord. I watched people cling to God during the hard times, eventually have victory over that disease, to get healed through modern medicine, only to walk away from the Lord. Miracles wear off, but His Word endures forever

(1 Peter 1:25 NKJV) But the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

Pray Believing / Remember the Ultimate Healing

There is no reason not to pray believing God will close the heavens up, or open them up. But if God chooses not to heal, never forget His ultimate healing, the wiping away of sin and eternal death from you through the cross. If you ever doubt God's love, then look to the cross.

(Romans 5:8 NKJV) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

So we enter into the place of the position that is said, “then everyone should be healed”, and if they are not, then it was because of their lack of faith, or unrepentant sin.

And… if we are a person of faith, then we should be healed. Does everybody get healed? Should everybody be healed. Well let’s just look at Paul for that answer, who said he fasted and prayed for healed (that was for a period over 12 years). God dd not heal him, yet we know the story…. My strength (dunamis – power) is made perfect in weakness!

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 (NKJV) 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 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. 10 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.

Did you catch that, for it is the only place I have found in all the scriptures, “perfect power”. Wow perfect power found in ….. unhealed. Could you handle perfect power?

The root of this word perfect (teleioo), can be found in Gospel of John in the form (teleo), when He said “It is Finished”, in Jesus saying work is done, in perfection.

John 19:30 (NKJV) 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

So if God doesn’t heal you, and you can receive that “by faith”, as Job said though you slay me yet will I trust Him, could He trust you with this “perfect power”.

Job 13:15 (NKJV) 15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. ……..

Can God trust trust you with this power this perfect power yes He can because when you come to this point you came to the point that you said that your will be done not my will and this just doesn’t apply to physical but all the way back up the first 13 the emotional, the afflicted those in tribulation because you come to the place that you believe Jeremiah 29 thoughts of peace, a great future and hope

Matthew 6:9–13 (NKJV)9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Jeremiah 29:11–13 (NKJV) 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jesus sweat drops of blood, but his healing came through resurrection power, because he yielded to the will of the father.

Luke 22:44 (NKJV) 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Verse 15 - And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. - the idea here is if that the sickness could be a repercussion of a sinful lifestyle. STD, Drugs, Alcohol. But the God of grace says He will forgive their sins. We can all find ourselves saying, my illness is because of my sin, and I am reaping what I have sown, and thus no need to ask for healing. God in His great grace, still says bring it to me. Forgiveness before The Holy God will always trump anything else on this earth.

We are told in 1 Corinthians 11 that some people were sick, even unto death, because of sin. But still yet God will and wills to forgive our sin when we confess.

1 Corinthians 11:27–32 (NKJV) 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Job wasn’t in sin yet he suffered greatly.

Wrong to Put Trip on People / We Live in a Fallen World

Now all sickness is not the result of sin. We live in a fallen world and it is wrong to put that trip on someone with cancer, leukemia, blindness, etc, that they are sick because there is an unrepentant sin in their life. People thought this in Jesus day, but Jesus set them straight in John 9:

(John 9:1 NKJV) Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.

(John 9:2 NKJV) And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

(John 9:3 NKJV) Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

Because sin came into the world with Adam and Eve, we are all subject to it's effects. It has been said that “Time is the rate of decay, and the clock started ticking in the garden”. We live in a world that has rejected Christ as Supreme Ruler, and this world will continue to pass away until Jesus comes back to establish His Kingdom forever. Beloved, if you have an illness such as cancer, blindness, etc, don’t beat yourself up and think it is something you have done, or that God doesn’t love you, rather know that we live in a fallen world and are subject to the circumstances of living in a fallen world. (Also, if life just seems to be a constant trial or suffering, don’t think it is because God is mad at you and punishing you, just know you live in a fallen world.).

The Prayers for the Soul – (5:16)

(James 5:16 NKJV) 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.

Not Telling Everyone Our Sin / Accountability

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another – Now I do not see this verse meaning that we are to go tell everyone in the congregation our sins. What I believe we have here is accountability. I read this more as share your faults one to one. Sharing with everyone, leads to too much gossip. We saw in chapter 3 that people this letter was written to had to be rebuked for their tongue, so be careful who you share your secrets with.

I believe this passage is regarding choking your prayer requests out because of unforgiveness, in that we have offended our brother/sister and not made reconciliation with them. We read of this calling in the Sermon on the Mount, and in Peter’s epistle husbands are giving command that rough treatment of their wives will hinder their prayers before God.

Matthew 5:21–26 (NKJV) 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

1 Peter 3:7 (NKJV) 7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

The Prayers of the Righteous – (5:16-20)

(James 5:16 NKJV) ………………….. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

(James 5:17 NKJV) 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.

(James 5:18 NKJV) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

I like the NIV translation better:

(James 5:16 NIV) ……………………..The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Count Me Out / Righteous in Christ

Right away we can say this counts me out, I can't measure up to this, the fervent prayers of a "righteous man" avails much. I'm not very righteous; I've blown it too many times. Remember as we have studied we are no more righteous today, then the day we first got saved. We may be more spiritually mature, but not more righteous. Do you believe that your sins separated you from God, and that Jesus took your place of guilt and shame, the punishment that was due you, have you professed Him as Lord and Savior and repented (turned) from a life of habitual sin? If so then you are righteous because of Jesus, not anything you can do:

(2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

If you still question that I point you to righteous lot as he's called in Peters epistle:

2 Peter 2:6–8 (NKJV) 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who wasoppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—

Genesis 19:16 (CACOTV1GJ): Wilt Thou destroy the righteous with the wicked?” Abraham had asked the Lord (18:23). The answer, as illustrated here, is “No”—for before judgment could be poured out upon Sodom, before fire and brimstone would come down to destroy Gomorrah, God rescued Lot and those of his house; He rescued the righteous. Lot righteous? A guy who calls perverted people his brothers? A guy who offers his daughters to a homosexual mob? A guy who lingers when angels tell him to leave? Lot righteous? Yes, for that is what Peter calls him (2 Peter 2:7). How can Lot possibly be considered righteous? Because righteousness is imputed solely on the basis of simple faith. I am righteous and so are you if you have confessed with your mouth that Jesus is who He claimed to be, and believed in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9, 10).

So, I don’t have to fall for the lies of the devil that God wont hear my prayers because I am wretched and sinful (as the accuser of the brethren loves to whisper to us), but I am righteous because God makes me so, and therefore I can bold come to the throne of grace and find mercy and grace and help in my time of need.

Revelation 12:10–11 (NKJV) 10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Hebrews 4:14–16 (NKJV) 14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast ourconfession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yetwithout sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Prayer From the Heart / Elijah Our Proof / Bible Guy

Verse 16 – effective fervent prayer - means sincere prayer, The prayer that’s from the heart. The prayer that often rises out of desperation, out of tremendous need. We don't have to be perfect for God to hear our prayers, and James uses Elijah as proof of that. He points out to us that Elijah was a man with a nature just like ours. You remember his story (1 Kings 17-19), he prayed that it would not rain for 3 1/2 years, and it didn't. Yet afterwards he had periods where he was a big wimp, hiding from a woman Jezebel in a cave. Elijah was just a plain, ordinary person like us. He wasn’t anything special. He was just an ordinary person, like passions that we have. Christian, Elijah never knew he was going to be a Bible guy (well I am a Bible Guy therefore I know my prayers are special), no he was just like us, and when he prayed, God worked.

You are a Bible Guy because you are in the Bible…. Saved by faith!

Prayer Closet Not in Vain / Rev 5:8 / G Morgan

Verse 17-18 are for us, God is saying your prayers in the prayer closet are not in vain, that things do change and things are effected, look at Elijah, he was just a person of flesh and blood like you, yet God answered his prayers. Christian not one prayer ever goes unheard before God; believe that (Rev 5:8).

· Some woman said to G Campbell Morgan, I only bring the big things to God for prayer. He said, ma’am, nothing you bring to God is a big thing, to Him all things are little. Nothing is too difficult for Him, so bring everything to Him:

(Revelation 5:8 NKJV) Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

(Jeremiah 32:27 KJV) Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

Pray So Satan can Feel It / Why it is a Struggle to Pray

NIV translation, powerful and effective. Christian Pray so that Satan feels the pressure. Satan will let you get away with a lot of things, but one things he hates, and that is when you pray, because he knows the power behind it, he knows it changes things. That is why there is always a struggle for us to pray, a distraction, because he doesn't want us in contact with the power source, God the Father. I think, quite often, we’re rather cavalier in our prayer; ok I said it, that’s it for that prayer. But it’s the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man, availeth much! Read the story of Elijah and we see he prayed seven times before the rain came:

(1 Kings 18:44 NKJV) Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, 'Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.'"

(1 Kings 18:45 NKJV) Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.

I might also point out that prayers that are in accordance to the Word are always powerful, for they are backed by the breath of God. Elijah could pray that it would not rain, because God’s Word backed that. God said if the nation would turn from Him and follow after false idols, God would bring a drought:

(Deuteronomy 11:16 NKJV) "Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them,

(Deuteronomy 11:17 NKJV) "lest the Lord's anger be aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you.

Pray the Scriptures, and you pray the most powerful prayer (again, read the study- Acts: the prayer).

(James 5:19 NKJV) Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,

(James 5:20 NKJV) 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.

Go to that Brother

Don't be afraid to go to that brother or sister and seek to turn them away from their sin. This verse is still flowing from the previous verses, and I believe it is a reference to saving them from a physical death that sin will bring them. This isn't about saving their soul from damnation, for Jesus covers all of our sins with one drop of His precious blood, but here it says from a multitude of sins, so it can't be referring to salvation.

How should we minister to others?

That will be no easy task being like Jesus, gentle and lowly as we live in such a selfish, self-righteous, aggressive world and culture. But, the God who sees us, and the God we see, when we meet Him at the well, can and will give us His mind and heart.

No Ending – it Never Ends

I like how this book ends, no closing, no benediction, no closing prayer and farewell, it just ends. James is pretty much saying, now go and do it, continue doing it, for these things never end, we are to keep doing all of them.

So how are we doing?