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James 5:13-20
Stephen Caswell © 2003
Minimum Of Organization
The ancient church had a minimum of organization, but it had a maximum of power.
The average church today has a maximum of organization but tragically lacks power.
Dr. G. Campbell Morgan once warned, One of Satan’s methods today is to start so many organizations in a church that the members have no time for unhurried communion with God.
Many Christians are so busy that they can hear only the clink and clatter of church machinery.
Too often we are over-organized and under-agonized.
Prayer is to spiritual life what breathing is to physical life.
The Christian life is impossible without prayer.
Yet today we spend so little time in prayer.
Tragically the prayer meetings and Bible Studies are the least attended meetings of the Church.
In chapter 5 James emphasizes the importance of prayer.
In fact he mentions */prayer/* seven times in just eight verses.
Prayer is not a matter of gifting or ability, rather its a matter of conviction and time.
James encourages us to pray and gives examples of what we can pray for.
I.
Prayer For The Suffering
*5:13:* /Is anyone among you suffering?
Let him pray.
Is anyone cheerful?
Let him sing psalms./
Perhaps the 2 greatest weaknesses in the average church today are the areas of */prayer/* and */praise./*
The reason for these weaknesses may be traced to insensitivity.
There is much need for prayer and praise.
Suffering should elicit prayer.
Sufficiency should elicit praise.
*/Firstly,/* James commands the */suffering/* to pray.
The word /afflicted/ means suffering in difficult circumstances.
The phrase in trouble is a good translation.
Paul used this word to describe the circumstances he was in as he suffered for the Gospel’s sake.
As God’s people go through life, we often must endure difficulties that are not the results of sin or the chastening of God.
*/What should we do when we find ourselves in such trying circumstances?/* /We must *not grumble* and criticize the saints who are having an easier time of it; nor should we blame the Lord./
James indicates in verse 9 that some were doing this.
What we should do is */pray./*
Let’s ask God for the wisdom needed in the situation and use it for His glory.
Prayer can remove affliction, if that is God’s will.
But prayer can also give*/ us/* the grace needed to endure troubles and accomplish God’s perfect will.
*/Let us pray for others who suffer too!/* Then encourage them by sharing this with them.
*/Abraham Lincoln said:/*/ I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go.
My wisdom, and that of all about me, seemed insufficient for the day./
*/ /*
*/Secondly,/* James commands the */joyful/* to sing praises.
James indicates that everybody doesn’t go through troubles at the same time: /Is any merry?
Let him sing psalms./
God balances our lives and gives us hours of suffering and days of singing.
The mature Christian knows how to sing /while he is suffering./
Anybody can sing after the trouble has passed.
God is able to give songs in the night.
He did this for Paul and Silas when they were suffering in that Philippian jail.
*When God delivers us from suffering we should immediately praise Him.
David did this in the Psalms.*
Praying and singing were important to the early church, and they should be important to us too.
Praying is not twisting God’s arm to give us something He doesn’t want to.
Neither is it making God aware of our needs.
God already knows them and wants to meet them.
Prayer is stating in no uncertain terms */our dependence upon God/*.
We are acknowledging our inability to handle the situation.
We are seeking His grace and strength.
Prayer is submitting ourselves to God’s will and asking Him use our trials for His glory.
When we pray in the Holy Spirit He brings our desires into line with God’s.
When we are earnest in prayer He changes us more than the people and circumstances we are praying about.
This is why real prayer comes from the heart not just the mind.
Application
/Do you pray or grumble when suffering?* *Do you seek God’s glory?
Do you pray for others when they suffer?/*
*/When God delivers you from trials do you thank Him? Do you praise the Lord when He blesses you?
Let’s heed these commands and grow in suffering and blessing!/
II.
Prayer For The Sick
/a.
The Request/* 5:14a: */Is anyone among you sick?
Let him call for the elders of the church, /
I do not think that James gave us a blanket formula for healing the sick.
In verse 14 James presents a situation where someone is laid up in a sick bed.
They are unable to come to church or to see the elders.
James tells such a person to call for the elders to come and see them.
Note that the onus is with the sick person.
If they have a conviction in their own heart that this is the right thing to do, then they should not hesitate.
Let us not miss this point, the ministry being sought is both */physical/* and */spiritual.
/*These two are often connected*/.
/*
/b.
The Reason /
*James 5:14b-15:*/ 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./
/ /
*/The person is sick because of sin (v.
15)/.*
The Greek text says, */If he has been constantly sinning./*
This parallels *1 Corinthians 11:30:* /For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep;/ */ie,/* /they have died/.
James has described a church member who is sick because he is being disciplined by God.
This explains why the elders of the assembly are called: the man cannot go to church to confess his sins, so he asks the spiritual leaders to come to him.
The leaders would be in charge of the discipline of the congregation./
*Let me stress here that not all sickness is a result of sin.* /As people living in a fallen world sickness is a part of life.
We must not respond like Job’s comforters and condemn the righteous.
That’s the last thing they need.
Let’s be compassionate and pray for them.
/ /
*/The person confesses his sins (v.
16)./*
In the early church, the believers practiced church discipline.
First Corinthians 5 is a good example.
Paul told the believers at Corinth to dismiss the sinning member from the assembly until he repented of his sins and made things right.
*James 5:16:* /Confess your sins therefore to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
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