The Power of Prayer

James 5:13–20 ESV

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 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 one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Today, we are concluding our series on the book of James. Throughout this series, we have explored what it means to live in a society that is hostile to the Christian faith. Our main observation has been that we are called to be countercultural as Christians. This means that we are to live and act differently from the world by obeying the teachings of Christ. Instead of trying to force our beliefs on others, we are to live in a way that allows others to see the light of Christ in us. Our response to the world should be characterized by love and grace rather than anger and malice. The church is meant to be a community that reflects the values of the kingdom of God.

Our countercultural lifestyle is distinctly marked by our prayer life. Prayer, our primary means of communication with the Lord, is the cornerstone of our faith. It is through prayer that we bring our requests and praises to God, centering ourselves on Him and His work. We are called to cultivate a personal prayer life that includes worship, scripture, and praise as part of our daily routine. Prayer is not just a personal practice, but a foundational pillar for our community. It is through prayer that we support and uplift one another, fostering a bond that transcends individual experiences. Without a consistent prayer life, we risk being disconnected from God and one another.

As we conclude our series on James, we turn our focus to the essence of prayer. James opens his letter with these profound words: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him" (James 1:5). This verse encapsulates the role of prayer in our journey as Christians. Prayer is where we seek God, His wisdom, and His guidance. When we pray to the Lord, He provides us with all we need, although not always what we want. Regardless of our circumstances, prayer is foundational to everything we are and do as followers of Jesus.

1. We are called to pray in every season. (vs. 13)

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Life brings various circumstances, both good and bad. We experience suffering and moments of celebration. James asks, "Is anyone among you suffering?" The answer is always "yes." Suffering exists among the saints, whether due to sickness, brokenness, or a range of physical and spiritual ailments. What should we do during those times? Many of us tend to blame God or someone else. In verse 11, James uses the example of Job to illustrate suffering. Despite losing everything, Job never blames God; instead, he praises Him.

James encourages us to respond in the same way. We are to pray, leave the situation in God's hands, and seek His strength and wisdom in our troubles through worship. The only appropriate response to any circumstance is complete submission to the Lord. Through this submission, we feel His compassion and support, even when life takes a turn for the worse. As Christians, our default position is to pray for comfort, the strength to persevere, and the wisdom to find answers. This assurance of God's presence and support in our times of need brings comfort and strength.

Some preach that you don't have enough faith if your life isn’t going the way you want or if you are sick or in anguish. This perpetuates a lie. The truth is that having genuine faith as a Christian does not exempt you from having bad days, facing financial struggles, or experiencing illness. Scripture teaches us that we will face hard times and unexpected challenges in life. There is a misconception that we are supposed to be happy. However, happiness is not the goal of the Christian; joy, a fruit of the Spirit, is. It is a source of hope and strength, not based on circumstances but on our relationship with God.

When James asks if anyone is cheerful, “cheerful” is connected to encouragement. Our cheerfulness or happiness is linked to our relationships with God and one another. It is not about life going well; it is about being in a place where we are loved and cared for by those around us. It is a reminder that all the good in our lives, every blessing, is a gift from God. We praise and thank Him for these present blessings and trust Him for the future.

Prayer and praise are intertwined with how we live life. When we are grounded in Christ, circumstances do not matter because He is the source of our strength.

2. Prayer brings healing and confession. (vs. 14-18)

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God still heals people. Some people don't believe that God still heals the sick in miraculous ways. James tells us to come together, use oil to anoint, and pray for those who are sick. This is mainly for the spiritual leaders of the congregation to lay hands on those who are too sick to get out of bed. But it can be for anyone who is sick. The sickness, like an illness or disease, doesn't have to be specific. It can be spiritual wounds and brokenness that we can't see. The point is that we are encouraged to come together and pray for one another when there is suffering in the congregation.

Healing and forgiveness are deeply intertwined in the Bible. We don't often link the two when we talk about healing. We might think confessing sin means we are sick because we have sinned. But this isn't always true. Sometimes, it is true, especially if the sickness is connected to demonic oppression. Mark 6:13 says, 'And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.' That's why anyone seeking healing is encouraged also to seek forgiveness of sins. Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 11:29–30, 'For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.' The idea is that a person who has unconfessed sin and worships the Lord can bring weakness and illness upon himself. James tells us that confessing our sins to one another and praying for one another brings healing. This underscores the power and significance of prayer in our lives, not just for physical healing, but also for spiritual restoration.

When talking about healing and confession, there are two things I want to emphasize:

1. Healing comes only by God’s power and will. It doesn't depend on how much faith we have or the person needing healing. We need faith to receive healing, but the amount of faith doesn't decide if we are healed. We've all prayed hard for the sick. Some people are fully healed of their disease. Others pass away. Sometimes, healing doesn't happen, and our faith can be shaken. But we must remember that we are all under the control of God. He has the ultimate control. Our prayers may not seem effective because someone isn't completely healed. But even if there is healing at one point in life, that doesn't guarantee healing at another point. We will all die someday if Jesus does not return before then. Death is a part of life until we come into the fullness of his kingdom. It is there where our ultimate healing will occur. We will be raised from the dead. Perishability must put on imperishability. Mortality must put on immortality.

2. Confessing sin is how we break demonic oppression. Demonic powers can oppress Christians. Our sin can give the demonic a way into our lives. This can be anything: brokenness and bitterness in our hearts, secret sins, involvement in occultic practices. These are ways for demons to enter. There can be physical and mental pain linked to these powers. When we confess our sins before the Lord and acknowledge the sin within us, it can break the oppressive power that brings life to us. This isn't to say that every sickness has sin attached to it, but our confession can allow the Lord to come into our lives more powerfully.

3. Prayer brings restoration and forgiveness. (vs. 19-20)

‌James unusually ends his epistle, as most epistles usually include a list of greetings to the recipients. This departure from the norm reflects the serious issues he addresses in the churches. James emphasizes the severe consequences of sin and warns against apostasy and backsliding.

This relates to the command in verse 16 to confess sins to one another and to mutually support fellow believers in Christ. Building deep relationships with other Christians that allow for genuine confession of sins is crucial. In developing the Methodists' band and class system, John Wesley aimed to create small groups where members could have open and honest relationships and confess their struggles. This element seems to be lacking in our modern forms of discipleship. Without confession, there can be no forgiveness and restoration. We are called to help one another without being harsh, yet not sugarcoating our response to sin. We need the space to be vulnerable with one another to provide genuine support. Paul addresses this in Galatians 6:1, urging spiritual restoration with gentleness when someone is caught in sin.

When James mentions wandering away from the truth, he refers to theological apostasy and living out our faith. There is a close connection between our beliefs about God and how we live for Him. It's not just about the sins we commit but also falling into theological error. Believing things contrary to scripture, such as denying the Trinity or the bodily resurrection of Jesus, can profoundly impact our faith practice. Our practice is linked to our theology and can lead to more serious sin.

We are responsible for helping one another avoid falling into wrong beliefs and practices. That's why being part of the body of Christ and engaging in groups within the congregation that support our spiritual growth are vital. We cannot be Christians in isolation, as doing so can lead to theological and practical errors. We can stray in ways that subject us to demonic oppression. The community is here to guide us to be true followers of Jesus. Therefore, being part of a community that upholds orthodox theology and practice is crucial. Departing from orthodox theology will lead to a community that has strayed from God’s truth and fallen into apostasy. Apostasy in belief will lead to a decline in practice, and sin will be tolerated, weakening the body.

The power of prayer is fundamental to our lives as followers of Christ. Prayer is a personal act of devotion and a communal practice that unites us in strength, healing, and confession. James reminds us that we are called to turn to God through prayer every season- whether in suffering or joy. Through it, we experience comfort, healing, restoration, and forgiveness. As believers, we must support one another through prayer, guiding each other back to the truth when we stray. Through this deep connection with God and one another, we maintain our spiritual health, live counterculturally, and reflect the values of Christ's kingdom. Let us make prayer central in our lives, trusting in its transformative power personally and within our community.