Meeting Specific Needs

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.

Suffering or afflicted – maybe G-d’s trying to get our attention?

Ps 32:8-9

We need to pray and seek guidance – so we can learn without afflictions…

Sing psalms – may I suggest Ps 51:10-12

If we’re sick – we need to ask for help – call for the elders…

Phil 2:27 – healing is a mercy from G-d, not something we have a right to expect.

It is nottrue that failure to be healed indicates a lack of faith – as is preached in some churches.

What does the oil represent? - Holy Spirit and healing – Oil was used extensively as a medicinal treatment

Luke 10:34, Mark 6:13

Commentator Clarke says this: “Oil was and is frequently used in the east as a means of cure in very dangerous diseases; and in Egypt it is often used in the cure of the plaque. Even in Europe it has been tried with great success in the cure of dropsy. And pure olive oil is excellent for recent wounds and bruises; and I have seen it tried in this way with the best effects… St. James desires them to use natural means while looking to God for an especial blessing. And no wise man would direct otherwise.”

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.

And the prayer of faith will save the sick- spiritual healing as well as physical.

The sick in this case being those who are because of sin – and the act of going to the elders to confess and repent, and the prayer for restoration.

From DG: “We should pray for others in faith, expecting that God will heal them, then leave the matter in God’s hands. The best approach in praying for the sick is to pray with humble confidence that they will be healed, unless God clearly and powerfully makes it clear that this is not His will. Having prayed, we simply leave the matter to God.”

All He asks is that we pray. G-d can handle His reputation.

Confess yourtrespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. – This is especially needed if you have trespassed against a brother or sister… Again, this is private and personal – DO NOT GOSSIP! By confessing/praying – this can bring about restoration of relationships, and spiritual healing. Helps to relieve our burdens. This is NOT referring to the practice of the confessional – Why?

Apparently, during revivals in the past, some have taken this to mean public confession in front of the congregation. That, I believe, is something left to the individual making the confession.

Public confession could be either good or bad – Here are some guidelines:

Confession should be made to the one you’ve sinned against – privately.

If it is public – it must be discrete. Say only what is necessary to convey the need for prayer –

What could be some examples of this? - I need victory over some sin, I need help with pornography, drinking, or whatever. No other detail is necessary.

Edwin Orr offers a good example - “If you sin secretly, confess secretly, admitting publicly that you need the victory but keeping details to yourself. If you sin openly confess openly to remove stumbling blocks from those whom you have hindered. If you have sinned spiritually (prayerlessness, lovelessness, and unbelief as well as their offspring, criticism, etc.) then confess to the church that you have been a hindrance.”

When you confess sin – you need to be specific – generalities doesn’t cost you anything, and is not sincere. “I’m sorry” is an example of a general statement – it really isn’t a confession because you haven’t identified the behavior that is the sin.

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.

Elijah prayers were not effective because he was a great man, they were effective because he prayed – and prayed earnestly – really sought after the object of his prayer.

From the Nelson BC regarding Elijah:

“He prayed fervently; he was aware of what he was praying, and kept praying with diligence and discipline.”

Bring Back the Erring One

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.

Wanders from the truth – means he has been deceived and erred in his judgement. Our job is to be sensitive to others in our fellowship and congregation, enough so that we will sense when this has happened and will have the courage to approach and lead that person back into the fold.

What does cover a multitude of sins refer to? Ours or theirs? Both – Christ covers all sin.

“If a friend of yours is tempted by lust, give him a helping hand if you can and pull him back. But if he falls into heresy, and persists in spite of your efforts, go away quickly, cut off his friendship. For if you dally with him, you might be dragged with him into the deeps.” Theodore of Pherme

HOME GROUP QUESTIONS

James 5:13-18

1. What would you say the theme of this passage is about? Prayer – mentioned 7 times…

Accountability for the weak (5:13–20). The hallmark of a true kingdom person is his or her mercy and compassion. The assignment to pray for the sick (5:14–15), minister forgiveness to the sinful or failing (5:13, 16), and reach out to those falling away (5:19–20) is buttressed with the assurance that God’s power is available to fulfill such kingdom assignments (5:16–18).

Prayer for each other - which comes from fellowship.

2. What is the similarity between those who are suffering and those who are “cheerful” insomuch as they are told to do something?

The call to prayer and singing of psalms... acknowledging God.

3. The Greek word for “sick” (vs. 14) can be translated feeble. While physical problems can cause a person to be “feeble” there are also emotional and spiritual problems that cause a person to be feeble. Discuss how this truth changes the general understanding of this verse.

We need to be aware of our position in the Lord -- you are more the sum of your mistakes...

4. What are the elders of Calvary Chapel?

People who are spiritual, with the responsibility of guiding the business of the church and providing leadership in each of the ministries

5. What is the purpose of anointing a person with oil…what does the oil represent?

The Holy Spirit - physical representation of the Spirit of the Lord.

6. In verse 14 who is to take the initiative? The elders or the person who is “sick”? Do you do this? Discuss why many do not but expect the elders (or the pastor) do make the initial contact.

the individual - people don't want to be a bother, or they feel their needs are known.

7. What is it about a person who is “sick” taking the initiative that is communicated by making the first step in asking for prayer?

Demonstrates faith - it is an act of faith

8. In verse 16 the confession and prayer brings “healing”. What is damaged when a Christian sins? How is confession and prayer linked to healing?

His/Her conscience - their relationship with the Lord. Seeking forgiveness.

Lest anyone regard the prayer of faith to be an impulsive expression of desire, James describes its involvement as The effectual fervent prayer with only one adjective in Greek, not two as in the AV. One may observe that our English word “energy” is akin to this modifier (Gr energeō), which stresses hard labor. If one becomes desperate about a critical situation, he will not be satisfied uttering a few pious sentences.

Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 2597). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

9. Read the story of Elijah’s prayer and God answering and discuss. (1 Kings 18:41-46.

10. Discuss your prayer life and how you can make it better. Pray for each other to have a healthy prayer life.

Recap

Who is the author? James, brother of Jesus

When it was written? AD48-52

Who was it addressed to? Jewish believers scattered about...

Why did he write it? To provide believers with a practical guide on living a life of faith and works and an explanation of how to live.

James also uses the full name and title for Jesus - Lord Jesus Christ - He is our Lord or master, name is Jesus, his title is the Christ or Messiah.

The word for Lord here is the Greek word kyrios – master

Do we act as if Jesus is our master?

We are told to count it all joy when we fall into various trials.

We have a choice in how we respond to trials...

Understanding there is a purpose to the trials - build our faith...

What is the result of these trials? - This is the whole point – G-d is trying to bring us to maturity. We need to stop our petulant complaining, and realize that it is for our good – however hard it seems.

vs6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Mathew Henry says this: To be sometimes lifted up by faith, and then thrown down again by distrust—to mount sometimes towards the heavens, with an intention to secure glory, and honor, and immortality, and then to sink again in seeking the ease of the body, or the enjoyments of this world—this is very fitly and elegantly compared to a wave of the sea, that rises and falls, swells and sinks, just as the wind tosses it higher or lower, that way or this.

We are warned about judging people based on their appearance. Appearance is not everything - the wealthy need to remind themselves that this too shall pass away.

What is benefit of enduring temptation?

Vs. 12 - Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Who tempts us? Why do we succumb to temptation..

What does James say about listening...

Vs 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

what happens when we get angry? we do not portray the righteouness of G-d.

What is the importance of being a doer of the word?

What is pure religion? vs 1:27b - To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

2:10-11 - sins are not categorized by severity - any sin is a sin.

What does it mean by faith without works is dead? Vs. 2:14

What are the dangers of the tongue?

Where do wars and fighting come from?

From MH: “(James) informs them that the origin of their wars and fightings was not (as they pretended) a true zeal for their country, and for the honour of God, but that their prevailing lusts were the cause of all. Observe hence, What is sheltered and shrouded under a specious pretence of zeal for God and religion often comes from men’s pride, malice, covetousness, ambition, and revenge.”

Why does James call some adulterers/adultresses? -We play the harlot by putting other things ahead of G-d.