Praying for One Another
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Last week we closed with James telling us that lashing out with swearing by heaven or earth happens when we lose our cool!
In our passage today, James points us to our need to pray! If you have your Bibles, turn with me to James chapter 5 and we’ll begin reading with verse 13.
A Series of Questions and Actions:
A Series of Questions and Actions:
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
Question: Is anyone in trouble (Gk. suffering, bearing hardships, in distress, ill, afflicted, suffering misfortune, suffering evil) (v. 13a)?
Action: Let them pray (v. 13b).
Question: Is anyone happy (Gk. cheerful, encouraged, reassured, comforted, in good spirits, merry) (v. 13c)?
Action: Let them sing songs of praise (v. 13d).
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
Question: Is anyone sick (Gk. weak, feeble, sickly) (v. 14a).
Action: Call for the elders of the church to pray, and anoint with oil--the Greek word here is used of anointing for medicinal purposes not ceremonial purposes (v. 14b).
NOTE: Anointing with oil has several different purposes during Biblical times.
Used for cooking and eating (cf. Joel 2:19, 24, 26).
Used for cosmetic purposes (cf. Ezek 16:9; Ruth 3:3; Mic 6:15).
As fuel for lamps (Matt 25:3-8; Rev 22:5).
Consecration for Worship (cf. Gen 28:13; Lev 8:11; 1 Sam 10:1; 16:13; Psa 89:20; Lev 14:10, 12, 15-18; Num 18:12; Neh 10:39).
Medicinally (Isa 1:6; Psa 23:5; Mark 6:13; Luke 10:34; Jas 5:14).
The Power of Prayer
The Power of Prayer
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
A prayer offered in faith—
Make the sick person well (v. 15a).
The Lord will raise them up (v. 15b).
If the person has sinned--they will be forgive (v. 15c).
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
James says, we need to confess your sins to each other (v. 16a).
And we should pray for each other so that you may be healed (Gk. restored, renewed, make well, cured, make whole, to purify) (v. 16b).
KEY--The prayer of a righteous person’s (those who live right before God) prayer is powerful (Gk. two word: (1) great, abundant, numerous, large, many; (2) special personal abilities, to have strength. Put the two together you have abundant strength) and effective (Gk. powerful, to result in, to be in action, to work, to operate, active, energetic) (v. 6c).
An Example of Powerful and Effective Prayer
An Example of Powerful and Effective Prayer
Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.
Elijah--an ordinary person like us (v. 17a).
Yet, he prayed earnestly (fervently) that it would not rain (v. 17b).
And for 3 1/2 years no rain fell (v. 17c).
Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
He prayed again that it would rain:
—And the heavens gave rain (v. 18a).
—And the earth/land produced its crops (v. 18b).
The Wanderer
The Wanderer
My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back,
James tells us that we should be working to restore those who wander from the truth (v. 19a).
remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
The reason: Whoever turns a sinner to the Lord: will save them from death (v. 20a).
Calling them to the Lord covers a multitude of sins (v. 20b).
So What
So What
One of biggest things that the church needs today is prayer. We say we believe it in. We say that it is incredibly important to us, but do we really believe in prayer the way we say we do.
We’re told in scripture to “rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15).
Here in our passage today, we are told to ask for prayer when we are sick, and church leadership is told to go and pray for those who are sick. Philippians 4:6-7 is one of Paul’s key passages on prayer. (Philippians 4:6–7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”)
All the time we are told to care for the needs of those who are sick—anointing them with oil (medicine). Jesus gave us this example in Mark 6:13 “They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.”
Praying for others—help them find forgiveness from God of their sins. One way we do that is by carrying each other’s burdens. In Galatians 6:2, Paul tells us, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Finally, if you are burdened down with guilt, shame, and struggling with sin this morning; I want you to know the wonder of 1 John 1:9 where John tells us how we can experience God’s wonderful forgiveness! There he writes, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” If you and I will confess the sin that we know about, God is faithful and just and will forgive us of that sin and all the sin that we don’t know about!
