"Sick and Tired"
Notes
Transcript
How does sickness affect us?
How does sickness affect us?
How do we view it?
How do we respond to it?
James give us a response in this text.
How should we react to problems?
How should we react to problems?
James is telling us here that we should react/respond to problems with prayer - in faith.
James begins and ends his letter with the theme of problems.
James 1:2-4, 12
James 5:7–11
Outline for this text...
Prayer for ourselves (v. 13)
Prayer from our elders (vv. 14-15)
Prayer from others (vv. 16-18)
When we are suffering or in sin this is what we should want.
In verse 13 we considered a response of prayer and a response of praise, which gives us a general principle.
Now in verse 14, James gets more specific.
So, lets’s consider 2 main questions in the verse.
Who are the sick?
What is anointing with oil?
Who are the sick? (v. 14)
Who are the sick? (v. 14)
The word primarily, fundamentally, naturally means physical weakness, usually due to illness, disease, or other physical ailments, impairments, or disabilities (Matthew 10:8; Mark 6:56; Luke 4:40; John 5:7; John 4:46; Acts 19:12; Acts 9:37; Philippians 2:26–27; 2 Timothy 4:20).
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.
The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.”
So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill.
so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.
Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus.
The word is often translated with a form of the word “weak” and in many cases is used to signify spiritual weakness rather than physical weakness.
So, some believe that this text then is not talking about physical weakness/healing at all. But I have a problem with that...
There’s no dogmatic reason in the text/context to choose a spiritual meaning exclusively (like in Romans 14:1; 1 Corinthians 8:11–12; Romans 5:6).
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
11 And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.
12 Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
I couldn’t find any translation that translates it “weak” (ill, infirm). So I’m not able to say they were all wrong to not translate it as “weak.”
The anointing with oil is associated in scripture with physical healing not spiritual healing (Mark 6:13).
And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
So, I choose the plain sense of the word.
This may include spiritual weakness/healing, but we can not exclude physical weakness/healing.
It is a word that literally/naturally means physical weakness but is used often of spiritual weakness (i.e. “life” or “alive”).
So, who are the sick? It is those with physical or bodily weakness due to illness, disease, ailments, etc.
Now, there is always a spiritual element to everything about us.
So there is a spiritual response here to the physical weakness.
“…elders…church…pray...” We need the ministry of the local church.
We are spiritually needy just as much as we are physically needy, if not more.
In fact, physical challenges for the believer are spiritual challenges as well (James 1:2–5).
We always need the support of the church and the encouragement of church leaders, but we often need it most when we are physically weak, sick, and overwhelmed.
Since we need this, it is our responsibility to pursue this. Actually, we should consider it a desirable blessing (Hebrews 13:17).
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Job’s battle was spiritual, though definitely physical.
He looked to the Lord in the suffering (Job 1:21–22; Job 13:15).
And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.
He learned from the Lord in the suffering (Job 40:3–5; Job 42:1–6)
3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:
4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
Our battle with the flesh and in the flesh is spiritual (Mark 14:38).
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
What is anointing with oil? (v. 14)
What is anointing with oil? (v. 14)
Sacrament
It was a means of transferring spiritual power, grace, and remission of sins in the oil and in the action to the recipient.
The Catholic church uses this as justification for the sacrament of extreme unction/anointing the sick, but there is little to no resemblance between that doctrine and what James is teaching here. There is nothing special about the oil, there is nothing special about the elders beyond there Biblical role, there is nothing magical or mystical about the act, and the sick person’s soul is not being prepared for death, as this doctrine teaches.
In fact, It is prayer here, not the anointing that makes the difference, and the difference is healing.
And the whole idea of remission of sins being granted to anyone from another human being is against scripture (Mark 2:7).
“Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Medicine
Olive oil was believed to have healing properties and used for various ailments (Luke 10:34).
He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.
But, it wasn’t a universal treatment, anyone could use it, and the prayer brings healing (v. 15).
Symbol
Anointing with oil was used even in the OT to symbolically consecrate/devote something/someone to God.
This seems to be the likely use of it by the disciples (Mark 6:13).
And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.
If it is symbolic, then as with any symbol it is secondary by far to what is being symbolized and to what is of primary importance to be mindful of. The symbol should not be overemphasized or a distraction. Therefore the symbol should be clear and understandable, otherwise it will be a distraction. It will not serve it’s intended purpose.
This is why I don’t anoint with oil.
I’m not sure of my interpretation.
I’m not sure of how they did it or how I would do it. It’s not common to us as it was then.
I’m not sure that this symbol can serve the same purpose as it did then.
Finally, anointing with oil is definitely secondary in the text.
The heart is consecration or submission to God (1 Peter 4:19).
Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
We should have a spiritual response to our physical suffering.
We should have a spiritual response to our physical suffering.
Physical suffering will affect us spiritually. And though we may be unable to do anything about our physical suffering, there is something that we can do spiritually (2 Corinthians 4:16–18; Philippians 4:6–7).
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
6 do not be anxious about anything, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus.
Benediction:
Scripture Reading: