Compiled By: Lisa K Gonzales
Source: The Life Application Study Bible
13 “Are any among you suffering? They should keep on praying about it. And those who have reason to be thankful should continually sing praises to the Lord. 14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And their prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.” ~ James 5:13-16
“Are any among you sick?” James was referring to someone who is physically ill. In Scripture, oil was both a medicine and a symbol of the Spirit of GOD as used in anointing kings. – “So as David stood, there among his brothers, Samuel took the olive oil he had brought and poured it on David’s head. And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.” – 1 Samuel 16:13 – The anointing oil poured over David’s head stood for holiness. It was used to set people or objects apart for GOD’s service. Each king and high priest of Israel was anointed with oil. This commissioned him as GOD’s representative to the nation. Therefore, oil can represent both the medical and the spiritual spheres of life. Christians should not separate the physical and the spiritual. Jesus Christ is Lord over both the body and the spirit.
People in the church are not alone. Members of Christ’s body should be able to count on others for support and prayer, especially when they are sick or suffering. The elders should be on call to respond to the illness of any member, and the church should be sensitive to the needs of all its members. The “prayer offered in faith” does not refer to the faith of the sick person but to the faith of the people praying. GOD heals faith does not – and all prayers are subject to GOD’s will. But prayer is part of GOD’s healing process. If you are an elder in your church, are you able and/or willing to be on call to respond to the illnesses and needs of the church members? James exhorts us to commit to pray for each other. There will be many confrontations, challenges, trials and troubles awaiting each of us throughout our lives, and James tells us there is a call to commitment from each and every one of us.
Father, as Christians we want to be responsive to the needs of others. Speak to our hearts and stir our spirits to our call of commitment, but more than that LORD, help us to be obedient to that call.
Photo: Ouray Ice Park (Ouray, Colorado)
Photographer: Lisa K Gonzales
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