Is any sick among you? 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: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:14-16

     A few days ago, I picked up the phone and called an 800 number in hopes of ordering a replacement part for a children's toy that we recently purchased. Big mistake--15 minutes (and several gray hairs!) later, I was reminded how difficult it is to find someone who will help, even with the simplest of problems! Gone are the days of calling a manufacturer and speaking to a real person that can assist you when something goes awry. Under the guise of improved customer service, many companies have automated their telephone systems. Instead of speaking to a person you are forced to navigate through a plethora of automated questions and button-pushing in order to solve a problem. I gave up trying to solve my issue after 15 minutes of Telephone Twenty-Questions. This impersonal philosophy not only exists in large businesses, it also seems to blanket our society as a whole. When was the last time you spoke to someone on the street or acquainted yourself with neighbors? We live such compartmentalized lives that seeking assistance in any aspect of our lives is a challenge. This has resulted in an attitude of helplessness and hopelessness amongst many people today.

     I am thankful that this is not the case with our Lord. He knows all of them that are His and is acquainted with their individual needs. He is available to assist us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We do not have to navigate through an automated telephone system. We do not even need a telephone! As children of the Living God, we have access to the Lord through prayer. As James is closing out his epistle to the Christians scattered abroad, he reminds them of this oft-forgotten resource. In the midst of adversity, they had access to God through prayer. As they were faced with the challenge of good works and godly living, they were empowered because of their ability to communicate with the Lord.

     In verse 14 of our passage mentioned above, James writes, "Is any sick among you? 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: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up." James does not negate the need for medical attention for the one that is sickly, but he does emphasize the power of prayer. Have you or a loved one been suffering through physical affliction? Are you like the woman in Mark 5 that had suffered many things and spent all she had on many physicians, and then sought the Lord? We ought to utilize the medical resources available to us, but we should seek the Lord in prayer first and throughout the process of seeking medical attention. He is the one who is able to heal our afflictions. He may not wholly take away our sickness but He is certainly able to give us the grace to endure.

     Are you overwhelmed with a troublesome past? James writes in verse 16, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed." The wounded spirit can be affected through prayer. One of the ways the Spirit of God works in the lives of his children is by convicting them of their sins. The born-again child of God will feel guilt and remorse when he transgresses God’s righteous law. Rather than overwhelming us with anguish, feeling this sort of remorse ought to encourage us, in that it is an evidence that we are indeed one of God’s children (Hebrews 12:6, "For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.").

     As children of God, we are instructed to confess our faults to faithful Christian brothers and sisters and bid them to pray for us. What are they to pray? That God would heal us spiritually and bless us to turn away from evil things and turn towards His standard of righteousness. The Lord is able to handle both our physical sickness and our spiritual afflictions! If you have no one in which to confide your spiritual struggles, the Bible teaches that you can confess your sins unto the Lord. 1 John 1:9 states that, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Like the woman in Mark 5, we have unlimited access to the Lord our God. We can commune with our Heavenly Father any time we choose. Through the power of prayer, we too can reach out and touch the hem of His blessed garment! Jesus is in Heaven taking our petitions unto God the Father. In Romans 8:34, the Apostle Paul states that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God, making intercession for the saints. He is always there to assist us! My prayer for you is that you will always take advantage of this precious privilege.

Friday, August 11, 2006

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Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastor@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church

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