Let Us Pray | James 5:13-18
I recently received a phone message from the office of my health care provider, informing me that I needed to reschedule an appointment, an appointment that I had made nearly two months ago. It was made two months ago, because this provider’s schedule was backed up. And this appointment, which I now needed to reschedule, had been the earliest date I could get in. These types of situations can test my patience, or, let’s say, expose my impatience.
So, I called. And this is what I heard. “Thank you for calling (such and such) clinic. Our office hours are Monday – Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. If you are calling after hours, please leave a message. At this time, all our representatives are assisting other callers. If you are a provider, press 1. If you are an insurance provider, press 2. If you are calling to make an appointment or to reschedule an appointment, press 3. If you are calling to pay a bill, press 4. If this is an emergency, please hang up and dial 911.”
At that moment, the letter of James did briefly flit through my mind. “Be patient . . . until the coming of the Lord . . . you have heard of the steadfastness of Job.” And I confess that I experienced a lapse in grace. I sinned. I grumbled. I did not count it all joy. I admit that I desired and did not have, and so I entertained hard thoughts, at least momentarily, toward someone, and their system that stood in the way of my access to what I wanted, and had already waited two months to obtain.
James’ message in our text today is mercifully different. Our heavenly Father does not respond to our calls with a disembodied voice, constrained by the limits of a pre-programmed machine. He hears exactly what we say, meets us where we are, and responds to us according to his grace. That’s the essence of these last verses in this final section of this letter. In fact, James’ pastoral burden here is that we might be a steadfast and patient people by/through becoming a praying people. God’s people become steadfast and patient people by becoming a praying people.
At the beginning of this letter, in James 1:2-4, the author insisted that the trials of this life are not to be seen as unnatural barriers to our relationship with God. Rather, we are to recognize trials/trouble/hassles/headaches/heartaches as God’s appointed pathway to spiritual maturity. And, therefore, James immediately called us to prayer. Steadfastness and prayer.
And now at the end of the letter, James repeats the sequence once more. No less than seven references to patience, waiting, and steadfastness in James 5:7-12 are matched by seven references to prayer in James 5:13-18. So, it is God’s will and purpose to make us a steadfast and patient people by making us a praying people. A people whose impulse in every situation is to pray first. Whose reaction to every provocation is to pray first. And may the Lord accomplish His purpose for this portion of His Word. May His Word do the heavy lifting of guiding, and informing, and making us a steadfast and patient people who pray.
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 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.
And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
—James 5:13-18
In his exceedingly helpful book, entitled Habits of Grace, David Mathis writes, “Christian, you have the ear of God. We call it prayer.”
Mathis goes on to say,
“Prayer, simply put, is talking to God. It is irreducibly relational . . . prayer is as basic as persons relating to each other, conversing, interacting, but with this significant caveat – In this relationship, we don’t chat as peers. He is Creator, and we are creatures. He is the great Lord, and we are his happy servants . . . Prayer is the glad response from the bride, in a joyfully submissive relationship with her Groom, responding to his sacrifice and life-giving initiatives . . . Prayer is not finally about getting things from God, but getting God.”
In view of the context of James’ instruction regarding the relationship between patience and prayer I believe Mathis’ words hold true. For James, prayer is not ultimately about getting particular things from God. Prayer is about becoming a particular kind of people. People who are steadfast and mature. People full of grace and truth. People like Christ. And therefore, prayer is not content to only receive stuff from God. Prayer, above all else, must have God.
Now with that in mind, my aim is to draw your attention to three observations from James 5:13-18 regarding the connection between prayer, and becoming patient and steadfast people. 1), the all-encompassing nature of prayer. 2) the healing potential of prayer. 3) a biblical example of prayer.
The All-Encompassing Nature of Prayer
If prayer, at its most fundamental essence is talking to God, then what James means for us to understand is that prayer is talking to God about everything.
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. “
—James 5:13
Everyone here who is suffering, raise your hands. The word translated “suffering” is a compound verb. It’s two words - “evil” and “suffering.” It has to do with the experience of living life in a fallen, broken, disordered, disorganized world filled with natural troubles. One commentator defines it as “enduring the blows that rain down on us as Christians living out our lives in an alien world.” In other words, “suffering” in this sense, has to do with our experience of life where everything in us and around us is out of joint as a result of humankind’s sin. We are not who we were meant to be. We’re not who God made us to be. And in that sense, we’re all messed up, and contribute to a multitude of sinful struggles.
This includes physical troubles. Disease, defect, decline (aging) and death. This includes mental and emotional troubles. We experience various and enormous pressures, and stress, and anxiety – including pressure to perform, to produce, to succeed, to get things done faster, and look good doing it. And so many of these mental and emotional troubles are a result of relational troubles. Conflict, misunderstandings, and betrayals, frustrated expectations, as well as jealousy, lust, and selfish ambition. And then there are spiritual troubles. First and foremost being the presence of remaining sin – even in the lives of believers. Oh the struggle we share with deadness and dullness toward God. Oh the trouble there is because of the absence of a vitalized relationship with our Savior. And then there is flat out demonic aggressions. You see, we’re not always, or merely up against blind circumstances, unthinking fate, or bad luck. There are actually supernatural spiritual forces of wickedness deployed against us to undo our steadfast confidence in God. And then in addition to all that, are “special troubles” – the kind which are unique to followers of Jesus – hardships that arise directly on account of our Biblical convictions.
Now, show of hands – is anyone among you suffering? What are we to do? V. 13, “Let us pray.” Our first response to all-encompassing suffering is to pray.
Now, “Is anyone cheerful?” It’s another word that our English translation fails to capture the nuance. This kind of “Cheerful” is not a superficial euphoria. Rather, it is a deep inner sense of well-being. All will be well. All is well. And it rises from an internal sense of joy and peace rooted in confidence and soul-satisfaction in God. And if so, if we’re grounded in such a deep internal sense of well-being IN GOD, what do we do? We sing. We sing praise. We sing praise TO GOD, because prayer is not finally, or merely about getting things from God, but getting joy in God Himself.
So, prayer is intended to be all-encompassing – whether we’re suffering or satisfied. God’s people are meant to pray about everything, in order that God would be everything. Commenting on this text, Alec Motyer writes,
“The Christian life is to be an exercise in practiced consecration, to ‘hallow every pleasure, sanctify each pain’. Our whole life, we might say, should be so angled towards God that whatever strikes upon us, whether sorrow or joy, should be deflected upwards at once into his presence.”
I used to do an exercise with children and teenagers. We’d memorize Ps. 50:15.
Call upon me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
—Psalm 50:15
And then I’d have them build an altar with rocks. The rocks were hard. Some were dirty. Others were big and heavy. They could hurt you. And I would sometimes include an agate, or some colored quartz. Then I’d say, “pick a rock that represents where you’re at. Some hard thing, or some hurtful thing. Maybe it’s some dirty thing in your life. Maybe it’s a heavy and burdensome thing. Or, it could be something beautiful. Take that rock, and let’s pile ‘em up as an altar to the Lord. And as you add your rock to the pile, lay that hard, hurtful, dirty, heavy thing before the Lord. Or thank God for that sweet thing. Turn it all into prayer.” Parents, teach your children, early, and by example, to make a habit of praying about everything, a habit of living all of life angled toward God, so that the Lord would be over everything to them, and in everything to them. Teach them to pray. Second, James 5 teaches –
The Healing Potential of Prayer
Illness is fundamental to the human experience. One of our most garden-variety troubles living in a fallen world is that we get sick. And what do we do when we get sick?
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.
And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
—James 5:14-16a
There are several basic propositions that rise from these 3 verses. One is that the desire for healing is a good desire. Typically, if someone is to experience healing, they, first, have to want it. That’s why counselors look for some initiative on the part of their clients before they make any moves toward them. It’s more than likely the reason Jesus said to the paralyzed man who laid by the pool of Bethesda, “Do you want to get well?” So, it’s right and good to ask God for healing. Now all that might seem obvious. But think about it. Here’s another personal confession. When I get sick, or I’ve got some physical issue, my first impulse is NOT to pray. My first impulse is to be frustrated. All it takes is the onset of a scratchy throat, and I go, “Oh no. Not now. I can’t sick now.”
And notice how James covers all the categories of Pray-ers. In v. 13, we’re commanded to pray, personally, for ourselves. My first impulse is not to ask God to heal me. In v. 14, we’re commanded to ask for prayer by those who represent the church to which we belong. My first impulse is not to ask the other pastors to pray for my healing. In v. 16, we are commanded to pray for each another in our spiritual community. My first impulse in not to ask my brothers/sisters in Christ to pray for my healing. That’s revealing, isn’t it? It’s revealing how powerful and pervasive is our personal struggle with pride and self-preservation. “I can do this. I’m not weak. I’ll show you how self-sufficient I am.” Pride is a chronic condition under which we all suffer. Is anyone among you suffering the effects of pride? James tells us what to do.
And do you see how everything in James’ letter relates to everything. Trials, sin, sickness, pride and humility, disordered desires, steadfastness, patience, and maturity, and above all, the supremacy of God’s providence over it all. Suffering and sickness – Oh yes, they are triggers. But they are purposeful triggers to reveal to us our self-serving, self-righteous, self-worshipping idolatries. And further, they are intended to reveal our violation of the first commandment so that – to the end that we would repent and turn from our idolatries, and entrust ourselves to the One and Only wise God who can deliver us, and forgive us, and carry us to the finish line where we will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him, and bow down and worship Him.
I should say a word about v. 14. My own interpretation is that James is referring to a situation where a church member has an affliction that hinders him/her from coming to the elders for prayer. I say, “church member” because the admonition is to call “the elders of the church.” The elders of which church? The elders of the church to which you belong. If you are not a member of this covenant community (or any other covenant community), then become one. It resolves so much confusion, and so many frustrated expectations. And I say, “an affliction that hinders this person from coming to the elders” because v. 15, says, “And the Lord will raise him up.”
Apparently, the nature of the condition keeps the individual from getting up and getting out. So, there are limitations. And when you are experiencing such limitations, let us know, and we will come to you, and pray over you, and anoint you with oil in Jesus’ name.
What’s oil have to do with it? Applying oil is a symbolic act. There are generally no healing properties to oil. The symbol has no power in and of itself to bring about healing. But it is an outward expression of care, and the power of God’s grace, which could also be said of prayer itself. Prayer, itself, doesn’t heal. God heals. But the oil, and the prayer, and the laying on of hands, and the care, and the community of a church, these are all vessels by which/through which God communicates His presence and power.
It is our habit on the last Sunday of the month to make our prayer team available to pray for people. We make time at the close of our worship meeting to pray for people and their troubles and cares and conditions. And last month one individual for whom I prayed came up and said, “I haven’t done this before so what do I do?” And I said, “Where does it hurt?” And this person then explained two or three physical challenges. One of which was numbness in the feet. Then I asked, “Are you ok with me anointing you with oil?” We want to be respectful. This person, said, “Isn’t that how you’re supposed to do it?” I said, “It is. And is it ok if the oil has a fragrance to it?” You never know if someone may not find a scent to be helpful. “That’s fine.” So, I explained that our prayer team uses oil that is more costly than, you know, olive oil from Trader Joes, or Hyvee brand canola because, again, it symbolically represents the preciousness and worth of the grace of God. So, the oil we use has the scent of frankincense. “Fine?” “Fine.” So, then I prayed. I prayed in the name of the Lord. “Father in heaven. Cause your name to hallowed and revered and praised. We believe that You rule and reign as King over all. And if it would please you to reveal your authority and dominion over everything, including this condition – over these numb feet – please do that. Reveal the present power and authority of King Jesus over this physical condition. May Your will be done in these feet and nerve endings as Your will is being done in heaven.” (We may be certain that there are “numb” feet in heaven.) Something to that effect.
After I had prayed, and waited a few moments, I asked, “How you doing? You sense anything happening? You feel anything?” And this person says, “My feet are cold.” And I asked, “Is that a good thing?” And the person said, “Well, considering I haven’t felt anything in my feet for the past seven years, yea. It’s a good thing.” So, with that encouragement, I prayed some more. And sent this person on their way.
The following week, I reached out to this individual to see where things were at. And the response was this - “You know it was the weirdest thing. As you prayed, my feet got cold. But after I got out to my car to drive home, my feet got hot.” And I said, “That’s weird?” “Yea. But all week I’ve been going barefoot in my house, because for the first time in seven years I can feel the carpet between my toes.”
Now, you need to know, that we’re not into “name it and claim it.” We’re not into “faith healers.” But we do entrust ourselves to God’s power, and providence, and passion to display His presence and goodness however and whenever He pleases. We do entrust ourselves to His sovereign Spirit to impart “gifts of healing” however and whenever He pleases. And we pray for healing because God’s Word commands us to. And I should add that as I prayed that day for the Lord to heal numbness in that individual’s feet, I had also asked members of our team to pray for numbness I have been experiencing in my right hand. The numbness in one person’s feet has gone, while the numbness in this hand remains. I have no explanation. But it’s NOT because we did not pray. It’s not for disobedience to God’s commands in James 5:13-18. So, there is a spiritual dynamic to praying which must be respected. Look again at James 5:15-16
The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
—James 5:15-16
Commentators point out that James seems to draw a parallel between v. 15 where it says, “The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick . . . The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
What does this mean?
A Biblical Example of Prayer
In the person and prayer of the prophet Elijah, James offers an illustration of what he’s getting at in reference to “the prayer of faith” and “the prayer of a righteous person” having great power. Look at vv. 17-18,
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
—James 5:17-18
It is remarkable that James would choose Elijah as an illustration for “the prayer of faith” and the “prayer of a righteous person.” He could have chosen, instead, a man like Daniel. Daniel saw dramatic, tangible, miraculous answers to prayer. The problem is that Daniel, to most of us, can seem too good, too great to be true. His faith was unwavering. His practice of prayer was structured and well-disciplined. His wisdom and giftedness seemed to know no bounds. He always seemed to know exactly what to do in each, and every situation. His competency and capacity are presented as nearly unattainable. But Elijah? Well, he’s “a man with a nature like ours.” Meaning, he’s ordinary. That’s why James calls his number.
The relevant part of Elijah’s story is recounted in 1 Kings 17-19. He had seen some amazing miracles happen over the years of his ministry. He had accurately prophesied a three and a half year drought. He was miraculously fed by ravens. He had witnessed a widow’s meager supply of food multiplied and replenished day after day. Elijah had been God’s instrument in bringing her son back to life after he had died. And his bright and shining moment was his victorious showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. That resume sounds anything but ordinary.
However, it is right after Mt Carmel that Elijah, the mighty man of God, shrivels up in depression. And he flees for his life before the threats of a woman whose lackeys he had just humiliated. Then, he expressed even deeper-seated self-importance, and self-delusion by protesting to God that he was – well here it is in his own words. 1 Kings 19:10, “I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”
What Elijah needed, like the rest of us ordinary folk, was something to eat, and a good night’s sleep. And therein lies the reality of James’ comment, “Elijah was a man with a nature (an ordinary human nature) like ours.” He was a man with a mixture of passions and failings. He didn’t always hit a home run. His prayer life, at least as it is recorded for us, was not extensive. His mental/emotional life was uneven. Which makes him just the kind of guy with whom we can identify, and therefore, learn from.
Even though his combustible temperament could lead him into trouble, it also had its advantages. The same passion he demonstrated in dealing with God’s enemies, and proved to be a general weakness when it came to his dramatic mood swings, was also applied to his praying. “He prayed fervently.” He didn’t just say prayers. He prayed prayers. Listen. Elijah had no resources of his own to get stuff done. He was not a powerful man in the land by human standards. He had no armies he could muster and command. He had no money with which he might leverage a situation. All Elijah had was God. So, unless God came through, he was done, and all Israel with him. But here’s the thing. Elijah predicated his entire life on his friendship with God. And he asserted himself on the basis that God would hear him. And that’s the burden of James 5 for each and every one of us.
Elijah prayed in faith. Faith in what? Faith in God’s Word. Faith in what God had said. Faith in God’s purposes. Faith in God’s promises. He prayed the Word of God back to God. What word did he pray? It seems quite likely that Elijah prayed Dt. 11:16-17.
Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them.
Then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain, and the land will yield no fruit.
—Deuteronomy 11:16-17
Can you hear Elijah’s prayer? “Oh Lord, your people have given themselves to idols. They’re bowing down to the idol of self. Oh, God, keep your covenant. Fulfill your Word, and act! Shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain!” You see, the prayer of faith is not something that we work up from within. The prayer of faith rises from entrusting ourselves to the very things God has said He will do, and then asking Him to do them, and trusting He will do them. The Spirit of God works in tandem with the Word of God, according to the assurance we have in the New Covenant of God, established, once for all, in the shed blood and death of Jesus, the Son of God. It’s for this reason, we can be confident that -
The prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
—James 5:15-16
The hope for answered prayer is not in us, but in God, for the glory of God in all He has done, and has promised He will do. His aim is to make us steadfast people by making us praying people. Therefore, LET US PRAY!