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Suffering, Sickness, Healing
Introduction: As we move toward the close of this extremely practical book of James, in Chapter 5:7-12 James mentions the word PATIENCE 5 times to his scattered Jewish friends. In verses 13-18 he uses the word PRAY 7 times. In James 5:13-15 we find that God is interested in our emotional and physical well being.
“Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. (14) 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: (15) 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.”
Did you notice the three questions James asked and what the three answers were?
Is any among you afflicted? What are you to do? PRAY!
Is any among you merry (happy)? What are you to do? SING! Literally sing praises unto the Lord?
Is any among you physically sick? What are you to do? CALL for the pastors to PRAY!
First Question: “Is any among you afflicted?” Now the word afflicted has to do with suffering. We could translate this question, "Is any one of you in trouble?" From the context, we can understand more fully what James had in mind. Many of these Christians were facing severe trials.
They were working for non-Christians who wouldn't pay them their wages, verse 4.
While they were unable to meet their personal needs, the employers were living in luxury and self-indulgence, verse 5.
Others were being falsely accused, and some were even being sentenced to death, verse 6.
Who among us has not felt the pain of troubles in life? Perhaps you have felt:
The pain of rejection from those you love;
The mental anguish because of a wayward son or daughter; or even
The daily pressure to keep up with the demands of work, school and home life.
So when facing these stresses in life, James' answer is to PRAY.
David in Psalm 18:4-6 said, "The sorrows of death compassed me about, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me. IN MY DISTRESS I CALLED UPON THE LORD, and cried unto my God; He heard my voice…"
Paul wrote in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
There is no problem, no concern, and no affliction that is too small to warrant God’s concern. Think about that for a moment. Notice Paul said, "nothing and everything." That means God is interested in every detail of my life and yours! Listen to the Hymn which captures this truth:
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble ANYWHERE?
We should NEVER be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our EVERY weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Second Question: "Is any merry?" Another way of saying this would be, "Is anyone cheerful? Is anyone happy?" Life is filled with those moments that are distressful and make us sad, as well of those moments that are exciting and exhilarating.
God never planned for life, even the Christian life, to be one continuous "mountaintop experience." In fact, we wouldn't enjoy the "mountaintop" if we did not experience a few "valleys." Paul recognized this in Romans 12:15 where we read, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn."
If anyone is cheerful, "let him sing psalms." James is saying if we are enjoying life in a special way, we should not forget the SOURCE of that happiness. We should praise the Lord!
We should be praising God with the same serious demeanor as when we are praying to God. In I Chronicles 16:8-10 we read, "Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name, make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto Him, SING PSALMS unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works. Glory ye in His holy name; let the heart of them rejoice who seek the Lord."
Of what value is praising God with Psalms? Both in periods of suffering and trouble, and in times of joy, prayer and praise alike acknowledge that GOD IS ALL SUFFICIENT.
“Is any troubled? Then pray. Is any happy? Then praise.” Now we come to the third question.
Third Question: “Is any sick among you?" Once again James answered his own question in verses 14-15. “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: (15) 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.”
There are at least two basic reasons why his answer appears to be confusing and controversial to some Christians.
On the OBJECTIVE side, the Bible says a lot about physical healing. Over 468 verses in the Gospels deal with healing, as you find many of Jesus’ miracles were that of healing people physically.
On the SUBJECTIVE side, physical illness is very threatening. The prospect of dying is frightening, whether it involves us personally, or a loved one. When facing death, we desperately want help. For most of us, there is no price too great to pay. A dying man or woman will respond to any ray of hope.
Today thousands travel around the world seeking those who claim to have the gift of healing. Testimonies of people declaring they have been healed abound. Special “anointed” cloths are even sold that are said to have healing powers.
Are these things real?
What about the use of medicine?
Should we trust God alone for healing?
What do you think?
More importantly, what does God think?
The desire to seek God's help in times like these is natural, IT IS BIBLICAL! It is God's will. WE SHOULD ASK FOR PRAYER! WE SHOULD ASK FOR HEALING! James could not be clearer. However, before we turn to James, let’s take a brief look at several foundational truths relative to the subject of faith healing.
Number 1: Sometimes there is a direct relationship between personal sin and sickness. Remember the story of David and Bathsheba in II Samuel 11-12?
David committed adultery with Bathsheba, arranged for her husband to be killed, and then refused to acknowledge his sin for some time. After a rebuke from the prophet Nathan, David confessed and repented.
Psalm 32 reveals the physical sufferings he experienced while refusing to acknowledge his sin. In verse 3-4 we read, “When I kept silent, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer.”
Number 2: Sometimes there is no relationship between personal sin and sickness:
In Mark 2:1-12 we read of Jesus encountering a sick man, where he first forgave his sins and then healed him. Some sickness is a result of sin and some sickness is not a result of sin.
On the other hand in John 9:1-3, we have Jesus healing the man who had been born blind. In verse 2b-3 we read, “And his disciples asked him, saying Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, "neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be manifested in him."
His illness was not a direct result of sin. This passage clearly teaches that "all sickness is not a direct result of sin." Some sickness is a result of sin and some sickness is not a result of sin.
Number 3: God does allow for the use of doctors and medicine in the healing process.
In Colossians 4:4 Paul refers to his beloved physician, Dr. Luke.
In Thessalonians 5:23 Paul prescribed a little wine. Actually it was grape juice for Timothy's stomach problems.
In Matthew 9:12 Jesus said, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick."
This shows God does use medicine. However, we must remember that medicine does not make you well any more than does the baptismal pool save you. You are saved by the precious blood of Jesus. In the same way healing takes place because of the sovereign will of God.
Number 4: It is not God’s will that everyone be healed. As you study the Gospels you will find Jesus did heal the sick. Did He heal all the sick? No! In some instances Jesus just singled out certain ones in order to demonstrate His deity.
Please listen carefully. There are times that God may grant healing, if it is His sovereign will to do so. But in many cases He allows His children to continue to suffer. This does not indicate a lack of faith on our part or on their part. Someone said, "Sometimes we can learn more of God's grace and love in sickness than in health, and often we can glorify Him more through suffering than we can in health and prosperity."
According to Acts 20:7-12, 28:7-9, Paul had the gift of healing.
Yet he left Trophimus sick in Miletus, II Timothy 4:20.
Epaphroditus almost died while ministering to Paul in Philippians 2:25-27
Even Paul asked God three times to remove his “thorn in the flesh,” but God said “My grace is sufficient for you.” In II Corinthians 12:9 Paul was a man of faith, a man of prayer, and a servant of God. Yet God didn't want him healed.
So what do we do? Do we just go to a doctor? Do we just take some medicine? Yes, but there is more. We are to PRAY! In some instances when we are beyond any hope from the human stand point we are to call for the pastors to pray for us.
Now let’s look more closely at James 5:14-15, where we are given some very explicit directions as to what we are to do when we are sick. The word translated sick in verse 14 is the Greek word meaning "without strength."
It refers to a very serious illness or injury.
It carries the idea of being totally incapacitated.
The implication is they are so sick that medical science has done all it can, and now it is up to God to intervene and act. From these verses we can gather FOUR important truths, we are to take into account when a person in the church is gravely ill.
First: When a Christian is seriously ill, he or she should call for the Pastors of the church. I say Pastors since the word "elders" refers to the pastors. This does not refer to "professional healers," who go from place to place conducting healing meetings. In fact, nowhere in Scripture do we have examples of what we see today in so called “healing meetings.”
Please notice the SICK PERSON is to take the initiative and call for the pastors. There’s no way anyone can know you’re sick unless you tell them. And yet, many expect everyone to somehow know, and then they complain when nobody comes to help. When we become seriously ill, our first step is to make others aware of our needs.
Let me say I very definitely believe this passage of scripture is for TODAY. Anyone of you in this congregation has the perfect right to ask me to come and pray in the name of the Lord that you may be healed. However, this does not always mean you will be healed. God does heal. However,
Sometimes God wants people to die and go to heaven.
Sometimes God wants people to stay sick, as a testimony of God’s grace and for His glory.
There are those who could be healed, if they would obey God's simple admonition here.
Second: The Pastors are to come and pray over the sick person in the name of the Lord. This means to pray according to the "will of God." We can only ask and pray that God will do what is ultimately best.
When one has prayed for themselves for healing, and
When one has done all there is to do medically,
Then the pastor's are to pray with a sense of humility, realizing that God is ultimately in control of human destiny.
Third: The Pastors are to anoint the sick person with oil. The words James used, "Anoint with oil," actually means "to rub with oil." He was probably referring to the ancient custom of rubbing the sick person with OLIVE OIL. It was a means whereby they attempted to help the sick person feel better.
There is only one other place where oil is mentioned along with healing and that is in Mark 6:12-13 where Jesus sent the twelve disciples "out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them."
In the Old Testament the use of olive oil was used as an act of dedication on the part of the one surrendering to God. It is for this reason I believe the use of oil is symbolic as we pray for the sick. God does heal with and without oil. In fact, if there is healing, God did it.
Fourth: The Pastors are to pray in faith. Thank God that He sees beyond our human limitations and honors what faith we do have, just as Jesus did for the man who came asking Him to heal his son and confessing, "Lord, I do believe, help my unbelief." Jesus did honor this request and healed the man's son.
Now, if we understand God's power and the fact He can do anything, it is not difficult for any believer to pray for healing "in faith." However, to be able to pray with this kind of faith means understanding God's sovereignty.
We must acknowledge that God responds to OUR FAITH IN HIS ABILITY TO HEAL,
NOT IN OUR FAITH THAT HE IS GOING TO HEAL IN EVERY SITUATION.
Did you notice that James never once mentions faith healers?
I believe in divine healing. I do not believe in divine healers.
I believe in faith healing. I do not believe in faith healers. There is a great difference.
I believe that God in His sovereign grace and power will in fact reach down in some cases and change a condition.”
Over the years I have participated in prayer sessions for sick people with some of the deacons. With other Pastors and deacons I have used oil, in a symbolic way and have prayed in the name of the Lord for healing.
On occasions I've seen God answer our prayers in marvelous ways. When God heals, remember to thank Him and give Him the glory!
At other times, I've seen the Lord take home to heaven those for whom we have so diligently prayed.
Please on those occasions when God has not healed,
We must humbly accept it as the will of God.
We must not feel it is a lack of faith on our part or on the part of the one that is ill.
We must not become suspicious that it's because of some sin in our lives or in the life of the one who is dying.
Rather, if our hearts have been right towards God, we must accept the illness as the will of God!
And in many respects, God has answered our prayers. To deliver a soul from pain and suffering through death is a glorious release for a terminally ill person.
I believe God has enabled us to see Christians face death with a proper perspective. We prayed much for them. In some cases we went to their homes and together as Pastors and Deacons we prayed over them. But God did not choose to heal. However, they left us a precious testimony of faith and a picture of dying grace.
Can God work miracles in our time of sufferings? Yes he can.
Can God heal us in our sickness? Yes, He is able, and He at times works miraculously in the lives of some of his people.
But is there healing for all of us? No, my friends, not until one day we are received up into glory
Where there will be no more pain, and
Where there will be no more suffering, and
Where there will be peace forevermore.
Aside from God’s miracle of PHYSICAL HEALING, there is also the miracle of SPIRITUAL HEALING that God already completed at Calvary. There in love He gave His only begotten Son to shed His blood that would provide the means to pardon our sins and cleanse our souls.
It just maybe that right now you need that soul cleansing.
It just maybe be that right now you need to pray, "Lord I confess I am a sinner and right now I take Jesus’ payment for my sins, and save me in Jesus name."
As you are considering the need of your soul, listen to this wonderful hymn that captures the thought of our text from James 5.
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care.
And bids me at my Father's throne,
Make all my wants and wishes known;
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escape the tempter's snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.
Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear,
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless;
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His word and trust His grace,
I'll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer.
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If God has spoken to your heart after reading the sermon “Suffering, Sickness, and Healing,” then right now talk to God about what He has spoken to you.
Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us in
Acts 16:31, “…Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…”
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”
If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior let me know? Please send an e-mail to, pdmikBBM@aol.com and I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian life.
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In His Amazing Grace,
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