Words part 4 – when sick.

It seems every day we are hearing of someone struggling with their health. It happened again yesterday as I was told of someone critically ill.

What is coming out of the mouths of the sick today?

James has a response to this. He is closing down his letter and he does so by looking at the words we use. He has called us to pray, to sing and also to call upon the leaders of the church:

“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5 v 14-16)

The word translated ‘sick’ is a word used elsewhere in the Bible to mean a want of strength, weakness, distress, suffering and so ill health is just one meaning of the term. The word is covering all kinds of weakness, weariness, personal inadequacy, both spiritually and generally linked to a sense of rejection, powerlessness, incapacity, anxiety and demoralisation.

So what we have James saying is this:

In a period of suffering due to your faith – use words to pray for endurance.

In a time of happiness – use words to rejoice with singing.

In a time of weakness whether physical or spiritual then use words to ask for prayer.

Oil was regarded by the Jews as symbolising a number of characteristics that may have influenced and encouraged the one who was to be anointed. It indicated the presence of the Holy Spirit. Anointing was linked with restoration and strength. It occurred when a person had been healed of leprosy; such an act proving their cleansing and they were welcomed back into society. On other occasions oil was used to demonstrate that a new situation had come into being. This aspect would have been most encouraging to a sufferer about to be anointed, for it would fill them with a hope that their suffering would soon be over. Anointing was also linked with joy, with the granting of eternal life and with goodness and purity. These features would fill the person receiving prayer with positive feeling of hope. Anointing with oil is more than just symbolic. It can result in the sufferer feeling secure, knowing that they are in the presence of a God who does restore.

Should we anoint with oil today? If it enables the sufferer to focus on the Lord and if it fills them with a hope that God will restore then that is good. But it must not become more important than the prayer of faith. The important factor here is the call to pray. It is the words of faith; to ask; to call for help.

It is difficult to try and explain how prayer works. But prayer does work. Prayer impacts our world. For God is here. So don’t be afraid to ask for prayer. Call your elders, leadership team, or your Pastor, your friend, whoever it is call them to come and stand with you and petition God on your behalf and if they use oil then great! Above all believe in it for prayer does work!