BROKEN LIVES - BROKEN BODIES - BROKEN SPIRITS
# 10 James 5:13-16
Introduction
Many times visited sick - and wished there was something more I could do.
Examples:
Annie: - PR don’t pray for my healing I’m almost home
Jim. – Hep. 47 yrs old - gladly trade him for 2-3 others
Ron. – godly man
James – man of prayer in every circumstance.
He used to enter into the temple and be found kneeling and praying for forgiveness for people, so that his knees grew hard like a camel’s because of his constant worship of God, ... So often did he pray that he was referred to as "Old Camel Knees," because he developed knots on his knees from his long sessions of prayer. From his excessive righteousness he was called the Just. (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History Vol 1)
Word "Prayer" - used 7 X’s in this passage (James 5:13-20)
* IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE OF LIFE, PRAYER IS THE PROPER RESPONSE
I. Broken lives - Healing For The Troubled
James 5:13* Scattered tribes - were troubled on every hand.
- been driven from their homes - dispersed from Jerusalem
- suffered at the hands of foreign armies
1. Trouble Is The One Certainty Of Life
* Don’t have to go looking for it. It knows your address. It will find you.
Is anyone among you suffering? James 5:13
Kakopaqei (Kak op ath eh’ o) = hardships and distresses - afflicted
with God to comfort and strengthen them
- many times try everything else before we pray.
NIV "Is any one of you in trouble"
- mental or emotional suffering.- - Not refer to physical sickness
* James is wrapping us his book on the same theme he started with
(James 1:5)
1. Hardships Brought On By The Circumstances of Life
Sometimes Life Is Hard:
Illustrate
2. Hardships Brought On By Other People
- persecuted, abused, those treated wickedly by others
WHAT IN THE WORLD SHOULD YOU DO WHEN YOU FACE PERSECUTION, TRIALS AND TROUBLE?
2. Prayer Is The Proper Response To Trouble
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER VARIOUS TRIALS AND TROUBLES. Pray
* The antidote for suffering – pray
Present Tense: He must continually pray
- don’t grumble and complain – don’t get ticked at those who are not suffering (the favourite Bible verse of some Christians is "Misery loves company" - actually not in the Bible). – don’t blame God.
PRAY AND ASK GOD FOR WISDOM AND GRACE TO SUSTAIN YOU IN YOUR AFFLICTION. (James 1:5 etc)
– God the ultimate source of comfort
the God who comforts us. 4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. (2 Cor 1:3-4 NLT)
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7)
– God the Ultimate Source Of All Strength And Resources
When life is difficult, when believers are weak in faith, weary with persecution, and crushed by affliction, they must continually plead
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escaped the tempters snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer
3. When Your Cheerful Give God Praise
Not Everyone Is Afflicted at the Same Time. There are many cheerful times in life.
Euthumeo (yoo-thoo-meh'-o); = to be cheerful
- used only one other time (Acts 27:22 ) in Paul’s efforts to cheer up his companions
Let him sing psalms.
Psallo (psal'-lo); - to twitch or twang, i.e. to play on a stringed instrument – to sing usually with a guitar (harp)
TO SING AND PRAISE GOD.
- Praising God is a form of prayer.
– Sing & Praise in Good Times and Bad
Paul in prison - in stocks
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them (Acts 16:25)
Praising God in the good times is as important as praying in the bad times. Both in times of suffering and trouble and in times of joy, prayer and praise alike acknowledge that OUR GOD IS SUFFICIENT.
II. Broken Bodies - Healing For The Body
James 5:14-16NOT A BLANKET FORMULA FOR HEALING THE SICK
- this does not teach that God will heal in every case
1. Is Anyone Sick
astheneo (as-then-eh'-o);
- "to be without strength" – incapacitated
Same word used for Epaphroditus who was at the point of death
- Not the common cold. – Serious Illness
1. Sickness Is Part Of The Human Experience
* False teaching that it is the will of God for every Christian who gets sick to be healed or that healing of is covered in redemption.
— If we are to believe that healing is a right of the cross, then we should assume that Christians should not die.
And by His stripes we are healed. (Isa 53:5)
Context: healing of spiritual condition of sin.
Paul’s Companions
Epaphroditus
For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. (Phil 2:27)
Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.
(2 Tim 4:20)
* To say that God’ desires everyone to be healed has no basis in scripture or in experience.
2. Several Reasons People Get Sick
I) Natural Consequence of Living in Sin Cursed World
ii) As A Consequence Of Our Own Actions
iii) It Is From The Chastening Hand Of God
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE SERIOUS SICKNESS. Pray
- don’t neglect going to the Doctor, but PRAY
2. Call For The Elders Of The Church
- Not Faith Healers — Not Go To Healing Service etc.
* Spiritual Leaders — Shepherds – Care for You - God’s Authority
3. Consecrate Yourself - Have The Elders Anoint You With Oil
"let them pray over him having anointed him"
* Never a mention of Jesus using oil
- only one other ref. Mark 6:13 - disciples anointed the sick with oil and prayed
WHAT’S THE PURPOSE OF ANOINTING WITH OIL?
1. Some Say Oil Was Used For Healing
- Elders were to use the best medical skills available - then pray
- good idea - Medical Care and Prayer
* Good Samaritan poured oil on the beaten man
– I am not convinced this is the best explanation.
2. Anointing With Oil Was An Act Of Dedication And Surrender
And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him, to consecrate him. (Lev. 8:13 )
* Implies A Full Surrender To God And God Along By The One Anointed. – SYMBOL OF CONSECRATION
* Oil also symbol of the Holy Spirit and His Healing Power.
4. Have Elders Pray Over You
Illustrate:
* In Hospital – one elder brought me a get well card.
"The Board Voted 6-5 to send you this get well card"
The Prayer of Faith
VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE PRAYER OF FAITH
"The Prayer of Faith Is A Prayer Offered When You Know the Will of God."
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. (1 John 5:14-15)
– Prayer of Faith will always bring healing.
– not the same as saying God always heals.
- Elders seek mind of God - Pray According To His Will
* When they know the will of God - they can pray with confidence
- Prayer is not about telling God what He must do. Prayer is about taping into God’s will, plan and purpose.
Illustrate: (Bob ) - have Elders meet person - pray for a week and ask God to show them His will and plan
- not always God’s will to heal
- Bob - to a man Elders sensed God saying God would heal him but not immediately. I sensed two weeks. - Prayed accordingly and prayed in faith – Bob raised up in two weeks.
Other Times - sensed there was something more going on and God did not give the assurance of healing.
5. Confess Your Sin And Repent
Vs. 15-16
* All sickness is not the direct result of Sin. However, we do know that many illnesses both emotional and physical have spiritual roots.
* Sometimes you are sick because there is unconfessed sin
* Sometimes you are sick because you are under the discipline of God.
The NT teaches that sickness may stem from sin, and James therefore urged the need for ... confrontation by the Elders of the Church. Pastors always ought to be aware of their obligations in this matter when visiting the sick. It would seem that as a regular practice pastors should inquire into the possibility of sin as the root of the sickness." (Richard Mayhue "Divine Healing For Today)
- Confession of sin – helps us work through them so healing can come
EXAMPLE:
Depression – Stems from Pent Up Anger
- we make all kinds of excuses and hide behind modern psychology – hard reality is that virtually all depression stems from Pent up Anger.
– find out what you’re angry at and deal with it.
* Anointing With Oil – consecration – indication of the sick believer who is being chastened by sickness to come clean and confess their sin.
*CAUTION – not all sin is the result of sin or chastening but when it is - healing cannot be expected without Confession and Repentance
III. Broken Spirits - Healing For The Heart
* Aspect of this Passage – never considered before
Context: – Whole book of James – those who are suffering.
astheneo (as-then-eh'-o); "to be without strength"
All Translations - translate it "Sick"
OFTEN REFERS TO SPIRITUAL- EMOTIONAL WEAKNESS
15x in NT translated "sick", but 14x refers to emotional or spiritual weakness.
Receive one who is weak in the faith. (Rom. 14:1)
1. Those Who Are Broken
CONTEXT:
1:1, 2,12 – scattered throughout Roman empire because of persecution. persecution under hands of the rich – struggle with everyday living, like how to control your tongue, living with integrity, divisions in the church, conflict with the world
5:7 patiently wait for coming of the Lord
THE PEOPLE HE IS WRITING TO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE MEAT GRINDER OF LIFE.
– fallen soldiers who lay wounded on the battlefield. They’ve tried to pray and depend on God but the battle has worn them down and they are weak, depressed, and feeling defeated.
SOMETIMES LIFE IS HARD AND IT KNOCKS THE WIND OUT OF YOUR SAILS AND LEAVES YOU WEAK AND YOUR SPIRIT IS BROKEN AND YOU DON’T THINK YOU CAN HANG ON.
I looked at context and asked: Could it be that James is saying -
When you’re without strength; when the battle has worn you down; when you can’t carry on; when you are looking up to see the bottom of the barrel and when everything seems helpless and lost; when you are going down for the third time and you’re too weak to hold on and you’re ready to give up; when you don’t know if you can even trust God anymore... CALL THE ELDERS.
2. Those Who Bring Healing
It’s in those times, when we are spiritually weak, we need the spiritually strong.
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. (1 Thess. 5:14-15)
Elders: We have the care of these people as our divine responsibility. And someday we will stand before the Great Shepherd of the sheep to give an account.
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness ... (Gal. 6:1)
Sometimes our people are weak. Sometimes they need discipline but sometimes they need the tender touch. They need us to come alongside them, to hold them up, to encourage them and carry them along until their strength is renewed.
Conclusion
Example of Physical and Emotional healing as a result of prayer.
