Faithful on Fridays Blog

5:13-20

Pastor James closed his letter by asking if anyone is suffering, reminding us of his opening: meeting trials of various kinds, or being tested (1:2-3)? If the answer is yes, then the solution is prayer. Sounds too easy, I know, but communing with Jesus via the Spirit, being in His Presence, is where you receive the wisdom you need (1:5) to stay out of crisis and stay in joy. 

Well, you’re not suffering at the moment, everything is going well; James anticipated that answer so he continued that if anyone is cheerful, then he should be singing praises to God and worshipping Him. Prayer and Praise.

What if you’re sick or exhausted? The solution is calling on the elders of your church, who’ve been trained in God’s Word and full of faith to pray over you with anointing oil as a visual of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Let’s consider that.

The first mention of anointing oil is when God’s people were wandering in the wilderness under Moses’ leadership and God desired to be with them. He gave specific instructions to build a place for His presence and distinct ways His people could come to Him. The priests were anointed with oil to show their dedication, position, and God’s blessing to represent them to Him and represent God to them. In the New Testament believers experienced a type of anointing of the Spirit for the first time at Pentecost when they were filled with the Spirit and power to be His witnesses.

The apostle John later mentioned the anointing of the Spirit that dwells in us today (1 John 2:20, 27) to give us knowledge as He teaches us. 

When an elder, or even a mature believer, anoints someone with oil for healing it’s a visual representation of their faith in God as healer. After a time of confession and repentance the oil and the prayer of faith sets the stage for the Lord to heal; the believer is simply the vessel while God controls what happens next. It’s crucial to remember that Pastor James was encouraging his congregation that there’s great power in their prayers for each other. We need that reminder as well. As an example of great power in prayer Elijah prayed for no rain and for 3 ½ years there was a drought. When he prayed again, it rained and fruit appeared on the trees! Mega-power in prayer.

Lastly, this pastor concludes his letter with a heart-cry for those who have strayed from faith. He told them that love for their faith family will have a definite impact, even if it’s tough love, to rescue them from their wandering into spiritual death. This isn’t salvation by faith, but a rescue for weak, impotent, or exhausted believers (vs. 15 ‘the sick’) who have undoubtedly let the trials and testings of this world overcome them (1:2).

Let this pastor’s words encourage you today in your faith-filled walk.