Is Anyone Among You Sick? - James 5:12-16
Is Anyone Among You Sick? - James 5:12-16
LaDonna 0:00
Welcome to Healing Waters – The Podcasts!
I am LaDonna Sanders, here to remind you that God wants you well in your mind, body, soul, and spirit!
III John 1:2 says, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
Join me as we check out what good news our creator has to say in today's Healing Waters Devotional!
LaDonna 0:27.9
Healing Waters - Day 58
James 5:12-16- But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. 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: 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. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Today's devotional starts nicely, telling us not to swear and to keep our conversations short, suggesting that talking too much will lead to sin, lying, and over exaggerating. The next portion of this scripture has some words of wisdom for the troubled and the happy. It says if you are afflicted, which means in pain, suffering, distress, or troubled, you should pray. Luke 18:1 says, "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not faint;" Don't let the pain and trouble get the best of you! Don't throw away your confidence in God because things are hard or you're hurting. God has been faithful to you; take Him your pain. He's promised to be with you, to hear when you call out to him, and provide genuine peace and healing. So, if you are in pain, suffering, distressed or troubled, pray!
Verse 13 says, "Is any merry? Let him sing psalms." Are you happy? Then sing praises, sing psalms to God. Psalms were the praise hymns of the early church. (Jack W. Hayford, 2002) Friends, our expressed thanksgiving and gratitude through song invites the presence of God into our midst. Our praises to God serve as a welcome, an invitation to God to rule and reign in our affairs. Psalm 22:3 says, "But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel."
Verse 14 in our devotional text deals with the sick; it says, "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: 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." This section of scripture is a key, a key to receive healing and spiritual restoration for the sick. If you are sick, you should call for the elders (leaders) of the church. Church Leaders are then instructed to pray over the sick and to anoint the sick with oil in the name of the Lord. This verse of scripture says that kind prayer, the prayer of faith, will affect the whole person, they will receive the healing, and if the person has sinned, their sins will be forgiven.
If you are reading this and you're sick or know someone ill, maybe it's time to call elders. If you are an elder surrounded by sick individuals in your family or church, perhaps it time to call the church leaders together and pray over the sick. It's not complicated; everyone involved must participate. It takes a certain degree of faith for a sick person to ask the elders to pray. It takes a certain degree of faith to petition God for someone else's healing and restoration. I believe God has given us a key to unlock healing and restoration in our midst if we use it.
Verse 16, the last portion of our devotional text, is equally important. It says, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." This verse tells me that unconfessed sin and a lack of compassion for others can hinder your healing. God wants us well in our minds, bodies, souls, and spirit. He is concerned about the whole person. Sin, unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, doubt, and junk in our hearts are blessing blockers. These things limit God's ability to work in our lives. We must confess our sins and allow the Lord to cleanse us from all unrighteousness; then, are we better able to intercede for others. The Lord loves us, and He wants us to love and care for each other. The Lord wants us to care enough to pray for our family members, even the ones who work our nerves. He wants us to pray for our neighbors, co-workers, bosses, the good ones, and the horrible ones. This scripture says the sincere, passionate, and intense prayer of a righteous man ( a person in right standing with God) avails much, which means it is effective; it carries great weight.
Friends, we have been given a strategy to regain our health and keys that will unlock that same healing and restoration for others. Let's take a moment today and think about our devotional text. What is God saying to you? Obey Him! Together, let's act on the word and trust the Lord to release His healing power in our midst!
Let's Pray
Lord, today we thank you for your word. We thank you for your strategy and instruction. We will sing psalms, and we will call for the elders of the church. Lord, we thank that healing is our portion. Father, we confess that we have sinned, forgive us, and set us free from everything that would hinder your perfect will from being done in and through us today! Father, we praise you because you are worthy. We bless your Holy Name because you have been good to us! We thank you for your patience and your mercy! We thank you for your love and your faithfulness! Lord be magnified! Lord, be exalted in the earth and help us to be mindful to pray for the sick and hurting in our midst. Lord, help us to share your love! Father, we welcomed you to have your way in our hearts and pour out your Holy Spirit upon us afresh this day. Guide us into all truth, rule, and reign in our affairs, for your glory, in Jesus Mighty Name, Amen!
LaDonna 00:08:30.1
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