Is anyone among you sick? 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 will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. James 5:14-15 ESV
These verses are from a letter written to Jewish believers scattered among the Gentiles. It is the sole reference in the New Testament that specifically addresses healing for Christians. That is significant. This book’s primary focus is on maintaining faith during challenging times and putting it into practice rather than merely discussing it. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves” (James 1:22 ESV).
James tells these Christians should they be sick, they should call for the church elders. These elders will pray over them anointing them with oil. Then the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up. The implication is that if their sickness is connected in some way to sin, that they will also be forgiven.
In order to be a “doer” of this word, you’re gonna need 3 things:
- A local church that believes in healing.
- A local church that has elders who know how to pray in faith.
- A local church that you are familiar enough with to be able to call them and have a reasonable expectation that someone will show up. (Or even that if you go to a service there that healing prayer will be available)
I know it’s possible to call the 800 number on the screen of the online evangelist and get some unknown person in an unknown location to pray for you. It’s also possible to pray and believe for yourself sitting at home on your sick bed. These things can work! But they are not the way that the only passage in the New Testament that deals with healing for believers says to do it.
If I were you, I would start today to look for a local church near you that meets requirements 1 & 2 above. Having located such a place, I would start to attend regularly so that if the need arises, I will have elders and a church that will allow me to be a doer of this word. Then I have a promise that the Lord will raise me up.
Be a doer of the word. Go to church!
pastorvirgil.com 