Pray for One Another

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. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:14-16 ESV

God provides healing for the Christian whose faith, for whatever reason, is not up to the task. First, call for the elders of the church. The elders should pray over the sick and anoint them with oil. Then the prayer of faith can do its job and bring healing.

Then comes that pesky last clause in verse 15, “And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” The implication is that there are some conditions that won’t be healed without repentance. That doesn’t mean that all illness is a direct result of sin. It does mean that it could be. Think about that difficult passage in 1 Corinthians concerning the Lord’s table:

Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 1 Corinthians 11:28-30

So, what sins may keep us from receiving healing? In 1 Corinthians, Paul is addressing sins against other believers specifically: “without discerning the body.” Examine yourself! James has been expanding on this subject right up to the verse before this passage. He talks at length about treating others with love and dignity no matter what their social status, not mistreating the poor or showing partiality to the pretty people.

He devoted two chapters to the sins of the tongue, including cursing others, exhibiting envy and self-seeking, passing judgment, and bragging. Anything that brings division is a definite no-no. He includes not keeping your word and even the passive sins of omission. That’s quite a list.

When we consider this along with Paul’s comment, the common denominator is clear: anything that harms others or brings division to the church is sin. Looking again to Paul,

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Sins against the body of believers must be addressed and made right. God takes them very seriously. God forgives you when you confess to Him, no matter what you’ve done. If you’ve harmed others, you must ask for their forgiveness. In some cases, restitution is necessary. In short, anything in your heart that causes you to cringe and hold back in the presence of God will hinder your ability to pray in faith. Thank God, He has provided a solution!

If you’re struggling with faith and healing, but you’re not sure what is holding you up, go to someone you trust. Hopefully you have church leaders or older Christians you can reach out to. Be honest with them and let them help you clarify the problem. If you need to be forgiven, they can pray with you. If you’ve already asked God’s forgiveness, then He has forgiven you. Don’t let condemnation or shame keep you away from God’s promise. It may help to share with someone you trust and let them pray with you. Remember the goal: God wants you whole, inside and out.