Sunday's Message - 01/23/2011

This Sunday's message continues on last week's study in the book of James.

James 5:13-20 ¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. ¹⁷ Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. ¹⁸ Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. ¹⁹ My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

PRAY!

If we take a closer look at this scripture we have to take notice as to what we are being asked to do. If we are in trouble, we should PRAY. The word does not tell us to "quote scripture", "read someone's book" or even "read the word", but to PRAY.

Next the scripture asks: "Is any sick among you?" This sickness can be described as MENTAL, PHYSICAL, or SPIRITUAL. The saints need to realize that the church is the hospital for sick people. The scripture tells the sick person to "call" for the elders. The individual must first realize that he or she is not well. The act of calling is vital.

Romans 10:12-14 ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ¹⁴ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

As a Christian, it is key to confess to those that are able to get a prayer through. The question becomes: Can people have that much power? Take Elijah for example. He is an example of an ordinary man that was used extraordinarily by God.