In this series of posts on anointing with oil in the name of the Lord, we have explored James 5:13-16. We have considered thus far the need for prayer when seeking God for healing here Growing Christian Resources: Post #1 The Meaning Of Anointing With Oil In James 5:13-16 - Prayer Is A Pre-requisite To Anointing With Oil, as well as demonstrating God's concern for those who are physically ill in the church here Growing Christian Resources: Post #2 The Meaning Of Anointing With Oil In James 5:13-16 - How We Know God Is Concerned About Those Who Are Ill In The Church Today.
In the third post of this series here Growing Christian Resources: Post #3 The Meaning Of Anointing With Oil In James 5:13-16 - How It Is To Be Practiced In The Church we looked more closely at the act of anointing with oil and the manner in which God promises healing in James 5:14-15a. In the last post here Growing Christian Resources: Post #4 The Meaning Of Anointing With Oil In James 5:13-16 - The Spiritual Benefits Promised In Anointing WIth Oil we focused attention on the spiritual benefits that are offered by God in the act of anointing with oil in the name of the Lord in James 5:15b.
Today's post moves the study into James 5:16, with particular interest in
How God's power and provision to heal ought to be more emphasized in the church's teaching and pastoral ministry. James 5:16. We also plan to conclude the series today with some final practical applications related to this important command given to the local church.
How God's power and provision to heal ought to be more emphasized in the church's teaching and pastoral ministry. James 5:16. We also plan to conclude the series today with some final practical applications related to this important command given to the local church.
Commentary:
James 5:16 "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." (NASB)
The instructions James writes forth here in verse 16 are very public and very candid in how they portray a church family. It amazes this writer how freely James dispenses these instructions on administering anointing with oil as a necessary practice for the church, and how few churches practice it today. Could it be that developing greater love for one another and trusting relationships of care and concern are more important to God's plan for His church than chasing after success and size?
The verb translated "confess" reinforces in its meaning the idea of full disclosure of one's personal status to one another (which of course presumes already developed trust between believers in their fellowship with one another). Pastors, Elders and Deacons all need to work closely together in shepherding the local church membership with love and care. In Romans 10:9 we read in the NASB -
"that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved".
Here in James 5:16, the verb "confess" communicates that if a person is hiding any sin, they need to "unhide it" and tell those church members whom they trust or know (good elders and pastors develop such rapport with their people). The context indicates that those receiving the confession may need to do the same. It is then that James follows with the command for the membership in this circumstance to "pray on behalf of one another".
Now the question is: for what purpose are these commands being set forth by James in verse 16? The purpose of the commands in James 5:16 and the place of prayer throughout the text is clearly stated. Church members are called to a higher degree of Christ-like compassion and love.
Many churches today don't practice anointing with oil due to unfamiliarity or fear of introducing something weird into the church's life. May it be suggested that whenever the pastoral leadership and church membership have grown close together in a mutual, trusting relationship, acts of compassion such as anointing with oil won't be viewed as "weird", but rather as requested acts of pastoral ministry.
Moreover, increased familiarity with the scriptures' teaching on God's healing provision and the avoidance of extremes can diminish the sense of awkwardness concerning the teaching of God's healing provision.
What ought we to do after the act of anointing with oil is done?
This then leads to another question: what ought we to do after the act of anointing with oil has taken place? Does the one who received the anointing and those who performed it continue to pray? If so, why?
The first question can be answered with a simple answer: pray! The second question can also be answered with a short answer: "yes" - both the receiver of the anointing and those performing it need to keep on praying". By seeing how much anointing with oil is to be part of the church's overall life, God's provision and power to heal ought to become more mentioned in church's practical ministry to its people.
The ultimate goal of this study has been to take what we glean in observation and interpretation and apply it to people who need it the most. To bring home the life application of this series, I will take the headings we assigned throughout the study and render them into points for teaching, preaching and practical ministry situations.
1. Prayer is necessary to prepare for anointing with oil. James 5:13.
Unless the person with the illness and the church leadership (and really the whole church itself) is prefacing this act with prayer, nothing will come of it.
2. Physical sickness is being described in James 5:14.
This point may sound obvious, however the fact that so few churches ever think of anointing with oil as a first option necessitates the mention of this point. In terms of how serious the illness needs to be before calling forth the elders (in other words, if someone has a cold) can only be determined by the instructions contained in the passage itself. By consistent application of James 5:13-16, the ill patient and the leadership of the church can discerned through prayer when, where, and how to exercise this act of anointing with oil.
3. People in the church requesting anointing with oil. James 5:14-15.
We can note what it looks like from beginning to end when someone requests to be anointed with oil in the name of the Lord.
a. The request must be made to the representative church leadership. James 5:14
b. God can deliver healing immediately, eventually or ultimately following the act of anointing with oil. James 5:15a
c. Particular spiritual provisions such as forgiveness of sin and spiritual strengthening are guaranteed in the act of anointing with oil. James 5:15b
d. Anointing with oil in the name of the Lord can be done privately but is set forth as a public act in the life of the church, so that the church body can participate in encouraging the one who is sick. James 5:16
4. Persist in prayer for the sake of receiving your healing, whether immediately, in the near future or ultimately in Heaven.
This final point is to underscore that God desires to heal and has the power to heal. The only element to which none are told is the timing. God wills to heal, this we know. However, God's purpose determines when to heal. He can heal immediately, however He can also choose to heal that person ultimately when they leave this world. A third possibility may be that the person is healed eventually. When instructing people in the anointing of oil, I would urge them to not stop praying, but ever persist in being receptive to God's healing virtue.
There will always be the mysterious elements of healing that we do not know, however we must not grow discouraged nor doubt the goodness and power of God. Well, that concludes this study of physical healing and anointing with oil in the name of the Lord in James 5:13-16. My prayer is that readers will find this useful and beneficial in ministry and private devotional situations. To God be the glory!
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