Scripture Text (NRSV)
5:13 Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful?
They should sing songs of praise.
5:14 Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the
church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the
name of the Lord.
5:15 The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise
them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.
5:16 Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one
another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is
powerful and effective.
5:17 Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it
might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on
the earth. 5:18 Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the
earth yielded its harvest.
5:19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the
truth and is brought back by another,
5:20 you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering
will save the sinner's soul from death and will cover a multitude of
sins.
Comments:
Wow. I am taken aback by the lack of activity on this passage! Is it
THAT daunting?
Grace and peace, Mike in Sunshine
You would think that these verses would be clarions of hope and joy to
the faithful.
1. Prayer works, use it. 2. The most effective prayer-warriors in the
Bible were exactly as human as we are. 3. God remembers who helped
guide a sinner back just as surely as he remembers who caused them to
go astray (from the Gospel lesson). Mike from Soddy Daisy, TN
I really love the idea of the members of the church (elders) praying
over the sick and anointing with oil. Have any of you ever done a
service of healing where you used oil and elders?
Janel in ND
Janel, annointing with oil can be very powerful. I have never seen it
done, but found that the Book of Common worship, PC(USA) (1995) has a
couple of variations of healing services which include annointing with
oil. I took some of my elders and deacons with me to visit a number of
our older and unwell members. None of them had ever been annointed
with oil, so before I proceeded, shared this passge with them, and
asked if they would like to be annointed (I had a little bottle of
olive oil with me).
They each said "yes," and I simply made the sign of the cross on their
foreheads with a bit of the oil. Afterward, each one commented on how
much it had meant, and my elders and deacons were eager for the
opportunity to annoint others.
A simple order of worship runs as follows:
Opening Sentences Prayer Repentance and Forgiveness Invitation to
Confession Prayer of Confession Declaration of Forgiveness The Peace
Scripture Reading Laying On of Hands and Anointing with Oil
Thanksgiving and Invocation Laying On of Hands [and Anointing with
Oil] Prayer Blessing
The prayers reads:
(For use with the laying on of hands with anointing)
Gracious God, source of all healing, in Jesus Christ you heal the sick
and mend the broken. We bless you for this oil pressed from the fruits
of the earth, given to us as a sign of healing and forgiveness, and of
the fullness of life you give.
By your Spirit, come upon N., who now receives the anointing with oil,
that he/she may receive your healing touch and be made whole, to the
glory of Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
Hope this is helpful. JoyC in Jersey
[sorry, the formatting didn't come out right...Joy C in Jersey]
Opening Sentences
Prayer
Repentance and Forgiveness
Invitation to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Declaration of Forgiveness
The Peace
Scripture Reading
Laying On of Hands and Anointing with Oil
Thanksgiving and Invocation
Laying On of Hands [and Anointing with Oil]
Prayer
Blessing
The epistle of James is a letter offering advice to the church
concerning a variety of common problems. In these verses, however, the
author concludes with an uplifting picture of what the church can be:
a community of prayer and praise, restoration and healing.
In times of suffering, joy, or illness, or in the midst of experiences
of alienation as a consequence of sin, James pronounces who is to be
there with us and for us: one another. The community of faith finds
vocation in prayer for one another and in being reconciled to one
another. An epistle dominated by concern for putting faith into
practice concludes with these verses that make clear our actions, and
our prayers are to flow for the sake of those with whom we find
connection in Christ's body.
To Janel & Joy C (and others, of course) About a year and a half ago,
at the request of some of my congregation, I began a monthly service
of healing and anointing. Although I had been to such a service a
couple of times and had once used oil in a healing service (From the
United Methodist Book of Worship) with a church's Church Council, I
entered into this with some fear and trepidation and LOTS of prayer.
The service is always small (I pastor a relatively small congregation)
but those who are there need to be there. We always open with a psalm
and some praise of God. Then a short homily on whatever I've been
moved to consider that week -- always somehow associated with healing
in its most holistic sense. Then prayers of confession and words of
absolution. At that point, we're ready for individual prayer and
anointing. Each person comes to the altar rail whenever he or she is
ready. I ask them what special prayer, healing needs, etc. they have.
I pray with each one, with hands on head. Then I do the anointing -- a
cross on the forehead, like ashes on Ash Wednesday, and the words
reflect the type of healing needed, but always the oil is placed in
the name of the Trinity. After each person who wishes has had prayer &
anointing, we move into prayers of intercession, closing hymns and a
departing blessing. In the last few months, there's been a wonderful
addition. One of the regulars asked me if I wanted prayer and
anointing, and I said yes. So she and the others came and laid hands
on me and prayed, and one anointed me with oil, too. It was so
powerful. I'm thinking of having some others come with laying on of
hands for each person so that it's more than the pastor -- it's the
elders, too. Recently, I visited a member in the hospital who, only by
God's intervention had survived what should have been a fatal car
accident. I asked if she wanted to be anointed with oil. This
86-year-old, who could not speak because of a trach tube, smiled and
nodded and closed her eyes for a blessing. An awe-filled moment. So, I
encourage you to try it. There's power in the prayer of the faithful
and there's power in the anointing, and there's a synergy between the
two. Joye in Baltimore
In writing about the monthly service of healing & anointing, I left
out that the homily is based on a scripture passage that I read and we
meditate on for a little while. I also incorporate lots of time of
silence in the service, because I feel we have too little silence in
everyday life. Joye in Baltimore
What a powerful text for thinking about prayer and about the ministry
we can have as a community of faith in response to human need. I have
utilized the liturgies from the United Methodist Book of Worship for
services of healling with the laying on of hands and the annointing
with oil. They are rich and useful symbols, and the liturgy places it
in a sacramental context, which is appropriate.
God's concern for us is for the whole person, and this text is very
specific regarding this.
I will be using it as a springboard for talking about the power of
prayer. The key verse for me is verse 16 - "The prayer of the
righteous if powerful and effective."
My topic will be "WHAT PRAYER CAN DO," and the idea I have is to point
out the benefits of faithful and heartfelt prayer that the text speaks
to - i.e. Benefits include: healing, forgiveness, and encouragement.
All of this is also within the life of the body of Christ. It is our
opportunity to receive and to give a ministry of help and concern to
one another. GK
On the discussion of a healing service, I can agree with Joye in
Baltimore that the impact on the elders can be as big as on the person
being prayed for. I was raised a standard urban/suburban United
Methodist in the 60s/70s which meant I was convinced that anyone who
would say "Amen" out loud in church would probably speak in tongues
and might handle snakes (I am not kidding). Not too many years ago,
while I was serving as Lay Leader and starting to re-hear my call, our
pastor had a healing service. Even with my lack of knowledge on the
gifts of the Spirit, I was one of the elders involved. I know for a
fact that one woman was physically healed that day. The power that did
it went through the hands of a skeptic who is now preaching that God
can do anything. AMEN!! Take a lesson from the discussion on Mark,
though. The name of Christ is not a magical talisman. Faith in the
power of Christ can bring healing, if it is God's will. Mike from
Soddy Daisy, TN
what a wonderful way to show our faith... that we aid one another
through touching.. just as the Lord has touched our lives... we are to
touch others.. in a world where touch has been so distorted, where we
are so separated.. but to touch and keep in touch .. to grow and be
grown. commissioned lay pastor paula buffalo , ny
I have used guidelines in the UMC Book of Worship on healing services.
Both occasions were in private homes and involved prayers and the use
of oil on the forehead. In both situations the persons receiving the
oil had suffered a great deal. I'd have to say there was much comfort
following these services, especially for the caregivers and family
members who participated. PastorBill in NC
Mike in sunshine: Yes, it is that daunting. How to preach "the prayer
of faith will save the sick" as a much-loved lifelong member of the
church, 83 yrs old, lies dying in a hospital bed... I know it needs
preaching, but daunting? You betcha!
Everyone wants to be cured of their disease. Not everyone gets cured,
but everyone is able to get healed. There is a difference between cure
and heal, isn't there. A cure is to be free of the disease. Healing is
to feel whole, to be at peace, to be one with God. We've had healing
services for four different church members, at the request of family
members. All four have since died. Were the healing services flops?
Did prayer fail? No. All of them died with peace and dignity and in
such a way that WE were strengthened by their faith. Of course there
was great sadness that God did not cure them, but we know they were
healed. Rev. Helen in Ontario
Healing and curing are quite different. In our healing services, I
always talk about the difference, and even those who are not cured
often feel healed by the service. when you look at scripture, we are
not promised cures, but healing. Yes, it is very hard to preach
healing to someone who is dying, but I have seen -- as I suspect many
of you have -- people who were in fact healed in spirit and mind and
soul, even though their bodies died. Stephen Ministry has a good take
on this notion.
Joye in Baltimore
Help! I can barely stand the cognitive disonance I'm experiencing as I
consider the psalm and the James text. I think of those recovering
from Hurricance Isabel... was God on our side in FLA but not on the
side of those in VA, NC, MD, DC, etc.? Then there is James' example of
Elijah praying for drought and then for rain... It is like I can't
bear to preach on prayer without acknowledging my struggle. And yet, I
pray... we as a church pray... What natural disasters are "acts of
God" and what "saves" are saving acts of God. I am grateful for Rev.
Helen adding her comments about healing v. curing? Is anyone else
struggling with this? "Are any among you suffering?" Amma in FL I
submitted similar comments in the Psalm discussion...
Amma in FL says, "I think of those recovering from Hurricance
Isabel... was God on our side in FLA but not on the side of those in
VA, NC, MD, DC, etc.? Then there is James' example of Elijah praying
for drought and then for rain...... What natural disasters are "acts
of God" and what "saves" are saving acts of God."
I'm with you Amma. I'm having trouble about Elijah praying for drought
for three and a half years ... to prove what? Someday I may be in
synch with this particular part of the text (maybe when our power is
back!) -- but it isn't today. THough, I totally agree that prayer is
necessary and it works.
I think we must always be careful when claiming God is on "our side"
-- more than a little dangerous.
Thanks for helping me realize I'm not alone on those verses --- MM in
PA
At the prevous (Anglican) church I attended, at each communion service
two kneeling desks were put next to the altar rail for people to come
up for "annointing and laying on of hands". Although the annointing
was done by the Vicar, laying on of hands and prayers were carried out
by lay members of the church. We saw many people healed - brought to
wholeness and one-ness with God- even when not "cured" of disease,
although this also happened at times. It happened to me.
AndyB Birmingham (England)
What, Elijah didn't pray for three years and six months?
This might be a good tie-in to the study on the means of grace we're
doing. This week (tonight, in fact) is "prayer."
Sally in GA
Mike in Soddy Daisy - I know you're not kiddding; I was brought up the
same way. My mom wouldn't go to certain churches because she was
afraid they handled snakes. And I'm serving a church stuck in that
same time. Where did ANYone EVER get the impression that "worship"
meant "sit and watch someone do everything and then go grumble about
what you didn't like ?"
Sally
Everyone, Thanks for all the great tips for the healing and anointing
service. I'm going to do this on Sunday. I've had a few people ask
about it recently. I'm curious, did you have elders or church members
assist in the service? Janel in ND
To Mike in Soddy Daisy Tn.
I hear you. I grew up in a PCUSA suburban church, where I too was very
suspicious of charismatic gifts. I still am to a point. But I went to
an Alpha leader's training, and one of my elders and I were on the
prayer team. I prayed for a woman who was slain in the Spirit! Now, I
know it was God, because I had no idea how that happened, or had any
control over it. Whoa! Unfortunately, it would freak me out to see it
again, even today.
Susan in Wa.
Amma in Fl. and MM in Pa,
I too struggle with these passages, but I also am not so sure that it
isn't a good idea to talk about struggle in prayer, and to talk to our
congregations about the fact that we too struggle with prayer; that
there are certain passages that we don't want to preach because we too
struggle with the issues of why some are healed and some are not.
A story: In seminary, a very good friend of mine came back to school
in Sept. after working in Alaska all summer in the canneries. He
looked horrible, had lost about 60 lbs, and his skin was gray. He
hadn't been to the Dr. but went that day, at the insistence of many
friends. He was diagnosed with Liver cancer,& given three weeks to
live. He died after a week and a half! While he was in the hospital,
one group came in with their guitars and sang and prayed, and then
told him to get up and walk. He told them to quit their healing
exercises on him, and asked them to leave. (It had more to do with how
they felt about themselves, than doing any good for him.) Then, the
second group came in and gave him a cassette tape to listen to.
Luckily his mom confiscated it and wouldn't let Mark listen to it. The
message was that the reason he was dying was because of unconfessed
sin in his life. After that, his mom asked him who he really wanted to
see, and she sent the list with the approved list to the hospital
reception desk and the seminary. No one else could visit, if their
name wasn't on that list. Mark felt all along that the way God was
going to heal him was to take him home. He was at great peace about
that. I guess the message of this story, and the message of the
passage is we are all asked to pray. It is God in his sovereign
choice, who is healed/cured. Prayer is hard work. It is a struggle,
and many have wrestled with God over the answers to our prayers,
especially when we view the answers as no. But are we to cease praying
because it is a struggle? No. Sometimes the benefit of prayer is in
the process of the struggle, and not in the definitive answer.
Susan in Wa.
To MM in PA, and Amma in Fl.
I too am struggling with this passage, but I am not sure that sharing
the fact that we struggle with prayer and this passage isn't a good
thing. Especially acknowledging the particular people in our
congregations who may be dying at this time.
The fact is the whole issue of prayer and healing, and who is healed,
and who isn't is a tough issue for all of us.
In seminary, I had a good friend who came back to school in Sept.
after working in Alaska all summer in the canneries. When he got back
to school he looked horrible. He had dropped off about 60 lbs, and his
skin was gray. He hadn't been to a Dr. yet. He went that afternoon, at
the insistence of many friends. He was diagnosed with liver cancer,
and given 3 weeks to live. He died in a week and a half. Two groups
came into "Visit" him in the hospital. The first group took their
guitars in and sang and then prayed over him for healing and told him
to get up and walk. He told them to leave and quit trying out their
healing experiments on him. (It had more to do with their need for
power and authority to heal than it did any good they could do for
him.) The second group came in and brought him a cassette tape to
listen to. His mom was smart enough to hold onto it, and he never
listened to it. The message on the tape was that the reason he was
dying was because of unconfessed sin in his life.What a nice parting
shot from the Christian community. Give him a tape and then leave! His
mom then asked him who he really wanted to see. She made out a list.
That list was sent to the hospital, and to the seminary and no one
whose name wasn't on the list could see him. Mark was convinced and
peaceful about the fact that the way God would heal him was to take
him home.
I guess the point of this story, and the point of the passage is that
we are called to pray for those who are sick. It isn't our
responsibility or within our power to call the shots on what happens
in terms of whether the person is truly Cured or healed. That is God's
sovereign choice. How the prayers are done are almost as much of a
struggle because of people like Mark's "Friends' who have different
ideas about how healing is done and whose responsibility it is. But it
doesn't mean we stop praying because it is a struggle. In fact
sometimes what is won is through the struggle, moreso than any end
result.
Susan in Wa.
Y'all, never ever expect a miracle. But when a miracle does happen and
they do happen, celebrate like crazy and thank God.
A Texan
Amma in FL,
James sets the bounds on prayer by saying what not do to do. What
James does not say about prayer is "how to" do it. Perhaps he is
leaving that up to other previous teaching by Jesus, Paul, Peter, etc.
The problem lies in the heart of the prayer. We pray for what we want.
The folks who came in to the hospital with the young man with liver
cancer with their guitar had their own agenda. They didn't want him to
get better just because he was child of God. They wanted him to get
better so they could go home and brag. Same for the distributor of the
tape. Thinking they were doing the right thing the did not examine
their own motives very well.
Many times in church and prison chaplaincy I have seen Christians seek
to evangelize and exercise the gifts of the Spirit with no clue as to
what was going on in their own hearts. I served as a prison chaplain
for 4 years and finally told my supervisor we would be better off
without 3/4 of our volunteers. I still believe that.
If it sound like I am in a conundrum about theology, I am. Every pat
answer I hear opens up all new problems. Elijah prayed and a 3.5 year
drought took place and everyone suffered. Even God was willing to
spare Sodom for a few good men (maybe women too). But James' view is
that the drought was due to Elijah's prayers. I frankly am not willing
to pray that kind of prayer but I have met dozens of brother and
sister Christians who are praying those kind of prayers or willing to
do so. Where is the grace? Is there no uncertainty in their souls
about the prayers???
Grace and peace, Mike in Sunshine
It seems to me that the James text is telling us to pray, not the
specific results of our prayer; except that "the prayer of the faith
will SAVE the sick" notice it is SAVE and not CURE and all ofthat is
God's doing, not ours. Anyway, I think I will actually pray durin the
sermon. Just an idea at this point, but possibly could look like this:
"Are there any among you suffering? They should pray"
PRAYER for those who are suffering; victims of Hurricane Isabel;
(possibly we don't need to explain why some areas got hit while others
didn't, but pray for those who did get hit?)
"Are there any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise"
PRAYER for the cheerful, or sing a song of praise? with the
congregation?
Are there any among you sick? They should call..."
PRAYER for the sick and spend some time talking about difference
between HEAL and CURE and/or SAVE and CURE, and possibly an
illustration at this point to help clarify.
"Therefore confess your sins..."
PRAYER of Confession
oh well, that's just an idea, I tend to use music in my sermons, so I
may use something like "O Lord hear my prayer" from Taize or "Lord,
listen to your children praying" to tie this all together. thanks for
your ideas that somehow brought this out. Lisa on the Cape
First my thanks to everyone who has contributed. This is a great
discussion.
I think we do well to be honest about prayer. Prayer engages mystery,
a mystery we have no control over. We cannot control the outcomes.
This passage raises questions which do not have fully satisfactory
answers for me, such as: Why are some healed and others not? I don't
believe simplistic answers to these complex questions are helpful.
When we try to force the mystery of God into the box of a simplistic
answer, God does not fit.
Better to honest about this than pretend if we just have "enough
faith" or "do it right", then we get what we want. God is not a
vending machine.
This passage also grounds prayer in the midst of the community of
faith where we care for each other, welcome back those who wander
away, hold each other accountable, celebrate joyful times and offer
forgiveness.
Mike in Maine
Lisa on the Cape -- what a great idea. I'm going to give it a try. My
folks are almost used to the idea that I do weird things from time to
time, so they will probably handle "interupting" the sermon with
prayer and singing. (They also like to sing) Thanks
Joye in Baltimore
Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I am preaching on both the Mark and
the James text. My sermon title is "Salted by fire." My two
congregations have been through a lot of physical suffering lately,
and I am trying to stir the elders into taking pastoral responsibility
seriously (election of elders to take place in a month or so). I am
going to develop the idea of the healing salt properities of tears. I
have found some excellent research material on the salt in the Dead
Sea and the mystical properties of salt on a site called "Jewish
Heritage." I highly recommend it. I am looking for one or two good
stories about healing through tears. I am linking the sermon to the
James reading--bringing our sorrow and hardship before the community
in prayer. Did Bonhoeffer or Tillich have anything in particular to
say about "salted by fire?" Who is it that wrote that there is a
difference between being cured and being healed? Thanks so much.
Roberta
This relates to a rough discussion at our Wed. night class last night.
I was essentially accused (but not in an antagonistic way) of making
up Wesley when I said that our prayers can and do influence God's
actions.
Any UM's or other Wesley scholars who could refer me to a specific
sermon or writing, I'd be very grateful. (I lent out my books and
they're gone).
Anyways, this is Scriptural evidence (among others) that our prayers
DO influence God. Why pray and anoint with oil for healing, if we
don't believe God can do it? Elijah prayed and influenced God's
activity.
I disagree with Luther (may God forgive me) that "prayer doesn't
change God; prayer changes me." While God's nature doesn't change, he
remains omnipotent and in control of the world, his activity IS
influenced by our prayers.
Then again, bringing someone to the fold is a kind of changing us
rather than God.
Sally kn GA
Gee, if I ~really~ wanted to create controversy, I could call my
sermon "Prayer Works." LOL
Lisa - thank you! What a great idea! I try to keep from a cookie
cutter pattern of sermonizing (as i call it) and this is truly unique
and appropriate.
Sally
And, adding the Gospel lesson into it -- if we choose to "interrupt"
our sermons -- wouldn't we be "salting" them with prayer?
Sally, again
Thanks for your responses - and your encouragement to share the
struggle of prayer. I love your idea "Lisa on the Cape"! I may try
that... after naming my struggles with Psalm 124 and James. The song "Kum
Ba Yah" came to mind. It may be a bit cheesy or overused, but the
verses fit with the James reading: Someone's praying, Lord...
Someeone's crying, Lord... Someone needs you, Lord... Someone's
singing, Lord.
Amma in FLA
I thank you also for your responses ... especially Susan in Wa and
Sunshine Mike.
It is not the power of prayer that is the issue for me, or that it is
what is at the heart of prayer's motivation, or that in the end, it
may not be the answer we want, but it is what is right at that moment
for us ... prayer itself is not an issue for me. Nor is debating,
arguing, yea verily even ranting at God the issue. The psalms are full
of testimony, not to mention the Hebrew Scriptures, of God listening
and taking us seriously.
My struggle in that particular passage is Elijah praying for a
drought, then Elijah praying for rain. I wish those verses had been
left out. At some point in my life I may be led to see or hear
something I cannot (for whatever reason) hear or see now, but they
smack of Elijah's prayer being self-serving to prove something.
Prayer is one of the most powerful gifts that God has given us. I feel
that it is our most effective communication tool with God.
Thanks all, it's been an interesting discussion. I don't mean my words
to come out harshly and I apologize if they do. I don't feel
particularly well and had a huge change of plans for study leave that
is very disappointing and I fear I'm not choosing my words as
carefully as I should. I pray for your forgiveness ...
MM in PA
A man in our church kept asking us to pray that his wife would "come
around" and "admit her mistake" when she began divorce proceedings.
For 10 years he hadn't put one ounce of effort into the marriage or
the childcare. He had no paying job, wasn't looking, and whined most
of the time about how his wife kept asking him to do laundry or vacuum
while she was at work. I was asked Sunday after Sunday to pray for God
to lead her to atone for her sins against God in breaking the sacred
bonds of their marriage. Sheesh! Sometimes prayer is an abuse of our
privilege of communicating with God.
Sally I am pretty new at this game but at my introduction meeting, I
told those present that worship is not a noun but a verb! Nancy- wi
Thanks for your thoughts and comments on the scriptures.
Having grown up in a church where the Elders annointed and prayed over
the "sick", I have heard many stories, some marvelous healings and
others where the Lord allowed a "release" and the sick was taken from
us.
As an Elder now, the first time I was called to "annoint and pray" for
one of the members, I was very nervous. As I and the other Elder
entered the hospital room, his vital signs dropped and we were asked
by the nurse and doctors to hold for a few moments while they
attempted to stabalize him. My comments to the other Elder was that
this prayer and annointing would not be for a healing of this brother
but for healing and comfort for the family of the brother. The Spirit
of the Living Lord was ever so present at that time and the family
appreciated the prayer that was lifted up on their behalf. They knew
that their loved one was wrapped in the arms of our loving Father and
that he was home.
Why does he heal some and not others. The Lord knows and only the Lord
knows the answer to that. We are told to prayer that His will be done.
If we are praying in that manner, that His will will be done, then we
will find that our prayers will be more in line with the will of the
father and if we are to be praying for healing, then we will know. If
it is for release, we will know. The Spirit will lead us in our
prayers as we prayer for ourselves and others.
Robert
Speaking of Prayer...
I had a neat experience the other night...
As I said in the gospel reading for Sunday, I've been working as the
Campus Pastor at our local college...I've been invited to "lead a
Bible Study"... At my first attempt of study... A couple of weeks
ago... as we were about to leave the United Campus Ministry
building... they had a time for prayer... people spoke up with prayer
concerns, for friends, and family, for classes and pressures of being
new students, of vision and hope for a new year of ministry together.
Then, at the end... instead of the pastor leading them in prayer,
hands started going up... and words came forth... "I'll pray for
that... I'll pray for this"... and before long, all the prayer
requests were taken up... by others in the group and after each lifted
those requests to the group and to God... we left that place, that
night, a little closer to God. I hope you leave this place today, a
little closer to God, having experienced a word or a whisper of God's
love for each one of you.
pulpitt in ND
I am sticking with James even though I am uneasy about certain aspects
of it. It is my ordinary method to consider and focus on only the one
passage to get the full flavor of that saint's view. I have opted not
to have a healing service but I do address that briefly in the sermon.
"Prayer and Fellowship" is what I want to lift up.
I look forward to your critical analysis and comments. Frankly I do
not give it high marks for originality or deliverance. I feel as if I
have been writing bible commentary the last few weeks. It may be good
for informing but I leave being uncertain as to its inspirational
impact or its ability to ignite the flame of passion for service.
Where possible I have plagerized; "A Texan" especially. I love his
short, sweet comment on miracles. Seriously, in the end I hope to have
all such borrowed material documented.
Grace and peace, Mike in Sunshine
Dear Friends,
After I sent off that last contribution I was convicted. Thus I offer
a Mia Culpa for assuming that A Texan was a he. There is a very real
statistical possiblity that the female of the species is present in
Texas since there are many little Texans running around. It is also a
very real possibility they are as smart as the men. Please accept my
apologies.
Grace and peace, Mike in Sunshine
Mike in Sunshine,
"They who have ears, let them hear." We work and struggle over a
sermon, as we should to prepare, but we are the tiller making the
ground ready and the sower scattering the seed. All that is hard work
but it is still up to God to give the increase. Let those hear whom
the Spirit wants to touch and God will lead the wanderer back. All we
do on Sunday morning is to try give God a place to start from. Looks
to me like you plowed a fairly straight row. Mike in Soddy Daisy, TN
Sally in GA,
You may or may not have been making up Wesley when you claimed he said
that our prayers can and do influence God's actions--I don't know.
However, if you've ever used or even just read through Maxie Dunnam's
Workbook on Intercessory Prayer, you have read his recurring question
that asks, "What if there are some things God will not do unless we
pray?" He never comes right out and asserts that God will not act
unless we pray, but he tries to build a case for people to consider
that possibility, as a motivator for people to pray for others.
In Wesley's Commentary on the Bible, he has only very little to say
about these verses in James:
14. "Anointing him with oil." This single conspicuous gift, which
Christ committed to his apostles (Mark 6.13), remained in the church
long after the other miraculous gifts were withdrawn. Indeed, it seems
to have been designed to remain always; and James directs the elders,
who were the most--if not the only--gifted men, to administer it. This
was the whole process of physic in the Christian church until it was
lost through unbelief. That novel invention, extreme unction,
practiced not for cure, but where life is despaired of, bears no
manner of resemblance to this. [His anti-Catholicism shows there!] 15.
"And the prayer [offered in] faith shall save the sick." From his
sickness; and if any sin be the occasion of his sickness, it "shall be
forgiven him." 16. "Confess your faults." Whether you are sick or in
health. "One to another." He does not say, to the elders. This may or
may not be done, for it is nowhere commanded. We may confess them to
any who can pray in faith. He will then know how to pray for us and be
more stirred up so to do. "And pray one for another, that ye may be
healed." Of all our spiritual diseases. 19. As if he had said, I have
now warned you of those sins to which you are most liable; and in all
these respects watch not only over yourselves, but every one over his
brother also. Labor, in particular, to recover those that are fallen.
"If any of you do err from the truth." Practically, by sin. 20. "Shall
save a soul." Of how much more value than the body (v. 14).
Though relative to the last note, it should be remembered that Wesley
also published a manual of home remedies that he found to be helpful
in ministering to the needs of an ailing body. So he wasn't neglectful
of the health of the body, even though he certainly gave priority to
the health of the soul.
Doug in IL
I was asked to say the opening prayer at our state House of
Representatives 4 years ago. My prayer was "non-offensive" to other
denominations and religions, using generic language as required.
However, it seemed to offend Republicans and I was subsequently banned
from the House by the Republican Speaker. I guess he thought prayer
was pretty powerful??? (PS - My state representative has never been
allowed to nominate anyone else from his district to give the opening
prayer since then. Scarey.)
LK in MN
