The Sick
Introduction:
1. Sickness or illness is a part of everyone's life.
2. Sickness comes in the form of a simple cold or cancer.
3. Because of its widespread affect; one can probably say that it is the most common type of affliction.
4. Therefore we can make proper Biblical inference that verses 14 and 15 are a continuation of James 5:13.
5. Sickness is a burden we all must bear at one time or another.
6. Yet we are not without help from our Heavenly Father.
7. He has given us some assistance in overcoming this affliction.
8. His providence and might are working in the world today.
9. He has provided us with a support system in the church by
the command of Galatians 6:2 - Bear ye
one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
10. Yet here in this passage we read of the miraculous healing of the spiritual gift of healing and observe how it was to be used.
I) Affliction of Sickness
A) Sickness or illness means to be weak or without strength.
1. It is a common term in the New Testament.
a. Matthew 10:8 - Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
b.
John 5:7 - The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the
water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another
steppeth down before me.
c.
Acts 9:37 - And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
d.
Philippians 2:27 - For indeed he was sick nigh
unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest
I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
2. We are not told of the nature of this sickness only its effect.
a. It made people physically weak.
b. It could have really been any or all of the illnesses we have today.
c. As simple as the common cold.
d. As agonizing as cancer.
e. All we know is that man suffers.
B) Christians will get physically sick regardless of their level of faith.
1. We know of the possibility of this happening because of the things we read in the New Testament as well as what happens in our lives today.
a. Epaphroditus - Philippians 2:25-27 - being sick unto death.
b. Some of the members here have or are battling some form of illness.
2. Illnesses come to all people whether good or bad.
3. Sickness does not mean that one is guilty or has been guilty of sin.
a. Timothy was sick with stomach issues.
b. Yet he was not guilty of any sin.
c. Faithful men and women today are laid up in the hospital but not guilty of any sin as far as we know.
d. It would be presumptuous to assume that we know the heart of the individual because of some affliction that has come upon them.
e. This arrogance is sin.
C) This was not a common practice.
1. Often the sick saints died.
a. Acts 9:32-43
2. Additionally many Christians were sick.
a. Paul had the thorn in the flesh.
b. Timothy had a stomach disorder.
c. Trophimus was sick in Miletus and left behind by Paul.
D) It requires a reliance upon God's providence.
1. Just as we do not rely upon God's miracles to feed us like He fed the thousands with the loaves and fish; we should not rely upon a miracle to heal us today.
2. God works through His providence today.
a. Man has been given the power to heal by medicine and surgery.
b. He who is raised up by modern health care is most assuredly healed by the power and providence of God.
c. This is the means by which God has chosen to assist his saints in their afflictions.
d. Therefore, one who rejects these means of healing rejects God who has chosen to work in this manner.
e. Let us be thankful for without hesitation these providential means of God's influence.
II) Actions of the Elders
A) Let him call AT ONCE for the elders.
1. The church here is a reference to the local congregation.
a. The word church is used as a reference to designate the Lord's people
b. Acts 14:23 - And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
c. The elders supervise a local congregation; not the church in aggregate.
d. Titus 1:5 - For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
e. The church as a whole is a body where Christ is the head and the children of God are its body.
f. When fully organized the church as a plurality of elders whose duty it is to feed the flock and watch for the souls of those committed to their care.
2. The elders are the leaders of the congregation.
a. They are designated as bishops, presbyters, pastors, overseers, and shepherds because of the jobs they are required to do.
b. Because of their faithfulness to God and the fulfillment of the qualifications the local congregation has elected them to rule over them and lead them to the Promised Land.
c. This is the way it was in the 1st century and in the 21st century.
B) The elders are the shepherds and are thus responsible for the health of their congregation.
1. The elders pray on his behalf.
a. The implication is that they are there with the individual offering up prayers on his behalf.
b. There is not special body position required but this is an actions providing additional support for him in his illness.
c.
Galatians 6:2 - Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
d. We are to place upon our shoulders the wellbeing and health of this individual.
e. Whatever assistance is necessary we support the sick.
2. They anoint with oil.
a. Just like a shepherd would anoint his sheep's cuts with oil the elders are to do likewise.
b.
Psalm 23:5 - Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou
anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
c. The anointing here is an actual physical pouring of oil upon the individual.
d. Anointing was a symbolic event declaring a coronation and appointment of prophets, priests and kings by the power of the Holy Spirit.
3. The power of the Holy Spirit works through spiritual gifts.
III) A Prayer of Faith
A) The gift of healing worked in accordance with the prayer of faith.
1. The spiritual gift of healing required a prayer of faith not an anointing of oil.
a. The anointing is symbolic indicating the power of God working by spiritual gifts.
b. 1 Corinthians 12:9 - To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
c. The power of God would be exercised on behalf of the anointed sick healing him of his illness.
d. Additional proof of this fact is recorded in Mark 6:13 - And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
e. The sick man's health was placed into the hands of God to be made well.
2. The healing was a physical healing.
a. Having this done "in the name of the Lord" means by the Lord's authority.
b. As a result the Lord ordained that this should be done during the time in which these spiritual gifts were in effect.
c. So, the prayer of faith was the one that came from the elders.
d. Even thought the prayer came from the elders is was the Lord who raised him up.
(i) The healing was instantaneous and complete.
(ii) "Save" means to be made well rather than a reference to salvation.
(iii) Therefore, we know that the healing was physical in nature.
B) His sins will be forgiven.
1. This is promised in addition to the healing of this body.
a. It is normal for forgiveness to be a part of one's prayers.
b. We are even taught to pray this way by the Lord's Prayer.
2. It is our responsibility to the commands of 1 John 1:7-9 to pray for repentance.
a. According to the situation at hand it would not be unrealistic to have the sick and elders offer prayers that included repentance and confession of sins.
b. 1 John 1:7-9 - But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
3. It is this admonition that teaches us that this privilege of health was given only to Christians to whom the second law of pardon applies.
Conclusion
1. Because of the miraculous conditions of this verse the church is limited in its ability to heal those who are sick.
2. Yet we cannot forget the power of God's providence working in the world today.
3. We there for can be healed physically by his might.
4. But there is also another kind of healing, a spiritual one that must be done by all men.
5. God promises us that he will heal those that are spiritually sick.
6. Sin is a killer worse than cancer, heart disease, or strokes; it is permanent.
7. Therefore don't leave here without being anointed with the oil of the New Covenant, that Law of Christ, the Good News.
8. God will lift you up and heal your sin-sick soul.
9. Plan of Salvation.
Posted in: Book of James, Sermon Outlines, Suffering