Read James 5:13-18
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 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. And the prayer offered in faith will make them well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 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.
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. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (James 5:13-18)
For the next three days we will look briefly at the very important, but also very difficult, subject of physical sickness and healing.
Why does God heal? We must consider this question, not with reference to our faith but with reference to God’s sovereignty and action. There are two conflicting views in the universal Church and this can be seen in the teaching on healing that is given in our churches.
The question centres around the Atonement. Jesus Christ died so that we might be forgiven. Can we equate physical healing with forgiveness in the atonement? Here are the opinions of two well known Bible teachers.
- Physical healing is included in the cross
“He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases” (Isaiah 53:4 and Matthew 8:16-17)
“It is often said that this verse teaches that the atoning death of Jesus Christ avails for our sickness as well as our sins; or in other words that “physical healing is in the atonement.” I think this is a fair inference from these verses when looked at in the context.” R.A. Torrey
- Physical healing is an uncovenanted mercy
“We recognize that there is a distinction between what God has covenanted to do and what He has not covenanted to do, between what God has promised to do and what God may do.
The new covenant does not promise healing for all now. It promises forgiveness of sins: “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28).
If God heals, it is an uncovenanted mercy. But when He forgives, it is a covenanted mercy.” John Wimber
God heals. May we know why He heals so that we can take part in the ministry of healing in a way that honours Him.
O Lord, we want to honour You when we minister to the sick.
This meditation is extracted from “Transformation from Belief to Behaviour: 39 Lenten Meditations on the Letter of James” by Peter Young and used with permission by the author. It may be used solely for personal, noncommercial, and informational purposes. Republication or redistribution of this devotional is prohibited.
