James 5:13-18- The Commands To Pray, Praise, And Call Upon The Elders

Commentaries say a lot of different things regarding our text. The difficult part of our text text comes in James 5:14-15 when the bed-ridden Christian is to call the elders who will anoint him with oil and pray and he will be healed and forgiven.

• Some have said that this text was meant for the apostolic age and not for us today.

• Others have said that this text is only for those whose sin has caused the illness.

• Others have said that this text emphasizes some weakness and just sickness.

I have experienced three things as a minister that relate to this text.

• First, it is rare for anyone to call on the elders to do this.

• Secondly, when this has been done the LORD has not always delivered that person.

• Third, avoiding moments like these does not help us grow in faith.

I want to draw your attention to two things regarding this text. First, the tension found in James 5:14-15 can overshadow the other messages of this text. For example,

• This passage emphasizes ‘prayer’. Prayer is mentioned in every verse 7x in all.

• This text shows that every Christian and every congregation has a responsibility to pray. Prayer is an important means of grace through which God will bless His people. (4:2)

• James 5:13-20 shows that the Church is a means of grace to protect and sanctify us from sin.

Secondly, I want to tell you how I will interpret James 5:14-15. I think we should obey this command. This command for the ‘sick to call on the ‘elders of the church’ is to be obeyed and we are to trust God to do what only He can do.

I want to highlight verses 13-14a and look at the people that make up the church. James 5:13-18 says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.”

James begins by asking three questions to three groups of people in the church.

• “Is anyone among you suffering?” (troubled, afflicted)

• “Is anyone cheerful?” (Of good spirits, of good courage)

• “Is anyone among you sick?” The term ‘sick’ is speaking here of some sickness and it can refer to some weakness, being poor and needy, feeble, and without strength.

These three groups of people within the church are all experiencing very different moments in life. Some are suffering, others are cheerful, and there are some who are weak and sickly and they cannot attend corporate worship services.

Thesis Statement: “Believers have a personal responsibility to minster to themselves (13-14a) and also to others (15-16) so that the LORD can bring health and wholeness to the entire congregation.” Or, as we contemplate the example of Elijah in verses 17-18, we could say that the thesis statement is, “When believers prayerfully minister to themselves and to one another the LORD will bring refreshing and fruitfulness to the whole congregation.”

In James 5:13-16 James addresses individuals in their own personal situations and he gives each of them a command (imperative verb) to obey. In other words, obedience to these commands is the proper way for everyone to respond to their particular situation.

• The individual who is suffering must pray.

• The individual who is cheerful must sing praises.

• The individual who is weak and sick must call upon the elders.

It is a guarantee then that there are some in this room who are suffering, others are cheerful, and still others are not here today because they are weak and sick. A healthy church environment will have all three of these types of people present and this will promote ministry opportunities among us.

Illustration: Mindy and I were members in a church who adopted the ‘Seeker Sensitive’ model of ministry. According to this model the Sunday Services became one dimensional. The services were to be joyful, happy, and positive; therefore, sin was not often mentioned because that did not promote joy.

The ‘cheerful’ people referred to in James 5:13b would love this type of service. However, the ‘suffering’ people referred to in James 5:13a would find this environment unbearable. Our text is a strong antidote against such a philosophy in the local church. All of these types of people are present in the church, this is not a bad thing, it provides an opportunity for ministry!

We don’t always see this as a good thing. For example,

• The sorrowful person may say that can’t come to church because no one can understand their grief and they don’t want to be around cheerful people. Those who are suffering need to remember that when they come to church and pray they are doing what James has commanded them to do.

• Similarly, it may be a temptation for those who are happy, joyful and cheerful to lack empathy and patience for the individual who is suffering. (1 Samuel 1:12-18) Therefore, they should look for opportunities to minister to others with patience. (1 Thessalonians 5:14)

• The weak and sick who are not in attendance are not forgotten. But James says that the sick must call upon the elders.

When we experience suffering, cheerfulness, and weakness and sickness these moments become very personal to us. All of us may feel like we are all alone in our sorrow, our cheer, and sickness. Proverbs 14:10 says, “The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.”

I think the word ‘stranger’ in Proverbs 14:10 is important. No ‘stranger’ can know the bitterness or the joy of another persons heart. In the church we ought to endeavor to live in such a way that we are not strangers to one another. How are we doing at this?

• In 1 Corinthians 6:11-13 Paul says, “We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.”

We should live in such a way that we are not strangers to one another. We belong to Christ and are part of God’s family. We are no longer ‘strangers’ to the LORD or to His people. (Ephesians 2:11-22) We have been united together by the Spirit of God and we have been adopted into His family. We are members of Christ’s body and every individual becomes an indispensable part of the church. Therefore, Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.”

In James 5:13-14a James speaks to individuals in their own personal situation but this changes in James 5:14-16. In those verses James says that every believer is to engage with one another for the mutual benefit of the church. James says, “Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him...Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”

O how often it is a temptation to isolate ourselves or form a clique. However, there should be no segregation in the church between these 3 groups of people.

• The sorrowful should not isolate themselves or congregate only among themselves.

• The cheerful should not congregate together and isolate themselves from others.

• The weak and sick should not isolate themselves but call upon the elders.

When we refuse to isolate and form cliques we gather together to confess our sins and pray for each other and we can expect to see miracles. When this is done it brings unity, refreshment, health, fruitfulness, and wholeness to the church.

What does it look like to put James 5:13-14a into practice? Let’s look at Psalm 86 and we will see a good example of how David did this. Observe the superscription, “A Prayer of David.” This psalm is a ‘prayer’ of King David which he prayed when he was suffering (1,16, James 5:13a) Observation: In Psalm 86 we will see all of three stages that James addresses in James 5:13-14a: David prays, praises, and he confesses his weakness and suffering.

In verse 1 David prays, “Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.” David has faith that the LORD will hear and answer his prayer and he admits he is ‘poor and needy’. These words are synonymous with the meaning of the word ‘sick’ that is used in James 5:14. David is confesses that he is powerless, feeble, and without strength during this time of suffering.

In verse 2 we see how desperate this situation is, “Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you- you are my God.” (Observation: godly people of faith suffer!) David says that this is a life and death situation. So David asks the LORD to preserve his life and provide salvation. David is not as bad off as the sick people in James 5:14-15. Rather, David is like those who are mentioned in verse 13a who are commanded to pray for themselves to receive God’s grace.

David says in verses 3-7, “Be gracious to me, O LORD, for to you do I cry all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, O LORD, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.”

If we are in a ‘James 5:13 Moment Of Suffering’ we should do what David does and go the LORD in prayer. Prayer is the emphasis of v. 1-7. David prays and seeks God’s grace. (3,6,15-17)

Notice that David perseveres every day all day long that he might obtain God’s grace. (3) This is what we are to do when we are suffering. In prayer we are to resist the temptation to become tired, weary, or doubtful (Psalm 77); rather, we pray with anticipation that God will gladden our souls and He will provide some sign of His presence with us. (4,17)

Part of lifting up our soul to the LORD is that we are to examine ourselves for sin and then confess them to God. We do this knowing that God is good, forgiving, and He abounds in steadfast love to all who will call upon Him. (5,15)

As we come to Psalm 86:8-13 there is a transition that happens to David. His prayer (1-7) becomes an opportunity to praise in verses 8-13. (*James 5:13) David speaks of worship (9), glorifying the LORD (9), and giving thanks to God (12). We also see that David longs to worship the LORD with the rest of God’s redeemed people (9)and he prepares his heart for this before an opportunity becomes available.

Observation: David experiences this shift from prayer to praise very quickly as God begins to gladden his soul by His grace. This shows how we can progresses from suffering in prayer (5:13a) to becoming a cheerful worshiper (5:13b) before God answers our prayers. (14-17)

Question: How can David do this when God has not yet delivered him? David does this because his eyes are upon the LORD. His faith is grounded in the LORD and what He will do. Verses 8-10 says, “There is none like you among the gods, O LORD, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O LORD, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.”

David considers several things about God that strengthens his soul, builds his faith, and allows him to transition to joyful praise and worship.

• First, David meditates on God. He is not like any other god, ruler, or authority among all created things.

• Secondly, David considers the works of God. We can say with the prophet Jeremiah, “Is anything to difficult for the LORD?” (Jeremiah 32:17, 27) If we know God and His nature and character, and we know His works, then how can we not begin to praise the LORD even before the answer to our prayer comes?

• Third, David contemplates how God is the Savior of peoples from all nations who then worship and glorify His name. Anyone who has experienced God’s kindness, this mercy, steadfast love, and grace can praise and worship the LORD anytime and anywhere.

David continues his prayer of praise in verses 11-13, “Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love towards me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.”

Important Observation: Only after David prays and praises does he have a disposition that makes appropriate requests of God. David’s prayer through the end of this psalm will make specific requests that would please the LORD. In verses 11-13...

• David wants to be taught God’s way so he can walk in His truth.

• David wants this grace given to his heart to result in fear and reverence of God.

• David wants these things to produce thankfulness to God from His whole heart and that this would endure forever.

• David wants to better understand God’s steadfast love and how God has delivered Him from the grave so that he can live continuously in light of these things. (2,13)

It is only after all of this that David then turns his attention to his enemies. David has sought first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) now he looks to God for these practical things to be addressed in verses 14-17.

• Spiritual realities should have a practical effect in our lives.

• Grace in the heart will provide internal and external fruits.

David prays, “O God, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set you before them. But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give your strength to your servant, and save the son of your maidservant. Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.”

David finds himself surround by insolent men (dis-respectful, arrogant, prideful, and rude) who hate him. (James 4:6-God will resist them) David describes these individuals as having banded together and they become a group of ruthless men who seek his life and who do not set the LORD before their eyes.

Notice that the very next thing David speaks about is the LORD. The LORD is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Therefore David wants God to turn to him and be gracious to him, strengthen him, and show some sign of His favor towards David.

Now consider those people in James 5:13-14a who are also facing challenges and enemies. New Testament believers face the enemy of indwelling sin, of sin in the world, and Satan. All of us, no matter what our circumstances are, face these threats. Therefore we all need to look to the LORD for help and to look to His people for help.

• The sick are to call upon the elders who are to come and comfort, minister, encourage, and pray over that weak and sickly person. (14-15)

• The congregation is to be able to turn to their brothers and sisters to receive ministry and encouragement through the confession of sins and prayer. (16)

The LORD who is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love will often work through others to bless His people. Their seems to be two extremes we can often fall into. The first is the temptation to ask God for a miracle but they isolate themselves from the means of grace (God’s congregation) through which these blessings often come. The second is to go to God’s people for support but then not cultivate a personal trust and faith in God. Therefore, we are to obey our text in James 5:13-16.

• We are to turn to the LORD who is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.

• We are also to turn towards His people and receive ministry from them so that He can strengthen us and bring healing.

When we seek the LORD we may ask for a sign of His favor.

• Do not be surprised if the sign is when the elders who show up to pray and minister to you.

• Do not be surprised if the sign is given through the congregation is available to minister to you.

• James promises that the Lord will help us when we do these things and He will make Community Church more healthy, more unified, more refreshed, and more fruitful as individuals and as a congregation.