Prayer, Oil, and the Sick

“The Prayer of Faith Shall Save the Sick”

There are many difficult passages of the Bible. The language in some of them is rather obscure, and sound brethren differ as to their meaning. In James 5:14-15, James uses language that is easy to understand, but the difficulty lies in knowing its application.

Our text can mean either one of two things. On one hand, we are all acquainted with praying for those who are sick. With elders being the shepherds of the congregation, we understand why James told his readers to call for them. We also understand that people in the first century used olive oil for medicinal and sanative purposes; so that they scarcely ever took a journey without carrying oil with them, with which they anointed their bodies, healed their wounds, bruises and such like. The most familiar case in the Bible of using it in such circumstances was in the case of the wounded man ministered to by the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:34). Therefore, this passage could be more-or-less a cultural, natural means in conjunction with the elders’ prayers to God for the sick to recover without any miraculous means introduced whatsoever.

Nevertheless, while I am not dogmatic about my position, I am inclined to believe the other alternative— the elders’ anointing the sick with oil and praying for their recovery was a specific injunction to his readers for the limited time when miracles were in effect utilizing miraculous means. For example, if this is a general admonition, it is worthy of note that there is no record in the New Testament where anyone practiced this, although there are a number of cases of those who were sick and even died (i.e., 1 Tim. 5:23; Phil. 2:27; 2 Tim. 4:20; Acts 9:37). Therefore, if this injunction of James, written to scattered Jews around the known world at an early date, was something for Christians to practice generally, how do we account for the fact that we never read of its practice?

I believe James is talking about miraculous healing for the following reasons. First, they were to call for the elders, who would be those representatives of the church who would likely be miraculously endowed (cf. Eph. 4:8-11). He did not command them to call for physicians. James says that the thing that would save the sick is “the prayer of faith” (5:15), not the anointing of oil, although James did command it. James emphatically states the promise, “…and the Lord shall raise him [the sick person] up.” Now, the difficult question usually arises, “If it is miraculous, then what is the purpose of anointing with oil?” While it is true that they used oil to treat some ailments, the anointing of oil would be of little value medicinally for one who has heart disease, high blood pressure or cancer. James could have used it symbolically, just as the laying on of hands is symbolic (cf. Acts 13:3). However, I do know that in some cases of miraculous healing, they anointed with oil (Mark 6:7-13). Could the command to anoint with oil be an arbitrary command, such as the blind man washing in the pool of Siloam, or Naaman dipping seven times in the Jordan River, or the Israelites marching around the wall of Jericho for seven days? Consider that the anointing of oil was to be “in the name of the Lord,” or in other words, “by the authority of the Lord.”

Now, if this is miraculous, how do we account for the purpose? God did not give miraculous powers simply for healing the sick, but to confirm the word (Heb. 2:3-4; Mark 16:16-20). Thus, whatever James here admonishes, its purpose was to confirm the word. Possibly the Holy Spirit and James felt that his epistle would need confirmation. Consider that this is the only New Testament book that James wrote. He was not an apostle of Jesus Christ. When we consider the rejection that Paul received, who was an apostle, we might understand what James could have received, not being an apostle of the same stripe. Therefore, after James wrote some strong and stinging statements in his epistle, some might tend to reject his epistle as that which does not carry authority, claiming that it was not inspired (as Martin Luther did). Therefore, toward the close of his inspired epistle, James prescribes a means of confirming the word he writes to them. By doing as he directs, an elder could perform a miracle of healing, which would confirm the truthfulness of his epistle. In other words, if the Lord raised the sick, as James said he would, then they would know James wrote by inspiration. If not, then they would know James to be a false teacher.

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Pornography

The Unspoken Sin: Pornography

Imagine, for a moment, a visit to your local doctor’s office. As you sit in the waiting room, you read statistics indicating that at least 10 of the 20 other people in the waiting room have a particular disease but haven’t properly diagnosed it. The disease is scary and it is deadly, and so it’s not something people like to talk about. There’s at least a decent chance that the doctor himself has the disease, and so he doesn’t like discussing it, either. Instead, the doctor has posters raising awareness for AIDS, smallpox, and other diseases that either affect others but aren’t very relevant to the patients or are outdated and aren’t the threat they once were. The disease continues to run rampant, but everyone goes on their way without addressing it or giving it the proper treatment. This seems like a ridiculous scenario, doesn’t it?

Now replace “doctor’s office” with the church, “doctor” with preachers, and substitute pornography and lust for the disease. As another prominent religious leader recently fell to an “inappropriate relationship” with another married woman, it just served as another eye opener of the secretive nature of these sins. My aim is not to focus on him or anyone else in particular, but to point to the fact that sexual temptation is one of the biggest forms of temptation (if not the biggest) facing the church today, and yet by proportion it is rarely ever discussed, and when it is discussed not enough is done about it to make a difference in most cases.

Covenant Eyes reports that 50% of Christian men (in the broad definition of Christian) and 20% of Christian women say they are addicted to pornography. 51% of those in ministry positions say it is a possible temptation and 75% of them reported that they do not make themselves accountable to someone else for their internet use. 85% of 18-24 year-old men and 47% of 18-24 year-old women view pornography at least once or twice a month. The statistics Covenant Eyes made available for teenage exposure to pornography are even more shocking.

And yet, among all of this, how much discussion do we have on the topic? How many churches preach on the issue and emphasize accountability, or even establish accountability programs? Some have, and it’s a great help and encouragement for those struggling with sexual sin. The church was designed as a family to “bear one another’s burdens” and help each other overcome stumbling blocks along the narrow way. Instead, we’ve shamed sexual sin into silence in many cases, and thousands fight the fight alone without feeling comfortable enough to talk about the sin and get help. Paul was open with his struggles with sin, calling himself the chief of sinners in 1 Timothy 1:15 and documenting the dichotomy of his sinful flesh vs. spiritual mind in Romans 7. Our sins should never be something to hide behind, but rather something we nail to the cross. Sins are covered out of pride, but our only boasting is to be in the cross of Christ and the work He did for us upon it.

So, to those of you who struggle with sexual temptations, I beg you to get help. Find accountability and dedicate yourself to stopping sin from having a hold on you. Preachers, don’t be afraid to preach on these topics no matter how uncomfortable they might be at times, and remember to keep a close watch over yourself through accountability and mentorship with others. Parents, discuss these matters with your young adults so that they know they can talk to you about anything. Provide a safe environment so Satan can’t enter your house through computers, televisions, iPads, or smart phones. As much as we preach against subjects like homosexuality and God’s hate for divorce, we have to remember that it’s just as important to keep the marriage bed undefiled from fornication, affairs, lust, and all manner of sexual sin.
 

Let’s not be the doctor’s office allowing the disease to go untreated. Let’s step up and start shutting down this particular strain of sin and its devastating influence.

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GOD IS … Father, Son, Holy Spirit

Father, Son, Holy Spirit

FATHER – 1 Peter 1:2-3 – 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 3 Blessed (be) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ASV

SON – 1 Peter 1:3

Blessed (be) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ASV

Holy Spirit – John 14:23-26 – 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, while (yet) abiding with you. 26 but the Comforter, (even) the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. ASV

Luke 12:12 – for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in that very hour what ye ought to say.

FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT

IN THE CREATION

Genesis 1:1-2 – In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

REFERENCE TO JESUS – “THE WORD” John 1:1-4 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.   2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. ASV

GOD IS THREE

Matt 3:16-17 – 16 And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove , and coming upon him; 17 and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ASV

BAPTIZED INTO THE “TRINITY”

Matthew 28:18-20 -18 And Jesus came to them and spoke unto them, saying, all authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

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John 4 – The Samaritan Woman

In John 4, our Lord ministered to a variety of people because they had faith in Him. For example, the Samaritan woman. Samaria was a place hated by many Jews because they were a mixed race, part Jew and part Gentile which stems back to the Assyrian captivity in 727 B.C. And, since the Jews in just about every way rejected them, the Samaritans even had their own temple and religious services on Mt. Gerizim.

Well, as Jesus left Judea and started toward Galilee, his journey went through Samaria, where he met this woman at Jacob’s well around noon, which was the usual time for women to come for water. Well, it was not considered proper for any man to speak in public to a strange woman (Jn. 4:27). But, customs aside, Jesus opens the conversation with, “Give me to drink” which became a way to share the truth about “living water.” See, Jesus adapted this situation, as we should, about speaking of the ways of God to others. And so, Jesus offers her eternal life (Jn. 1:26).

As Jesus speaks about spiritual waters, the woman at the well interpreted his words as literal water (vs. 11-15) and she was concerned about how He would obtain the water. Well, Jesus said, “Whosoever continues to drink of this material water (or anything the world has to offer) will thirst again. But whosoever takes one drink of the water I give will never thirst again!” And, how true it is that the things of this world never completely satisfy. Even in torment today, people are crying, “I thirst!” Well, the woman’s immediate response was to ask for this gift, but she did not know what she was saying.

Beginning in vs. 16, Jesus begins prepares the soil of her heart, which begins with conviction, which is why Jesus told her to go get her husband. Jesus aroused her mind and stirred her emotions, but in doing so, he touched her conscience, and that meant dealing with her sin. So she said, “I have no husband” because now she was under conviction and her “mouth was stopped” (Rom. 3:19). But, instead of Jesus bashing her because of her sin, he teaches her about her religion and revealed her spiritual ignorance in that: she did not know who to worship, where to worship, or how to worship! Jesus was showing that not all religions are acceptable before God and that some worshipers act in ignorance and unbelief. Only those who obey the truth can worship God acceptably (Jn. 4;23-24). This ignorance is further exposed by Stephen (Acts 7) and by Jesus (Jn. 3:1-7).

Well, despite her ignorance, in vs. 25-30, there was one truth this woman did know: the Messiah was coming and would reveal the secrets of hearts. This truth was buried in her heart until that very hour, and now here the Lord says, “I that speak to thee, am!” At this point, the woman put her faith in Jesus Christ and immediately wanted to tell others, so she went into the village and told the men she had met the Christ. And, she was in such a hurry to tell others, she left her waterpots behind (vs. 28) with the intentions to come back.

Now, during this time, the disciples had gone to buy food (vs. 8) and upon returning, they were shocked that Jesus was speaking to a Samaritan woman (vs. 31-38). And, after the woman left, they urged Jesus to share the meal with them, because they knew that He was hungry. Instead though, Jesus said, “I have food to eat that ye know not of”. Well they did not understand this in which Jesus explained that doing the Father’s will, in this case, leading the woman to faith in Him, was true nourishment for his soul. So, while the disciples were satisfied with bread, Jesus was satisfied with accomplishing the Father’s work as we should be or as the psalmist said, “I delight to do Thy will, 0 my God; yea, Thy Law is within my heart” (Ps. 40:8).

Next in his conversation with his disciples, Jesus speaks of the harvest and quoted a familiar Jewish proverb about waiting for it as he is pointing to the villagers coming out to the well to meet Him, thanks to the woman. Here it is interesting that the disciples went to the village to buy food. But, the woman went into the village to teach others, like we are to plant the seed of God’s word (Matt. 13; 1 Cor. 3:6-9). Yet, it is interesting that the text indicates that others had labored in Samaria and had prepared the way for this harvest (vs. 38). Now, we don’t know who they were, but the disciples were learning here that they were not alone in the work of the Lord and must never look on any opportunity for teaching as wasted time and energy. It takes faith to plow the soil and plant the seed, but God has promised a harvest (Ps. 126:5-6; Gal. 6:9).

Well as I said, in vs. 39-42, many of the Samaritans believed because of this woman and were so excited about Him, that they begged Him to stay with them; and He stayed for two days. During that short time, His word produced fruit in their lives. These people trusted in what the woman said and soon trusted the Word taught by the Savior and declared him the Saviour of the world (vs. 42). This unnamed Samaritan woman was a fruitful believer: she bore fruit (“many believed”), more fruit (“many more believed”), and today continues to bear “much fruit” to the glory of God (Jn. 15:1-5). Nobody knows how many lost sinners have come to the Saviour because of the teaching of this woman recorded in John 4.

Well, in vs. 43-54, Jesus leaves the country and continues his journey to Galilee and came to Cana where he attended a wedding feast where the first miracle is recorded and came at the request of His mother (John 2:1-5). But then, we see a second miracle at the request of a nobleman to heal his dying son (vs. 47) in which our Lord seems to lament over the spiritual condition of the people in general. But, the nobleman made two mistakes in his thinking: that Jesus had to go to Capernaum to save the lad, and that if the boy died meanwhile, it was too late. So, Jesus simply said, “Go thy way; thy son liveth” (John 4:50) and so, the man believed Jesus and started to return home and as he went, his servants started out to find him so they could share the good news that the boy had been healed at the seventh hour, which, in Roman time, would be 7 o’clock in the evening. When the father and the servants met the next day, their report confirmed his faith. Indeed, the boy had been completely healed! This is one of a few miracles that Jesus performed “at a distance” (Matt. 8:5-13; Matt. 15:21-28)

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God’s Music Command

God did not say, “You shall not use instrumental music.”

Sometimes men make a mistake when they come to the Bible and expect God to expressly prohibit actions which displease Him. The Mormons, who used water in the Lord’s Supper, say, “Where does the Bible say you cannot use water?” This approach to the Bible totally ignores the truth that when God expressly commands actions it disallows all other actions.

Consider the death of Nadab and Abihu, the two sons of Aaron. God had expressly told the priests to burn incense by taking “coals of fire from the altar before the Lord” (Lev. 16:12). These two sons of Aaron brought fire from another source, and God immediately sent fire from above and killed them. They failed to see that, when God expressly commands actions, the command prohibits all actions other than what He commanded.

Look at the words of Leviticus 10. These sons of Aaron “… each took his censor and put fire in it, and put incense on it and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them.” Take special note that the Spirit does not say that they offered fire which He had said not to offer. God had not said, “You shall not use fire from other sources.” Yet, they were not at liberty to do anything which God had not expressly forbidden. They were limited to doing what God had expressly commanded. Explicit commands forbid other actions.

Now, put this event in the context of the book of Leviticus. The tabernacle had been erected, but priests had not been consecrated to serve in it. In the first part of chapter eight, Aaron and his sons are consecrated to serve before God. Read chapters eight and nine, and see the emphasis placed on the commands of God. The text says, “Moses did as the Lord commanded him…what the Lord commanded to be done…as the Lord commanded Moses…as the Lord had commanded Moses…as the Lord had commanded Moses…as the Lord had commanded Moses…as the Lord had commanded Moses…as I commanded…as the Lord has commanded to do…for so I have been commanded…all the things that the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses…what Moses commanded…the thing which the Lord commanded…as the Lord commanded…as the Lord had commanded Moses”  (Lev. 8:4, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36; 9:5, 6, 7, 10). Do you see the emphasis? What a contrast with the actions obeyed expressly as the Lord commanded, and the sin of disobedience, thinking God had to expressly forbid actions.

Take this principle and apply it. God does not have to say, “Do not use water” or “Do not use musical instruments,” when He expressly tells us what to do!

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