Why do we assume that when we become sick that God would want to heal us? Where do we get the information upon which we base that assumption? Could we be operating on man-made principles, human rules-of-the-game, that actually oppose the work of God in our lives?
Each of us needs to ask, “Why am I asking God to heal me?” Is it possible that God knows that we need this illness or injury? Is he that wise?
- (Psalm 119:67 ESV) Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
Paul was given a thorn in the flesh. Paul did not heal everyone around him, even those close to him in ministry.
So why do we think that God has this great desire to heal us? Do we ever ask “why”? As in, Why do we want to be healed? Will I better carry out the will of God? Am I concerned for the purposes of God?
Or could it be that I just want to get on with “MY” life? And … if God is a good God, which he says he is, then he had better take care of me and heal me!
So … Why am I asking God to heal me?
And … What does God really promise?
Message Title: The Prayer of Faith!
Message Text: James 5:13-20
- PDF LESSON 14 : The Prayer of Faith : James 513-20 : ffc : dave scott : 022116 STUDY SHEET ONE
- PDF LESSON 14 : The Prayer of Faith : James 513-20 : ffc : dave scott : 022116 STUDY SHEET TWO
———————————————————
From Preaching the Word: James—Faith That Works …
Amy Carmichael, the turn-of-the-century missionary to India, described the attempted healing of one of her treasured coworkers, a woman named Ponnammal, who contracted cancer in 1913. Amy was, of course, aware of James’ prescription to call for the elders of the church to anoint the ill and offer the prayer of faith, but she and her fellowship were not sure what to do. So they sought a sign asking that, if it was God’s will, he would send someone to them who was earnest about James’ prescription for healing. The person came—an old friend of hers from Madras. As her biographer Elisabeth Elliot describes it:
- It was a solemn meeting around the sickbed, the women dressed as usual in their handloomed saris, but white ones for this occasion. They laid a palm branch across Ponnammal’s bed as a sign of victory and accepted whatever answer God might give, certain that whether it was to be physical healing or not, He would give victory and peace. It sounds like a simple formula. It was an act of faith, but certainly accompanied by the anguish of doubt and desire which had to be brought again and again under the authority of the Master.… From that very day Ponnammal grew … worse. The pain increased, and her eyes grew dull as she lingered for days in misery until she reached her limit and her “warfare was accomplished.”1
Prima facie James’ directions did not “work” for Ponnammal, the faithful servant of Christ. Honesty demands that we admit that such is often the case when Christians attempt to follow this Scripture. Why is this so? How is it that two believers become ill and both call for the elders of the church, both are anointed, both are prayed over, yet one dies and the other is healed?2 Are we all to follow James’ prescription? How are we to apply this Scripture in the church today? We hope to answer these and similar questions as we consider The Divine Prescription for Healing in the church.
[Hughes, R. K. (1991). James: faith that works (pp. 253–254). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.]
———————————————————
