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BIBLE STUDY
LESSON
For the week beginning Sunday August 10, 2014
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THE POWER IN PRAYER
(We should be a powerful, praying community)
(James 5:13-20)
Suffering is allowed in our lives,
because GOD wants to elicit, or evoke, our prayers. Sufficiency is given to us,
because GOD wants to elicit, or evoke, our praise. Prayer can remove our
affliction, or, it can obtain for us, the grace we need to endure in, and
through, our suffering.
The experience of suffering can give us the patient endurance we need in
order to accomplish GOD’s will in this life for us, and, for those whom GOD
wishes for our lives to touch. GOD balances our lives by giving us times of
suffering that brings us to prayer, and, times of blessings which should bring
us to singing of praises. Praying and singing are just as important to today’s
church as it was to the church in the first century.
In James chapter 5, James concludes his letter of instructions to the
early Christian church by emphasizing the power we can all obtain and share
over our afflictions, through a healthy prayer life. This passage that strongly
links prayer, sickness, church elders, anointing with oil, and confession of
sin has fascinated Christians for centuries. There are several things that come
into focus in this passage just as it does throughout this wonderful letter of
church doctrine that goes a long ways toward helping us to mature as
Christians.
First of all, James tells us that prayer is very much needed during
sickness, physical and spiritual. And when such sicknesses come, it is the role
of the elders in the church to pray for them. Prayer is primary and anointing
with oil is secondary in dealing with human afflictions. In the first century,
oil was the most common ingredient used in medical treatments. Here in verse 14
the Greek verb used by James to describe the use of oil in this function is “aleipsantes”
and it means “to smear on, or rub on with oil”. Thus this verse teaches us that
we need application of both prayer and normal medical treatment to heal our
sicknesses. If James had meant anointing in a sacramental sense, he would have
used the word “chrio”, which means “to anoint ceremonially”.
Then there is “confession”, which is important should sin be the cause of
one’s illness. In this case discipline would be the correct action to take. And
since confession and prayer are associated with good spiritual health, it is
important for Christians to be sensitive to sin, and develop a practice of
confessing their sins to each other, and praying for each other.
The, prayers of a righteous person, or a person who is in a right
relationship with GOD, is truly a powerful weapon against human afflictions.
Each of us can be a wonderful resource for the other. And each of us can help the
other guard against going astray. When a person strays, we are expected, by
GOD, to reach out and turn that person back to a life that is lived according
to GOD and HIS word. And historically, we can all be inspired by the likes of
Job, and take comfort in his great example to us, of suffering, and being able
to emerge into an experience of GOD’s mercy.
As we persevere through suffering, we must strive to stay focused on GOD,
WHO can deliver us through it all, and steadfastly, remain committed to living
and telling the truth. And, we can be certain that the great and powerful JUDGE
is standing at the door waiting to encourage us, and comfort us, for all time
and eternity. GOD does not promise that we won’t have nightmares, but, what HE
does promise is that, when we do, HE’LL be there to hold us.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
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