“Confess your faults one to another and pray for one another, that ye may be healed…” (James 5:16a).
Www.biblegateway.com offers these interesting insights on today’s verse.
“Prayer is the encompassing instruction, because it is the right course of action for the full range of life-situations and for any one in these situations: Pray in times of trouble, pray in times of happiness, and pray in times of sickness.”
I especially like the vision James had for the body of Christ. “James is writing about spiritual freedom given to the church. This freedom happens because ‘the Lord is full of compassion and mercy,’ and in that mercy James exults. Picture this exultation happening in modern churches, and you have something of James’ vision: elders leading with spiritul authority in the name of Jesus; Christians praising God joyfully, confessing their sins openly and praying for each other lovingly; the church together experiencing spiritual cleansing and physical healing. This is the exciting power of prayer.” I agree with James that prayer brings results.”The conviction that prayer brings results was implicit in James 5:13-14. It becomes explicit in James 5:15-16.with James’ assurance of four results. The prayer will make the sick person well….the Lord will raise him up…he will be forgiven…so that you may be healed. The first result, make well is the NIV’s translationof the verb sosei ‘will save.’ It is a proper translation for this context, where ‘will save’ is in the sense of healing rather than spiritual salvation.”
I conclude that it is possible to receive physical, as well as, spiritual healing through the power of prayer. We must be willing to confess whatever the need to God. We must also be willing to go to our brothers and sisters in Christ, enlisting their prayer support.
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for individuals in your church who suffer from chronic illnesses. Why not send at least one of them a card, acknowledging your prayers and concern?
