Faith Is A Noun: "The Prayer Of Faith"

"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray our him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." (James 5:14-15).


Hello To All:

Near the beginning of last year, my wife and I were invited to join a couples Bible study group. We typically meet on Sunday evenings for a time of fellowship in Jesus Christ and a time of study of His Book - The Bible. At that first session, as there were some participants who were strangers to us, we were asked to introduce ourselves.

When the time came for my turn, I made some statements about who I am; and then, compelled by The Spirit of God, I made this statement: "If I tell you all of my stories, you just might decide that I am a crazy old guy." So far, they continue to welcome me; and they continue to love me as a brother in Christ Jesus. Thank you Jesus.

My beloved brethren, this brief introduction to this letter (this is posting #140), is intended to prepare you for the possibility that, after reading all of this letter, you might just decide that: I am a crazy old guy. And, quite frankly, I am alright with that.

After over a decade of posting letters, on this web site, I have often been reminded that my job does not involve me trying to convince you of the truth. My task is to be faithful to being one of God's ordained messengers. Part of God's work, in His creation, as He works through His Spirit, is to guide us "into all truth." (John 16:13). My job is to deliver the message that He has guided me to; and, if in the reading of the message, you feel like calling me a crazy old guy; again let me say that I am alright with that; and I will forgive you, just as Christ Jesus forgives me!

Our opening text comes from a portion of the letter from James, that gives us deep insight into the relationship between the sick amongst us, the  elders of His church: The Body Of Christ, and the willingness of our Lord Jesus Christ to heal the sick amongst us!

As we work our way towards a deeper understanding of this relationship; it is probable, that I will be compelled to make statements that will not be appreciated by certain segments of the world wide Christian community. I ask only two things: will you please pause before rushing to judgement and labeling me a crazy old guy? And, in that pause, will you take the time to listen to the still small voice of The Spirit of God, as He seeks to guide you into all truth?

A critical part of a right understanding of God's provision for the healing of the sick among us, is the right understanding of who qualifies to be "the elders of the church." There is a great deal of confusion; and a broad range of perspective regarding what it means to be an elder. Some assemblies elect their elders. Some assemblies appoint their elders. Some assemblies ordain their elders. Some assemblies embrace a combination of these practices.

As we consider these methods of becoming an elder, we need to ask ourselves these questions: From where or from whom does the elected elder derive their authority? From where or from whom does the appointed elder derive their authority? From where or from whom does the ordained elder derive their authority?

If we are going to rightly answer these questions, we must begin by going back to the beginning of our creation. (Please take a close look at Genesis, chapters 1-3)? When God proclaimed (Genesis 1:31), that: "it is very good," - He was also including the creation of man in that proclamation of being "very good."

After the creation was identified as being "very good," God placed Adam in a very specific place in His creation; and He gave Adam certain responsibilities. We find the following written at Genesis 2:15-17:

15.  "And the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."
16.  "And the Lord God commanded the man saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely    
 eat:"
17.  "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou          eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

At this point in Adam's life journey, he still had the status of being the image of God (Genesis 1:26); and he still had the status of being, "very good" (Genesis 1:31). Thus, it should be rightly understood that Adam had the moral authority to care for the garden of Eden; and he also had the moral authority to obey God's command regarding the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil." At this point, in his life journey, Adam was sinless and the only voice he heard  and obeyed, was God's voice.

But things changed. Adam listened to other voices. He turned his back on the moral authority that comes from our Creator. In taking this step, Adam placed himself in a position where he was now willing to listen to the counsel of other voices.  Prior to taking this step, Adam had the authority to rebuke the serpent and to keep Eve from eating the fruit of "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." When Adam listened to a voice and obeyed a voice, that was not God's voice, he lost the fullness of the moral authority that was his, by virtue of his Creator's authority bestowed upon him. 

It is very probable, that at this point in this posting, some of you are wondering if maybe this elder is just: "a crazy old guy." I will grant you that the previous two paragraphs might be presenting a perspective that you have not given any consideration too, prior to this posting. I ask that you bear with me and let us together see if this elder is, indeed, sharing the truth with you, my beloved brethren.

Let us continue this journey to truth, by looking at a portion of Eve's response to the serpent: "But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." (Genesis 3:3).

As one of God's ordained messengers, this elder has a deep level of appreciation of the dangers of saying "God said," when in fact He didn't say what it is claimed that He said. Eve makes the statement that: "God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." When did God say: "neither shall ye touch it?" When God gave the commandment to Adam, nothing was said about touching the fruit. Eve's knowledge of the commandment had to come from Adam. God put Adam in the garden to: "dress it and to keep it." (Genesis 2:15). It should be rightly understood that part of Adam's responsibility to "dress it and to keep it," would have been properly informing Eve, regarding God's commandment, regarding the garden.

The King's Book tells us that: "by one man sin entered into the world," (Romans 5:12); "For since by man came death," (1 Corinthians 15:21); "For as in Adam all die," (1 Corinthians 15:22); "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners," (Romans 5:19).

Eve was the first to eat of the forbidden fruit: "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food"..."she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat," (Genesis 3:6). Since Eve was the first to eat, why does the inspired scripture take the position that sin entered the world through Adam?

The only source that Eve had, regarding the commandment: "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die," was Adam. The commandment was given to him; and he was given authority over the garden and all in it. Something happened between the time that God gave the commandment to Adam and the time that Adam informed Eve about the commandment. The question is: what happened?

The only way we can answer this question, is by being willing to take a deep look into the mystery of man's ability to choose good; and man's ability to choose evil. The fact that Adam was given a commandment, directs us to the truth that Adam had the capacity to either obey the commandment or to  disobey the commandment. Even with his status of being sinless and being declared to be "very good," he had the capacity to disobey God.

As we ask and seek to answer the question: "what happened," we must also ask the question: how did Satan get access to the garden? The answer is the same for both questions. When Adam informed eve regarding the commandment - Adam lied! Did Adam intend to lie? Only God can answer that question with any degree of certainty. Nonetheless, the Spirit directed logic of the sequence of events compels me to believe that Adam told Eve not to touch the fruit. In this he lied!

Perhaps, in his zeal to protect Eve, and insure obedience to God's commandment, he took this extra step and added to God's commandment. But, in his zeal, as he listened to his own voice, he sinned. Adding to God's word or taking away from God's word is a sin; and should rightly be understood as being a lie. This is the sin that lead to Adam's fall; and this is the sin that gave the evil one access to the garden!

Jesus reminds us (John 8:44) that: ..."the devil"..."When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." Because both Adam and Eve embraced this lie, their ability to resist the devil and his lies was diminished; and the result was their eating of the forbidden fruit. Sin entered the world because Adam's lie diminished his capacity to obey God!

Now, the question needs to be asked: how does this relate to our opening text and the prayer of faith? When God placed Adam in the garden (which God had created) He gave Adam a job and He gave Adam a commandment. In this, God ordained Adam for a certain purpose and God equipped Adam with the authority to fulfill this purpose. With this perspective, it should be rightly understood that Adam was the first ordained elder!

Adam was not elected to his position by a group of like minded people. Adam was not appointed to his position by a group of like minded people. Adam was ordained to his position by our Creator! As the first ordained elder in God's plan for His creation; we find, in Adam, the example of what an ordained elder should be; and we also find an example of what an ordained elder should not be!

Now I speak to all rightly ordained elders. In Christ Jesus, we are brothers. In Christ Jesus, we are given the task, with regards to His church: the body of Christ, "to dress it and to keep it." In Christ Jesus, we are empowered to listen to the voice of God; and we are empowered to obey the voice of God. 

My brothers, the question before us this: Are we, as ordained elders, listening to any other voices? Is our focus exclusively on Christ Jesus; or are we distracted by competing allegiances to other entities? 

I am reminded of a conversation with a pastor friend of mine. He was concerned about some things his institution/denomination was doing. I suggested that he express his concerns to the leadership. His response has stayed with me all of these years. To the best of my recollection, this is what he said: "I must be careful about what I say, because they control my future." 

Adam listened to his own voice and he sinned. If, as ordained elders, we are to be successful in praying, "the prayer of faith," - then, let it be understood, that the only voice we obey is God's voice! Our future, rightly understood, is in the hands of our Creator: Jesus Christ!

Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,

Elder Theophilus