" I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20 KJV).
"Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." (Colossians 1:29 KJV).
Hello To All:
Towards the end of 2018, my wife and I were asked to join a group of people who were going to pray for healing for a young lady who was suffering from chronic and debilitating leg pain. The invitation was extended to us, by the girls mother. We were going to meet, on a Sunday morning, in a local church building where this family attended services.
As I was preparing myself for this prayer meeting, The Spirit of God, impressed upon me, in a way that only He can, that I was to pray for this young lady, in the context of James 5:14-15. My immediate response was to ask how this would be possible, in the midst of a prayer meeting, where all have gathered to pray?
The young lady had not reached out to the elders of her church to pray for her. It is the sick person who initiates the process leading to the: "Prayer of faith." In this instance, the girls mother had initiated a process for a group prayer for the purpose of seeking healing for her daughter. The King's Book does make provision for healing to take place in the context of a prayer meeting with believers laying hands on one another; and praying for one another, for the purposes of being healed. (Mark 16:18 "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.")
But, God's provision for healing the sick, as presented in James 5:14-15, is an event that takes place with the sick person and the ordained elders present. This is not a group gathering. This is a very personal transaction that takes place between the sick person, family members, the elders of the church and our Lord Jesus Christ.
"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over 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 KJV).
A number of years prior to this request, the Spirit of God also impressed upon me, His desire for me, to pray for a young mother who had cancer. I was directed to pray for her, in the context of James 5:14-15. At that point, in my journey with Jesus Christ, I was focused on the number of elders, as referenced in the text from James. I was joined in weekly prayer meetings with two other men, who were also burdened by this young mothers plight. We were not able to get past the idea that more than one elder must be involved.
Since that time, as I have been taken by our Lord Jesus Christ, into a deeper understanding of His love and His mercy, He has convinced me that if only one elder is available to answer the request of the sick person; He will still be willing to respond to the "prayer of faith," and heal the sick person. Thank you Jesus!
This brings us back to this mother's request for prayers for the healing of her daughter. We live in a part of the country where winter storms are, often, quick to appear. The Sunday morning of the scheduled prayer meeting found us in the midst of one such storm. The church services and the prayer meeting were canceled. The mother reached out to my wife and myself; and asked if she and her daughter could come to our home. They came and we talked. We spent some time in James and talked about God's desire for prayer to take place in the context of James 5:14-15.
The mother and her daughter returned to their home to pray with and speak with the young lady's father. Specifically, they were to take a deep look at the James text, to seek an understanding regarding God's will for them; as they continued to seek healing for their daughter. A period of time passed, and the young lady reached out to me and asked me to come and pray for her. In response to God's expressed will for healing, as stated in the James text, I said yes; and my wife and I traveled to their home.
My beloved brethren, this essay that you are now reading is the ninth essay in a series about faith that began in July of 2019. As these essays are written with the intent of helping the Body of Christ draw closer to Christ and to go deeper in an understanding of the revealed truth of His Word; they are also used by the Spirit of God to take this elder to a deeper understanding of the revealed truth of His Word.
Thus, when my wife and I traveled to this young ladies home, in December of 2018, my understanding of the James 5:14-15 text, was much less than it is now. This should be a reminder to all that Christ's willingness to work through us, is not dependent on the depth of our understanding; but, rather is fully dependent on our willingness to trust Him and Him alone; and to obey Him and Him alone! Thank you Jesus!
Let us be reminded of the truths revealed in our opening texts: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:" - "Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily."
If we are to be victorious in our journey with Jesus of Nazareth, then we must realize that we are His vessels through which He does His work! The victory belongs to Jesus. Thus if we will trust in Him rather than in our own understanding, He will manifest His victory in our lives; and in the lives of those to whom He sends us. Can we say thank you Jesus?
This is the reality of where this elder was in my understanding of the James 5:14-15 text; when I traveled with my wife and our Lord Jesus Christ, to the home of this young lady, in need of healing. We were warmly welcomed to the home of this young lady: by her parents, herself and a brother. We gathered in a sitting room and spent some time talking and teaching with regards to the James text.
It was very clear that this sick person was eager to proceed. We talked about the sick person's response to God and His provision for healing. We also talked about the importance of her submission to being anointed with oil. After anointing her, I was compelled by the Spirit of God, to ask her this question: If I fail to effectively pray the "prayer of faith," and you are not healed - will you still love me, as your brother in Christ Jesus? She was quick to say yes. Thank you Jesus.
Empowered by our Lord Jesus Christ, I effectively prayed the "prayer of faith;" and Jesus Christ, in accordance with His word, healed her. Thank you Jesus! Amen and Amen and Amen!
There is much more to be said, regarding God's provision for healing the sick amongst us; but, that shall have to take place in future letters. There is enough, in this letter, for us us to pray on and think about!
Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:
Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus
