The Prayer Of Faith: The Anointing

 "Submit yourselves therefore to God, Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 KJV).

Hello To All:

This is the twelfth letter in a series of essays, all dealing with the realities of Faith. I am compelled to capitalize the word faith, since the case has been made, that the "faith of the Son of God" (Gal 2:20), is the faith that is common to all believers, who follow Jesus Christ; and accept Him as their Lord and their Savior. Thank you Jesus!

At first glance, our title to this letter, does not appear to have any connection to our opening text.  The title directs our attention to "anointing," and our text directs our attention to "Submit yourselves therefore to God." What is the relationship between submitting and anointing?  James, being inspired by the Holy Spirit, compels us to believe that there is a significant relationship between the two realities.  Chapter 4 contains the text regarding submission; and chapter 5 contains the text regarding anointing.  The order compels me to believe that an understanding of submission, is essential to our understanding of "anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord" (James 5:14).

These many months since the last letter posted on this site (December 28, 2021), have found me seeking a deeper understanding of what it truly means too: "Submit yourselves to God."  A right understanding of submission to God, is essential to realizing the potential victory revealed in James 5:14 and following. The  James text reminds us of submission in a variety of ways. The "anointing," is one of those ways!

This letter is also one of six letters all relating too: "The Prayer Of Faith." The effective praying of that prayer is all about absolute submission to God; and to God alone through His Son Jesus Christ!  Previous postings have reminded us, of the realties relating to the ordained elders and their role in God's plan for healing the sick amongst us. 

This letter directs our attention to those individuals who are destined to be healed by Jesus of Nazareth, through the effective praying of: "The Prayer Of Faith." Just as the elders must submit to God; so must the sick amongst us also submit to God.

The essence of submission is joyful obedience to the revealed will of God, as found in the revealed truth of His word! This must be a submission that is without conflict with other authorities or methodologies.  This must also be a submission that fully honors and glorifies The One and The True and The Living God; and Him alone! Anything less than this, will complicate our ability to fully believe.   Please carefully consider the following words of our Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded at John 5:44.

"How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?" 

Clearly Jesus of Nazareth is equating the ability to believe with an absolute submission to God! If we are seeking honor or approval from anyone besides God, then we are seriously compromising our ability to believe. This is part of the tragedy, of the institutional system, that so many of the brethren, who have sworn allegiance to their perspectives of the truth, have embraced.  Most of us are not capable of fully believing, because of this compromise.  Jesus of Nazareth is the Truth! Our allegiance should be to Him and Him alone!  It is in this context of full submission, that we can fully believe.

To make certain that there is no confusion, it must be stated that the discussion of believing, in this letter, is not related to our salvation. When we believe Jesus for salvation, we begin our life journey with Him, at the entry level of discipleship.  The believing, being referenced in this letter, is very much related, to the possibility of a victorious journey in this life, in the here and now of our life journey with Jesus of Nazareth. Thank you Jesus!

Perhaps, some of you are wondering which comes first? Does believing lead to submission? Or, does submission lead to believing? When we believe Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins and the subsequent gift of salvation and eternal life; are we not also submitting ourselves to Him for all of eternity? The challenge for us, in finding the victory, in the here and now, is to recognize that there is an eternal relationship between submission and believing. They are part and parcel of the wholeness of Faith!

Now, it is time to apply this understanding to the anointing:

"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." (James 5:14 KJV).

It is good to remind ourselves of something that has been said before: "God says what He means; and God means what He says." If we apply this standard to the written word of God, then we will have an opportunity for clarity and understanding. Thank you Jesus!

Thus, it is imperative that we recognize the importance of submission to the sick amongst us. It is God's stated will that they call for the elders of the church.  It is also God's stated will that they be anointed. Both of these demand the willingness of the sick to submit to God's stated way of fulfilling His purposes! This is the place where believing is manifested as submission is manifested. This is the place where the sick amongst us can be healed. Thank you Jesus!

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

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,

Elder Theophilus