Morning Reflection: “Overcoming Tough Times” - The Power of Prayer” - ( James 5:13-15) …
Good morning… Great is His faithfulness…
"Overcoming Tough Times"
THE POWER OF PRAYER
JAMES 5:13-15
The Work of Faith: Healing
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? 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. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
According to the commentary from the Orthodox Study Bible: The sick person is to call for the elders – (Presbyters) for prayer … Salvation deals with the whole person, for each of human being is a unity, body, and soul … This sacrament has a double purpose: Not just for healing but also for forgiveness as well … The presbyter – (shorten from: “priest”) is given certain gifts of the ministry at ordination, the laying of the hands – (see, also 1Timothy 4:14) … Prayer is combined with OLIVE OIL – not only the primary medicine of ancient times, but also a symbol of the Holy Spirit in the Church – in a single sacrament that effects a healing for the whole person … So, the elements of the sacraments of healing include (1) THE PRESBYTER OR PRIEST (v. 13); (2): THE PRAYER OF (the) FAITH THAT WILL SAVE – (v. 15), connected with (3): THE WORK OF CHRIST HIMSELF, FOR THE LORD WILL RAISE UP, and (4): THE HOLY SPIRIT, manifested in the oil; and (5): CONFESSION OF SINS just prior to the anointing with oil, which explains why James writes IF HE HAS COMMITTED SINS, HE WILL BE FORGIVEN – (v. 15) … In the Orthodox Church, this sacrament is granted anyone who is sick, whether in danger of dying or not … 1Timothy 4:14: Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
Additional readings St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 2:4-10, Matthew 10:16-22, Daniel 10:12, 1Thessalonians 5:16-18, and 1 Timothy 2:8 ...
Ephesians 2:4-10 - talks about the Transfiguration by grace the two unequal kingdoms that are at war and both spiritual in nature ...
Matthew 10:16-22 - talks about persecution and martyrdom...
" I have found the perfect antidote for fear ... Whenever it sticks up its ugly face, I clobber it with prayer" ...
DALE EVANS ROGERS
NUMBERS 6:24-26
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord [a]lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” ’
In Christ love Jared ...