“Is any one of you sick?  He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.  If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.  Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” 
James 5:14-16

How can we read this verse, if we believe in the authority and sovereignty of Scripture and ignore it?  Once again, God is telling us, this time through James, that we are to be portals of Healing for others.  We can discuss the part about “the elders.” Nevertheless, the Word says, “the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. The Lord will raise him up.”

God seems to like it when we show a public proclamation of our faith in Him. James instructs sick people to ask for prayer from the people of Faith. He also suggests that anointing oil should be used. I believe oil is a healing balm, but I also believe it is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Just like they anointed Kings with oil to transfer power upon them, we should anoint the sick with divine power.

One thing that stood out to me was the part about confessing of sins and forgiveness. The Lord reminded me of a scripture about Jesus. It was one of His interchanges with a sick person, a paralytic. “Some men brought to Him a paralytic, lying on a mat.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’  At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, ‘This fellow is blaspheming!’  Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, ‘Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?  Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?  But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…’ Then He said to the paralytic, ‘Get up, take your mat and go home.’  And the man got up and went home.” Matthew 9:2-7

“Simply by our proximity to Jesus, we can bring hope and life to people and places trapped in discouragement and despair.” – Louie Giglio

What’s more important- temporary Healing or eternal Healing?  Jesus died on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins so that those who believe can have eternal life.  I believe He cares more about people getting right with Him spiritually than He does about physical healing.  Sometimes, he uses an affliction to bring someone into salvation.  This is ultimate healing.

Brothers and Sisters, there’s something to this whole healing thing.  Jesus said that certain signs should accompany those who believe.  One of those signs is making sick people well.  See Mark 16:15-18. If you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is at work in your life.  Hopefully, you have seen evidence of His transformative work.  Where the Holy Spirit is present, there is also Holy Healing Power.

I believe it’s clear that He wants us to bring this healing power to those in need.  If you’ve been to a hospital lately, you probably had a hard time finding a parking place.  Hospitals are packed.  Diseases seem to be rampant.  Birth defects are at an all-time high.  Sickness is Epidemic.  The world is broken and lost.

Could it be that He is using sickness as part of His plan?  Whether that sickness was caused by Satan, by sin or given at birth, these are ministry opportunities for us.  Could it be that a key way we “Live it Out” as Disciples of Christ is by going to people in need and praying for healing for them?

“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them.  They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”  Revelation 21:3-4