We’ve been considering what James said about prayer in his book. He emphasized the need for faith and faithfulness in prayer. Now let’s look at a third emphasis presented in James 5:13-18 – fervency in prayer.
If you’re in trouble, James says, go to God in prayer. If you’re sick, call the elders to prayer over you and anoint you with oil in the name of the Lord. Some think the oil here might refer to using oil in a medicinal way. That is, if you’re sick get others to pray for you and get a doctor’s help.
Since it refers here to elders doing both the praying and the anointing it would seem the anointing with oil is symbolic, referring to the Holy Spirit. This would mean, pray and trust the Holy Spirit to work a miracle of healing.
In addition, note that the reference to sin involves confessing to each other, meaning, whoever knows of sin in their lives is to confess it to those gathered for prayer. It is not saying the person who is sick is sick because they have sinned; though that might be true. Whoever has sin, including any elder, should confess, and then there should be prayer for each other for forgiveness. This puts you on firmer praying ground. It encourages greater faith.
James then refers to Elijah’s example in prayer. He prayed earnestly or fervently, and God answered. Fervent prayer will only be effectual if we’ve confessed our sin, prayed for each other for forgiveness, and then be focused on a particular issue, for example healing.
Times when I’ve met with elders to pray in this way for a sick person, who requested it, have been special and memorable.
