Continuing further in this letter from James in the New Testament, I have been looking a little deeper into the meaning of some of these verses he wrote in chapter 5.
In James 5: 14-15, it reads something like this: " Is anyone among you sick? If so, this is the right time to call upon your elders and leaders of your congregation and have them pray right along side you. Allow them to anoint you with oil, doing so in the name of our Lord Jesus.
Prayers made in faith such as this not only brings healing, but has the power to restore you. And, if sin is involved in the pain and sorrow you now experience, this too can be forgiven, and you are able to look at life from a fresh perspective...with a new hope...a new purpose, your heart and mind as well as your voice and ears now able to face the challenges in everyday life."
I found some rather interesting thoughts and references to these two verses, and would like to share them.
First, in verse 14 the word for sick originates from the Greek word "astheneo", and although this word has been used to denote someone physically ill, the primary root for the use of this word is in reference to someone who feels weak or feeble, receiving insults and belittling comments that lead to stress, or someone facing severe difficulties with a friendship or relationship that can lead to a verbal or even physical abuse.
Now, here is the thing about this: when I for example feel like I have been verbally assaulted, sometimes over and over, and often times someone who is close to you...I do not even feel like praying...for some reason it becomes for me the hardest thing to do. And, even when I do get up enough strength to utter out some type of prayer, it is often half-hearted or I have no idea how or what to pray.
So...what am I suppose to do? Here James gives specific instructions: "Call for back-up...bring in the troops".
Second, in verse 14 it reads to "call on your elders or leaders of your congregation and have them pray over you...". This "pray over you" is an interesting phrase because it comes from the Greek word "proskales" and it's meaning has a 2 fold application. First, it means to have those among you pray with a total humility in their own hearts and second, to "be called alongside you" in prayer. This is a little different "painting" of this verse...not having people hover over you...rather having leaders support you and help you to stand "on your feet" once again through corporate prayer with humble hearts.
Third, to be "anointed with oil"...this too has a little different meaning than I would perceive it to be by simply reading the verse. The "anointing with oil" referred to in this verse is not a ceremonial type ritual where a person would dab a little oil on your forehead. This word "anointing" is from the Greek word "aleipho" and it means to rub oil over a person, even crush the oil freely over another, much like an ancient athlete would have oil rubbed over their bodies to help soothe sore muscles.
The whole idea is this: to have prayer from hearts that are not negligent of the personal "battle" the person being prayed for is going through. This is not a dedication ceremony or a "pat on the back...you are doing a good job" acknowledgement...this is a real need for the leaders of the congregation to "roll up their sleeves", get the oils out, and totally identify with the person needing prayer support { uhhh...no, this does not mean you have to rub oil all over the "victim"...lol, it means do not take this anointing of oil as a ceremonial exercise...this person needing prayer is hurting.}
Fourth, this type of prayers offered and bring restoration is from the Greek word "sozo" and carries with it the meaning of "being rescued." Along with this, the phrase "restore the sick" has an interesting thought. The word sick is from the Greek word "komnonta" and doesn't really have reference to physical maladies. This word "sick" might be better translated "weary". In other words, this restoration James writes of has more to do with pains of the heart, weariness from everyday struggles, or injuries that are not necessarily physical, rather "spiritual injuries"....being put down time and time again, to the point you feel useless or worthless.
So for me, God is certainly concerned over any physical illness we may have, and I wouldn't waste "a minute" to have those I consider leaders in my congregation to pray for me...that I might get well...I think this is the right thing to do.
My thoughts and concerns are for things like: the elderly lady who attends church regularly, but battles with loneliness...her family is too busy to take time to visit her, or a mother who is facing severe problems communicating with her son...to the point where most the time the son just verbally abuses her.
It is for this I appreciate the letter in James...for what James declares in his letter: "There is hope and support...for the weary"!
In James 5: 14-15, it reads something like this: " Is anyone among you sick? If so, this is the right time to call upon your elders and leaders of your congregation and have them pray right along side you. Allow them to anoint you with oil, doing so in the name of our Lord Jesus.
Prayers made in faith such as this not only brings healing, but has the power to restore you. And, if sin is involved in the pain and sorrow you now experience, this too can be forgiven, and you are able to look at life from a fresh perspective...with a new hope...a new purpose, your heart and mind as well as your voice and ears now able to face the challenges in everyday life."
I found some rather interesting thoughts and references to these two verses, and would like to share them.
First, in verse 14 the word for sick originates from the Greek word "astheneo", and although this word has been used to denote someone physically ill, the primary root for the use of this word is in reference to someone who feels weak or feeble, receiving insults and belittling comments that lead to stress, or someone facing severe difficulties with a friendship or relationship that can lead to a verbal or even physical abuse.
Now, here is the thing about this: when I for example feel like I have been verbally assaulted, sometimes over and over, and often times someone who is close to you...I do not even feel like praying...for some reason it becomes for me the hardest thing to do. And, even when I do get up enough strength to utter out some type of prayer, it is often half-hearted or I have no idea how or what to pray.
So...what am I suppose to do? Here James gives specific instructions: "Call for back-up...bring in the troops".
Second, in verse 14 it reads to "call on your elders or leaders of your congregation and have them pray over you...". This "pray over you" is an interesting phrase because it comes from the Greek word "proskales" and it's meaning has a 2 fold application. First, it means to have those among you pray with a total humility in their own hearts and second, to "be called alongside you" in prayer. This is a little different "painting" of this verse...not having people hover over you...rather having leaders support you and help you to stand "on your feet" once again through corporate prayer with humble hearts.
Third, to be "anointed with oil"...this too has a little different meaning than I would perceive it to be by simply reading the verse. The "anointing with oil" referred to in this verse is not a ceremonial type ritual where a person would dab a little oil on your forehead. This word "anointing" is from the Greek word "aleipho" and it means to rub oil over a person, even crush the oil freely over another, much like an ancient athlete would have oil rubbed over their bodies to help soothe sore muscles.
The whole idea is this: to have prayer from hearts that are not negligent of the personal "battle" the person being prayed for is going through. This is not a dedication ceremony or a "pat on the back...you are doing a good job" acknowledgement...this is a real need for the leaders of the congregation to "roll up their sleeves", get the oils out, and totally identify with the person needing prayer support { uhhh...no, this does not mean you have to rub oil all over the "victim"...lol, it means do not take this anointing of oil as a ceremonial exercise...this person needing prayer is hurting.}
Fourth, this type of prayers offered and bring restoration is from the Greek word "sozo" and carries with it the meaning of "being rescued." Along with this, the phrase "restore the sick" has an interesting thought. The word sick is from the Greek word "komnonta" and doesn't really have reference to physical maladies. This word "sick" might be better translated "weary". In other words, this restoration James writes of has more to do with pains of the heart, weariness from everyday struggles, or injuries that are not necessarily physical, rather "spiritual injuries"....being put down time and time again, to the point you feel useless or worthless.
So for me, God is certainly concerned over any physical illness we may have, and I wouldn't waste "a minute" to have those I consider leaders in my congregation to pray for me...that I might get well...I think this is the right thing to do.
My thoughts and concerns are for things like: the elderly lady who attends church regularly, but battles with loneliness...her family is too busy to take time to visit her, or a mother who is facing severe problems communicating with her son...to the point where most the time the son just verbally abuses her. It is for this I appreciate the letter in James...for what James declares in his letter: "There is hope and support...for the weary"!
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