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Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him(James 5:14 – ESV)
It should be the ordinary way of things that members come to the elders for special prayer in special situations (James 5:13-20). Many times we go looking for answers elsewhere first, when we should be availing ourselves of the means of grace first, including our elders (1 Peter 5:1-11). The truth is that the love of the elders for the flock is a covering for you (James 5:20 / 1 Peter 4:8). Of course if you run out from under the umbrella and into the rain, you will get wet. They cannot stop that, but they can call you back to shelter. They cannot pay for your sins but they can pray for your sins, and God has put them in place to help you back into the fold.
It is the role and responsibility of the elders to shepherd the flock of God humbly and ably. It is the role and responsibility of the congregant to call on, submit to, pray for, and abide by the elders and their care. Are we examples of humility to one another, knowing our roles and exercising them rightly, not using them for show or for selfish ends, and not to force people but that they are willingly submitting to each other? Are we humbling ourselves under the hand of God, which is demonstrated by a godly submission to each other in our roles and in our responsibilities to God and to one another? Are the elders eager to help (do they answer the call), and are the congregants willing to be helped (do they call at all)?
Don't assume that God will aid you in a way that avoids or evades the ordinary way. The elders are there for a reason. Their admonition and nurture is important. They don't dole out grace with a ladle, but God has appointed them to serve your spiritual needs. Do you recognize and submit to the authority God has placed them in due to their role? If you need special prayer because of trouble brought about by your sin, do you admit that you are to blame, not others, not the devil, and not some so-called generational curse, but you who are to blame? The world and the devil only enflame what is already there, and where there is no fuel the fire dies out. Will you confess your faults, all of them that pertain to the issue, the ones that have led to being prayed for, so that you may be healed?
We must realize that prayer is only part of the process, and that persistence (Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9), and perspective (1 Peter 5:9 / James 5:17-18), are what lead to progress (James 5:15 / 1 Peter 5:10). You must then stay on the road, if you go back it is harder to get back, and the going will be worse than before (John 5:14 / Luke 11:24-26). Stay in the elderly care center.
9 comments:
This is taken from a previous post from 4-20-07, but now includes the audio, which has
NEW & FRESH
material in it...we will be doing this with many of our older posts, so that they can have the audio attached to them...hope these are edifying and enjoyable for you...God bless...
...and don't be afraid to leave a comment if you haven't listened to the audio...the posts can stand on their own, too...
And it did stand on its own!
Just heard this taught to some jr highers on Sunday and was frustrated by the teaching. It had the flavor of "sin" to it, the teacher having the idea that the elders would only need to pray over you if you had sinned. I was sad and even angry because I didn't want the kids to grow up thinking that all sickness comes from sin or that elders are people than can only be approached if you have sinned. We have good elders who have historically taken their role of flock care very seriously. They pray for me and watch over me. There is always one that is there too for me to, as a single woman, to bounce things off of to get a male opinion. I do not mind working under their authority and am glad of the headship.
Thanks for stopping by, and glad to hear it about your elders...yes it can certainly be and is often abused, and this is why it is so important who we have as elders, their qualifications and quality...
"Are we humbling ourselves under the hand of God, which is demonstrated by a godly submission to each other in our roles and in our responsibilities to God and to one another."
Notice I took the ? out and replaced it with the period.
I think when you have elders in this proper responsive role it allows those others in the congregation to humble ourselves and show Godly submission by example.
My way of saying thank you...
Oh... thanks for the input Tuesday morning it helped.
My experience in more reformed churches is that the common way this particular text is disobeyed is that they assume the elders (in particular the pastor) will just know they have something wrong. They don't call. Then when no one comes, they complain to everyone how uncaring the elders/pastor are. The text not only warns against looking elsewhere, but also commands and gives responsibility to the members to actually call the elders.
Indeed...
Let me say it again, that point is exactly right...
BTW, Paul, you are welcome, and thanks for calling in to the radio show...
Hey, Paul made the call, and was willing to hear about it out in the open airwaves, so you should at least be willing to make a private call...
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