The Four Eleven Foundation: 1 Thessalonians

9.3. PRAY IN TIMES OF SICKNESS (James 5:14-18)

In the case of those among the brethren who are 'astheneo', weak, feeble, sick, they are shown how to seek healing from the Lord.

9.3.1. FAITH EXPRESSED ON THE PART OF THE SUFFERER (James 5:14)

James 5:14 "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; ..."

This could mean sending for the elders to come and pray, the sick one being unable to go to the elders. In this, faith is active. Or the sick one comes to the meeting and requests prayer of the elders, so through a step of faith, what is implied is that the sick one is the first in taking the initiative in an act of faith in seeking divine healing.

9.3.2. ELDERS RESPOND IN SPECIFIC ACTS OF FAITH (James 5:14)

James 5:14 "... and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:"

Elders must concentrate prayer over the sick one. "Over him" means focussed prayer on the needy one, and the specific need itself. Along with prayer, the elders are to anoint the sick one with oil. It is a symbol of the Holy Spirit who is shown in the "gifts of healings" (1 Corinthians 12:9,28,30 ). Just as bread and wine are symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:24-25 ), so the oil symbolises the presence of the Holy Spirit in power to glorify Jesus. In healing works the Holy Spirit does glorify Jesus in declaration, and He also does in demonstration (John 16:14-15; 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 ) in response to prayer for, and anointing of the sick "in the name of the Lord" (James 5:14 ).

It is used in recognition of the Lord being present in the midst:
Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

It is acknowledgment that all service and actions of faith are to be done in His name:
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

It is that the divine source of healing may be clearly known (Acts 3:6 ):
Acts 4:10 "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole."

It is using the name of Jesus, for to Him all authority is given:
Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."

It is using the name which is above every name:
Philippians 2:9 "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,"

It is the name to which every knee shall bow, including demons and sickness:
Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;"

It is faith action that confesses Jesus as Lord:
Philippians 2:11 "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

9.3.3. ELDERS ARE TO PRAY THE PRAYER OF FAITH (James 5:15)

James 5:15 "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; ..."

PRAYING THE PRAYER OF FAITH is exercising the privileged authority He has given us in using His name:
John 14:13-14 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.¹⁴ 'If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

THE PRAYER OF FAITH centres on the authority of Jesus Christ as the healing Lord (Acts 2:22 ):
Acts 10:38 ""how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."

THE PRAYER OF FAITH declares the Lord Jesus to be the source of healing, with full confession and confidence:
Acts 3:6 "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."

THE PRAYER OF FAITH looks for great grace to be manifested in the dynamic of the working of the Holy Spirit:
Acts 4:33 "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all."

THE PRAYER OF FAITH expects the saving of the sick knowing it is the Lord who will raise up the sick one (Exodus 15:26; Psalm 103:3,4 ):
Psalm 41:3 "The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed."

"It is interesting that the word used here to mean the raising up of the sick one from the sick bed, is 'egeiro' - to awaken - rouse (lit from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death)". Strong

'Egeiro' is used figuratively for the need to become attentive to one's own dangerous position:
Ephesians 5:14 "Therefore He says: ["Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."]"

'Egeiro' is also used in the sense of recover (Matthew 9:5-7 ):
Matthew 8:15 "And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them."

'Egeiro' is especially used of the dead recalled to life:
Matthew 10:8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."

'Egerio' is used emphatically of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and ours:
Acts 3:15 "[and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead,] of which we are witnesses."

1 Corinthians 6:14 "And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power."

By the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, the sick one's mortal body is quickened (Romans 8:11 ). That 'egeiro' is used of the Lord's restoring and recovering of those sick among us, is a reminder that ultimately all His saints are to be raised incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 ).

	It is used in recognition of the Lord being present in the midst: Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
	It is acknowledgment that all service and actions of faith are to be done in His name: Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
	It is that the divine source of healing may be clearly known (Acts 3:6 ): Acts 4:10 "let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole."
	It is using the name of Jesus, for to Him all authority is given: Matthew 28:18 "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."
	It is using the name which is above every name: Philippians 2:9 "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,"
	It is the name to which every knee shall bow, including demons and sickness: Philippians 2:10 "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;"
	It is faith action that confesses Jesus as Lord: Philippians 2:11 "And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

	PRAYING THE PRAYER OF FAITH is exercising the privileged authority He has given us in using His name: John 14:13-14 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.¹⁴ 'If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."
	THE PRAYER OF FAITH centres on the authority of Jesus Christ as the healing Lord (Acts 2:22 ): Acts 10:38 ""how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."
	THE PRAYER OF FAITH declares the Lord Jesus to be the source of healing, with full confession and confidence: Acts 3:6 "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."
	THE PRAYER OF FAITH looks for great grace to be manifested in the dynamic of the working of the Holy Spirit: Acts 4:33 "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all."
	THE PRAYER OF FAITH expects the saving of the sick knowing it is the Lord who will raise up the sick one (Exodus 15:26; Psalm 103:3,4 ): Psalm 41:3 "The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed."

	'Egeiro' is used figuratively for the need to become attentive to one's own dangerous position: Ephesians 5:14 "Therefore He says: ["Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."]"
	'Egeiro' is also used in the sense of recover (Matthew 9:5-7 ): Matthew 8:15 "And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them."
	'Egeiro' is especially used of the dead recalled to life: Matthew 10:8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."
	'Egerio' is used emphatically of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and ours: Acts 3:15 "[and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead,] of which we are witnesses." 1 Corinthians 6:14 "And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power." By the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, the sick one's mortal body is quickened (Romans 8:11 ). That 'egeiro' is used of the Lord's restoring and recovering of those sick among us, is a reminder that ultimately all His saints are to be raised incorruptible (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 ).