The Four Eleven Foundation: 1 Thessalonians

9.3.4. THERE SHOULD BE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CONFESSION OF ANY KNOWN SIN OR TRESPASS (James 5:15-18)

James 5:15 "... and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."

Healing Accompanied With Forgiveness
James assures that with the physical healing there is also restoration to spiritual well being through forgiveness of sins committed. Sickness can be due to known unrepentance of sin. The "if" of James makes the assertion that this is not always the case. 'Hamartia' (sins James 5:15 ) is an offence in relation to God. It is clearly missing the target of a God- centred life, and in conduct missing the God pleasing walk. To wander away from God, the fountainhead of our well being, is to walk in paths of known disobedience, and to invite deserved discipline in the form of chastisement that includes physical sickness. Sinning against fellow believers (James 1:4 ) places such a person within judgment. They are not discerning the unity of the body at the Lord's table of remembrance.

1 Corinthians 11:29,30 "For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.³⁰ For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep."

From what James has said in his letter, he is aware that there would be those under chastisement whose healing would be all the more joyous because accompanied with forgiveness.

There Is A 'Hamartia' (Sin) Unto Death

1 John 5:16 "If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that."

Probably this sin unto death is the unforgivable sin named by the Lord Jesus as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32 ). There is neither healing nor forgiveness for the one who reviles, speaks evil of, and knowingly rejects His gracious work of conviction that leads to repentance, without which the work of renewal cannot take place (Hebrews 6:4-6 ).
When the sinner is open to the conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit, the sin is not unto death, because by turning to Jesus Christ our advocate and propitiation, Christ pleads our cause, cleanses us from sin, brings to us the joy of sins forgiven. This knowledge does not encourage us to sin but discourages sinning.

1 John 2:1,2 "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ² And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world."

By walking in the truth of God's Word in the strength of the Holy Spirit, we live victorious over sin. The Holy Spirit causes our knowledge of "good" to increase by giving enlightenment in the written Word. But more, He gives us the power to do the good we have learned, keeping us from sin (James 4:17 ).

To Confess Makes Way For Healing

James 5:16 "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed ..."

The meaning of 'exomologeo' (confess) here in James, is to verbalise that which is inside oneself - to speak out one's conscience that is an acknowledgment of faults and wrongs, with a desire to restore right relationship with God and man. The primary thought here is to confess our fault or trespass to the person we have wronged. In fact there is a mutual confession of faults called for here to "one another" (James 5:16 ). Even the one first wronged could have retaliated with wrong for wrong. The injurer and the injured are to pray one for the other. The purpose is "that you may be healed" (James 5:16 ). For the one it will be healing that is physical - for the other the healing of a wounded spirit, but the mutual confession and prayer will bring mutual healing.

Prayer Needs To Be Effective And Fervent

James 5:16 "... The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

James encourages us in the kind of prayer that flows from Holy Spirit power. The word 'energeo' "effective fervent" means here prayer that has the energy of the Holy Spirit as its source, therefore is wonderfully effective. The same word 'energeo' is used to describe the efficiently, effective work of the Holy Spirit in the working of His supernatural gifts through individuals of the members of the body.

1 Corinthians 12:11 "But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills."

When prayer is the operation of the works of the Spirit, the answer will be exceeding abundant.

Ephesians 3:20 "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,"

The person who is "righteous" - that is, right with God because his sins have been confessed and forgiven, praying in the mighty working of the Holy Spirit will be able to be the channel of healing for the sick. Such praying "avails much."

Prayer Needs To Be Like The Elijah Kind

James 5:17 "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly ..."

We are to be like Elijah in effective prayer, and we can be because in nature he was like us. He was a distinguished prophet, but just a man. We are not asked to be like him in his powerful gifting as a prophet of God. We are asked to be like him in effective prayer. That he was just a man with our nature is meant to encourage us that we too can pray effectively. God uses normal men - he was just a man subject to the same things we are, affected in the same way, and suffered the same things, yet he prevailed in prayer, and so can we. Earnest prayer is specific:

James 5:17,18 "... and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.¹⁸ And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit."

(1 Kings 17:1; 18:41-46 ). Probably time spent in earnest prayer that it would not rain made Elijah the available messenger of God to Ahab. Certainly his prophetic declaration to Ahab was the commencement of the answer to his prayer lasting three and one half years.
Earnest prayer can result in God using us as part of the answer, just as when praying fervently for the sick the Lord makes us a channel of His "gifts of healings" through a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Specific, earnest prayer closed the heavens, and opened them again. First he asked for no rain and got that. Then he asked for rain and received a downpour. This is the lesson of James that ordinary people can prevail by earnest, specific prayer, so the emphasis is not on the prophet but the man who asked in direct fashion and got exactly what he wanted.
Paul gave specifics when he asked for prayer of normal people - from them we can learn to be earnest, direct, and clear in our praying with all prayer in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:19 ):

PRAY FOR MESSENGERS OF THE GOSPEL FOR FREEDOM OF SPEAKING
Ephesians 6:19 "And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,"

PRAY FOR MESSENGERS OF THE GOSPEL TO BOLDLY SPEAK
Ephesians 6:20 "For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

PRAY FOR GOD TO OPEN DOORS OF MINISTRY
Colossians 4:3 "Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:"

PRAY FOR LEADERS BY NAME AND FOCUS ON THEIR PERSONAL NEED
1 Thessalonians 5:25 "Brethren, pray for us."

PRAY FOR THE RAPID SPREAD OF THE WORD, AND TO BE HONOURED BY THOSE WHO HEAR IT
2 Thessalonians 3:1 "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:"

PRAY FOR YOUR LEADERS TO BE PROTECTED FROM WICKED MEN
2 Thessalonians 3:2 "And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith."

PRAY FOR THE RELEASE AND RESTORATION OF THOSE IMPRISONED FOR THE GOSPEL
Hebrews 13:19 "But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner."

Earnest, effective prayer for the body of Christ to make His commission their mission, will spread worldwide fulfilment (Matthew 28:18-20 ). Be an Elijah of earnest prayer (Luke 18:1 ).

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

How would you define the prayer of faith? (James 5:15 ).
Why should the sick one be given an opportunity to verbalise what they know inside to be a fault or wrong? (James 5:15,16 ).
What do you understand is meant by an effective fervent prayer? (James 5:16 ).
Is it possible for you to pray the Elijah kind of prayer? (James 5:17-18 ). How different in nature was Elijah from you?

	PRAY FOR MESSENGERS OF THE GOSPEL FOR FREEDOM OF SPEAKING Ephesians 6:19 "And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,"
	PRAY FOR MESSENGERS OF THE GOSPEL TO BOLDLY SPEAK Ephesians 6:20 "For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."
	PRAY FOR GOD TO OPEN DOORS OF MINISTRY Colossians 4:3 "Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:"
	PRAY FOR LEADERS BY NAME AND FOCUS ON THEIR PERSONAL NEED 1 Thessalonians 5:25 "Brethren, pray for us."
	PRAY FOR THE RAPID SPREAD OF THE WORD, AND TO BE HONOURED BY THOSE WHO HEAR IT 2 Thessalonians 3:1 "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:"
	PRAY FOR YOUR LEADERS TO BE PROTECTED FROM WICKED MEN 2 Thessalonians 3:2 "And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith."
	PRAY FOR THE RELEASE AND RESTORATION OF THOSE IMPRISONED FOR THE GOSPEL Hebrews 13:19 "But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner."