34—Forty Days with James: Prayer x 7

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/34-forty-days-with-james-prayer-x-7/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p><strong>James 5:13-18</strong></p><ul><li>Prayer<ul><li>7x in this passage</li><li>"You must pray with all your might. That does not mean saying your prayers, or sitting gazing about in church or chapel with eyes wide open while someone else says them for you. It means fervent, effectual, untiring wrestling with God. You can be sure that this kind of prayer the devil and the world and your own indolent, unbelieving nature will oppose. They will pour water on this flame." – William Booth (1829-1912)</li></ul></li><li>Singing—music is not only an important part of culture, but touches our very souls.</li><li>Elders.<ul><li>It's assumed throughout the NT that churches are led by elders.</li><li>What if you don’t have elders? My opinion is that whoever functions in the oversight role is a person of prayer, and hence someone to be trusted to pray for you.</li></ul></li><li>Anointing<ul><li>What about the Roman Catholic interpretation? The person summoning the elders is ill / weak – not likely to need extreme unction. This is a promise about life/restoration, not a preparation for death.</li><li>What about the charismatic / Pentecostal teaching about healing? This passage does not speak of anyone with a miraculous gift of healing.</li></ul></li></ul><img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Saint_James_the_Just.jpg" alt="James, brother of Jesus - Wikipedia" /><ul><li>Probably this is a general principle, not an iron-clad promise.</li><li>For more, see <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/q-a-0752-anointing-for-healing/">Q&A 752</a>.</li><li>Confession<ul><li>Most churches ignore this passage! One wonders whether this is because members refuse to be open, or because church leaders themselves have something to hide.</li><li>Historically, the early church practiced a rather public confession. This eventually evolved i