The Earnest Prayer Of A Righteous Man

James 5: 12-18

(12) But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by Earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment. 

He says to stop swearing casually as a matter of course in speaking. Get out of that habit. Our word should be our bond, and an oath should not be necessary. We should be honest and ethical in our speech, so that when we make an affirmation or denial people will know that it is unquestionably the truth. 

In the careless use of swear words, a person is in danger of taking God's Name in vain, for which he will come under judgment (Exodus 20: 7).  

(13) Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 

No matter what is going on in your life, stay in touch with the Lord, whether to share troubles with Him or to enjoy His blessings. 

(14) Is anyone among you sick? then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord; 

The word used here for "sick" is astheneo, which means a physical weakness and illness. So for this we are to call for our church elders to come to pray over him, and also to "anoint with oil" which is a medicinal instruction, and could refer to a massage. 

(15) and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, 

He uses a different word here for "sick," kamno, which is more general and refers to faintness, sickness, or even weariness. 

So, the prayer offered is the power, asking the Lord to heal whatever condition the person is suffering. 

and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 

So the healing of the Lord extends from the physical to the mental and emotional all the way to the spiritual. This "if he has committed sins" is a suggestion that the illness or weakness could be a result of sins (see I Corinthians 11: 30), and they will be forgiven him, as he confesses and forsakes them, in the healing.

(16) Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. 

As he confesses his sins against another, the other will also confess to him, and they will pray for each another. This is every believer, not just the pastors and elders. 

The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. 

The righteous man is any believer, not just a leader in the church, but ordinary men and women. 

(17) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the Earth for three years and six months. 
(18) Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the Earth produced its fruit. 

Elijah was not any more of a super-hero than any of us in Christ. His superhuman power to shut up the sky against rain, and to open it again, is the same super-power that we have. He prayed earnestly just as we can do, and God's power effected the drought and then the rain, in response to this righteous man (I Kings 17: 1, 18: 42-45). 

James is assuring us that such answers to prayer are within the reach of any believer. We just must live our lives righteously and pray earnestly in faith, and our prayers will be effective. 

O my Father, thank You for Your greatness and Your goodness, to Love us beyond what we can ever understand, and to give us Your own Holy Spirit to dwell in our human spirit, making it alive, and giving us the power to break bad habits and live lives that are pleasing to You. 

Father, help us understand that You want to answer our prayers, and that when we believe You, and are seriously earnest, then You will move heaven and Earth to give us Your answer. 

Whether we are asking for healing, or for salvation of a loved one, or even to close the heavens and bring a drought, You will answer, and bring about Your purposes by what we ask. And You will receive all the credit, all the glory. 

O Father, send out Your children to share with the whole world how much You love them and that You want to answer their prayers, too. Show us how to teach them Your ways, and draw to Yourself all who want You. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever, Amen.

Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus!