Our scripture reading for this morning, to which I invite you to turn with me at this time, dear friends, is found in the epistle of the Apostle James, the fifth chapter, James, chapter five. In our few Bibles, I believe this can be found on page one one nine nine, page eleven ninety nine, it's near the end of the New Testament after the book of Hebrews and prior to the epistles of Peter, James, chapter five. We have been studying together the theme, the character of Christ and looking at several biblical exhortations which God in his word gives to his people, which by his grace we must seek to implement and employ, thereby being molded and shaped more completely into the image, the character of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Lord willing, next Lord's Day evening, we're going to be looking at the biblical exhortation to confess our sins to one another. Indeed, we find that exhortation in this passage we will look at together this morning and then, Lord willing, the following Sunday morning, we will be looking at the biblical exhortation to forgive one another, especially as we look forward to the celebration of the Lord's Supper that evening. But for today, we consider the exhortation to be found praying for one another, as recorded here in James, chapter five. It's also interesting to note that most biblical scholars and commentators believe that this James, who wrote this epistle under the inspiration of the spirit, was the brother of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and that he also was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. This may very well have been one of the earliest, if not the earliest New Testament book or epistle written. And the Jewish historian Josephus writes that James was martyred for the cause of Christ in the year 62 A.D. In fact, the early church father, Eusebius, writes that James was martyred by being thrown off the pinnacle of the temple and then being beaten to death with a club. And James speaks in this epistle, as many of us know, of the trials and difficulties and sorrows of life and yet of the Lord sustaining grace and the peace. which He alone gives us in the midst of them, especially in answer to prayer. And so, brothers and sisters, we begin our Scripture reading in James 5, verse 13. We read to the end of the chapter. But please note that I draw your special attention to verses 13 through 18, as those verses constitute our text for today. James 5, beginning in verse 13, hear then the Word of the Lord. Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth, and someone should bring him back, remember this. Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." Thus far, the reading of God's Holy Word. And as always, I ask and urge you to keep your Bibles open and handy as we look to God's Word together at this time. Dear congregation of Jesus Christ, Several years ago, I came across this incredibly inspirational article in Christian Renewal entitled A Mountain Moving Experience, A Mountain Moving Experience. The article reads as follows, and I quote. A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokies built a new sanctuary on a piece of land willed to them by a church member. Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the building. Until the church doubled the size of the parking lot, they would not be able to use the new sanctuary. Unfortunately, the church, with its undersized parking lot, had used every inch of their land except for the mountain against which it had been built. In order to build more parking spaces, they would have to move the mountain out of the backyard. Undaunted, the pastor announced the next Sunday morning that he would meet that evening with all members who had mountain moving faith. They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the mountain from the backyard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted before the scheduled opening dedication service the following week. At the appointed time, 24 of the congregation's 300 members assembled for prayer. They prayed for nearly three hours. At 10 o'clock, the pastor said the final amen. Well, open next Sunday is scheduled, he assured everyone. God has never let us down before, and I believe he will be faithful this time, too. The next morning, as he was working in his study, there came a loud knock at his door. When he called, come in, a rough looking construction foreman appeared, removing his hard hat as he entered. Excuse me, Reverend, I'm from Acme Construction Company over in the next county. We're building a huge new shopping mall over there, and we need some fill dirt. Would you be willing to sell us a chunk of that mountain behind the church? We'll pay you for the dirt we remove and pave all the exposed area free of charge, if we can have it right away. We can't do anything else until we get the dirt in and allow it to settle properly." The little church was dedicated the next Sunday, as originally planned, and there were far more members with mountain-moving faith on opening Sunday than there had been the previous week. Would you have shown up for that prayer meeting? Some people say faith comes from miracles, but others know miracles come from faith." Now, brothers and sisters, this is a true story. Think about this. Think about this. You know, in a certain sense, this account ought not to surprise us. It ought not to surprise us in the least. In fact, turn with me, if you would please, to the Gospel according to Matthew, the 17th chapter. First Gospel account, Matthew 17, verse 14, and reading through verse 20. Matthew 17, beginning in verse 14. Notice what we read. When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. Lord, have mercy on my son, he said. He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought Him to your disciples, but they could not heal Him. Oh, unbelieving and perverse generation, Jesus replied. How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment. Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, why couldn't we drive it out? He replied, Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth. If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Nothing will be impossible for you. Now, friends, think about that. And indeed, in relation to these words of Jesus concerning a faith which can move mountains, The Apostle James applies that principle to the practice of prayer. In fact, he speaks specifically in the words of our text in James 5 of the prayer of faith. The prayer of faith. Consequently, here in the words of our text, we find ourselves being moved and motivated, inspired and instructed, brothers and sisters, to be found fervently praying for one another. Praying for one another. Praying. for one another, thereby more faithfully and effectively reflecting the character of Christ. Now, as we work our way through our text together on this Lord's Day and seek to be more completely molded and shaped into the character of Christ, specifically concerning the need to be praying for one another, we find that the Apostle James says that in order for this to take place, We, by the grace and mercy of God, first of all, must personally engage in the practice of prayer. We must personally engage in the practice of prayer. For example, look at verse 13 of James 5 with me, if you would please. James writes, is any one of you in trouble? The Greek could be translated to read, is any of you suffering? Is any of you afflicted? He should pray. It's an imperative in the original. Some of the translations say, let him pray. In fact, the great biblical commentator Matthew Henry writes, in a day of affliction, nothing is more timely than prayer. In a day of affliction, nothing is more timely than prayer. And that's true. But not only so, notice how our text continues. Is anyone of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise." Again, another Reformed commentator has said, we should be prayerfully patient in adversity and thankfully happy in prosperity. End of quote. And again, that's true. Ah, but notice, as our text continues, how we are instructed. Look at verse 14 with me, please. Is any one of you sick? The Greek says, is any one of you asthene? It's where we get our English word asthenia from. Dysthenia means weakness, disability, a loss of strength. Is any one of you sick? He should or let him call the elders, let him call the Presbyteroids, where we get our word Presbyterian from. Let him call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. Now, friends, this is an incredibly packed text, but I would like to highlight three insights for you very briefly, if I may. First of all, notice here in verse 14 that James says, is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him, etc. Now, why do I highlight that insight for you? Well, I highlight the insight that the onus, if you will, is on the person requesting a prayer from the elders, because down through my nearly 24 years of pastoral ministry, I have lost track of the number of times People have come to me hurting or upset or angry or disappointed or perhaps even a little bit bitter. And the reason is they say neither of the pastors and no elder called me or contacted me while I was sick or while I was hurting or while I was going through this difficulty or facing this trial in my life. And I say to them with all love and respect, my dear, dear brother, my dear, dear sister, that is because we did not know. We did not know. You didn't tell us. You must have assumed that we heard somehow. We simply did not know. We are not mind readers. And so I share with you, brothers and sisters, again, while it is certainly true that the part of the responsibility, a primary responsibility of being a pastor, being an elder, is to contact the sheep and shepherd the sheep and counsel the sheep and visit the sheep. We know that. And by the grace and mercy of God, we do that as faithfully and frequently as we can. But read the text again with me, if you would, please. should call the elders of the church to pray over him, etc. So, so please realize that responsibility of the flock to let needs be known both to the pastors and elders, as well as to the the other members of the body, as you may have need or desire to do. That's the first insight. Second, second insight is that it says he should call the elders of the church to pray over him, etc. Now, again, It is certainly true that each and every true child of God must earnestly and eagerly and faithfully and fervently and frequently, first and foremost of all, cast our cares on the Lord because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5, 7. We've got to be praying to the Lord and casting those cares, first of all, on the Lord. And while it is certainly true, again, that pastors must be shepherding the sheep and caring for the sheep, brothers and sisters, God has ordained in His church from New Testament times. In fact, there are examples in the Old Testament as well. But here in the New Testament of a plurality of elders, if you will, who are there to help minister to the needs of and care for the flock of God's people. A plurality of elders. And we as a congregation have been blessed for many years with not only seven deacons, but seven good and godly elders as well. You don't need to turn to the text, but in Titus 1, verse 7, the Apostle Paul exhorts Titus by saying, appoint elders, plural, in every town as I directed you. And if you'll turn over a page or two to the right with me, please go to 1 Peter, chapter 5, verses 1 and 2. And here the Apostle Peter declares to the elders, plural among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings, and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed. Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care. Serving as overseers, not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be. Not greedy for money, but eager to serve, and so on. And brothers and sisters, I say this to you, please know, not by way of condemnation, but by way of commendation and encouragement, to please avail yourselves of the godly elders the Lord has given us. Call on them. when you are sick. Seek their counsel in time of need. Do not simply call on the pastors, but on these several overseers or under-shepherds who are there to minister to you and to care for you and to shepherd you in the pastures of God's Word and as part of the flock of the Good Shepherd of the sheep. Now, a third insight all too briefly once again back in James 5. It says not only that he should call the elders of the church, but notice it says to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. Now, this particular portion of the text has been a source of great debate and disagreement in the history of the church. In fact, many of us may know that historically speaking, the Roman Catholic Church has used and I might say abused this text to support their institution of the so-called sacrament of extreme unction or of last rites. And I cannot take the time today to go into all of the finer theological points and debate and nuances of that position, but I do direct your attention to John Calvin's very excellent discourse on that subject, as recorded in his Institutes of the Christian Religion. We have a copy of that in our library. You may have a copy. You could borrow a copy from one of the pastors or elders. And it's Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 4, Chapter 19, Paragraphs 18-21. Book 4, Chapter 19, Paragraphs 18-21. Count it as excellent discourse on that sacrament, so-called, of last rites or extreme unction. But friends, John Calvin himself, and indeed Matthew Henry as well, subscribe to the position that this anointing with oil, mentioned here by James, was specifically to be practiced in conjunction with the apostolic gift of healing, which ceased at the close of the apostolic age. In fact, in Mark 6, verse 13, when Jesus sent out the twelve disciples, we read, they drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. And in 2 Corinthians 12, 12, Paul writes, the things that mark an apostle, signs, wonders, and miracles were done among you with great perseverance. And yet, still in all, it's also interesting to note, as one commentator has said, and I quote, in ancient times, Jewish households used oil as a common medicine to combat physical discomforts ranging from headaches to external wounds. End of quote. And so, for example, in Luke 10, verse 24, as the Good Samaritan was caring for the wounds of the badly beaten and bruised Jewish traveler, we read, he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. The olive oil, no doubt soothing and bringing healing in the wine, serving as an antiseptic. But friends, look again very carefully at the text, even with that historical context and background. It says, as anyone of you is sick, he should call the elders of the church to pray, where the emphasis is, over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. You know, when I read that text and cross-referenced that text, I was brought back, for example, to such passages as 1 Samuel 10, 1. And 1 Samuel 16, 13, where the prophet Samuel anointed with oil King Saul and King David respectively in those passages just prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit upon them. And so given this biblical precedent and this exhortation here in the book of James and while personally subscribing to the position of Calvin and Matthew Henry, when you put all of it together, were someone today uh... to request of the elders uh... to pray for them and anoint them with oil because they were sick or suffering uh... i can't say that it would be entirely inappropriate to heed their request so long as It was made abundantly clear that in this oil there is no mystical or magical power. There is nothing mystical or magical about the person performing the pastoral ministry. But that as long as the emphasis was put on the prayer, the prayer, the prayer, and as long as the emphasis was put on the fact that God alone does heal, and that He graciously responds to the fervent faithful prayers of His people. Because you see, we read throughout the Scriptures nowhere where the Lord Jesus anoints with oil to heal. We read many instances where the apostles healed without the anointing of oil and so on. In fact, turn with me, if you would, just for a moment to Luke chapter 22, verses 31 and 32. Luke chapter 22, verses 31 and 32. Here our Lord Jesus is speaking. And in Luke 22, 31 and 32, he says, Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers. Jesus didn't anoint Simon with oil. He prayed for him. And in Romans chapter 8, we read that the Lord Jesus, even now, is at the right hand of the Father and is also interceding for us. Brothers and sisters, think about that. And so the emphasis is on prayer. The focus is on prayer. The emphasis is on the God who alone by His grace and mercy answers and responds to fervent, faith-filled prayer. Turn back with me then, if you would please, to James 5. James 5, verse 15, as our text continues. And the prayer offered in faith. What is faith? Hebrews 11, verse 1 tells us, now faith is being sure of what we hope for. and certain of what we do not see. Remember in Matthew 17, it was the lack of faith of the disciples which preceded or precipitated their inability to cast the demon out of the demon-possessed boy. And so we read here in verse 15, and the prayer offered in faith, which itself is a gift of God, will make the sick person well. The Lord will raise him up. And brothers and sisters, do you not agree with me that at the close of that text, we also need to be thinking this thought, if the Lord wills. if the Lord wills." And why do I say that? Well, for example, even the Apostle Paul, anointed by the Holy Spirit, given the gift of healing, writes in Philippians 2, verse 27 of his friend and fellow co-worker Epaphroditus, who was ill and almost died, and was only spared by the mercy of God. And Paul similarly writes in 2 Timothy 4, verse 20, I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. 2 Timothy 4.20. Apparently, his dear friend Trophimus could not be healed and was not healed, even in response to the no doubt, very faith-filled, passionate prayers of his dear friend, the Apostle Paul. And in 2 Corinthians 12, think of the Apostle Paul himself. He prayed three times for God to take the thorn away from his flesh. But God didn't do it. God didn't heal him. God didn't answer that prayer that way. Instead, he said, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. You see? And so, brothers and sisters, when we read a text such as this, and the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well, the Lord will raise him up, we must be thinking, if it is the Lord's will. If it is the Lord's will. In fact, turn back a page or two to James 4, verses 13-17. James speaks to this, causing us to beware, cautioning us against a pompous, pride-filled faith that even says what we're going to do tomorrow. Not knowing if we'll even be here tomorrow. In James 4, verse 15, James writes, Instead, you ought to say, if it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. You see. Friends, again, I don't know why undermines or mitigates or weakens the exhortation of the Apostle James as he writes here further in verse 16. Therefore, confess your sins to each other or to one another. And again, Lord willing, we'll be looking at that text next Sunday evening, Lord willing. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other. An imperative to pray for one another in an ongoing, continuous fashion and pray for one another so that you may be healed physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Pray for one another so that you may be healed. You know, friends, down through the years, any number of folks have said to me, you know, Pastor Kukin, when I come to church on a Sunday and I see how happy and peaceful everybody looks, I begin to feel like I'm the only one in my family is the only family that has any problems or heartaches. You ever feel like that? You ever feel like that? Well, my friend, if you ever do feel like that, Let me tell you what I always say to them. All appearances to the contrary, that's not true. It simply is not true. The problem is that we don't become vulnerable enough with each other. We don't become transparent enough with each other. To share our needs and our hurts and our trials and our burdens. In fact, were we to take the time today to start here in the front and go up and down the rows and through the lobby and down from the back to the front again, I assure you, we would hear all kinds of testimonies of people who live with debilitating diseases and chronic conditions and people who live with pain every hour of every day of their lives. We would hear testimonies of folks who are battling incredible legal difficulties, legal problems. Folks facing financial failure, job uncertainty. We would hear testimonies about folks who are incredibly burdened for spiritually straying children. We would hear testimonies from some folks who are going through incredible stresses and strains in their marriage relationships. We would be hearing testimonies from people who are battling life-threatening illnesses or addictions. People who are incredibly lonely. People who are battling depression or despair. People who are still grieving every day. The loss of a loved one who may have passed away many years, if not decades ago. People who are battling temptations. A spiritual struggle which they feel as if they are losing. And on and on and on it goes. Brothers and sisters, why do I share all these things with you? I share them with you simply to make the point that if we took the time to share with each other and to listen to each other, to care about each other, we would not even be able to find enough hours in the day to do what God's Word says the people of God should be doing with and for and on behalf of each other. Namely, praying for each other so that you may be healed. You see, personally engaging in practical prayer, in the practice of prayer, is step number one toward being thus molded and shaped after the character of Christ. Now friends, secondly and finally, our text teaches us that in order for us to be more faithfully and effectively exhibiting the character of Christ by praying for one another, we must also praise God for the power of prayer. We must praise God for the power of prayer. Very simply and succinctly, look at the second part of verse 16 of James 5 with me if you would please. James writes, the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Now, that's a very difficult portion of the text in the original language. It's very difficult grammar to translate. And so, there are many different translations of that portion of the text. For example, the King James Version states, the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. The New American Standard says, the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. The RSV says, the prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. Well, friends, whatever translation we use, the bottom line remains the same. By the grace and mercy of God and according to the sovereign will and good pleasure of God, fervent, faith-filled prayer is in fact powerful in its effects. Fervent, faith-filled prayer is powerful in its effects. In fact, that is why the Apostle James goes on to give us this biblical example. Right in the next few verses. Look with me at verse 17, please. Elijah was a man just like us. You take those words, just like us. One word in the original. Homo pathos. Homo means the same. Pathos means feeling or emotion or affection. It is saying that Elijah felt what we felt. Elijah had the same feelings and passions that we do. He was homo pathos. He was just like us. He battled depression. He battled loneliness. He battled despair. He had physical limitations. He had his fears and his doubts and his frustrations and all the rest. He was just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again, he prayed and the heavens gave rain and the earth produced its crops. Were you around here a couple of nights ago when that wicked thunder and lightning storm came through this area, who knocked out the power at our parsonage, and maybe it did at your home, too. Boys and girls, if you're ever sleeping and get woken up by a clap of thunder or watching the flash of the lightning, never be afraid. Never be afraid. Our God controls the lightning. The Bible says the thunder is his voice. And, boys and girls, you can literally rest in peace, even in the midst of the most wicked and violent thunder and lightning storm. Because our God controls the weather. I came across an article just yesterday. It's called, uh, 15 Named Storms Predicted. Out of Fort Collins, Colorado. And it says, Hurricane Researcher William Gray lowered his 2007 forecast slightly Friday, calling for 15 named storms with 8 becoming hurricanes and 4 becoming intense. May 31, at the outset of the hurricane season, Gray had called for 17 named storms and nine hurricanes, five of them intense. Quote, we've lowered our forecast from our May predictions because of slightly less favorable conditions in the tropical Atlantic, said Philip Klausbach. a member of Gray's team at Colorado State University. Now, the reason I share this with you, brothers and sisters, is because no matter how many great or mighty deeds mankind seems to be able to accomplish, he cannot control the weather. He cannot even control the weather. But our God can, and our God does, and our God did in response to this prayer of His servant Elijah. In fact, not only so. When we scan the sacred Scriptures, we read, for example, in Joshua 10, verses 12-13, that when Joshua prayed, the sun stood still. And we read in Isaiah 37, verse 36, that because King Hezekiah prayed, 185,000 of the Assyrian soldiers were struck dead by the angel of the Lord. And we read in Acts 12, verses 5 through 10, that when our brothers and sisters in the early church prayed, the apostle Peter was supernaturally released from prison. Oh, glory be to God. And please rest assured, my dear friends in the Lord, that that same great and gracious God who heard and answered those faith-filled, fervent prayers of His people then, also promises to hear and answer the fervent, faith-filled prayers of His people today. And that is why we must be fervently and faithfully praying for one another. You see, praying for one another. In fact, I'll share a very recent example, if I may. Just the other day, I received in the mail The newsletter from Mission India, the mission agency which sponsored my trip to India earlier this year. And it's called The Village Witness. And some of the boys and girls may be able to see this. There's a picture of a little girl here on the front. And I'm going to read about her just a portion of this. And listen carefully, please. It says she is only 10 years old, yet she has faced more pain than most. Her name is Rosa. She lives in the state of Andhra Pradesh in a village called Kumudavalli. Rosa is Hindu, and she attends our children's Bible club. Her mother, Romana, is a struggling housewife and an idol worshiper. Rosa's father, a money lender, made loans to villagers, but a number of them failed to repay. The family situation grew more and more precarious. He sank into despair. And finally, one day, he put a rope around his neck and hanged himself. Rosa's nightmare wasn't over. Without a source of income, the family's money troubles grew even more desperate. But God had a plan for little Rosa. It was about this time when she joined our Children's Bible Club. Here she learned to pray. And she began praying in earnest. Her mother, astonished by the change in her daughter, gave up idol worship. And both Rosa and her mother joyfully accepted Christ the Savior. Not long ago, one of Rosa's late father's customers came to visit. He owed a debt to her father, and he wanted to repay it. Today, Rosa and her mother are celebrating God's provision." End of quote. And all glory be to God, our faithful Heavenly Father's answer to a little girl's fervent, faith-filled prayer. Friends, as we close, I'd like you to turn with me, please, the Gospel according to Matthew 26. In Matthew 26, verses 36-41, we read as follows, that Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane. And He said to them, Sit here while I go over there and pray. He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then He said to them, My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me. Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me, yet not as I will, but as you will. Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. Friends, think about that. When our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ needed them the most, His disciples were not there for Him. Question. When you and I need each other the most, will we be there for one another? Well, dear friends, rest assured that we can be. And rejoice that we will be. when by the grace and mercy of God, along with letting our needs be known, we are found faithfully and fervently praying for one another, thereby more faithfully and effectively reflecting the character of Christ. Amen. Let's bow our heads and our hearts together in prayer. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. O Lord, our God, in the midst of a very hurting world and heartache filled lives, by Thy grace and mercy, by Thy strength and Spirit. Enable and empower each and every one of us, we pray, today and every day, to personally engage in the practice and to praise Thee for the power of prayer, thereby more faithfully and effectively reflecting the character of Christ. In His most high and holy name alone do we pray. Amen.