Action Steps for Healing
James 5:14-16
In matters of divine healing, faith and action often go hand in hand. Although God can respond to our need for healing in any way He chooses, He often wants us to take an important step of faith. James 5:14,15 outlines some important action steps for healing:
Is any one of you sick? He should call for 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.
It’s important to understand that there is nothing supernatural about the steps James outlined. There is no healing power in the oil. However, there is something special about taking the steps; calling for the elders, being anointed with oil, and praying with faith. These steps demonstrate our
willingness to follow God’s instructions with an attitude of faith and trust in Him. He honors that.
A further step that James mentioned is one that we often prefer to skip over: “confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (verse 16). Occasionally some spiritual housekeeping needs to happen before healing can come. If there are unconfessed sins in our lives, healing cannot come. Sometimes relationships between us and others need to be made right. Whatever might be standing in the way of healing, spiritually or relationally, should be dealt with. Then God can freely pour out His healing power upon us.
James concluded his instructions with the powerful promise: “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (verse 16). Trust in that promise today.
Have you ever experienced healing as you followed the instructions outlined in James 5:14-16? Explain.
What issues might need to be dealt with in your life before healing can come?
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