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Prayer for the Sick, November 5
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that
ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man
availeth much.
James 5:16
.
Christ is the same compassionate physician now that He was during
His earthly ministry. In Him there is healing balm for every disease.
Why is it that men are so unwilling to trust Him who created man,
and who can, by a touch, a word, a look, heal all manner of disease?
Who is more worthy of our confidence than the One who has made so
great a sacrifice for our redemption? Our Lord has given us definite
instruction, through the apostle James, as to our duty in case of sickness.
When human help fails, God will be the helper of His people. “Is any
sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them
pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and
the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.”
James 5:14, 15
.
But the offering of such prayer is a most solemn act, and should not
be entered upon without careful consideration....
To those who desire prayer for their restoration to health, it should
be made plain that the violation of God’s law, either natural or spiritual,
is sin, and that in order for them to receive His blessing, sin must be
confessed and forsaken....
We know that God hears us if we ask according to His will. But to
press our petitions without a submissive spirit is not right; our prayers
must take the form, not of command, but of intercession.
There are cases where God works decidedly by His divine power in
the restoration of health. But not all the sick are healed. Many are laid
away to sleep in Jesus....
Our desires and interests should be lost in His will. These expe-
riences that test faith are for our benefit.... Faith is strengthened by
exercise. We must let patience have its perfect work, remembering that
there are precious promises in the Scriptures for those who wait upon
the Lord.
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