• Prayer
• Ice Breaker: Two Truths & A Lie

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY’S BIBLE STUDY:
James 5:13-20

The Prayer of Faith
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

* REFLECTION TIME: 5-10mins
(Write down any notes, observations, comments, questions or highlights you have using the notes free form notes button.)

Questions:
(Write Your answers using the free form notes button.)
1) How should a believer respond to suffering according to passage?

2) What is the use of praying if God isn’t going to take away the trial?

3) Does verse 15 guarantee that the sick person will be healed?

4) What can we learn from the example of Elijah?

SUMMARY & APPLICATION

MAIN TAKEAWAYS
- The person is very ill.
- The sick person is necessarily a Christian.
- The sick person is to call for the elders.
- The elders are recognized leaders of the local congregation who respond to the call.
- After a time of confession of sin, the elders symbolically anoint the afflicted one.
- It is the Lord who raises up the afflicted.
- If the sickness is because of sin, and proper confession is made after the counsel of the elders, in faith we may expect healing. If sin is not the cause, simply pray the desires of your heart, leaving what is best for the individual up to God.
- The passage does not forbid or preclude the use of doctors or medicine.
- This passage, under these conditions, is still applicable today.
VERSES 19-20
- Believers are responsible for restoring straying brothers and sisters in the faith. Thus, mature Christian fellowship is a safety net to protect all from falling away from God.
- Restoration is possible even if the sins are frequent and serious if there is true repentance.

Application: When you are sick, turn to God for help. Evaluate your own life and consider if there is any possibility that the sickness could be due to your own sinful lifestyle. Repent of any known sin and ask believers to support you and pray for you. In turn, you should show compassion for other believers and visit and pray for those who are sick.

• The example of Elijah – James loves giving examples, and this is an example of a righteous person’s prayer and God listening. It is interesting to note that the drought was discipline from God upon a rebellious people. After they repented and turned back to the Lord, this discipline was lifted, and it rained again. Thus, this passage reinforces the conclusion that the sickness was caused by sin and healing was brought about after repentance.

Take-Away Application: What did you learn from this? How can you apply this principle to your own life this week?
(Write your active application for this week using the free form notes button. Look back on it and follow up next Bible Study :)

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