• The oil probably represents the healing power of the Holy Spirit; it may be used as an aid to faith (cf Mk 6:13).
• It is a prayer that James emphasises as most important. Effective prayer must be offered in faith if the sick are to be healed. The Lord will give faith according to His will (see Mat 17:20).
• People may not always be healed instantly; nevertheless, the church should continue to seek the healing power of the Holy Spirit for the sick and to the glory of Christ.
“Prayer of a righteous man avails much” (v.16). The prayers of the righteous (1) draw them near to God (Heb 7:25); (2) open the way to a Spirit-filled life (Lk 11:13; Acts 1:14); (3) bring them power for ministry (Acts 1:8; 4:31, 33) and Christian devotion (Eph 1:19); (4) build them up spiritually (Jude 20); (5) give them insight into Christ’s provision for them (Eph 1:16-19); (6) help them overcome Satan (Dan 10:12-13; Eph 6;12-13, 18); (7) clarify the will of God for them (Ps 32:6-8; Prov 3:5-6; Mk 1:35-39); (8) enable them to receive spiritual gifts (1Cor 14:1); (9) bring them into fellowship with God (Mat 6:9; Jn 7:37; 14:16); (10) bring them grace, mercy and peace (Phil 4:6-7; Heb 4:16); (11) bring the lost to Christ (v. 20); (12) bring them the wisdom, revelation and knowledge of Christ (Eph 1:16-17); (13) bring them healing (v. 15); (14) bring them deliverance from trouble (Ps 34:4-7); Phil 1:19); (15) glorify God with praise and thanksgiving (Ps 100:4); (16) make the presence of Christ real to them (cf. Rev 3:20); and (17) ensure them of their final salvation and of Christ’s intercession for them (Heb 7:25).
How Healing Miracles Affected Early Church
“Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed,” (Acts 5:16).
“They were all healed.” The apostles did as their Lord had done: They healed the sick and delivered those tormented with evil spirits (Mark 1:34). This was a paramount sign that the kingdom of God had come among the people with great power. It is part of the full message of new life (5:20) that God by the Holy Spirit working through us desires to heal those oppressed by sickness and Satan (4:30).
What did these miraculous healings do for the early church? (1) They attracted new believers. (2) They confirmed the truth of the apostles’ teaching. (3) They demonstrated that the power of the Messiah who had been crucified and risen was now with His followers.
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