The Power of Prayer

September 29, 2024 homily on James 5:13-20 by Pastor Galen

The Power of Prayer

Frequently, when a tragedy or natural disaster strikes far away, we are often at a loss to know what to do. At least I know I am. Even when something bad happens to someone near and dear to us, we often don’t know what we can do or say. We wish we could do something to help, but when we can’t think of what to do, often as a last resort we offer prayer.

And so I was struck here in James 5 that James talks about praying as a first resort, not as a last resort. He says, 

Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick…(James 5:13-15a).

Now, James was not someone who shied away from taking action. After all, it was James who say that we should “Be doers of the word and not merely hearers who deceive themselves” (James 1:22), and, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27). 

It was James too who said, 

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Surely that faith cannot save, can it? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead (James 2:14-17).

So if James believed so strongly that taking action was so important, then why does he say that we should first and foremost pray?

Prayer Is a form of Action

Well, I believe it was because James believed that prayer is a form of action! For James, prayer is not a cop-out or a form of laziness. It’s not an excuse not to do more. Prayer is one of the most important things that we can do. After all, James says in chapter 5 verse 16b, “The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b), and then James goes on to give the example of Elijah, who “was a human like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth yielded its harvest” (James 5:17-18). 

Elijah is an interesting example, since Elijah’s prayer seemed to cause a natural disaster rather than help. But in reality the drought that came in answer to Elijah’s prayer was a consequence of the people’s disobedience — Elijah was merely the prophet God used to wake the people up and call them to turn from their wrongdoing. Perhaps this is why James goes on to say that “whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:20).

Old Camel Knees

Now, lest we wonder if James was just someone who liked to talk about prayer but didn’t actually pray, we actually have historical documentation that James himself was diligent in prayer. So much so, that James, who was frequently called “James the Just” was also given a second nickname, “old camel knees”! Here is the background of how he got this nickname:

“The fourth-century church historian, Eusebius, relates a story gathered from the lost works of Hegesippus during the second century about James ‘the Just,’ who likely wrote the epistle of James and was the earthly brother of Jesus….He writes as follows:

James, the brother of the Lord, succeeded to the government of the Church in conjunction with the apostles. He has been called the Just by all from the time of our Saviour to the present day; for there were many that bore the name of James. He was holy from his mother’s womb; and he drank no wine nor strong drink, nor did he eat flesh. No razor came upon his head; he did not anoint himself with oil, and he did not use the bath. He alone was permitted to enter into the holy place; for he wore not woolen but linen garments. 

And he was in the habit of entering alone into the temple, and was frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel, in consequence of his constantly bending them in his worship of God, and asking forgiveness for the people. Because of his exceeding great justice he was called the Just, and Oblias, which signifies in Greek, ‘Bulwark of the people’ and ‘Justice,’ in accordance with what the prophets declare concerning him.”¹

So according to historical records, James prayed so much that his knees became hard like a camel — thus the nickname “old camel knees”! But his prayers were not selfish prayers. He cared deeply about justice and equality, and prayed fervently for others.

One of my teachers used to say that if we truly understood the power of prayer and how effective it is, we would be down on our knees 24/7 prayer. James evidently has a pretty good grasp on the power of prayer. This is why prayer was not a last resort to James, but the first thing that he tells us to do.

Body, Mind, and Soul

But James also helps us see here that prayer is not just a purely isolated, spiritual exercise. Yes, we can and should pray alone in our rooms, crying out to God in prayer. But prayer can also be something that we do with other people, and it coincides with holistic forms of ministry that minister to people’s bodies, minds, and souls. 

Notice here that James says that if anyone is sick, “They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14). 

This past Thursday at our Thursday morning Men’s coffee and devotions, Bruce pointed out that the word “anointing” literally means “rubbing.” Rather than pouring or dripping oil on someone, anointing involved physical interaction with the other person, literally rubbing the oil into their skin.

What this meant, then, was that for someone to pray and anoint someone else with oil they had to physically be present with that person. They had to touch the person to rub the oil into their skin. And so while they were praying and ministering to the person spiritually, there was also a tangible way in which they were ministering to the person as well. Olive oil, which was often used for anointing in Bible times, “has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which can aid in wound healing,”² and so while the elders were praying for them, they were also administering oil that had physical healing properties.

Not only that, but studies have shown that touch itself can have positive effects on others, although of course it must be with consent and within proper boundaries. Recently, an article in Psychology Today discussed a study that was conducted in which it was shown that “For both newborns and adults, touch interventions significantly improved physical and mental well-being.” 

“For adults, touch interventions such as hugging or massages were significantly beneficial in reducing feelings of depression and anxiety and also relieved physical pain…The scientists also investigated whether touch interventions by robots are similarly effective to those by real people. It was found that robot massages have similar positive effects on physical well-being (e.g., pain relief) but were less effective for mental health. Also, positive effects of touch were found both for familiar people (e.g., getting hugged by a friend) and health care professionals (e.g., getting a massage by a licensed massage therapist).“³

Now, again, touching should only be by consent, and within proper boundaries. Not everyone wants to be touched. But in the right context, a handshake or a high five from a friend or stranger, or a hug from a best friend or close family member can make a huge difference for our emotional health and physical well-being. 

And so when I think about this imagery here of praying for someone and anointing them with oil, I’m thinking about how this type of visitation can be good for someone’s spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. When we pray and anoint someone with oil, we are not just ministering to them spiritually, but physically and emotionally as well. 

Ministry of Reconciliation

This morning as I look around at all of the empty seats in our sanctuary, I’m reminded that each and every one of these seats used to be filled with people. Many of those folks are no longer able to come out to church, because they are sick or homebound. Others have moved away. Even though they aren’t with us in person they are still very much a part of our community, and so we look for tangible ways to stay connected  – such as sending these mailings, broadcasting our services on Facebook Live, and posting these sermons on our website. But let us not forget to pray for them as well, and remember that prayer is not a last resort or a purely spiritual exercise. And prayer can be a form of wholistic ministry when it is paired with visiting the person, or sending them a note of encouragement, or calling them on the phone to tell them we are praying for them.

Other seats are empty because the people who once filled those seats no longer go to church anywhere. Perhaps something happened in their life that made them doubt God’s goodness. Or perhaps the cares and distractions of the world got in the way of their ability or desire to attend church. Perhaps they wandered away from the faith. Here too, James would remind us to pray for the person, and when possible to reach out to them to let them know we are praying for them, and that they are always welcome. Calling or texting someone we haven’t seen in a while to let them know we’re praying for them can go a long way, even if we never hear back from them. Or we can send them a card in the mail to let them know we’re thinking of them. Either way, the goal should not be to judge or condemn them for not coming to church, but simply let them know that we care about them, and that we are here for them whenever they’re ready to return. As James says, “whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:20b).

Conclusion

And so this morning may we remember that prayer is not a last resort, but rather it should be the first thing we should do. And prayer is not an excuse not to act, but it is a form of action in itself, and it is an essential aspect of wholistic ministry.

May God give us a glimpse into the awesome power of prayer. May our prayers drive us to act, and may our actions be guided by prayer. 

Amen! 

Questions for Personal Reflection in Response to Today’s Sermon:

1. Do you view prayer as a passive act or as a form of action in itself? How does this perspective impact how often or earnestly you pray?
2. How often do you pray for others, particularly those who are suffering or sick? Are you intentional about offering tangible help along with your prayers, as James suggests with anointing the sick?
3. Have you experienced the emotional or physical benefits of being touched by someone in an appropriate, compassionate way? How might this influence how you interact with and care for others?
4. Do you regularly pray for those who are no longer able to attend church due to illness or distance, as well as for those who have wandered away from the faith? How can you support them through prayer, visits, calls, or notes?
5. How can you deepen your understanding of prayer in your relationship with God, as more than just asking for help, but as part of a ministry of reconciliation and connection?

1. https://mwerickson.com/2019/08/29/old-camel-knees-a-brief-reflection-on-the-remarkable-prayer-life-of-james-the-just/ ↩︎
2.  https://www.verywellhealth.com/olive-oil-skin-benefits-5095861 ↩︎
3. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-asymmetric-brain/202404/the-healing-power-of-touch-new-scientific-insights ↩︎