Call for the Elders

James 5:13-16 ⁽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. (NIV)

            Elder Jones received a call around 3 a.m. to come to the home of Bro. Matthews who had taken a turn for the worse. Bro. Matthews had been a long-time member of the church, but had not been able to attend for the past year due to suffering a massive heart attack and stroke. The last year had been very stressful for many in the family because they wanted him to recover, but being the ripe old age of 87, the doctors did not believe that his chances of recovery were good. Therefore, they provided him with a hospice nurse to care for him during the little time he had left.

 

            Upon Elder Jones’ arrival, the family graciously escorted him to Bro. Matthews’ room, so that he could pray and anoint him with oil. Elder Jones was a close friend of the family, but also understood that some of them were not saved. Therefore, he took every opportunity to witness to them whenever he came to visit Bro. Matthews. After praying and anointing Bro. Matthews, his wife handed him an envelope that contained a note written by her husband a few months prior. Elder Jones was curious to know what the note said, so he opened the note as everyone watched in anticipation. The note read, “Greetings Elder Jones. If you are reading this note, that must mean one of two things. I am either dead or on my way out. Regardless of which, I have a request that I would like for you to grant. Please take that blessed oil that you carry with you and anoint every demon in my house. With the exception of my wife, most of the family members, who have been hanging around, are nothing more than thirsty bloodsuckers waiting to get some money from my death. Their concern is about a genuine as my dentures. They may look real, but indeed are fake. God bless you and I look forward to seeing you soon.”

            Elder Jones was too embarrassed to tell the family what was in the note. Therefore, he placed the note in his pocket and addressed the family with a softer version. “Bro. Matthews,” he said, “he requested that I anoint every one of you, so that one day, you will be able to meet him in Heaven.” With that bit of news, the family gathered around as Elder Jones prayed and anointed all who were present. As a result of God working though Elder Jones, a few of the unsaved family members were saved and those who were straddling the fence decided to fully submit to Christ.

 

 

            The Apostle James lets us know that when we are in trouble, we are to call upon God. When we are happy, we are to sing praises to God. When we are sick, we are to call upon the elders of the church for a special anointing and prayer. Jesus healed many people during his ministry on earth and he has called for us to follow in his footsteps. John 14:12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (NIV) If we are true followers of Christ, we are supposed to pray for others as well as for ourselves to obtain forgiveness, healing, salvation, restoration, and for our physical needs.

 

 

            God is all too willing to answer our prayers if we come to Him in faith. Psalm 107:28-30 ⁽²⁸⁾Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. ⁽²⁹⁾He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. ⁽³⁰⁾They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. (NIV) Just as God answered so many prayers in the Bible, He is still the same God and answers them today. What are you in need of? The prayer of the righteous man is powerful. Trust God and He will work all things out on your behalf.