“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; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
— James 5:14–15 (KJV)
The Divine Prescription for the Suffering
In an age where the first response to sickness is often to reach for medication or to rush to a doctor, Scripture directs our attention to the Great Physician. God’s Word does not dismiss medical wisdom, but it places healing within the greater framework of faith. James 5:14–15 presents a divine order—a prescription from Heaven itself—uniting faith, obedience, and the power of the Spirit.
When James asks, “Is any sick among you?” he is addressing a universal reality. Every believer, at some point, faces physical weakness, emotional strain, or spiritual affliction. Yet God has not left His people without remedy. The instruction is clear: “Let him call for the elders of the church.” This is not a call of desperation, but of faith. It acknowledges God’s authority working through His ordained servants.
The Role of the Elders and the Anointing
The elders are not healers in themselves; they are vessels through whom God’s compassion flows. Their calling is to pray over the sick—an act that signifies spiritual covering and intercession. The phrase “pray over” denotes more than verbal prayer; it represents a ministry of faith-filled presence, the lifting up of another before the throne of grace.
The anointing with oil is both symbolic and sacred. Throughout Scripture, oil represents the Holy Spirit’s consecrating and healing power. It is not a ritual of superstition, but an act of obedience and sanctification. In the name of the Lord, the oil becomes a physical sign of divine grace—a visible testimony that the sick are set apart for God’s healing touch.
The Power of the Prayer of Faith
“The prayer of faith shall save the sick.” This is no ordinary prayer. It is not rooted in emotion or mere hope, but in absolute trust in the authority of Christ. Faith turns prayer from a formality into a force. It is not the oil, nor the elder, nor even the words themselves that heal—but the faith that believes in the living God who heals.
True faith does not demand from God; it aligns itself with His will. Sometimes the healing is physical, immediate, and miraculous. Other times, the healing penetrates deeper—into the heart and soul—restoring spiritual health, renewing the mind, and reconciling the sinner to God. The passage concludes with the assurance that “if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” Here, we see that God’s healing encompasses both the body and the spirit. The Lord is not merely concerned with curing ailments; He seeks to restore the whole person to holiness and fellowship with Himself.
Restoring Wholeness Through Obedience and Faith
The modern church must recover this truth. Too often, believers turn first to worldly solutions while neglecting the divine order established in Scripture. The prayer of faith is not outdated—it is timeless. God still honors faith that approaches Him in humility and obedience.
When sickness strikes, our first call should not be to fear, but to faith. The believer is invited to gather godly elders, to seek prayer, to be anointed, and to believe. This is not blind tradition; it is divine instruction. God’s process reveals His power, and His power reveals His compassion.
Conclusion: The God Who Still Heals
James 5:14–15 stands as an enduring testimony to the faithfulness of God. The Lord still heals. He still forgives. He still answers the prayer of faith.
The question is not whether God is able—but whether we will obey and believe. In times of sickness, may we return to God’s pattern: call for the elders, anoint with oil, pray in faith, and trust in the Lord’s will.
For the same God who raised the sick in James’ day still raises hearts today. His prescription remains unchanged: faith, obedience, and the power of prayer.
“The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.”