As we come to the last section of our series of sermons from the book of James, we see that he ends his letter with a discussion on prayer. Speaking specifically, faithful prayer is the greatest way Christians can encourage and help one another. Among other things, praying shows concern. Prayer also connects us to the One who can meet any need, no matter how difficult or impossible we may feel that the situation is. If we as Christians want to share in prayer, we must be sensitive to our brothers and sisters’ needs, diligently praying for them, and realize the significance of what they truly need.

(James 5:13-20)

Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will restore him to health; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours; yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit. 19 My brothers, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his life from death and cover a multitude of sins. 

It may not be apparent to some people but prayer and praise may be the church's biggest weakness. Could this be due to an insensitive attitude? We have much to pray for and about. We have more to praise God for. To emphasize these themes James asked several questions. The first, “Is any among you suffering” refers to any kind of pain. The next, “Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praises.” "To play on a stringed instrument" was the original meaning of "praise" (psalletō). This verb appears only four times in the New Testament (Romans 15:9, 1 Corinthians 14:15, Ephesians 5:19). If we are going to share in prayer with our brothers and sisters, we must be not only aware of needs but sensitive to the needs of others. We must genuinely have concern for them.

James asked and answered a third question. “Is any among you sick?" Through time these passages have caused confusion. This verse seems to suggest that complete bodily health is always a prayer away. Others have related James' technique to the present practice of contacting God ("pray over him") and employing medicine ("anoint him with oil")—prayer and a doctor.

James is not recommending a ceremonial or ritual anointing as a form of supernatural healing, but rather the general practice of using oil to bestow honor, refreshment, and grooming. (Daniel R. Hayden, “Calling the Elders to Pray,” Bibliotheca Sacra 138. July/September 1981: 264). The woman “poured” (aleiphō) perfume on Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:38). A host “put oil” (aleiphō) on the head of his guest (Luke 7:46). A person who is fasting should not be sad and ungroomed but should “put oil” (aleiphō) on his head, and wash his face (Matthew 6:17). Thus James’ point is that the “weak” (asthenei) and “weary” (kamnonta) would be refreshed, encouraged, and uplifted by the elders who rubbed oil on the despondents’ heads and prayed for them.

Confession and prayer are the obvious solutions. Mutual care helps overcome despair and decline. Prayer and confession heal. Soul healing, not physical health, is what you need. iathēte; (Matthew 13:15; Hebrews 12:13; 1 Peter 2:24). 

It is the powerful and effective ... prayer of a righteous person that brings the needed cure from God. This refers to James' letter's final two verses. If James 5:14–16 allude to bodily healing, they appear out of place with the verses before and following them.

James presented another example familiar to his Jewish audience. The prophets (v. 10), Job (v. 11), and Elijah followed. Elijah was a fellow sufferer. Homoiopathēs (kakopathei in vv. 10, 13) means "a person of comparable emotion" or "of like sorrow."Elijah knew all the frailties of human nature but “in prayer he prayed” (proseuchē prosēyxato), in other words, he prayed earnestly, and rain was withheld and later restored (1 Kings 17:1; 18:41–46). Earnest and persistent prayer, of course, is essential, whereas halfhearted prayer is self-defeating (James 1:6–8).

James' final appeal to his readers is encouraging to those who have helped others who have grown weary and fallen from the course of their Christian journey (James 5:19-20). These believers who have lost their way are the “sick ones” of the church family. They have wandered away. The Greek word here (planēthē) suggests one who has missed his path and is hopelessly lost. “Planet” was taken from this Greek word to convey the idea that the luminaries were “wandering stars” (Jude 13), not “fixed” like the rest.

Believers who have lost their way must be brought back. James’s focus here was not so much on salvation as it was on restoration. Speaking metaphorically, a lost sheep is saved from destruction, and his sins (not the restorers) are hidden as if a veil were put over them (1 Peter 4:8). This person can now move forward on his path to spiritual growth.