Run to God No Matter What
Run to God No Matter What
- Greg Waybright
- James 5:12-18
- Examining Our Ways
- 38 mins 57 secs
- Views: 1402
Pastor's Letter
Run to God No Matter What - Week 11
2014 has been a year of listening to God’s Word written in the letter of Pastor James of the 1st Church of Jerusalem to those members of his congregation scattered into a variety of cities by anti-Christian persecution. I began our studies with the series title “Together.”
2014 has been a year of listening to God’s Word written in the letter of Pastor James of the 1st Church of Jerusalem to those members of his congregation scattered into a variety of cities by anti-Christian persecution. I began our studies with the series title “Together.” I called it that because, when I read through James’ pastoral letter several times, it struck me that he knew that the only way his people would be faithful through all that was happening to them was by walking together as a unified and loving community committed to following God’s Word. As we came to the Lenten season, I utilized James’ teaching from chapters 2–4 to help us search our hearts both individually and corporately in a series entitled “Examining Our Ways.” I will confess that God has used these Bible passages to do a work in my own heart. I trust that he has in yours as well.
As we come to the end of Pastor James’ letter, we see him returning strongly to the matter of what a community of faith must do when it is committed to Jesus as Lord. This weekend, we will see that a healthy local church must be a community of prayer and healing. In very practical and specific ways, James says that all people in a local church must respond together both to times of joy and sorrow because, in this world, all people will experience both good and bad times (5:13).
In 5:14–18, James takes much more time to tell his people that a community faithful to the Word must care for the sick. And, he tells local churches how we should go about that kind of care. James used very precise language to describe a church’s healing ministry. I imagine that he wrestled with the issues of the relationship of physical healing to God’s eternal healing of our soul as much as people in the 21st century do. Read through this passage carefully this week. May God give us both understanding minds and obedient hearts. I pray that we will become a church committed more and more fully to the ministries of prayer and healing—for our bodies, our emotions, our relationships, and our eternal souls.
Thanks be to God!
To His Glory,
Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor
Study Notes
Run to God No Matter What - Week 11 - Study Notes
English
Examining Your Ways: Run to God No Matter What
James 5:12-18
Last Tuesday afternoon, as I met with a few colleagues to look at this week's Bible passage, I read the text and then asked Pastor Jeff Liou to pray. He prayed, "Heavenly Father, we run to you today. We run to you with our problems. We run to you with our praise. We run to you with our weaknesses. We run to you with our sins..." As he prayed, I knew that what Jeff prayed is exactly what Pastor James called us to do in James 5:12-18. So today, we too will seek to learn from James about how to run to God in prayer.
Of course, there is a fundamental question that always comes up with this topic: Can prayer really change things? Many people question whether it does. One area of doubt about prayer was caused by the rise of modern science in the Enlightenment period. Most of us who are here today have been educated to see the world simply as being a place of cause and effect ruled by material laws. Of course, people who view the world like that wrestle with finding a meaningful role for prayer except possibly as for our own mental and emotional well-being. I've even heard Christian speakers suggest, "Prayer is important – but mostly for how it helps the one praying – not to change things."
And this point brings us to what Pastor James of the 1st Church of Jerusalem had to say about prayer. Remember that James had written that God knows what tomorrow holds – so James believed that God is in control – that God has a plan for this world and the future is in his hand. But, we will see that in spite of believing that, Pastor James spoke clearly about praying that God will intervene in our lives and change things. James was convinced that God has found a way to manage the universe in such a way that prayer changes things. I think the key sentence today is in 5:16b: The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. And that's the thought James drove home near the end of his pastoral letter. What does he say?
#1: When You're in Trouble, Run to God (5:12-13a).
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let him pray (5:13).
Read vv.12-13a. Let's take a moment to think about how these apparently unrelated verses go together.
In 5:12 James tells us how we ought not to respond to trouble. "Watch your words," he said. Job, whom he had referred to in 5:11, is the key to understanding the main point James is making in v.12. Job's wife encouraged him to curse God for all the problems he had. But Job replied, "You are speaking foolishness. Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?" This is what God said about Job: "In all this, Job did not sin in what he said (Job 1:22)." In all his trouble, Job refused to swear against God, to blame God, or even by taking oaths to try to manipulate God.
Here's the point: In every language, people use oaths of different kinds to emphasize what we are saying. Sometimes it's just, "I swear on a stack of Bibles that what I'm saying is true." But often, this attempt to make a point strongly leads on into other kinds of swearing. The Apostle Peter was a classic case. On the night of Jesus' trial, he was accused of being a disciple and he said, "I'm not." Then he snapped and the Bible says, "He cursed and swore." Isn't that a normal human reaction under pressure? An oath easily becomes an expletive.
James in 5:12 says that very often people swear by God – "by heaven". Sometimes. We use profanity: People swear by something vile "on earth". Sometimes it's just plain crudity: People swear "by anything else." And the more we do it, the more it becomes a way of life. And what does it mean really? It means we are not responding patiently to our troubles. No, we get mad and our speech gets out of control. When trouble comes, James said, watch your tongue. It will be the first thing to get out of line and sin.
James tells us what a Christian ought to do in v. 13. Is anyone among you in trouble? Let him pray. James is telling us to do what Jeff Liou prayed, i.e, we should run to God. That's a very basic thing Pastor James wants to teach about prayer. You should immediately run to God when you are in trouble.
Don't misunderstand: That's not the ONLY time you should pray. Some only turn to God in distress. What a horrible way to think of any relationship! How would you like it if a friend came around to see you only when he/she needed something? No, a true friendship involves a sharing of joys as well as troubles.
Are you in trouble? Don't swear but pray. This is the proper response to the trouble that God allows to come into your life. There's all the difference between swearing in Christ's name (v.12) and praying in Christ's name (v.13). The former changes nothing. The latter can change everything.
And since this is written to a church congregation, it's clear to me that one of the best places to pray about trouble is when you are with your Christian friends in a church setting. That way, we can pray with and for one another and help bear one another's burdens.
#2: When Things Are Going Well, Run to God (5:13b).
Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.
This word translated "happy" is really a very broad word speaking of those times when things are going well. It's the opposite of times of trouble. Times of trouble often drive us to our Heavenly Father. Those who have gone through trials often have learned to know that God is present and sufficient in ways that those who have never faced difficultly have never learned.
So, if you are going through a relatively easy time in your life right now, what should you do? You should run to God – and thank him and praise him and sing "hallelujahs" to him. How did James put it in ch.1? "Every good gift comes down to us from our Father." Do you believe that? If you do, you should be grateful. You should love to sing praise to God and not take him and his gifts for granted.
Notice that James does not say here, "Is any of you in trouble, let him sing songs of praise." Singing songs is appropriate in good times. When we're in distress, most of us don't feel like singing. James says we need not try. I think this is an important lesson. The Bible never says that Christians always have to go around with "Hallelujah" on our lips. We don't find Job singing songs of praise when he learned his children had all been killed. We don't find Jesus in a jubilant mood as he contemplated the agony of the cross in Gethsemane. Sorrow is a part of Christian experience in an imperfect world. And offered to God in prayer, it can sometimes be more spiritually deepening and can be just as God honoring as times of joy and praise can be. Those who say, "Ignore sorrow and praise the Lord anyway" have never grasped the role that true sorrow can play in our walks with God. Tears are not unspiritual. But, we are to turn tears into prayer.
So whether you are sad or happy, share it with God through prayer and praise. Good parents often come in the evening and sit down with their children and say, "Tell me what you've been doing today." And, they want to hear about that skinned up knee, the ice cream truck that came by, the paper that the teacher liked, the math test that the teacher didn't like ... In that way, God our Father takes an interest in every circumstance. He wants you to run to him about whatever is happening in your life.
Let me tell you this: One of the most important disciplines in your spiritual life is to turn to God in good times. Usually then, we pull away from God and take him for granted. So, in good times, run to God.
#3: When You Are Sick, Run to God (5:14-15b).
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will rescue the sick person; the Lord will raise him up.
Pastor James takes more time to discuss what to do about sickness than about any other kind of trouble we might experience. I've asked myself why. I imagine the reason was that in his churches, like every church I've ever been in, when people share prayer requests, a huge portion of them is about physical infirmities. His words have led to 2,000 years of churches debating about what James meant in the two sentences that answer the question about what to do when a church person is sick. Sadly, I don't have time to go over the many different ways vv.14-15 have been understood. But, I will at least let you know how I answer several of the more difficult questions they raise.
1. How serious must the sickness be? The word translated "sick" was a word usually used for serious illness. It was more than a head cold or flu. More than that, James speaks of the elders coming to the bedside which indicates James is thinking of one seriously weakened by sickness. So it's serious illness though not necessarily terminal illness – that should lead us to call for corporate prayer.
2. Who is to be involved? He should call the elders of the church to pray.
This was an important phrase for the early church. I'm quite sure James was telling his church people that the ministry of healing was not limited to the days of the apostles. And, all Christians should pray for other believers when they are sick. Still, in these verses, what James was teaching was a specific ministry within a local church family. He said that those who are in spiritual leadership should be called in for prayer when a person is seriously sick. For us, we apply this passage to our Ministry Council, our pastors, and our prayer team. One thing is clear to me: This kind of ministry should be a normal part of church's life.
3. Who takes the initiative? He should call the elders. This part is often missed the initiative is in the hands of the sick person. Again, God surely can heal when this specific step is not followed. It's not wrong for any believer to take the initiative and say, "May I pray for you?" But, James is telling us about one role that those in spiritual leadership should always exercise. James envisioned a caring church in which a sick person calls in his spiritual leaders to pray for his healing.
4. What about the oil? Pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. That, to me, is a very interesting reference. On one side, the use of oil was probably signifying the value of natural healing means -- because oil was very important in the medicinal practices of James' day. On the other side, the oil almost certainly signified the supernatural healing power of God through prayer -- because anointing with oil was common in early Jewish and Christian sacramental settings. It pointed to the presence of God and the working of God's Spirit.
To tell you the truth, the Bible never draws a line between physical and spiritual healing. The
Bible treats the spiritual, emotional, and physical parts of a person as simply being parts of a whole. A pastor like James wouldn't have talked about healing as being either natural or divine. He knew that all healing came from God.
When we grasp that, we see that it may be that the elders were using the conventional medicines of their day but used them in a prayerful consecrated manner in conscious dependence on God. They knew that the material in the medicine was made by God and the knowledge utilized in medicine was from God too. So, they anointed with oil ... in the name of the Lord.
5. What is this prayer of faith in v.15 that God responds to? "Prayer of faith" does not mean that we make ourselves believe something we don't believe – and pray for something in a way that shows so much belief that God has to do what we ask of him. Sometimes, the greatest faith is shown in an honest confession like, "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief." A prayer of faith has usually been understood as a very specific prayer calling upon God to act. The person praying this prayer is a spiritual leader in the church who believes God can do anything. And, it always includes, as Jesus' prayer included, "Lord, this is what we ask for... but your will be done; not ours." It is therefore a prayer – not a demand. A prayer of faith has sometimes been explained as being a prayer that is in contrast to a "prayer of rest", a phrase that is meant to describe the kind of prayer in which we don't know what to ask for as in Romans 8:26.
6. What is God promising in this passage? V.15: The prayer offered in faith will heal/rescue the sick person; the Lord will raise him up (5:15). Pastor James picked his words carefully here. I do not think he means that God promises each time we pray this way, he is forced to heal the physical sickness. That kind of healing wouldn't last anyway. All those who experience healing this side of Jesus' return will someday still die. But, James didn't use the use the usual word for "heal" in v. 15. He used a much broader word with a bigger and more magnificent promise – the promise is "to save". The absolute promise is that God will make all things right. God will save! Sickness is something that entered God's creation when sin entered the world. When we run to God in a time of physical weakness, sometimes he will heal us physically. But, James declares that God always promises that ultimate salvation will happen ending in a world with no sickness or pain. And, James drives this home with his second statement, "The Lord will raise him up." This word translated "raise up" referred to many things: a) that God will raise you up out of your shame if sin has led to your trouble, b) that God will lift you up and out of your weakness in his time and c) even that God will eventually raise you up from the dead to eternal life with him.
So, when you experience a serious sickness, you should call the spiritual leadership to pray specifically for God to heal and raise you up. We will have oil ready and will pray a prayer of faith for you. And, you will know in God's time, his presence and saving power. When you are sick, run to God.
#4: When You Have Sinned, Run to God (5:15b-16a).
If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
From these verses, it's clear to me that the Bible teaches there is a connection between sickness and sin. All sickness came into this world because of sin. If Pastor James and I are right when we say that there is a connection between human sin and human illness, then we won't eradicate the one fully until the other is eradicated. When Jesus returns to make all things right, sin will be done away with and so will sickness.
I must speak carefully here. Notice that James says "if" "if he has sinned." Much sickness is not caused by one's own sin! Some sickness comes to us because we live in a sinful world and our sins impact one another. Often, innocent people must bear the pain of someone else's sin. It's sin in our human family related to Adam that generates the illness though sometimes one's own personal sins surely may lead to illness as well. I don't need to elaborate on this. We all know many ways that our sins can ruin our bodies.
Because of that, James calls for a time of confession of sins when we pray for the sick. A church that deals with sin in general in this open way, calling for confession while offering forgiveness, will likely be a church that knows greater spiritual health and probably greater physical health as well.
But, the general point James makes is this: When there is sin in your life, there is one place you should run. Run to God. Confess your sins. And you know his promise: If you confess your sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive your sins and will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:9).
Years ago I took my daughter Heather to Disneyland. At the time we were reading Kenneth Greene's Wind and the Willows and she loved the story of Mr. J. Thaddeus Toad, Esq. She saw the entrance for Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and insisted we go together. As we were sitting in the wagon, she beamed with joy as she hugged my arm. But, the ride is dark and terrifying. In those parts, she grabbed me and held on so tight I didn't think I could breathe! Then, as we came to the end, she broke out into a big smile, looked up at me and shouted, "We made it!"
It's in that childlike way that God calls you to bring him into the center of every part of your life. As we go to prayer today, I invite you to do just that. In hard times and good times; in times of sickness and in times of failure, run to God. You will find that he receives you.
To His glory,
Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor
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審視自己:完全倚靠神
June 1st, 2014, 雅各書5:12-18
上個星期二的下午,我和幾位同事碰面來探討這個星期的聖經經文。我讀經文,然後請Jeff Liou牧師禱告。他這樣禱告:“天父,我們今天來到你面前。我們在困難中倚靠你。我們在讚美中倚靠你。我們在軟弱中倚靠你。我們在罪中倚靠你……”當他 禱告的時候,我明白Jeff禱告的內容正像雅各牧師在雅各書5:12-18中所教導的那樣。因此,今天我們再來學習一下,如何在禱告中倚靠神。 當然,在探討這個主題時,有一個基本問題:禱告真的可以改變事情嗎?許多人問這個問題。對於禱告的懷疑,在某個方面肇始于啟蒙時期現 代科學的興起。今天,我們中的多數人所受的教育,認為這個世界不過受制於物質法則的因果關係。當然,那些把這個世界看作是一場奮鬥的人,認為禱告或許對思 維和情感健康有益。我甚至聽到基督徒的演說家認為:“禱告很重要——但只是對禱告者本身有幫助——它不能改變事情。” 我認為,我們當中很多人受到這種後啟蒙時期思想的影響,超過我們所知的程度。我發現很多教會的人們,害怕在禱告中向神祈求對具體事情 的回應。我們能明白,禱告是敬拜,禱告是感謝——是的。但是,禱告也是祈求、懇求,是想要改變事情——這對我們這個世界的很多人來說,並不是件容易的事。 我們帶著這個問題,來看看一世紀耶路撒冷教會的雅各牧師是如何談論禱告的。請記住,雅各說神知道明天會怎樣——因此,雅各相信神掌管——神有一個計 畫,未來掌握在神的手中。但是,我們會看到,儘管如此,雅各牧師還是清楚地說,神的兒女要依靠神,向祂祈求。雅各要我們禱告,求神進入我們的生活,改變事 情。雅各確信,神已經找到一種管理宇宙的方式,就是通過禱告而讓世界變得不同。禱告改變世界。我認為今天的關鍵句是5:16b:義人祈禱所發的力量是大有 功效的。這就是雅各是信尾要告訴我們的。他是怎麼說的呢?
#1:當你遇到困難,要倚靠神(5:12-13A)。 你們中間有受苦的呢,他就該禱告(5:13)。 讓我們花一點時間來思考這些顯然不相關的經文,就是12節和13節,放在一起看。雅各在信裡很多地方提到試煉。有一件事他反復強調, 困難到了最後,對我們的生活是積極的。它們對我們有益處,我們應該有“大喜樂”。在5:7-11,雅各勸大家在試煉中要忍耐。在引用約伯的例子。當你思想 約伯,你就明白他經歷了人類所能經歷的各種苦難。他要面對貧窮、家庭問題,甚至慢性病。提到約伯的名字,就會引發基督徒對於世界上的苦難的探討。
在5:12,雅各告訴我們對苦難的不應有的反應。約伯是我們明白雅各12節的主要觀點的關鍵。約伯的妻子要他因著所遇的事情咒詛神。 但約伯回答說:“你說話像愚頑的婦人一樣。難道我們從神手裡得福,不也受禍嗎?”神是這樣談論約伯的:“在這一切的事上,約伯並不以口犯罪。(伯 1:22)。”這在神眼中是很重要的。在一切的苦難中,他不反對神,不責備神,也不起誓譭謗神。 有一點請注意:在任何一種語言中,人們用起誓來強調他們所說的話。有時會說:“我指著聖經起誓,我說的話都是真的。”但這種起誓常常 會導致其他更多的起誓。使徒彼得是一個經典的例子。耶穌被賣的那天晚上,彼得被人認出是耶穌的門徒,但他說:“我不是。”聖經上說:“他就發咒起誓。”那 不是一個普通人在壓力下的反應嗎?起誓成了咒駡。 雅各在5:12中說那常常是一種僭妄:人們以神的名義起誓——“以天的名義。”有時這是一種褻瀆:人們為在地上的某些可恥的事情起 誓。有時僅僅是一些粗話:人們用“別的東西”起誓。我們越是这样做,它就越來越影響我們的生活。這意味著什麼?這意味著,我們對自己的難處沒有耐心。我們癲 狂了,我們的話語失控。 如同在3:3雅各在這裡鼓勵我們同樣的一件事,就是約束舌頭的價值。若有人在言語上沒有過失,他就是完全人。难处到來的時候,聖經提醒說要留意你的舌頭。舌頭是第一越線犯罪的。
在13節,雅各告訴我們應該做什麼。你們中間有受苦的呢?他就應該禱告。雅各用“受苦”這個籠統的用詞來指世界上錯誤的事。雅各告訴我們就是像Jeff劉禱告的那樣,也就是倚靠神。這是雅各牧師教導我們有關禱告最根本的事情。在受苦的時候,你要即刻奔向神,緊緊抓住祂。 不要誤會:這不是我們唯一禱告的時候。有些人只有在困擾的時候才轉向神。你想這樣的關係也太可怕了!如果你周圍的朋友有需要的時候才來看你,你喜歡嗎?不,真正的友誼都涉及同甘共苦的。 你們有誰受苦嗎?不要起誓只要禱告。這是對神允許患難進到你的生活中合宜的回應。用基督的名起誓(12節)和奉基督的名禱告(13節)有天壤之別。前者改變不了絲毫,後者卻能改頭換面。 而且這封信是寫給教會會眾的,很明顯,我認為為受苦禱告最好的地方之一是在以教會為背景的基督徒朋友一起。那樣,我們可以為彼此代禱,幫助承擔彼此的重擔。
#2:當生活通達順利時,我們當倚靠神(5:13二) 有喜樂的呢?他就該歌頌 這個字翻譯成“喜樂”真是一個廣義的詞來說明一帆風順的日子。和受苦的日子相反。受苦的時候經常迫使我們來到天父的面前。那些經過患難的人常常學習到神的同在和充足,是那些從來沒有面對困難的人不曾學習到的。 所以,如果你現在相對的正過著一個輕快的生活,你要怎麼辦?你應該倚靠神-感謝祂,讚美祂,向神歌唱"哈利路亞"。雅各在第一章怎麼描繪?"各樣美善的恩賜都是從天父而來。”你這樣相信嗎?如果你相信,你應該心存感激。你應該喜愛唱歌讚美神,而不是將祂和祂的恩賜視為理所當然。 注意,雅各在這裡並沒有說,“你們中間有受苦的,他就該歌頌。"歌頌在順境是合宜的。人在受苦時,我們大部分人都不覺得想要歌唱。我想這是 一個重要的功課。聖經從來沒有說基督徒永遠都是"哈利路亞"繚繞口中。約伯得知他孩子們被殺的時候,我們沒有看到約伯歌頌讚美。我們也沒有發現耶穌在思想 客西馬尼園十字架的痛苦時有歡快的心情。悲傷是基督徒在這個不完美的世界上經歷的一部分。在禱告中獻給神,悲傷有時候會更加深靈性,這種時候和喜樂, 頌讚一樣為神所尊榮。那些說"無視悲傷,儘管讚美神"的人是不曾把握真正的痛苦在我們與神同行中扮演的角色。 因此,無論你是悲傷還是快樂,透過禱告和讚美與神分享。好父母經常在晚上來到孩子們的身邊,坐下來對他們的孩子說,“告訴我你今天做什麼。”並且,他 們希望聽到有關擦破了膝蓋,附近的冰淇淋車,那老師喜歡的紙,老師不喜歡的數學考試.....我們的天父就是這樣對我們的任何境況都感興趣。祂要你倚靠 祂,不論生活中發生什麼樣的事。
#3:在你生病時,當倚靠神(5:14-15B)。 你們中間有人生病了呢?他就該請教會的長老來,他們可以奉主的名用油抹他,為他禱告。 比起我們可能遭遇的其它方面的苦,雅各牧師花更多的篇幅來討論如何對待疾病(字面意思是“身體虛弱”)。我問自己,為什麼。我想像的 原因是,在他的教會,就像我以往牧養的教會一樣,當人們分享禱告的請求時,很大一部分是關於身體的軟弱。雅各的話導致2000年的教會辯論雅各這兩句回答 教會的人生病的時候要怎樣做到底是什麼意思。可惜我不能跟你們一一過一道許多對14-15節的不同理解。但是,我至少讓你知道我是如何回答他們提出的幾個 難題。
1、这个疾病有多严重呢?这个翻译出来的单词“生病”通常是用来表示严重的疾病。它听起来远比伤风感冒或流感来得严重。比这更严重的 是,雅各说到需要一些长老来到病床前,这意味着他想到的是一個病重虚弱的人。所以这意味着严重的疾病—尽管并不一定是晚期绝症—但它迫使我们需要集体的祷 告。
2,這涉及哪些人呢?他就該請教會的長老來為他禱告。 这对早期的教会来说是一个重要的信息。我敢确定,雅各正向他的主内肢体传达一个信息:医疗的事工并不局限于使徒时代。除此之外,还有 一点很清楚的是:这个特殊的过程并不是一些专业的信心医治者可能会宣称的特殊医治属灵恩赐。但是请注意:神可以使用任何他想要的方式来医治。在这些经文 中,雅各所教导的仍然是一个在当地教会内部的事工。那些在一个教会中担任属灵领袖的人应当被请来进行祷告。对我们来说,我们可以将这个过程应用到我们的事 工委员会、牧师和祷告小组当中。有一点对我来说是很清楚的:这样的事工应该是教会生活的一个正常部分。
3、是谁采取主动?他就该请长老来。这个信息经常会被忽略—这个主动权掌握在病人的手中。当然,即使这个特殊的步骤没有被遵循,神仍 然会医治。任何一位信徒如果主动地问,“我可以为你祷告吗?”并没有错。但是,雅各告诉我们一个关于那些属灵领袖常常应该运用的角色。雅各的异象是一个充 满关爱的教会中,一位病人请他的属灵领袖们为他的医治而祷告。
4、那么抹油是什么意思呢?奉主的名用油抹他,为他祷告。这对于我而言是一个很有趣的信息。信息的一部分是,油的使用可能意味着自然 医治的意义—因为油在雅各时期的行医过程中是很重要的。同时,油也几乎肯定象征了神籍着祷告而施行的超自然医治力量—因为用油恩膏在早期的犹太人和基督徒 圣工中是很寻常的。它直接代表神的同在与圣灵的运行。 說實話,聖經從來沒有在身體醫治和精神醫治之間畫出一條界線。聖經把一個人的精神,情感和身體視為一個整體來對待。像雅各這樣的牧師一定不會說哪一種醫治是自然的哪一種醫治是神聖的。他知道所有的醫治都出於神。 當我們把握住這一點,我們看到的可能是長老們在使用他們那個時代的傳統藥物,但他們卻是以一種敬虔和神聖的方式,有意識地依靠神。他們知道製藥的材料是神造的,使用藥物的知識也出自神。因此他們能用油膏抹……奉主的名。
5,神是如何回應15節這種信心的禱告的?這並不意味著我們要讓自己相信我們不信的東西—並且在為一些事情禱告時顯示出這麼大的信心, 所以神必須去做我們所求的。有時,最大的信心體現在這種誠實的告白中“主啊,我相信。請幫助我的不信。”通常具體地呼求神來做工的禱告被認為是信心的禱 告。做這種禱告的人是教會中屬靈的領袖,他相信神能做任何事。並且這種禱告通常包括耶穌禱告的內容“主啊,這是我們所求的…但請照著你的旨意成就,不照我 們的意思。”所以這是一個禱告,而不是一個命令。信心的禱告有時也被解釋為是與“安息的禱告”對比的一種禱告,這個詞的意思是,在這種禱告中,我們不知道 該求些什麼,正如羅馬書8:26所寫的。
6這一章中神的應許是什麼?15節:。出於信心的祈禱,要救那病人,主必叫他起來(5:15) 。雅各牧師在這裡字斟句酌。我不認為他的意思是神應允每次我們如此禱告時,神都必須醫治我們身體上的疾病。況且那種醫治也不會持久。在耶穌再來之前,所有 經歷這種醫治的人有一天還是會死。但是,在15節中雅各並沒有用一般的詞來表示“治愈”,他用了一個更加廣義的詞來表達一個更加宏偉的應許,—一個“拯 救”的應許。這個確鑿的應許乃是神將使萬物重歸正道。神會拯救!疾病是在罪進入世界時進入神的創造的。我們在身體虛弱時倚靠神,有時祂也會醫治我們的身 體。不過,雅各宣稱,神一直應許的終極拯救將要發生,那是一個沒有疾病和痛苦的世界。而且,雅各用“主必叫他起來。”來結束。這個詞翻譯成“起來”是指很 多東西:a)假如罪給你帶來了難處,神會扶你起來脫離羞恥感,b)神會在祂的時候高舉你起來出離軟弱。c)甚至神最終會把你從死亡中舉起來,和祂一起走向 永生。 所以,當你經歷重病時,你應該請屬靈領袖為此具體地禱告求神醫治你,扶你起來。我們會預備好油,為你做信心的禱告,你會在神的時刻明白神的存在和祂拯救的大能。當你生病時,要倚靠神。
#4:當你犯了罪,要倚靠神(5:15 B-16A)。 他若犯了罪,也必蒙赦免。所以你們要彼此認罪,互相代求,使你們可以得醫治。 從這些經文中,我認為很明顯,聖經在教導說疾病和罪惡之間有關聯。所有的疾病都是因為罪才進入這個世界。假如雅各牧師和我的觀點是正 確的,即人類的罪和人類的疾病確有關聯,那麼我們將無法完全根除其中的一個直到另一個被完全根除。當耶穌再來使萬物重歸正道時,罪會被除掉,疾病也是。 這裡我必須謹慎措辭。請注意,雅各說:“若”--“他若犯了罪”。很多疾病不是由于他本人的罪造成的!有些疾病發生在我們身上,是因為 我們生活在一個充滿罪惡的世界里,我們的罪影響著彼此。很多時候,無辜的人必須承擔別人犯罪帶來的痛苦。正是這個與亞當有關的人類家族的罪產生了疾病—儘 管有時一個人自己的罪也必然會導致疾病。在此毋庸贅述。我們都知,我們的罪從許多方面可以毀掉我們的身體。 正因如此,雅各擔憂的是,當我們為病人禱告時,有時需要認罪并承認罪和疾病間的相互作用。一個用這種開放的方式處理罪,在提供寬恕的同時呼求懺悔和承擔責任的教會,會是一個更加認識靈里健康和身體健康的教會。 雅各在這裡的總論點是:當你的生活中有罪時,有個地方你應該去。去倚靠神。承認你的罪。你知道祂的應許:你們若認自己的罪,神是信實的,是公義的,必要赦免你們的罪,洗淨你們一切的不義(約壹1:9 )。 好 幾年前,我帶著我的女兒Heather去迪斯尼樂園。當時我們在讀肯尼思·格雷厄姆的柳林風聲,她喜愛J.賽迪斯—托德先生的故事。她看見有托德先生的遊 樂項目就堅持讓我和她一起去乘。當我們坐在馬車里,她抱著我的胳膊,綻放著喜悅的光芒。不過,那個遊戲裡面很黑有些嚇人。經過那些地方時,她把我抓得很 緊,我都無法呼吸了!然後,當我們到終點的時候,她綻放出一個大大的笑容,抬頭看著我說: “我們戰勝啦!” 就是這樣一種孩童般的方式神呼召你請祂進入你生活每一部分的中心。我們要進入今天的禱告前,我邀請你就只要像這樣來做。在困境或順境;在生病或失敗時,去倚靠神。你會發現祂接納你。正如Corrie ten Boom還是一個害怕納粹的10歲孩子時,她的爸爸告訴她的:
“當耶穌拉住你的手,祂使你靠近祂。
當耶穌使你靠近祂,祂引導你走你的一生。
當耶穌引導你走完你的一生,祂領你平安到家。”
荣耀归于神,
格雷格博士
主任牧师
Greg Waybright • Copyright 2014, Lake Avenue Church
Study Guide
Run to God No Matter What - Week 11 - Study Guide
Run to God No Matter What
James 5:12-18
- What relationship do you think 5:12 has to the section before it (5:7–11) about patience and grumbling? What connection does it have to the verses on prayer (5:13–18) that follow?
- Read through 5:13–18. Some say that what holds these verses together is that God's people should run to God and acknowledge him as God no matter what happens in this world. Why do you think they say that? Do you agree? If so, how does that apply to whatever is going on in your life right now?
- From verses 14–16, it becomes clear that a church family should pray for its people who are physically weak or sick. What does it teach? List each instruction James gives. Who or what does the healing? The oil? The elders? If you become very sick, what would you do in the light of this passage?
- Vv. 15b–16 points out that sometimes there is a connection between sickness and sin. What might James be referring to in those verses? The word translated "healed in v. 16 is usually translated as "saved" or "rescued" in the Bible. What is the Bible promising in v. 16a?
- The central thought holding together this passage seems to be v.16b: "The fervent prayer of a person right with God accomplishes much." How should that truth affect hard times, good times, and times of sickness?
- Vv. 17–18 summarize the report of Elijah found in 1 Kings 17–18. How does Elijah illustrate the truths taught in vv. 13–16? What does Elijah teach you about prayer?
- Be sure to spend some time sharing prayer requests with one another and praying together in light of this passage.
2013 Study Series • Copyright © 2013, Lake Avenue Church