I’M SAVED, NOW WHAT? (part-55)

I’M SAVED, NOW WHAT?

SICKNESS (continued)
Now, back to the scripture – James 5:15.
    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.

James says that when we pray for others their sins will be
forgiven. Is James implying that sickness is a result of sin?
Probably not, since he uses the word “if”. Jesus tells us
that all sicknesses are not a result of sin.
    His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this
    man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
    “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said
    Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of
    God might be displayed in him. (John 9:2-3)

However, some sicknesses can be a result of sin.
    Later Jesus found him at the temple and said
    to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning
    or something worse may happen to you.”
    (John 5:14)

Sickness can serve as a reminder of our need to confess
our sins daily. It can also prompt us to realize we have
weaknesses and remind us of our need to depend on God.

When we become ill, it is important for us to pray and ask the
Lord what He wants us to learn from our illness. As mentioned
in a previous version of this series, it is equally important for
us to ask others to pray for us.
    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. (James 5:16)

Prayer may not always change God’s mind, but it can transform
the believer’s heart. Some requests are answered immediately, but
others may require time for divine preparations to be completed.
Our responsibility is to be diligent and persistent in praying.

Prayer allows us to witness the hand of God in any situation. As
we diligently pray, we discover that there is no limit to what God
can achieve in people’s hearts and their circumstances.

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