The Bible emphasizes three essential agendas that Jesus fulfilled during His public ministry. Everywhere Jesus went, He preached the Good News, taught the Kingdom of God, and healed people’s diseases. Healing ministries were not only carried out by Jesus in the Bible but also by Old Testament prophets, New Testament apostles, and Christ’s followers. In our Old Testament reading for today, we can find a great example of God’s blessing on King Hezekiah’s illness. Through the Psalmist’s praises, we can discover God’s deliverance of those who were sick. In our Gospel reading for this morning, Jesus touched many ill people, and they were all healed by Christ. He also gave the Great Commission to His disciples, instructing them not only to preach the Gospel and teach the Word of God but also to perform wonderous things, including healing. Later, James, a servant of the Lord, described the importance of the healing ministry in his Epistle.

Since the Body of Christ was founded more than 2000 years ago, the people of God have built not only churches but also schools and hospitals. For instance, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Western missionaries came to Korea and spread the message of Christianity to the Korean people through both words and deeds. During that time, churches were established, along with approximately 800 schools, including 40 universities, and numerous modern hospitals. While researching this data, I have discovered a couple of interesting points. Ewha Womans University was founded in 1886 by Ms. Scranton, an American Methodist missionary. It was the first school for women in Korea and provided equal educational opportunities for women in those days. Since then, the university has nurtured many talented individuals and notable leaders. It has also been an advocate for gender equality and women’s rights in Korea. Severance Hospital was founded in 1885 by Dr. Allen, an American Presbyterian missionary. It marked Korea’s first western-style healthcare system. Almost 20 years later, it was transformed into a prominent medical institution through a donation from Mr. Severance, a devout Presbyterian Christian. Over the years, this hospital has demonstrated the love of God through its medical practices. This type of a cooperative triune work of salvation – addressing the body, soul, and spirit through healthcare services, learning institutions, and places of worship – has taken place all over the world since the Risen Christ’s Commission.

In our main sacred text for today, the Apostle James begins with serval questions and proceeds to answer each of them. As we examine his solutions, we can discern that they are all closely related to the concept of the prayer of faith. Furthermore, James introduces a prayer warrior named the Prophet Elijah and once again emphasizes the power of prayer. This morning, I want us to explore the healing ministry described in the Word of God, learn divine lessons from this topic, and apply them into our faith journey.

As I stated earlier, James highlights three specific occasions when we, as Christ’s followers, should engage in prayer. Firstly, we are called to kneel before the Lord for His supernatural strength and grace when we are in trouble. God does not exempt us, His children, from trials as we walk with Him. Each day, we might encounter a series of challenges, whether big or small. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The idea of overcoming the world here in this statement signifies not just a one-time victory, but continuous and complete triumphs. This is why we can experience peace and courage even in the midst life’s storms when we fix our gaze upon Jesus through prayer. Are we experiencing suffering? We should pray. Do our hearts ache for our loved ones? Let us intercede for them.

Secondly, we are to express our gratitude and praise to God for His blessings when we are happy. Singing to God and offering thanksgiving to the Lord is a form of prayer. When we praise our Creator, the lyrics of hymns can reveal our sincere appreciation for the Lord’s steadfast love and our earnest supplications for His marvelous work. Are we filled with gladness? We should sing praises. Do we carry joyful hearts for our loved ones? Let us express thankfulness to God on their behalf.

Thirdly, we are instructed to call the church elders to pray over the sick and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord when they are unwell. The term “elder” in this context originates from the Greek word “Presbuteros.” Our denomination’s name, “Presbyterian,” is rooted in this term and describes an administrative court governed by church elders. In The Presbyterian Church in Canada, two types of elders exist. The first type is known as ruling elders. They take care of spiritual matters within our church and offer pastoral care. The second type is teaching elders. Their primary responsibilities include teaching and preaching the Word of God and administering the sacraments of baptism and communion. I believe that “the elders of the church” can represent spiritually mature leaders within each congregation, akin to the members of the St. Andrew’s Session in our church. If you are aware of some people going through a difficult time, please inform your elders and me so that we, as a session, can provide support.

When the elders are invited to pray for unwell people, according to James, they are supposed to anoint the sick with oil. In the Bible, oil serves various purposes. In the Old Testament, both kings and priests were anointed with oil for their holy tasks (1 Samuel 16:13). In the New Testament, oil was sometimes used for medical purposes. For example, when a man was wounded by robbers, a Samaritan took pity on him and treated his wounds by pouring oil and wine on them (Luke 11:33-34). Much like oil, the Holy Spirit can also rest upon individuals who are called to perform special duties for the sake of God. I believe that anointing a person with oil and/or the Holy Spirit can symbolize God’s presence, provision, and protection for those who are in great need of these scared blessings.

Did you notice from this scripture that the act of anointing needs to be done “in the name of the Lord”? In other words, the healing ministry is not solely associated with a particular group’s prayers or a specific method of praying, but rather with prayers offered in the faith of Christ’s authority. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus proclaimed the Great Commission: “In my name, they will drive out demons… they will place their hand on sick people, and they will get well” (Mark 16:17-18). In another Gospel, Jesus underscored the power of prayer in His name: “… I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13-14). Sometimes, we mistakenly view asking “in the name of the Lord” as a sort of magical phrase. However, in the Bible, names often convey godly attributes. Consider the name of the Lord Jesus Christ: “Lord” represents “Master,” “Jesus” signifies “Savior,” and “Christ” symbolizes “the Anointed One sent from God.” When we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we acknowledge that He is our Captain on our challenging journey, our Rescuer in this troubled world, and our Anointed King in our restless hearts.

The question we face in our current time and situation is how to apply Christ’s divine power in our spiritual journey. Is the first-century message still relevant for us to invoke the name of Jesus while living in the twenty-first century? If the answer is yes, how can we employ this God-given blessing in the name of Jesus Christ today? Once again, Jesus promised miraculous wonders not only to the disciples but also to all those who believe in “all authority in heaven and on earth” given to Him (Matthew 28:18) and obey God’s command. This aspect of the scripture can be interpreted in two different ways. On one hand, some believers were given significant talents to fulfill sacred tasks with God’s signs and mighty works (2 Corinthians 12:12). I believe that in a way, healing miracles might be offered to certain individuals to do God’s specialized missions. God has blessed us with different gifts and assigned us to various ministries. God likes diversity. On the other hand, we are all summoned to be Christ’s disciples and participate in His blessed ministries together. Whether we are elders or regular believers, God’s incredible strength can be equally extended to each of us to undertake diverse tasks in the name of Jesus Christ.

Again, this is the reason why James directs our attention to the attributes of the prophet Elijah. At first, he might seem very different from us because he was a renowned servant of God due to his remarkable accomplishmenta. One day, Elijah engaged in a spiritual battle against 850 followers of Baal on Mount Carmel and brought glory to the Lord (1 Kings 18). However, like us, he was a human being who sometimes experienced moments of weakness. During his faith journey, similar to us, he occasionally faced disappointment, frustration, timidity, unbelief, and more. Despite his human limitations, Elijah knelt before the Lord and prayed for His miraculous intervention. In addition to introducing Elijah’s prayer, James describes the relationship between confessing sins and praying for one another. Eventually, he indicates the connection between powerful and effective prayers and repentant and earnest hearts. When we, as the sanctified people of the Lord, place our complete trust in the Holy Spirit and pray for the sick with faith in the name of Jesus Christ, God’s healing miracles can happen to our loved ones and us today.
In our Old Testament, we encounter the story of King Hezekiah who fell seriously ill. He had undergone numerous medical treatments, but none had cured him. In his time of distress, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to God. When God saw the tears of Hezekiah, the Lord changed His mind and granted Hezekiah an additional 15 years of life.

As a church, when we cry out to the Lord Jesus Christ on behalf of our loved ones and seek the help of the Holy Spirit, Almighty God can even alter His plans and respond to our petitions. With the power of this Triune God, any form of treatment can be utilized to transform the seemingly impossible into reality for those who desire to receive His healing remedy.

Perhaps some of us gathered here this morning are dealing with physical illnesses. We might feel deeply discouraged and lose the willingness to recover. As time passes, we might recognize the need to carefully monitor something within our bodies. We worry not only about our present symptoms but also about their potential consequences. While some of us here might not be physically disabled, we could find ourselves struggling with something that prevents us from living courageously. We might be burdened by financial, relational, or emotional issues. Some of us may say we have prayed and prayed, but nothing seems to happen. Even though we have done our best before the Lord, we may sense that we are in a season of drought.

One of Satan’s favorite lies tells us that challenging situations will never change; they can be permanent. We might believe that we will never get well. The spirit of evil can lead us to read things that discourage us. The devil might ensure that those around us speak discouraging and disappointed words in one way or another. If we concentrate solely on the negatives around us, we could become overwhelmed and lose our desire for well-being. Doubt and deception might attempt to hinder us from approaching God in faith to present our requests.

Friends, this morning, God invites us to come to Him as we are. Whatever our difficulty might be, let us remember that our true help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Let us ask Him for His presence, provision, and protection. God changed His mind when He saw Hezekiah’s tears. The same God can also change His mind for us and our loved ones if we pray for them with tears.

We have learned that many sick individuals went to Jesus, and their lives were restored to normal through Christ’s healing power. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Heb 13:8). Jesus remains our teacher, preacher, and healer. We act as vessels in healing ministry, while God the Father, God the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, are the Core Partners of the Heavenly Medical Institution. Through our faith-filled prayers in the name of the Triune God, they bring healing to the sick.

Let us pray that the Lord helps our loved ones and us bear fruits on our spiritual adventure with Him while experiencing Christ’s showering and abundant blessing. Let us ask that the Lord touches our loved ones and us with God’s miraculous and creative hands. Let us cry out for God’s help in making our loved ones and us whole, not only physically and outwardly but also spiritually and inwardly, under the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. Finally, let us express our gratitude and praise to the Lord for the blessings we have received from this Triune God through prayer.

*In this sermon, I have incorporated ideas and thoughts from various messages based on the following texts: Kings 20:1-6; Psalm 103:1-6; Matthew 14:34-36; Mark 16:14-19; James 5:13-18.