IF HE HAS COMMITTED SINS
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms (James 5:13).
Apostle James was giving us how to handle different situations of life: "IS ANYONE AMONG YOU SUFFERING? LET HIM [or her] PRAY" (James 5:13). In other words, a believer who is having
challenges—in a distress, suffering in one way or another—such should take the matter to God in prayer. Whilst the admonition for whoever is cheerful is to sing psalms (James 5:13).
In the same zest, he asked: "IS ANYONE AMONG YOU SICK?" (James 5:14); 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" (James 5:14).
Healing can be received by a believer through the Word of God. In fact, it is the Will of God that every individual believer should grow in the knowledge of His Word and be able to receive whatever their needs are through the Word.
However, for a believer who is not mature enough in the knowledge of
the Word of God, who could not have their needs met through their knowledge in the Word of God, they should ask the elders of the church to pray for them and anoint them with oil. Healing is a covenant right of every believer in Christ Jesus. God wants those who are His to be healed of their sicknesses. And beyond that, God does want them to live in health (3 John 2).
a. Being prayed for by the elders for healing is one of the biblical ways through which healing can be administered.
b. Another way is when the sick person is ministered to by God's anointing on a minister.
In all, whichever way the healing is administered, the glory of the result
gotten through the prayers must be given to God.
Another important thing mentioned in the verse 15 of the same chapter is: "AND IF HE HAS COMMITTED SINS, HE WILL BE FORGIVEN" (James 5:15). This shows to us that sin could be the cause
of a sickness in a person's life.
Ordinarily, sickness or whatever may be the affliction of the devil would have had no place in the life of a believer if the person had not violated God's principles. A believer should always understand this. That is, in most cases, attacks of the enemy, the devil, would not have a place, or get to a believer, if there had not been a crack in the wall (Ecclesiastes 10:8). When a believer misses it, did contrary to God's will or His specific instruction, the devil could have the privilege or an opportunity, through the believer's act of disobedience or rebellion, to access their life.
If as a believer, you received an attack, before you start to bind the demons and loosing whatever, you should check your life if you have missed it somewhere—if your has done wrong.
Sickness—which is an attack of the enemy, the devil, who is the believers' adversary or accuser—would have had no place in a believer's life to begin with if there was no contravention in the principles of God. In other words, If a believer has not done contrary to God's commands or words or instructions there would be no opportunity for the devil to afflict him with a sickness.
Committing sin or living in sin by a believer is like giving a go ahead or a licence to the devil to operate in his life. The devil could come with a sickness, or an attack on your finances, or whatever, if sins are found in your life.
Prayers could only be effective if the sin committed is repented of and
the devil is dealt with (Proverbs 28:13).
Peace.