Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
James 5:14-16
5:14 Is any sick among you? 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:
5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
5:16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Miracles and Natural Remedies—
God’s miracles do not always bear the outward semblance of miracles. Often they are brought about in a way which looks like the natural course of events. When we pray for the sick, we also work for them. We answer our own prayers by using the remedies within our reach. Water, wisely applied, is a most powerful remedy. As it is used intelligently, favorable results are seen. God has given us intelligence, and He desires us to make the most of His health-giving blessings. We ask that God will give bread to the hungry; we are then to act as His helping hand in relieving hunger. We are to use every blessing God has placed within our reach for the deliverance of those in danger. { 7BC 938.7 }
Natural means, used in accordance with God’s will, bring about supernatural results. We ask for a miracle, and the Lord directs the mind to some simple remedy. We ask to be kept from the pestilence that walketh in darkness, that is stalking with such power through the world; we are then to cooperate with God, observing the laws of health and life. Having done all that we possibly can, we are to keep asking in faith for health and strength. We are to eat that food which will preserve the health of the body. { 7BC 938.8 }
God gives us no encouragement that He will do for us what we can do for ourselves. Natural laws are to be obeyed. We are not to fail of doing our part. God says to us, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” { 7BC 939.1 }
We cannot disregard the laws of nature without disregarding the laws of God. We cannot expect the Lord to work a miracle for us while we neglect the simple remedies He has provided for our use, which aptly and opportunely applied, will bring about a miraculous result. Therefore, pray, believe, and work (Letter 66, 1901). { 7BC 939.2 }
There is nothing that man can do which God does not do for us already. He has borne our iniquities that we may be saved. Quietly, God answers our prayers for healing as He revives us and restores us and makes us whole. What God does in the natural, so He does in the spiritual. All this is possible if we cooperate with God. God provides for us all the remedies we need for our use, and if we obey the laws of God, we shall be healed. But we also have to pray for each other that we all may be healed. The prayer of faith of a righteous man avails much and provides strength for the sick. If we make the most of His health-giving blessings, we can bring deliverance to those in danger. Pray, believe, and work and may all the Glory be to God.
Dear Father, God Almighty,
We are so thankful and eternally grateful for the sacrifice You have made on our behalf. The sacrifice of Your only begotten son Jesus Christ to take our place for our sins. We are sorry and humbly repent of our sins and ask for forgiveness. We pray that You touch us with Your healing hand. That You heal us spiritually, mentally, and physically. That You restore us and revive us, that You keep us healthy, and make us whole. This is our prayer of faith to heal the sick, that we may be cleansed of all unrighteousness and sickness. Help us use the intelligence You have given us to use the remedies You have provided for us so that we may be healed. We thank You for all Your health-giving blessings and may all the Glory be to You. This is our prayer, in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
