Hugh's News & Commentary

Mornings with Pastor H
From the Pastor of Faith Assembly of God
Greenville, NC

November 23, 2011

Ezekiel 20-21; James 5

James 5:13-20 (CEV) If you are having trouble, you should pray. And if you are feeling good, you should sing praises. If you are sick, ask the church leaders to come and pray for you. Ask them to put olive oil on you in the name of the Lord. If you have faith when you pray for sick people, they will get well. The Lord will heal them, and if they have sinned, he will forgive them.

James had not forgotten what he had seen Jesus do when He walked among the crowds in the communities of Israel and along the shores of Galilee. Wherever they went Jesus healed the sick, unstopped the deaf ears and even raised the dead. If He had desired, Jesus could have healed completely by one swoop of His hand. We know that He didn't do that because there was a crippled man who was left on the church steps everyday. Jesus passed by him every time He went to the Temple. For some reason He chose not to heal this man. But soon after Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, a couple of the apostles where instrumental in the healing of that same man (Acts 3). I love the quick response of the apostles, "Hey friend, look at us we don't have any magical potion, but we will offer you what we do have--"Christ the Healer." This was the talk of the town and the encouragement for the apostles.

No wonder James could boldly say in our text this morning that the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord will raise them up. Some believers in James' day were slipping back and needed to be encouraged to have faith. Many had become wealthy and had begun trusting their riches instead of Christ, even hoarding things and not looking out for the needy. This Thanksgiving is a good time to renew our faith in Christ the giver of life. Remember that all we have comes from the hand of the Creator.

[Editor's Comment: I do not know Pastor H, nor his last name. My good friend, Daneel le Roux from Greenville, NC, sent it to me this week. I thought that today is an appropriate time to share it with you.

Last Sunday, I went forward at our church in Athens, Christian Life Worship Center (IPHC), to have my pastor and the elders pray for our Stephanie, as well as Melvine and me. I knew in my spirit I needed to go forward to request prayer for our daughter. Melvine was at home keeping watch over Stephanie.

I don't know how it is for men, but for me I can tell you it is a humbling experience to confess my need in front of the entire church. If my faith in God is to work at all, then I must demonstrate that faith by obedience to the Word of God that Pastor H wrote about in this devotional today. It is in the context of worship in the house of God with the congregation of the saints who have gathered to praise and worship God that prayer can be offered that will save and heal the sick.

I can tell you that I felt the compassion of my pastor as he prayed, and the love of a number of our leaders who gathered around me, touched my arms and shoulders, and prayed the prayer of faith. I have in the past been the care giver. Now, I am the one who needs the care and believing faith of the church and my pastor. In his prayers he often says, "How we love Your Lord."

Pastor J. Brian Williams is still in his 20s.  It is amazing how God is using him, teaching him about the move of the Holy Spirit, and learning to be patient and wait for God to touch the hearts of the people, even people like me. He is an expository preacher, and has passion in his preaching, but with power too--the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit.