Notice how James and apostles’ approach to healing differs from that of Paul.
Call for the elders of the church (James 5:13).
Anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord (James 5:14).
The Lord will raise them up (James 515).
The community of faith prays for healing and healing comes from God. What are the implications of such a shift in thought for present-day communities of faith?
For starters, these words from James shatter the notion that only spiritually gifted people should pray for healing. When some Christians read Paul’s teachings on spiritual gifts, they are tempted to think that only spiritually gifted people should pray for healing. In James letter, however, the emphasis is upon God, who answers the prayers of the righteous.
It is not necessary for us to wait until we can identify a person whom God has chosen or used in the ministry of healing. James’s instructions are for the elders (spiritually mature) to gather for healing prayer, though it could also be argued from the examples we have in history that any Christian (new or experienced) may pray for healing because healing comes from God.