4/11/26

Is that your Final Answer?

The phrase gained popularity on the game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." After the person gave their answer the host Regis Philbin.

What is your final answer? People have always been intrigued with finality. Last words are often quoted from people who have passed away. When someone is to be executed they are given a chance to say their last words.

Words are important yet most people struggle with speaking without truly contemplating the effects of their words. I have had to apologize on many occasions for things that I said as a joke or without taking the time to see if my words were correct and spoken in the right tone of caring.

The Bible teaches us that the tongue is the world of iniquity. Yet, when the words of the tongue come from the Spirit it has amazing power from God.

Our text today says, James 5:13-16 NASB95 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

A prayer to God, which is conversation from your Spirit to God the Father can assist someone who is suffering. This is the case especially if the one who is suffering is the one who calls out to God.

A person who is full of cheer is to sing praises from his or her Spirit to God the Father, from whom all things good come from. Especially since He alone is good. Not only does God enjoy our praise given to Him but it also blesses us.

If you are sick (feeble, or weak with disease), if you will pray to God and ask others in the Church to do the same and it says anoint with oil then God will answer. I want to make a couple of things clear in this section just for understanding. First, the prayer is done by the Church (believers). What good is prayer from an unbeliever? If they lack faith to believe they lack faith to pray in faith. Notice the text says, the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Elders are the Pastors who should be strong in faith. Then second, oil during this time had specific purposes. It made a person feel better. It was fragrant and it softened the skin which often was very dry. Then it also helped heal. It was used for medicinal purposes on cuts, etc. So for James, anointing with oil is telling them to pray and use today's medicine to help. Although he gives true credit to God. We can see this in the section I just quoted, "the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. It is the faithful prayer that will restore."

Then our text tells us to confess and pray and our sins will be forgiven. Prayer of course initiated in the Spirit lifted through faith in Jesus arrives to the Father providing grace.

The text ends with, "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

What is your FINAL ANSWER?

Through the guidance of our text, our first middle, and final answer should be faithful prayer.

Are you suffering? Then begin, continue, and end, in faithful conversation with the Lord, (prayer).

Are you cheerful? Then begin, continue, and end, in faithful conversation with the Lord, (prayer).

Are you sick? Then begin, continue, and end, in faithful conversation with the Lord, (prayer).

Are you a sinner? Then begin, continue, and end, in faithful conversation with the Lord, (prayer).

Faithful prayer in the Spirit!

Is that your final answer?

Yes first, middle, and final, answer!

That is correct!!! You just won the gift of God's presence, when you pray!!!

Love Bro. Scott