R.C. Sproul

Are we to believe that the early leaders of the church didn't pray for James?

We're told in Paul's epistles of those who had been sick and had not been healed.

Even Paul talked about how he had prayed several times for relief from the thorn of the flesh, whatever that was.

And God's response to the apostle was what?

My grace is sufficient for you.

You see, sometimes God says no, even when we are sick.

But at the same time, what James is encouraging is he's saying, hey, we understand.

That's a given that God doesn't always say yes, but don't miss out on the opportunity.

Pray for the sick.

Pray for those who suffer because God does answer those prayers.

God does heal the sick.

He does relieve our suffering.

but it's not cast as an absolute guarantee.

If that were the case, I mean, keep in mind that every Christian who lived in this world before, let's say, just to be on the safe side, 1880 has died because Christians die.

Not just unbelievers, but Christians die.

And when Christians get sick, there are always Christians that pray for Christians that get sick.

And at some point, the Christians die.

And that was true of every apostle in the New Testament.

There is no absolute guarantee that Christians are going to escape suffering, pain, and disease, and so on.

We know that.