WHY ANOINTING OIL IS RECOMMENDED FOR THE CRITICALLY SICK: Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide.

EVERY WORD OF GOD FOR DAILY LIVING

BY PASTOR PAUL RIKA
(Int. Director Holiness Revival Movement Worldwide)

DATE:
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 2020

TEXT:
James 5:14-16

Key verse:
James 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. 

In today’s devotional text, does the Bible say to the sick person, “Let him go and meet the elders?” No! The Bible says, “Let him call for the elders.” This means his case is a critical one such that he is so indisposed and bedridden that the elders must be called to visit him at home. Otherwise, he would have gone out to look for the elders and not sent for them to come to his house.

In Jesus’ time, there were critical issues that warranted him being invited to people’s home to heal the sick. In less serious cases, the sick was often brought to him to receive their healing. But in other cases, it was, “My daughter is dead or my servant is lying at home grievously tormented; can you come and heal him?” Grievously tormented? Jesus would oblige to go to those houses without any hesitation.

“Is anyone sick, let him call for the elders.” This does not refer to common ailments like a headache, pains in the legs and other places of the body where some put anointing oil. It is not for such cases. Let him call for the elders and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. What heals him? Is it the anointing with oil? The bible says, “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed any sins they shall be forgiven him.”

Can you see the condition of that man? Is it a man walking by himself? The Lord shall raise him up and if he has committed sin, it shall be forgiven him. Why was this option given? Is it because power is in the oil or because the oil represented the Holy Spirit? By no means! Anoint means “to rub.” The elders were to rub the sick lying down. We can assume that the rubbing of oil is a communication of love to the sick just as the hand of the doctor communicates love when he examines the area of affliction.

The communication of love seems to strengthen faith in the sick. He will have this inner feeling that “I am loved. I am appreciated. I can feel love in my body.” In addition with your own prayer over him, the prayer of faith shall save the sick and if he has committed any sin that has stricken him down, the Lord shall forgive him. Praise the Lord!


Thought for the day: It is prayer of faith that heals the sick, not anointing oil.


Song for the day: The great physician is Jesus, the great physician is Jesus, He will….


Bible reading for the day: Psalm 105-106; Romans 15:1-21