Kind of a strange blog title - "The Joy of Anointing with Oil." Have I gone off the tracks theological -- MAY IT NEVER BE! I was taken back last week in church and seeing the reality of being obedient to the scriptures.
from the beginning of our church we have practiced what James 5 instructs us to do:
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. James 5:13-15 (NASB95)
We believe and practice the act of anointing with oil those who are struggling with physical difficulties and they ask the elders to pray for them. The key is that the believer must desire it -- we don't go asking if they want to be anointed. Also we pray as a elder team together -- it states clear the "elderS" -- that is plural! They reason I believe it was plural is that no one man would get credit for what God is doing and because the Elders serve as a representative for the entire church.
Being anointing and asking the elders to pray is humbling. You are acknowledging that this is a serious situation and you recognize that for me to get better or to overcome -- God will have to step in. It brings great glory to the power and work of God.
The reason why last Sunday i was amzed and over joyed by the idea of anointing people with oil was looking at our all church prayer communique. It was the first time i have seen the list since my sabbatical and i saw a list of ladies we are praying for who are pregnant! Five of the woman came with there husbands and asked the elders to anoint and pray for them because they were have fertility issues. HOLD ON A SECOND -- we are not a fertility clinic. I am just making an observation that people who we prayed for are seeing GOD WORK IN THEIR LIVES -- I hear that AMEN in yor heart!
God wants to glorify Himself and when we practice this scriptural command...God is glorified and his children's heart are filled with joy!