Annointing with oil for the sick...

Did you read what happened? We were at the beach. We were all gathered and able to pray but annointing was requested. So that's why I say it might be a good idea to carry oil.

Actually, in the last 4 times my husband has done this, three of the times were times he had to go seek out oil. You never know when this will come up! Only one time was it actually at church - and our church is a hotel.

 

You have a right to disagree but honestly, it was not a laughing matter when it came to the time to pray with Tom. He's a dear man and we counted it a privilege to pray over him and for the men to annoint him. Yes, the oil was less than typical but as Jim said, it's the faith, not the fluid. I heard from a missionary that they even used lamp oil!! You use what you have access too.

 

Yeah, we've not had much problems in the past but the way our beach is set up here on Long Island, we were about 25 minutes from any store or place where we could get oil. I was SURE we could get oil because they do fry things but there was no one there and all he could get was the packets of stuff. But I've made mayo and there's a lot of oil in it. I'd say it's just another form of oil.

 

Yes, we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit but so were those addressed in James.

In the last 6 months, my husband ask either been asked or offered to anoint with oil 5 times. The first was a woman who donated a kidney and was not recovering well at all. It was now 3 months since the surgery and she was as weak as a kitten and the doctors didn't know why. My husband asked if she would like to be prayed over by the elders and anointed with oil and she said "yes". We used cooking oil from the hotel. She woke up the next day feeling fantastic and has been great ever since.

The second and third times were for my daughter. The first of these times was when she was just diagnosed with a pancreatic tumor at 21 years old and she was vomiting so violently that they gave her ativan to knock her out. We prayed over her with friends and she was able to eat the next day and didn't need the ativan any more in that hospitalization. The next time she was anointed was after her surgery and 10 days of severe vomiting and one of the top pancreatic surgeons in the country saying "We don't know what else to do. We don't know what's causing this". She was anointed and prayed for on Friday night and Saturday morning when we walked in, she was sitting up eating an Italian ice. The doctor walked in and said "I don't know what happened but something changed last night. She's better and I don't know why."

The fourth time was just a month ago when our friend's 19 year old son sustained a critical (turned out to be fatal) head injury. His parents asked us to pray and anoint him and we did. He passed away the next day.

The fifth time was this that I just mentioned - our deacon who is facing cancer and chemo. We don't yet know the outcome of this.

I don't think that there is something special in the oil but there is something special in the faith and the prayers of the faithful around the person. God directs us to seek out the elders for anointing when ill and we will continue the practice until He comes. I don't see it as being "Go to the doctors and get medicine" because he discusses sin, prayer and confession - all spiritual things and not medical things.

 

Or combine prayer with stumped doctors and you may see healing as well. I believe it took the top pancreatic surgeons in the country - and all of the top doctors who they appealed to for possible answers - to say "We don't know what to do" for my daughter to be healed. While we had the best doctors in the country, we know they did not heal my daughter and they will be the first to admit it!! Yes, they took out her tumor but the vomiting got worse after the surgery and for no physical reason. When the doctors were at the end of themselves and their knowledge, God healed her. NO one got the glory for her healing but One. I believe God chose to use anointing with oil and prayer to be the vehicle for her healing. It certainly was not the medical attention.