Should We Use Anointing Oil In Prayers And Healing The Sick Today?

 

The use of anointing oil in divine healing and prayers is one of the oldest practices in Christianity today.

It's almost a common thing to find a bottle of Olive oil somewhere around the pulpit or altar in several churches around the world.

However, in recent time, several teachings have also come up against the practice. According to the proponents of this teaching, the name of Jesus, the laying on of hands and our words are enough in ministering to the sick. There's no need to use any other medium aside from these. Especially since Jesus has resurrected from the dead and has given us His Spirit. But...

What Does The Bible Say Concerning The Use Of Anointing Oil In Prayers? Should Anointing Oil Be Used In Faith Healing Today?

Let's find out.

Before we go on, let me first of all say that unlike what many may have believed, the anointing oil is not "the Holy Ghost mysteriously packaged in a bottle."

It is also not a specially formulated olive oil with the power of God inside. No!

An anointing oil is any oil (olive, coconut etc) consecrated via prayers by a Pastor, Deacon, Elder or any believer in Jesus, to be used in any form of spiritual ministration, especially divine healing.

The first time the New Testament made mention of an anointing oil being used in healing the sick is in Mark 6:12-13 KJV.

"And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them."

In the passage above, Jesus sent His disciples out on a preaching assignment. First the twelve and then another set of Seventy persons.

Though Mark was the only writer to tell us how they fulfilled that assignment, at their return, there was no mention of a single rebuke from Jesus concerning the mediums they used in fulfilling the task. As a matter of fact, in his own account, Luke bore witness that Jesus "rejoiced in the Spirit" when they all (the 12 and 70 disciples) returned to Him with testimonies of healings and deliverances they wrought in His name.

"In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight." Luke 10:21 KJV

I know some persons may say the rejoicing only applies to the testimonies of the 70 disciples of whom no there was no mention of oil in their ministrations. But that's not true. If you study Luke Chapter 10 closely beginning from verse 1, you will discover that everything happened simultaneously.

After sending the first batch which is the 12, Jesus sent the second which is the 70. Everything happened almost the same time. So there's no way the 70 could have done something different from what the first 12 sent on the same mission did.

As seen in those records, Jesus never really bothered about the medium they used in healing the sick, casting out devils or praying for the sick, provided they were carrying out the task. He had Himself used several ways to also heal the sick prior to that moment.

The next mention of the use of oil in ministering to the sick in the New Testament is found in James 5:14

"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." James 5:14-15 KJV

In his epistle, James recommended the use of anointing oil in praying for the sick. But he ended that speech in the following verse by calling to your attention that it is prayers made in faith that save the sick. Not necessarily the anointing oil or the elders of the church, but Faith inspired prayers.

However, when it comes to the issue of Faith, we know that although we all have the same gift of Faith given to us in the New Birth, we don't all have the same level of knowledge. And Faith works by knowledge.

For some, due to the teachings and practices they have been exposed to all their lives, they have this knowledge that the anointing oil in divine healing always work. So their Faith is easily released when they or the minister praying for them use an anointing oil on them.

For some others, they have known by the study of scriptures and experiences that the anointing oil is not needful in divine healing. As a result of this knowledge, their Faith gets released only via words of prayer or the laying of hands.

Knowing this, the person ministering divine healing must be open to understanding the level of knowledge at work in the sick and in himself, so they can both release their Faith for the healing to take place. A better way to do this is by being open to the leading of the Spirit, the one who knows the level of knowledge in every man. He can lead you on the best way to minister at that moment.

Always know that healing time is not argument time. It's not a time to start arguing and trying to prove which practice is the best.

With all his knowledge as the greatest writer and custodian of the New Testament revelation, Apostle Paul did not stop the people from touching his body with their handkerchiefs to use later in healing the sick or casting out demons. Peter also didn't stop the people from placing the sick where his shadow would cast on them and they'll be healed. They both let the people exercise their Faith according to their knowledge.

As long as they are not going extreme with the use of the anointing oil and tagging it ridiculous names (e.g the Holy Spirit in a bottle and so on), relate with every man according to their level of knowledge. Focus more on blessing lives and seeing more sick folks healed, instead of arguing about the necessity of anointing oil and several other mediums. I think that's what Jesus would have wanted too.

I hope this blesses you.

Glory to God!