Another element of healing power is anointing with oil. “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil…” (James 5:14).

Everyone remembers the familiar words of Psalm 23, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want….You anoint my head with oil….” David, the author of this psalm, was a shepherd as a boy. He knew that before a shepherd puts his sheep to sleep at night, he carefully checks them for injuries and rubs oil on their wounds. This anointing oil prevented the sheep’s wounds from becoming infected and protected them from annoying insects.

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd…” (John 10:14). Today’s pastors follow in His footsteps by becoming shepherds for their congregations. Good shepherds desire for their sheep to be free from injury. When the elders of the church pray for the sick, they are told to use anointing oil. I believe the anointing oil symbolically represents the oil a shepherd would use to heal his sheep.

Oil also represents the healing presence of the Holy Spirit. In some of the parables of Jesus, the Holy Spirit is symbolized by oil. When anointing oil is used in praying for the sick, it represents the presence of the Holy Spirit; so, the elders of the church are not praying alone, they are praying along with the Spirit.

If you are sick, call the elders of your church to come pray for you. Ask them to anoint you with oil and to lay their hands on you. Their prayer of faith will be powerful and effective in bringing the Spirit’s healing anointing to your body.

 

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