“The elders of another church (name omitted) came over to
pray in tongues and anoint my uncle with oil and healed him,” a church member
informed me. A couple days later he called and said his uncle died. He was
perplexed because the other church proclaimed the guy healed.
He directed me to James 5:14 and expressed his confusion.
“But God’s Word says…”
As we talked, we looked at verse 15 and saw the major
emphasis. When we delved into this passage we discovered a few things. (1)
Anointing with oil was medicinal only. The olive oil represented taking
medicine. (2) Praying in tongues didn’t mean more prayer power. In fact, the gift
of tongues was not in effect anymore. Prayers in English work well. (3) The
elders were the spiritual leaders of this member’s church, not a shaman, a
fortune-teller, Christian charlatan, or any other ungodly “healer.” (4) The
power was in prayer of faith in the name of the Lord. (5) Healing came from the
Lord. (6) If the sickness was a result of sin, only the Lord could forgive his
sin. (6) God can heal, but it may not be His will to do so.
The point is not trusting in olive squeezings, tongues, or other
religious scams, but in the Lord.
“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.
© copyright 2016 Kevin T Boekhoff
https://tugsandnudges.wordpress.com/…/…/09/olive-squeezings/
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