HEALING
We have learned through study of the Scriptures that the vicarious suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ paid for the healing of our bodies, as well as for the salvation of our souls. Matthew 8:17 states that “Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses.” We, in True Holiness, have also experienced the same.
Jesus said of believers – “they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:18) “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 will save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.” (James 5:14-16)
LAYING HANDS ON THE SICK [READ JAMES 5:14-16]
Laying on of hands is a practice of transferring the anointing, or power of God from one person to another. In the Old Testament, priests, prophets, and kings were anointed with oil and laying on of hands.
Laying hands on the sick, while praying in faith, was a common practice in the early church. Jesus often laid hands on people before healing them (Mark 6:5; Luke 4:40; 13:13). Paul laid hands on a sick person and he was healed (Acts 28:8). Jesus said concerning His followers, “They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover” (Mark 16:18).
When Saul was blinded on the road to Damascus, Ananias was told to go to him, place his hands on him to restore his sight in preparation for his ministry (Acts 9:17).
ANOINTING THE SICK WITH OIL
Anointing with oil is similar to laying on of hands. The oil has no special property. It is a symbol of the Holy Ghost. It is the Spirit’s power that brings healing. We believe that the application of oil in James 5:14 was a symbolic act invoked in conjunction with supernatural healing.
There is contextual information elsewhere in the New Testament that associates miraculous healing with the anointing of oil. In Mark 6:13 the record states, “And they [the Lord’s disciples] cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.”
This may be the key verse that sheds light on James 5:14. Healing takes place by the power of the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:38), of whom the oil is a symbol (Zechariah 4:4-16).
PRAYING IN FAITH IN JESUS’ NAME
Jesus charged the disciples to go “In my name.” James instructed the elders to pray over the sick person, and anoint him or her with oil “In the name of the Lord.” We (who have the gift of healing) minister healing, not by our own power or authority, but in the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.
After the day of Pentecost, Peter and John went to the temple to pray. Upon entering the gate, they encountered a lame a man, who was begging. Peter fixed his eyes on the man, grabbed his arm, and declared “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Peter lifted the man up. He started walking, leaping, and praising God.
Peter explained that miracle this way: It’s not by our own power or holiness that we made this man walk. It was Jesus. “And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong” (Acts 3:16).
We have learned through study of the Scriptures that the vicarious suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ paid for the healing of our bodies, as well as for the salvation of our souls. Matthew 8:17 states that “Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses.” We, in True Holiness, have also experienced the same.
Jesus said of believers – “they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:18) “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 will save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.” (James 5:14-16)
LAYING HANDS ON THE SICK [READ JAMES 5:14-16]
Laying on of hands is a practice of transferring the anointing, or power of God from one person to another. In the Old Testament, priests, prophets, and kings were anointed with oil and laying on of hands.
Laying hands on the sick, while praying in faith, was a common practice in the early church. Jesus often laid hands on people before healing them (Mark 6:5; Luke 4:40; 13:13). Paul laid hands on a sick person and he was healed (Acts 28:8). Jesus said concerning His followers, “They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover” (Mark 16:18).
When Saul was blinded on the road to Damascus, Ananias was told to go to him, place his hands on him to restore his sight in preparation for his ministry (Acts 9:17).
ANOINTING THE SICK WITH OIL
Anointing with oil is similar to laying on of hands. The oil has no special property. It is a symbol of the Holy Ghost. It is the Spirit’s power that brings healing. We believe that the application of oil in James 5:14 was a symbolic act invoked in conjunction with supernatural healing.
There is contextual information elsewhere in the New Testament that associates miraculous healing with the anointing of oil. In Mark 6:13 the record states, “And they [the Lord’s disciples] cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.”
This may be the key verse that sheds light on James 5:14. Healing takes place by the power of the Holy Ghost (Acts 10:38), of whom the oil is a symbol (Zechariah 4:4-16).
PRAYING IN FAITH IN JESUS’ NAME
Jesus charged the disciples to go “In my name.” James instructed the elders to pray over the sick person, and anoint him or her with oil “In the name of the Lord.” We (who have the gift of healing) minister healing, not by our own power or authority, but in the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.
After the day of Pentecost, Peter and John went to the temple to pray. Upon entering the gate, they encountered a lame a man, who was begging. Peter fixed his eyes on the man, grabbed his arm, and declared “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Peter lifted the man up. He started walking, leaping, and praising God.
Peter explained that miracle this way: It’s not by our own power or holiness that we made this man walk. It was Jesus. “And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong” (Acts 3:16).