I’ve been reading your articles on faith and healing of the sick, searching for an answer from the Lord on this very subject. I rejoiced when I read your articles, finally someone speaks clearly and biblical on this issue. The Lord has answered my question through you. So now what? Well, first I will pray that my faith be increased and second I would like to know exactly how to anoint with oil. I read through scripture that anointing by oil is done regularly so I’m sure James probably had some custom in mind when he commanded us in James 5:14 to do it. Surely there is some Hebrew custom on the method? Could you tell us how?
James 5:14-15 says;
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
First of all, remember there’s no magic, either in the oil or in the way it’s applied. It’s the faith of the people involved that’s most important.
Anointing with oil is a way to symbolize setting someone or something apart for the Lord. The Hebrew word for Messiah means anointed one. He was set apart for a purpose. Anointing a sick person is a way to consecrate them to the Lord, to make them sacred. It puts the spiritual world on notice that the person belongs to the Lord and the sickness, which came from the enemy, no longer belongs there.
Most Christian Book stores have anointing oil for sale. It’s normally made from olive oil with some special fragrance that’s pleasing to the Lord mixed in. Place a little on your finger when you’re about to pray for someone. Then apply it to the forehead of the person you’re praying for as you begin your prayer. Many people keep their hand in contact with the person all through the prayer by placing it lightly on the front part of their head.