James 5:14-15 tells us that if "the elders of the church" pray for someone sick they should "anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith shall save the sick." Why the oil? Is there some physical therapeutic value in a bit of olive oil being applied externally?
Common sense seems to say no, but to insist that it is a symbol of something? Of what? Obviously, of the Holy Spirit. Is there some "practical-godliness" meaning here that has to do with physical healing? A wise writer has said that nine-tenths of the diseases from which people suffer have their beginning in a wrong heart-attitude toward God, some distortion of His character that alienates the human soul from Him.
This distortion may well be caused by parents or teachers who (often unconsciously) misrepresented the character of God to the child; and the child becomes father to the man. It makes sense to see that if the Lord answers "the prayer of faith," His healing process will begin by rectifying that distorted view of God that has been nine-tenths of the initial problem (as time has gone on, the spiritual problem has become organic). The rectification must therefore include learning about the gospel as being practical-godliness Good News!
When a message truly "lightens the earth with glory" in the sense of Revelation 18, God's people will again see "miracles of healing," we are told. How can the sick person know he/she is receiving the Holy Spirit? Jesus says three traits characterize the gift: (1) the conviction of personal sin (it's always good news!); (2) the conviction of righteousness--a clear view of the character of Jesus as Savior; (3) a conviction of "judgment" in that Satan is cast out of the soul with all the distortions of truth that he has encouraged (see John 16:7-11).
Indeed, when Jesus healed the helpless paralytic, He began by assuring him of the forgiveness of his personal sins (Mark 2:1-12). Blessed work! "This same Jesus" still lives!
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: May 4, 2000.
Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
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