"Is anyone among you sick? 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 will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (James 5:14-16).
What is anointing?
The Bible describes three different types of anointing. After bathing, people anointed themselves with oil for beautification. When a priest, king, or prophet began his ministry, he was anointed with oil for consecration. (Priests and sanctuary furnishings were anointed with oil mixed with spices, Ex. 30:2-25). The word "Christ" or "Messiah" means "Anointed One". Quoting from Isa. 61, Jesus claimed He was anointed of God, not only to preach to the poor, but also to heal the broken hearted, to give the oil of joy for their mourning. Oil was also used medicinally, for example the Balm of Gilead in Jer. 8:22, 46:11, 51:8. When Jesus sent the disciples out to preach the gospel, they also cast out demons and anointed the sick with oil (Mark 6:13).
When is an anointing appropriate?
It is appropriate to request an anointing whenever one is sick (spiritually, emotionally, physically, etc.) Anointing is not for extreme illnesses only. Nor is it for times when everything else has been tried and failed.
It is appropriate for one to request anointing when one wants to be dedicated for service or ministry.
Who can be anointed?
Any Christian who (1) believes that God "is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Heb 11:6) and (2) needs any type of healing, can be anointed.
Why is oil used during an anointing?
Oil is one of the Biblical symbols of the Holy Spirit. Olive oil is the most common oil used during Bible times.
How should one prepare for an anointing?
James 5:16 connects confession of sin and healing. Those wishing to be anointed, as well as those planning to do the anointing) should privately confess their sins before God and reaccept His gift of eternal life. Any "wrongs" against others should be made right before the anointing. Each person involved in the anointing should seek to be right with God and others before the anointing.
What does God do through anointing?
God wants to heal each sick person! However, He will only heal when He knows it is best. In spite of our preferences, God might heal either instantly, gradually, through medical means, or at the Second Coming. If one is seeking spiritual healing, as soon as a person requests such, assuming they believe, they are healed spiritually. Those seeking anointing for empowerment for ministry can also expect to immediately receive the Spirit when requesting in faith. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.
Resources on Anointing
Guidelines for Believers Seeking Anointing - A downloadable resource to give those seeking anointing so that they will know what to expect and how to prepare.
Ellen White Quotes on Healing - A few of the best-loved quotes from Ellen White on God's desire to heal the sick.
Anointing the Sick: Revisiting a Misunderstood Service (by Kim Papaioannou, PhD) - An in-depth look at James 5:14-16 and what it means for those seeking anointing.
Anointing: The Lost Rite - You can renew your people's faith in God by using the anointing service for its intended purpose instead of reserving it for those on their deathbed.
The Healing Service - Guidelines for holding a prayer and anointing service for multiple people at once.