Dear Fellow ABATE Members,
What About the Oil?
During some of the last encounters with bikers that we have seen in the hospital and at some of the Church services, there has been anointing with oil. There has also been some discussion and questions as to why we carry oil with us.
Almost every biker knows how important oil is to his/her motorcycle. Without the oil in the engine, there would be a lot of friction, freeze-up, and it would be impossible to empower the motorcycle without it. You do know that gasoline (the ultimate power for your machines) comes from oil, right? Many times, a mechanic who is installing internal parts in a new engine or engine he is repairing, will bathe the parts in oil before putting the engine back together. Oil is necessary for the parts to do their work and to work together.
Oil was used in the anointing of Kings and Priests to install them. It is symbolic of the Holy Spirit’s empowerment for them to do their work. Today’s believers also have the promise of this anointing. It would be impossible for them to function as Christians without the Holy Spirit. They would be subject to friction, freeze-up, and would not have the power to be successful in their faith. Oil was also medicinal. It was carried by ancient people to sooth the skin and, to cover skin scrapes and abrasions. In Luke 10:34, the Good Samaritan treated the man who fell prey to the thieves by pouring oil into his wounds. Oil is often used as a base for applying healing salves and lotions.
The scripture for anointing of oil that we use for the sick, comes from James 5:14-16, “14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
Does the oil heal? Is it magical? Does a minister heal? No. The healing comes from the Holy Spirit, the power of God, the Lord. It is received by the faith of the one who is anointed.
Will all be healed who are anointed by oil? No. The scriptures tell us in James 4:3 that some seek healing for the wrong purposes. Exodus 15:26 indicates to us that healing of some diseases is conditioned on obedience to God’s Will and Word. In Hebrews 10:36, the failure to receive a healing is because one did not have the patience to stand in faith until God’s answer came. The Bible indicates to us that physical healing is not the most important thing but, salvation and spiritual growth are. One can lose a healing because of sin. The example is the man at the Pool of Bethesda. Jesus said to him, “Behold thou are made whole; sin no more lest a worse thing come upon you” (John 5:14).
In James 5:14-16 (go back up for three paragraphs), we are told to confess our sins so that we may be healed. We know that things, which seem to be destroying our consciences, can have a very adverse affect to our physical and spiritual health. Most of the time this is something that we have done wrong, something wrong that we have considered over and over in our minds, or something that we should have done but failed to do. This is SIN. We often cover up the hurting symptoms of sin by dulling them with drugs and alcohol. That often leads to a worsening physical condition.
In 1 John 1:19, we are told, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” This is why James tells us to confess our sins to each other. He wants us to begin to get these unhealthy things moving out of our minds so, that we can begin to deal with the hurts and/or sins that can make our physical and spiritual lives so miserable.
From the scriptures, the best way to begin is to receive the empowerment of the Holy Spirit by taking Jesus into your heart. By truly feeling God’s forgiveness, He will take off a tremendous burden that has been weighing you down for so long; a burden that has been possibly affecting your physical and mental well-being.
Let the healing begin!
Please pray this prayer: "Dear God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, my heavenly Father, I confess that I am a sinner and have been separated from You. I ask forgiveness of my sins. I repent and accept this gift of repentance. I confess with my mouth that your son Jesus is the Son of God, my savior, and died for me. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. I receive Jesus into my heart and ask Him to become the center of my life. I ask, in the Name of Jesus. Amen."
2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
Please let us know of your decision for Jesus. If you wish to contact us, please feel free to do so.
Many blessings,
Tom and Kathy Provenzano
239-267-8641 S. Ft. Myers area