Sunday, Feb. 20, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Dear Father PaulDear Father Paul: Does your church believe in anointing the sick with oil? Why or why not? Vicky, Fayetteville.
Dear Vicky: Absolutely! I anoint sick people with oil in our services practically every Sunday, and you know what, lots of people get better. James 5: 14 - 15 is very clear on this subject: "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders (pastors / priests) of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And 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." I don't pour a bowl of oil over the person's head. The amount of oil is not important. I simply dip the tip of my thumb in the oil (we use a special olive oil blessed by over twenty bishops) and make the sign of the cross on the person's forehead with the oil. Then I pray the prayer of faith for God to honor his word and for the person to get well...nothing loud or long...just a simple prayer. Again, people do get well. Here's the best part, you do not have to be a member of a church or even be a Christian for God to heal your illness. Lots of churches offer this ministry. My offer to pray for any sick person in 2005 still stands, just e-mail me at paulmassey@earthlink.net
Dear Father Paul: Is it OK for a husband to attend one church and the wife to attend a different church? Daniel, Fayetteville. Dear Daniel: It may be OK, but I believe it is not God's "perfect will" that this happen. I must add, however, that I have seen a few couples make a situation like you describe work during my ministry over the years. I believe that God wants couples to be an integral part (both of them) of a loving, Bible based church family where they can both minister to others and be ministered to themselves. Granted, (as I said) some couples can make the "separate churches" thing work, but it is rare indeed. What most often happens is that neither gets all that involved with the church or with God and after a time one or both lose interest and stop going to church. I counsel couples who are in this situation to both attend one of the two churches for 3 - 4 months and actively participate, then attend the other church for the same amount of time and also actively participate. In most cases, those who have tried this approach have found that after they have spent time at each church, the Lord will clearly speak to both of them and tell them which one church is right for them.
Dear Father Paul: I have been praying for a certain thing for a long, long time and so far nothing has happened and I am getting discouraged. Fred, Fayetteville. Dear Fred: Whatever you do, don't stop praying and getting others to pray with you. There is a wonderful (and encouraging) story in the Bible about just this very issue. Go to Luke 18: 1 - 8 and read it...you'll be glad you did. It's a story told by Jesus about a woman who "pesters" (my word) an unjust judge to give her the justice she wants. After a long time, and only because of her persistence, he finally relents and gives her what she seeks. Jesus concludes the story by saying, how much more will "God bring justice (an answer) to those who cry out to him day and night." The message of the story is clear, don't give up praying and crying out to God. Be persistent in your prayers and don't stop praying. Special to Bill: Sounds to me like you are "rushing things" in this new relationship. You are smothering her. Back off a little and give her some time.
Father Paul Massey will answer your questions. Write him at paulmassey@earthlink.net or P. O. Box 510, Fayetteville, GA 30214. |
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