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Are we as Seventh-day Adventists afraid of the Holy Spirit and the laying on of hands and could this be one of the reasons the church seems destitute of the Holy Spirit and the work stymied? By Pastor Tony Cirigliano A pastor and I were holding an anointing service at an Adventist church. During the anointing service many were blessed, broken relationships were openly restored. Many re-dedicated their heart to Yahshua Jesus and were healed mentally, spiritually and physically. There was no fanaticism. No one was rolling on the floors or “laughing in the spirit.” There were just tears of joy and relief and happiness that these dear ones could come to the leaders of the church and through them to Jesus for healing of mind, body and soul. The laying on of hands and the anointing with oil is a great gift to elders of Yahweh’s remnant church, and through this divinely appointed ministry the leaders can hold the love and respect of the people. The devil has to a great degree made many Adventists afraid of the Holy Spirit and His work in their lives. At our service, one of the church elders looked visibly upset during the service. Afterward he said to me, “We are not supposed to have anointing services. Ellen White said people must be ready and heeding all the counsel of God before we can anoint them.” I said, “Where do you find this in the Bible or in the Spirit of Prophecy?” I asked him if he realized that Ellen White herself anointed people with oil, sometimes spontaneously and she also laid hands on people.” He said, “What if someone is smoking?” I said, “Well let him be anointed for victory over smoking.” “What if they are not eating properly or are overweight” he said. I said, “Well then, if he or I want Yahweh’s help in overcoming appetite, or in diet. Is it wrong to ask in prayer and be anointed asking the brethren to pray with us for the Holy Spirit’s blessing?” Then he said that “since we have institutions and sanitariums now, we don’t need to pray for miracles.” I told him to read the following quote from Story of Redemption, page 401. It reads that during the time of the “loud cry” “Mighty miracles were wrought, the sick were healed, and signs and wonders followed the believers. God was in the work, and every saint, fearless of consequences, followed the convictions of his own conscience and united with those who were keeping all the commandments of God; and with power they sounded abroad the third message. I saw that this message will close with power and strength far exceeding the midnight cry.”{SR 401} I asked him, “Do you believe that these that she speaks about here who are healed from sickness are only ones who went to an Adventist Sanitarium or hospital? Is that what Ellen White is speaking about here?” He read the quote, and then simply walked away. He had no answer. I believe if we talked about the Holy Spirit more, asked for Yahweh to send the Spirit who is awaiting our demand and reception, then we would have a different church with millions more members in it! I believe we should have anointing services. I don’t mean just ones done in back rooms or offices for SDA individuals who ask, but for all as part of the ministry of evangelism and nurture. Just because the devil is counterfeiting the true healing work of the Holy Spirit does not mean we should be afraid to have anointing services and services where we lay hands on the brethren to receive the Holy Spirit and be filled with the Spirit. It is very biblical. These special services could be held an hour or so before evangelistic meetings each night. People will come and bring friends. I have had services that lasted three hours because so many wanted to be anointed and healed mentally, spiritually and physically. Why would anyone oppose this? Sure people should be told to put away sin and vow to live according to the Word of God before they are anointed. This should be explained before the service. Those who come be it many or few should be taught that “It is labor lost to teach people to look to God as a healer of their infirmities, unless they are taught also to lay aside unhealthful practices. In order to receive His blessing in answer to prayer, they must cease to do evil and learn to do well. Their surroundings must be sanitary, their habits of life clean.” – Ministry of Healing, p. 227. We are also told that “When wrongs have been righted, (and this includes silent confession of sins or grievances between a brother or sister) we may present the needs of the sick to the Lord in calm faith, as His Spirit may indicate. He knows each individual by name, and cares for each as if there were not another upon the earth for whom He gave His beloved Son. Because God's love is so great and so unfailing, the sick should be encouraged to trust in Him and be cheerful. To be anxious about themselves tends to cause weakness and disease. If they will rise above depression and gloom, their prospect of recovery will be better; for "the eye of the Lord is upon them" "that hope in His mercy. Psalm 33:18.” – Ministry of Healing, p. 229. But none who choose to come to Jesus should be cast out or turned away. I have baptized people who later left the Lord. But at the time of their baptism they were sincere. Should I have withheld baptism until I believed the person lived up to my standard and was worthy to be baptized? We need not fear having anointing services done with reverence and according to the Bible instructions. In fact, some of our churches desperately need this service to heal gaping, and festering wounds! I have seen the Lord at work in these meetings and the fruit has been good. Here are some Bible and Spirit of Prophecy evidence for this important service of grace and healing.
Acts 8:18-19 Notice that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of hands. I wonder what would happen if the hands of the elders were laid on new believers or older members asking for the Holy Spirit to fill the new believer? I believe great things would happen! A lady by the name of Clarissa Bonfoey was healed when Hiram Edson “laid hands” upon her in the name of the Lord."-- Letter 14, 1850, p. 1. Notice that brother Edson “laid hands” on a sick woman. There is no record of him asking her is she was living up to “all the light” (which by the way could be quite “odd light” according to some dear brethren and sisters!) To some it might mean, “Are you still eating cheese?” or “Are you vegan?” or “Do you wear a bonnet in church?” etc., etc., etc! I believe in being Biblical first. Anything that does not square with Scripture must be laid aside.
Matthew 10:1 Notice that Yahshua Jesus gave His disciples power to cast out demons and all manner of diseases. The Lord’s servant wrote: “God is just as willing to restore the sick to health now as when the Holy Spirit spoke these words through the psalmist. And Christ is the same compassionate physician now that He was during His earthly ministry. In Him there is healing balm for every disease, restoring power for every infirmity. His disciples in this time are to pray for the sick as verily as the disciples of old prayed. And recoveries will follow; for "the prayer of faith shall save the sick." We have the Holy Spirit's power, the calm assurance of faith that can claim God's promises. The Lord's promise, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:18), is just as trustworthy now as in the days of the apostles. It presents the privilege of God's children, and our faith should lay hold of all that it embraces. Christ's servants are the channel of His working, and through them He desires to exercise His healing power. It is our work to present the sick and suffering to God in the arms of our faith. We should teach them to believe in the Great Healer.” - Ministry of Healing, p. 226. Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve. And he went into the synagogue and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God" Notice that the Holy Spirit came upon them when Paul “laid hands on them.” That’s what the Bible says.
Acts 28:8 Paul laid hands, prayed, and had a healing service for the father of Publius. I am sure that Publius’ father had not gone through an extended series of Bible studies or reading material before Paul laid hands on him for a healing.
Matthew 8:8 Jesus did not agree with the centurion and say, “You’re right. You’re unworthy. I can’t heal you or ask my Father to. You’re not perfect enough yet.” No! Jesus healed this man’s servant because he asked and he believed Yahshua Jesus could do it! Jesus turns no one away. See John 6:37.
Mark 5:23
Mark 16:18 Here Yahshua Jesus
speaking of His future disciples (you and I are included) said they would “lay
hands on the sick” and the sick would recover. No mention of any pre-conditions
here. All we have to offer to the Lord is our great need! Notice in the above quote that a spontaneous healing and anointing was done for this mother and child. Again, there is no record of a pre-anointing qualifying interview. There was a need. The oil was applied and prayer was made on the spot. The same can be done today.
1 Corinthians 12:28 Some interpret this statement by saying that the ones who have the gift of healing become doctors and nurses. No. That’s not what the verse says or what the Bible shows. “Just as the meeting closed, Sister Meade, who had been afflicted with a slow fever, requested us to pray for her. We went into a room by ourselves, Brethren Holt, Wheeler, Stowell, James, and self. After I had anointed her with oil we prayed over her, and she was healed every whit and fell prostrate by the power of God. That night we got into a rowboat and went on the pond about one mile to Brother Meade's. His sister was there with a very sick child. We anointed it with oil and prayed over it, and God heard our prayers.” {5MR 239.5} Note: In this verse Ellen White led out in the anointing service, and the person was even “slain in the spirit” and “fell prostrate by the power of God.” They also anointed a child and prayed for the child. No special preparation of the anointing candidate is mentioned here.
“I had taken about half my
dinner when a messenger came with the word my husband had another shock of
paralysis. I hastened to the house and found my husband's right arm partially
paralyzed. We anointed with oil and then engaged in prayer for his
recovery. The Lord came near by His Holy Spirit My husband was greatly blessed.
His arm was strengthened. We felt assured that by the blessing of the Lord he
would recover. We moved to the institute. My husband feels cheerful and happy.
He now is settled in regard to his duty to drop everything like burdens at
Battle Creek and spend the summer in the Colorado Mountains.”--MS 6, 1873.
{2BIO 381.2}
Matthew 14:14 Jesus
spent more time healing than preaching. It is part of the Christian ministry and
need not be down-played or feared because the devil’s counterfeit exists. Even
more so does the world need to see the true power of the Lord. Jesus said, “You
do not have because you do not ask.”
Matthew 15:30
Matthew 10:8 Note:
Yahshua Jesus told His disciples to cleanse the lepers, cast out devils (what
sanitarium do you go for that?) heal the sick, and even raise the dead! Do it
for free He said, but do it! Mark 3:14-16 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, Andto have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: AndSimon he surnamed Peter;Notice: The disciples were to “preach” and to “heal sicknesses.” This power would flow from Jesus to His followers. Pastors and elders are disciples of Jesus doing the work of disciples, and the work involves more than preaching. It also plainly involves healing the sick!
Luke 4:40
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