NO MYSTERY! Understanding olive oil usage in the Church

Though not a popular topic, we cannot overlook the role played by the anointing oil in our battle against the evil one and his wickedness.

IT IS not strange to visit church and observe the usage of olive oil. It is used to anoint the sick after they are prayed for or during special breakthrough sessions. There are also times when members will purchase oil and take it to be ‘prayed over’ at church before using it at home. For those not accustomed to this important aspect of Christendom, they have openly expressed scepticism at its usage. Others express confusion while some may even erroneously assign wrong motive to its prominent place in church ministry. To shed more light on olive oil and its pride of place in the Church, Family and Religion reached out to Zebulah Aiken, pastor of the Miracle Tabernacle Free Town Church of God of Prophecy in Clarendon. Acknowledging that olive oil has great significance in Christendom, she said that it is one of the four most important symbols in Christianity, along with bread, wine, and water. “The practice of using olive oil is not new. Throughout the Bible, there are many instances where it was used to anoint kings. It was used in daily sacrifices, it was used during festive occasions, and it was used when offering sacrifices to God,” she said.

In relation to it being used during prayers of healing for the sick, Aiken drew reference from James 5:14, ‘Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord’. Therefore, it is a biblical aspect of pastoral ministry,” she said.

For those who question the Bible’s stance on olive oil, Aiken said that although there is nothing in the scriptures that commands that the practice should continue, she pointed out that neither is there any scripture forbidding its use.

“In fact, olive oil is seen as the symbol of the Holy Spirit and faith for many. That is why many of the brethren will take their olive oil to church and have it blessed before using it at home. After praying, they will anoint themselves with olive oil as a mark of belief that their requests will be honoured,” she said.

TOPIC TO BE EXPLORED

For Aiken, the ‘anointing oil’ referred to in the Bible is a topic that should be explored as many Christians have missed out on their breakthroughs – be it healing or some spiritual battle – because they don’t fully understand its role in some of the battles.

Quoting from the book, Winning Invisibles Battles by David O. Oyedepo, Aiken said that he captured the importance of the anointing oil perfectly.

“The anointing oil is a mystery of the end time, packaged by God for the endless victory of the saints. Though not a popular topic, we cannot overlook the role played by the anointing oil in our battle against the evil one and his wickedness. The anointing oil is as relevant to us now as it was to the Israelites then.

“The anointing oil is no ritual or magic wand. It is not a symbol, a religious right, or doctrine.

“It is not a chemical product, neither is it mere oil. It is the spirit of God mysteriously packaged in a bottle. It is designed to communicate the power of God, bodily. It is the power of God in your hand in the person of the Holy Spirit.

“The anointing oil is the power of God placed in a tangible form in man’s hands to make an open show of the devil. It is God’s wisdom for God’s rescue. It is the all-purpose drug for all ailments of life,” read the excerpt shared by Aiken from the book.

In closing, Aiken said that the ultimate decision to use the oil the individual’s.

“But there is no real mystery about it,” she said.