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Pastoral Ministry
Do not claim to be a miracle worker—Multitudes have heard
me speak, and have read my writings, but no one has ever heard me
claim to work miracles. I have at times been called upon to pray for
the sick, and the Word of the Lord has been verified: “Is any sick
among you? 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 shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and
if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” Christ is the
great miracle-worker. To Him be all the glory.—
Manuscript Releases
19:372
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Anointing does not heal the sick. Jesus does—The question has
been asked by some, “Has Sister White healed the sick?” I answer,
“No, no; Sister White has often been called to pray for the sick, and to
anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord Jesus, and with them she
has claimed the fulfillment of the promise, ‘The prayer of faith shall
save the sick.’” No human power can save the sick, but, through the
prayer of faith, the Mighty Healer has fulfilled His promise to those
who have called upon His name. No human power can pardon sin or
save the sinner. None can do this but Christ, the merciful physician of
body and soul.—
Selected Messages 3:295
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Anointing should not be requested for every little ailment—I
understand the text in James is to be carried out when a person is sick
upon his bed; if he calls for the elders of the church, and they carry
out the directions in James, anointing the sick with oil, in the name of
the Lord, praying over him the prayer of faith. We read, “The prayer
of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he
hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.”
It cannot be our duty to call for the elders of the church for every
little ailment we have, for this would be putting a task upon the elders.
If all should do this, their time would be fully employed,—they could
do nothing else; but the Lord gives us the privilege of seeking Him
individually in earnest prayer, of unburdening our souls to Him, keep-
ing nothing from Him who has invited us, “Come unto me, all ye who
are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” O how grateful
we should be that Jesus is willing and able to bear all our infirmities
and strengthen and heal all our diseases if it will be for our good and
for His glory. Some died in the days of Christ and in the days of the
apostles because the Lord knew just what was best for them.—.