Did I do the right thing?

Question

My wife Paula and I was recently called over to a young mothers house.Her husband had left her and they were reconcilling their differences.As we visited with the young lady she brought out that they were using drugs and didn't see this being something that they would stop doing any time soon.She assured us that she loved the Lord and asked that she be annointed with oil and prayed for.
We did not feel that we could annoint her with oil while continuing to live in sin.She was not asking for a healing but wanted the blessings of God anyway.We prayed for her and her home encouraging her take take a more serious look at their lives.

Yoda Green, do you really think that if you don't judge, you won't be judged?You need to read on to verse 5 of that chapter.Use the whole Bible instead of what might tickle your ears my dear deceived friend and you will be blessed.

Answer 1

Don,

Your wife, Paula, and you did the right thing.

We are warned to "lay hands on no man suddenly" so that we do NOT become partakers in their sins.

When we are in close association with another person we must be careful not to step over the line of acceptance of that person's sins. It is a fine line to walk--offering Jesus and His way and NOT condoning sin.

I believe you are wise to continue to seek the Lord. I am sure that her revealing this information to you was God showing you that her heart is not right before him.

When someone is struggling to overcome a sin--as you know, this is a much different matter. She is in NO WAY wanting/desiring/asking for God's ways and God's hatred of sins.

God hates sins. Very few christians today understand how abhorrent sinning is to God. They believe in a 'cheap grace' where it doesn't matter if they make no effort to stop sinning--because God will cover their sins. The scriptures say we MUST REPENT. Repentence is essential to receiving God's grace.

This woman is not saved. You can not say you LOVE God and then DISOBEY. The scriptures are very, very clear.

We all have areas we sin in--but this should be far and few between the longer we walk with God. Even new believers begin to feel God's conviction on their sins--they have a desire in their heart to change.

Please pray that God will open her eyes to her need of repentance and true salvation. Too many people really look to God as some kind of quick fix.

Do not be deceived you reap what you sow. The scriptures guide and warn us--do not be deceived!

Let the scriptures assure you of the wisdom of how you dealt with this situation.

Answer 2

Many times annointing with oil is done in conjunction with healing prayers.

James 5:14
Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;

We all live in sin, but I think you did do right in encouraging her to take a "more serious" look at thier lives.

After all, you can't serve two masters. Scripture references about this and being lukewarm may have helped.

Also the "annointing" will not do much good if she constantly and willfully does not try to turn away from those things the Bible says are not good.

If she agreed that doing the drugs is something she would like to no longer do, then it is OK to pray for her deliverance from them.

Question is WHY she wanted to be anointed with oil and felt it may have been neccessary.

Answer 3

Brother Don S. These people don't see the need to stop using drugs even though they have a child living In that home. You can only pray that God will bring them Into His knowledge and know this will be a hindering factor In any hope of restoring their relationship as husband & wife,to be the parents that the child needs & deserves. I would tell them this and then the decision Is theirs. I would call social services on behalf of the child. Maybe that will be all the motivation they need to get help concerning this"Drug Problem". Until they recognize this Is a problem they won't change for the betterment of the home,anointing them with oil would've been useless unless their ready to give It up. God won't take things away from you that you chose to OWN or have In your life. I would continue to pray for them that God will continue to bring healing and the desire to leave the drug life.
Oil represents The Holy Spirit.

Answer 4

Yes, you are correct. PPL today want all the blessings of God, but they dont want to obey God. They are rebellious, living like the world, sooo many ppl, and yet wanting the blessings. DIsobedience leads to curse, and obedience leads to blessing.
Until that person is ready to repent of their sins and get help , noone can help her God wont force her to get help and give up the drugs either all choice.
I would pray and let her know that I prayed, but before she receives healing, she needs deliverance. That I would have offered to walk her thru with God, but until she was ready for that healing wont come anyhow.
I also believe that she shold be reported for using drugs, even tho you hate to be a tattletail . But fact is there is still a child living there and who knows what goes on. I would surely mention this to the authroties and at least have them keep an eye on the sitatuion. Protecting ppl from self doesnt help them, it says its ok to be that way.
Encouragement and pray are wonderful, but we dont try to deliver anyone that is not ready to live sin.......Just as we must be without sin to be in deliverance ministry.
You did right my friend, dont let the devil use this to make you be hard on yourself. You left her in Gods hands, and thats a great place to be, but I would still tell the authorities to keep an eye on the situation. It could be life or death for that child.

Answer 5

I feel you did the right thing. We are asked in the bible how can light and darkness co exist. My answer is not too easily. Not if you are attempting to follow God. If we are open to God and his conviction we will feel some degree of unease if we are involved in sinful behaviour. The fact that people experiance pleasant effects doesn't negate the damage it does not only to themsleves but to those who love them and depend on them. It is good to express your sincere concern and committment to pray and in what ever way convey that you still love them. Also realize this could be the voice of their addiction speaking. When they say they want to they maymean they feel the need to.

Answer 6

As you can see you have some very opposite reactions to your question. With so little information other than the small amount you gave, in discretion (a wise thing) but that causes ppl to take for granted & assume much about the whole situation. To answer rightly, one should know such things as, why the young lady asked for help in the first place? Was the young man also present? How did he see the situation? Are the drugs they are using harmful to the children present? How does this young woman THINK that she loves the Lord? What evidence can she provide? What did she think that the oil would accomplish? Did she & her husband want to continue meeting with you & your wife? Has she every read ALL the Bible or is she just going from life experience (growing up on her parents faith?) or? These and so many other questions are required to truly give a fair & just answer to whether or not you did the "right thing". However prayer on their behalf is ALWAYS a terrific thing, no matter whether or not there is any other action taken. God accepts us as we are, but He does NOT leave us in the condition that we originally come to Him! My answer would be to continue in prayer for them, put them on your local prayer chain (if you have one) keep meeting with this young couple IF they will allow it, and help them to grow in wisdom & knowledge of God's Word, and then you yourself continue to allow the Lord to lead you as He Wills.
May our Lord Jesus Christ guide you in the labor of love!

Answer 7

I disagree and agree with your decision:

At my church, we use the annointing oil as a symbol of the blood of Christ. As an obvious fellow Christian, You know that the blood of Christ has power.

I disagree with the decision; however, because to truly receive the blessings of God, they would have to turn from ALL wickedness in their lives. And maybe what they truly needed was someone to pour out the Blood of Christ on their marriage, family, house, finances, etc.

I agree with your decision, because even if you did pray to send God's blessings on their marriage, house, family, and finances, they probably wouldn't get it because of their evil-doing anyway.

If you truly feel that God has guided you in the right direction with these people, then you don't need anyone's opinion. Pray about it and ask.

Answer 8

Yes, you did. She admitted she wouldn't probably stop with the drugs, soon anyway, and as you said, she didn't ask for healing, just blessing. But just the fact you showed her God's love and prayed for her has left the seed for her to sow. Hopefully, next time she will ask for healing. God bless you for what you did!
"Love the world through me, Lord; this world of broken men.."

Answer 9

my Mom is 72 and still smokes she has been member of her current churchmy church since 1982. My pastor has never refused to annoint with oil, the word say confess our sins one to another.
so i just dont get it...? bound by drugs bound by cigs whats the differance?

Mom still loves the Lord and serves him with her lif, but that one area is in his hands he will work on that area and in his time not ours...His will be done.

i would annoint your young mother friend with oil and pray against the strongholds, to break the hold they have on her not to bless a drug life , God knows her needs and weaknesses just annoint > and let God do the rest. God is able, you were being judgemental

Answer 10

Brother Don..It was really good of you and your wife Paula to go visit with this sister in the LOrd who is struggling. I honestly believe in listening to the sense of the Lord within us when it comes to laying our hands on anyone. The Bible does admonish us to not lay our hands suddenly on any man. I do believe that you did do what would give the Lord a way to help this youngs sister. Two stood in oneness in prayer for another. This actually gives the Lord such a strong way to work within another person.
I also hope that the visits can be ongoing. That together you and your wife can help to nourish this sister with the word. Whatever we feed will grow.. this is a principle.. if by coming together you are able to be fed by the Lord in the word and in fellowship and prayer then I do believe that the Lord can have a real way to rescue this sister. Anything genuine will take time. I've found brother.. over the years that the labour of Love is not so much in preaching the gospel to others but the real need among us all as believers is to Shepherd one another in the Lord. The birth is just the beginning.. the real need is in the raising of this one.
Just in closing .. if someone is sick on the inside.. the best remedy is good healthy food, not powder or makeup. Recovering us and restoring us from the inside out:) Likewise brother we know that the way for the Lord to take care of this sister THROUGH you and your wife( we are His Body moving for Him on the earth) is to help this sister with a healthy spiritual diet. Starting small.. spiritual milk and simple living bread. Helping this one to open up her heart day by day to call upon the Lord's name.. to enjoy His sweet presence in the morning before the mad world rushes in. To enjoy Him as the manna and the dew of Grace.. give Him a way to rise as the new Dawn in her heart. Isn't it wonderful that Each Day is a new beginning for all of us? Thank You Jesus!
Lets keep one another in prayer. That the Lord will have a way to go on in each and every one of us.. From the mature to the babes. We all never graduate from eating and feeding:)

Take care brother and may the Lord bless you and sister Paula and the kids:)
Your sister
sandy