What about prophetic soap and anointing oil?

Mark Virkler's picture

Below is a copy of an email I received this last week. The question was, is there a biblical basis for such things as prophetic soap and anointing oil?


I am seeking guidance on a situation involving the use of prophetic soap and anointing oil, as instructed by a prophet. The prophet created a soap, referred to as prophetic soap, and mailed it to my family with instructions to use it every three days while making prophetic declarations while bathing with it… A church in the USA instructed the congregation to carry a bottle of anointing oil for a monthly anointing church service. We were directed to pray over ourselves and even drink a shot of the oil. Sometimes, we are told to anoint our points of contact with objects like business cards, resumes, and other items.

These practices concern me, as I am uncertain about the biblical basis for using physical objects like soap and anointing oil as means of receiving blessings or healing. Are there any biblical examples of objects being used in this manner, and how can one discern whether such practices are biblically sound or potentially misleading?

Helen

Answer from Mark Virkler

Helen, here are several Scriptures that shed light on the questions you raised...

1. It is biblical for the power of God to be infused into an object - God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out (Acts 19:11-12).

Many healing evangelists have sent out pieces of cloth for people to place on themselves for healing. Oral Roberts would have people lay their hands on the radio as he was praying for healing. This was a point of contact to release their faith for healing, I would see both of these actions as congruent with biblical protocols.

2. I have never heard of prophetic soap - It could be a point of contact to release faith, but I don’t believe we see this in Scripture anywhere and I am not inclined to participate in using it.

3. Anointing with oil is found in Scripture - They were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them (Mk. 6:13).

In the verses in James (below), you see that if you are sick, you call for the elders of the church, and several things are to transpire: They pray and anoint with oil in the name of the Lord, and if sins have been committed, you confess sins to one another.

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; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much (Jas. 5:14-16).

4. Drinking healing oil - I am not aware of that being done in Scripture. You would want to know what was in the oil to ensure nothing is damaging to one's health. I have never done this, and am not inclined to do it.

5. Prophetic actions, like anointing points of contact with objects like business cards, resumes, and other items - One prophet told a king in Israel to strike the ground with a staff as a prophetic gesture of striking and defeating the enemy. The king only struck the ground three times, and the prophet was upset and told him he should have struck the ground 4-5 times, and because he didn’t he would not fully defeat the enemy (2  Kgs. 18;18,19). So yes, prophetic actions, when performed in faith, can be instrumental in releasing God's power.

6. Cautions, honor the leading of the Spirit - But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth (1 Jn. 2:20).

7. Cautions, never come under a person's domination or control - Nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock (1 Pet. 5:3).

Final thoughts: People are free to do different things than what I do, as long as those things are not forbidden in Scripture. I do not think any of the actions you listed are forbidden in Scripture. If I was in a great church that was ministering life to me, and the above actions were my only points of concern, I could easily set them aside as something they liked and I didn’t and that was fine. I would just enjoy the other aspects of the ministry I was receiving from them. We don’t need to agree on everything.


Register today for online access!

April 15-24, 2024

Counseled by God 35th Anniversary Edition Free Video Event


 

 

Related Resources: 

How to Hear God's Voice!   
Add new comment

Add new comment

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Results

Results 131 - 140 of 487

Pages

Your Extraordinary Life DVD Package

197 Page Book | 16 DVD Sessions | Save 10% | by Mark & Patti Virkler

Can you imagine starting new believers off with the Holy Spirit! What if the first thing you were taught as a newborn Christian was how to connect easily and daily with the Holy Spirit Who was living inside you, anointing you, empowering you and transforming you?

Price: $45.00
4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice Audio CD Package

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice Audio CD Package

By Mark Virkler | 4 Keys book | 10 hours of CDs | LEARN notebook

Have you ever wished you could just sit down and have a long talk with the Lord? Wouldn't it be wonderful to move beyond having a theology that states that God loves you to actually hearing Him whisper words of love into your heart? When you're worried or confused, wouldn't you love to see the situation from His perspective and hear how He wants you to respond?

Price: $79.95
Complete Library of Virkler CDs (Not All Items Pictured)

Complete Library of Virkler CDs

23 Titles - Save $215!

Benefit from 40+ years of teachings by Drs. Mark and Patti Virkler. They are passionate to lead you into Spirit-anointed living by providing biblically-based, real life, "how to" training on Christian spirituality. Their down-to-earth teachings are perfect for personal and small group training experiences. Special Bonus: Includes teachings by their daughter, Charity Virkler Kayembe. This is an ideal library of materials for a home, church or Christian school to have on hand.

Price: $449.00

Counseled by God Audio CD Package

Book, LEARN Notebook & 13 sessions on 6 CDs

Recently Released – 35th Anniversary Edition. The foremost training series in the world teaching you how to become emotionally whole by hearing the voice of the Wonderful Counselor (Isa. 9:6)! This package gives you the tools you will need to ensure this message bears fruit in your life and equips you to share it with others.

Price: $76.85

Everyday Angels CD Package

by Charity Virkler Kayembe and Joe Brock

You can partner with Heaven's angelic hosts!

Discover how to encounter, engage and experience angels in everyday life.

I GUARANTEE you will learn more about the angelic realm than you ever thought possible and you WILL experience a new awareness of the spiritual world!

Price: $67.99
Prayers That Heal the Heart Audio CD Package

Prayers That Heal the Heart Audio CD Package - Revised & Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 2 Books | 2 Contributing Strands Worksheets | 15 CD Sessions

Prayer counseling that breaks every yoke! Everything you need to experience deep healing of your soul and spirit.

Did you know that you don’t need to be continually plagued by negative thoughts, feelings, pictures or memories?

It is not part of the "human condition" to feel the constant nagging of doubt, insecurity, or anger. No matter what sin you are trying to overcome, what lie you think you’ll always believe, or what traumas your heart has suffered in the past, you will receive total freedom and restoration by praying these prayers in faith. 

Price: $85.85

49 Lies CD Package - 49 Religious Lies Jesus Told Me to Stop Believing

2 Books & 7 CDs

If you have ever believed any of the following lies, then this training package is for you: "Emotions are soulish;" "Money is evil or secular;" "It is wrong to seek vision;" "Don’t trust experiences;" "God gave me a mind and expects me to use it;" "Politics are evil;" God is always beating on me;" or one of 43 more such deceptive lies...

This package is composed of two books, 49 Lies  (100 pages of God's revelation through two-way journaling) and Release from Religion which contains 100 pages of Bible meditation where we search the Scriptures to see if they confirm that these things are so. 

This package includes 49 professionally recorded sessions, each 5-12 minutes long, which is my testimony of breaking free from each lie. I discuss what the lie is, its impact on my life, what Jesus spoke, my prayer of repentance and the new freedom I experienced which allows me to step into a new life in Christ.

Price: $69.95
Fulfill Your Financial Destiny Audio CD Package

Fulfill Your Financial Destiny Audio CD Package

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 1 book | 22 Audio Sessions

Newly recorded for 2023! Though the economic system (mammon) of this world is under a curse, we have received instructions for how to move out from that dominion and into the blessing of the Kingdom of God. God’s promises to His children have not changed with the whims of government or Wall Street, nor have His directions for how to walk in those promises. We can “choose not to participate” in the economic recession that is around us if we instead choose to obey the logos and rhema of the Lord and enjoy the blessings that result.

Price: $69.90
Hear God Through Your Dreams Audio CD Package

Hear God Through Your Dreams Audio CD Package

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 1 Book | 5 CD sessions | $36.90

Do you often wake up feeling there was a significant message in your dream, but you’re just not sure what it is? Like Daniel and Joseph, do you long to be able to help others understand their own dreams and win them to Christ as you explain His night messages to them? Wouldn't it be nice if you could receive mid-course corrections from the Lord while you sleep? Do you wish you could be receiving divine inspiration, creative solutions to problems, and direction from the Lord during that third of your life that you’re “just” sleeping?

Price: $36.90
Hearing God Through Your Dreams CD Package

Hearing God Through Your Dreams CD Package

by Mark Virkler and Charity Kayembe | 10 Sessions on 4 Discs | 1 Book

Learn How to Hear God’s Voice, Even When You Are Sleeping

Receive divine counsel nightly. Increase emotional health, wisdom and creativity.

Price: $56.94

Pages