Anointed items or idol worshipping

Of late, there has been a lot of Scriptural abuse in the churches. We have heard of anointing water, anointing oil, anointed towels, anointed wristbands and recently anointed exam pens as the list continues to grow. I want to bring to the attention of readers that it is very necessary to be wise and not to fall prey to scheming fund-raisers who prowl on their ignorance.

Reading from Acts 19:11-12 when Aprons and handkerchiefs that had been used by Paul were taken to the sick and afflicted to heal them and expel demons:

Acts 19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 19:12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Some people have taken it from the above scripture but not realizing that it was not that the Apostle prayed for these things then sent them out to people but it was people who exercised their faith by taking any items that would have come into contact with the anointing upon Paul to minister that anointing to the sick and afflicted freely. It also happened with Peter he did not instruct people to lay the sick on his path for his shadow to heal them but it was all being done by believers as a way to exercise their faith and receive from God without paying a single cent.

I also want to mention that God could sometimes give an instruction to some men of God to use certain means to minister healing through certain mediums as what happened when Jesus anointed sand or church elders used oil after prayer. The Bible in James chapter 5 mentions church elders could use oil to anoint the sick after prayer. It is apparent that the sick after receiving prayer could be anointed freely not that they would be required to buy the anointing oil to anoint themselves at home.

Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Those incidences where a man of God could be instructed to anoint stuff to use in administering healing or deliverance at best could be occasional and not become routine since the way Jesus commanded was for us to call upon His Name for healing by laying on of hands and words of command for sicknesses and demons to leave. Believers should not rely on man- made paraphernalia for their protection when the Bible in 1John4:4 promises that Jesus Christ dwells in them and is greater than the enemy in this world. People now look up to their men of God or anointed stuff and this equates to idol worshipping as it takes the place of God. Believers have to rely on God's protection not mediums such as wristbands, anointed pens or other stuff being invented.

I perceive when TB. Joshua started up with the idea of anointing water it was very easy to believe he could have received an instruction from God and I still believe those who have testified they got help. We however have seen people and men of God going to the extremes by clandestinely selling the anointing water or anointed items by claiming one would just pay for the dvds then get anointing water for free but when you just want the anointing water you would not get it except if you pay for something else. Some preachers have also copied and anointing water or anointed items are now being sold everywhere. Thus even those who got instruction in the first place they can go to the extremes and do it in a manner God has not sanctioned like making money out of it or believers idolizing it in a manner that takes the place of God. Moses was instructed to speak to the rock to bring out water for people but he hit it and produced the desired results but God was not pleased by the means even though for the sake of His people He brought the results. Some ministers could be seeing success but it does not mean God is approving the means especially where others make money out of it. These things are clearly being relied upon more than the Word of God and it is becoming idol worshipping. Those people who visit sangomas or sorcerers also testify of good results thus the issue is not about positive results but the Biblical way. It is clear that the Bible says such practices amount to error and deceiving spirits are behind them:

1st Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits, and doctrines of devils.
 
Howard Tundu is a minister of the Word of God and can be contacted on Tundu.howard@gmail.com.