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. — JAMES 5:14

My wife and I had just moved into the parsonage of a Full Gospel church in the blackland of northcentral Texas. There was a knock on the door. I went to the door and a little cotton-headed—blond-haired—boy stood there. He said, “Momma wants you to come and pray for her. She’s sick.”

Well, I didn’t recognize him. So I said, “Who is Momma?” He told me and I recognized the name. She was one of my Sunday school teachers. I said, “Son, you stand right there. I’ll put on my tie and coat, and you can show me to your house.” I was a stranger in town and I didn’t know my way around. So he took me to his house.

I had a little bottle of olive oil in my pocket that I used to anoint people when I prayed for them. I took it out and anointed the woman’s forehead. I knelt by the bed and prayed. Then I said, “In Jesus’ Name. Amen,” and I got up and started to go.

She stopped me, saying, “Brother B. [the former pastor of this Full Gospel church] always prayed until the power fell.”

Well, I was new in Full Gospel circles. So I thought, Maybe that’s the way they do it. So I got back down on my knees. I’d never prayed the power down before. I didn’t even know you could pray it down. After about an hour and a half, the power of God fell on us. The whole room was energized with the power of God. The woman shook just like someone who was holding an electrical wire. I’d prayed down the power. So I got up and went home.

Confession: It is scriptural for someone to anoint me with oil and pray the prayer of faith. James 5:15 says, “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up. . . .”