Throughout history, the church of God has often been small and scattered, with many members meeting in private homes for Sabbath services. In such situations, apostles like Paul devised a method to anoint the sick from a distance. As recorded in Acts 19:11-12, an elder prays for the healing of the ill individual in the name of Jesus Christ, anointing a small square of cloth with olive oil during the prayer. This anointed cloth, accompanied by a letter of explanation and instruction, is sent to the sick person. Upon receiving it, the ailing individual also prays in faith to God for healing, placing the cloth on his or her forehead. God then acts according to His will for the individual. No superstition or magic is involved in this simple ritual; the oil symbolizes God's Holy Spirit, representing His power to effect His will. This practice, often used when an elder is not readily available for personal anointing, demonstrates a fervent desire to be healed and to obey God's commands. God has honored this method many times over the past several decades, healing numerous ailing members of His church, thus caring for His small and scattered flock.

God has provided a provision for healing when physical presence with an elder is impossible through the use of anointed cloths. These cloths are sent to the individual, carrying no inherent power in themselves or in the oil used. It is God who heals, according to our faith, demonstrating His great love and care for us in our times of sickness and need.

The reference to anointed cloths arises directly in connection with the declaration of God as healer at the waters of Marah. There God established a statute and ordinance that tied physical and spiritual healing to diligent obedience to His voice, commandments, and statutes, so that none of the diseases brought upon Egypt would come upon Israel. This same truth is restated in Psalm 103, where the Lord is praised for forgiving iniquities, healing diseases, redeeming life from destruction, and showing mercy to those who fear Him and remember His commandments. Both passages are included in the letter customarily sent with the anointed cloths, because they identify who God is and how His people are to think and act while following His Word. The connection underscores that healing flows from the same God who delivered Israel, who tests His people in mercy, and who requires them to examine their conduct so that their trust remains fixed on Him rather than on any physical means alone. In this way the anointed cloths serve as a practical reminder, during the days counted toward Pentecost, of the ongoing need to live by every word of God in order to receive the healing that only He can give.

A man called me requesting an anointed cloth for his persistent illness, realizing he might be limiting God by not seeking anointing and prayer from a minister. This request struck me as significant, highlighting how God intricately involves Himself in the lives of His saints. Such moments, though seemingly small, provide a powerful witness to His presence. Neglecting God's instructions, as in the case of not seeking anointing when sick, limits His opportunity to heal us. We are commanded to act in faith during illness, calling for the elders of the church to pray over us and anoint us with oil in the name of the Lord, trusting that the prayer of faith will save the sick and that the Lord will raise them up. When we obey this command, we lift the self-imposed limits God has placed on Himself, allowing Him to act on our behalf.

In the account from Acts, God performed unusual miracles through the apostle Paul, allowing handkerchiefs or aprons from his body to be brought to the sick. These items facilitated healings where diseases departed and evil spirits were expelled. This practice of using anointed cloths exemplifies divine power at work, standing in direct opposition to the deceptive and abominable occult arts condemned throughout Scripture. Such cloths served as instruments of God's truth and authority, leading to genuine deliverance rather than the fraudulent illusions promoted by sorcery and witchcraft. This biblical precedent reinforces the call to reject all forms of pagan practices and instead rely solely on the power of the one true God, as demonstrated in the early church's rejection of magic books in favor of genuine faith. By focusing on God's methods, believers avoid the snares of the enemy and align with the purity and holiness required to remain blameless before Him.

In Ephesus, God worked unusual miracles through the apostle Paul so that even handkerchiefs and aprons taken from his body brought healing when sent to the sick. These items, literally sweat cloths used to wipe his brow during labor or work aprons, were cleaned, torn into pieces, and dispatched because Paul could not personally anoint every individual. The practice had its basis in the recognition that the minister did not need to be physically present, as the cloth represented him after he had laid hands on it and anointed it with oil. Those who requested the cloths acted in faith, and the results confirmed divine power at work, with diseases departing and evil spirits leaving the afflicted. This development occurred amid Paul's extended ministry in the city, where the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed even as opposition arose from those whose livelihoods depended on idolatry.