“Increasing In The Anointing”
In this life, there are many collectors who get all they can and can all they get. They hoard, and grasp and store up, for the rainy days and days when all you have is what’s left over. But unlike the natural realm, the things of the Spirit are diminished when we try to hoard them, they are lost when we try to store them up. We can’t keep the anointing by hoarding it for ourselves. The only way to keep the anointing is to give it away!
Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."
Walking in the anointing, leads us outward, away from and outside ourselves. Away from what the anointing can do just for us, to paths of service and ministry and what the anointing can do for others through us. Our nation, our culture, and the nations of the earth are starving for the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
The empty husks of humanism, intellectualism and false religions cannot fill the empty place, or hold back the darkness that wants to envelop and paralyze us. The world is hungry to see Jesus and His power. We, His Church, are the Bride of Christ, filled, prepared and anointed to share His life, His light and His healing power to a desperate and dying world. The Spirit of the Lord is upon us, and He has anointed us to preach, to heal and to liberate those who are in bondage.
The anointing oil was contained in and poured out of the horn of a sacrificed animal.. 1 Samuel 16:13 “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah”.
Horns are the weapons of attack and defense for animals that have them. They are the means of demonstrating their POWER! When they are attacked, they defend themselves with their horns. Their horns are part of who they are, just like the anointing is who we are, in Christ, the anointed one. The anointing is our defensive strategy and offensive weapons for taking back what the Devil has stolen!
Isaiah 10:27 27 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing”.
The composition of the Holy Anointing Oil illustrates the anointing of the Holy Spirit resting upon Christ and upon the new Testament Church. The Holy Anointing Oil with all its specified ingredients point to the excellences that are found in Christ. Those same ingredients are found in the anointing for today's saints.
Exodus chapter 30:30-34, the LORD tells Moses to make a very special and “holy anointing oil” of “the finest of spices”, including “flowing (liquid) myrrh”, “sweet-smelling cinnamon”, “fragrant cane”, “cassia”, and “olive oil”. This highly perfumed oil was used to consecrate (and set apart) the articles used in Temple worship, including the ark of the testimony, the holy tabernacle, and all its furnishings, which made them “Holy” (or Kodesh in the Hebrew) unto the Lord.
Exodus 30:32 says, "neither shall you make any other like it, after the composition of it." There is nothing that can be compared to the anointing the Spirit places upon one's life. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of excellence.
V-33 lets us know that we cannot merchandise the anointing. We see also that it is the Lord that names the spices and the weight of each. He uses the words "principal spices" which refers to the very best and that which exceeds all others in quality and excellence. There is nothing second rate with the Lord. The anointing oil, contained Myrrh…which was used for embalming. It is a symbol of death to the old man, and death to the self- life. It is through Jesus death that we are given liberty.
We are not our own, we belong to Christ. “Not my will, but Thy will be done”, is now the mission of our lives. In that mission, we experience freedom from the bondages of the past, and freedom from Satan’s snares. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty... a free and pure flow of anointing. Isaiah,… prophesying of Jesus in
Isaiah 61:1-2, tells us that He was anointed to proclaim liberty to the captives. The only way to avoid the snare of resentment, regret, disappointment and discouragement with people, ourselves, and our situations and circumstances, is through the Myrrh of the anointing. It assures that we can continue to minister healing, comfort, and restoration, regardless of our environment or personal challenges….
The anointing oil, contained Cinnamon, which means, "to burn with zeal"... "to be hot with jealousy" for the Lord, for righteousness, holiness and truth.. The tree from which this spice is extracted was an evergreen, passing through no periods of inertness. So likewise, the anointing is unchanging for those in Christ, whose leaf does not wither in time of drought, cold or harsh conditions. There is no laziness in the anointing ... there is a"zeal" to do good works and to minister to the needs of mankind under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
In the Song of Solomon 4:14 “A garden inclosed is my spouse; a spring guarded and protected, a fountain with the king’s seal upon it. v13 Your fruits are from an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, v14 and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices.”
The Bridegroom is describing His bride here, symbolizing Christ and the church—he’s referring to that which the oil and spices of grace has imparted unto her. It is because of the foundational balm of the Myrrh which is mixed with the zeal of the Cinnamon, that allows this to be possible.
Misguided zeal, without the sweetness of Grace, can be harmful, fleshly, and destructive and misguided humility can condone, empower and sanction evil activities. The challenge we have, is to be zealous without becoming harsh or judgmental. To be loyal without becoming fanatical, to be cautious without being timid, to be free without it becoming a license, to be confident without becoming arrogant, to be humble without becoming the spineless pawns of others.
Psalm 45: 7-8 God says, "You love righteousness, and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness. So that all your garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made you glad" .
The Holy anointing oil contained Cassia, meaning, "to bow down"... "to bend the body"... SUBMISSION AND HUMILITY. True submission says, "Not my will but thine be done."
This was Jesus' attitude as seen in John 5:30. "I can of myself do nothing"... "I seek not my own will, but the will of my Father which has sent me." In John 15:5 Jesus says, "Without me you can do nothing." This is a submission to God, which results in deferring to one another in the realization that none of us has it all. But together we form the body of Christ, each part fitted together to form the whole.
We are taught that we are His body, and that He gave Himself for it, loves it and washed it with His blood and the washing of the Word. Exodus tells us that about 15 pounds of this spice was used each time a new batch of anointing oil was produced. The number 15 in Bible numerics is the number of "rest." There is a rest in submission. Submission is gentle and of excellent conduct. Submission means that we are under the authority of the Lord. There is no rebellion in true submission. This principal spice of the Holy anointing oil was used to anoint priests, kings and their garments. In Psalm 45:8 The coming King Messiah’s robes will smell of cassia (humility, being stripped of pride, set apart or holy with a servant’s heart)….
The anointing oil contained sweet calamus, which is also the ‘spikenard’ of Scripture, meaning "to stand upright, "to contain the power to recover and remain standing".. Though this plant grows in muddy miry soil, the pull of heaven, causes it to stand straight and tall. While many around us grovel and wallow in the mire, the child of God, is drawn heavenward and in the same conditions, still stands straight and tall.
The fragrance of the sweet calamus is released as it is crushed. Likewise, as we are crushed and broken by the things of life, instead of bitterness, there is a fragrance of His grace that is released, to fill the air, and sweeten the very trial that we pass through. When this spice is ground into powder, a sweet smelling oil is produced that promotes healing and kills the root of the disease.
Calamus also is emblematic of internal feelings such as caring, calming, compassion and mercy. All of these systemic emotions that have healing properties. In the anointing is the "power of recovery." Emotional, Spiritual and physical healing can be released by the fruit of the Spirit ... love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance,. These ingredients were in Christ as He ministered. He was moved with compassion, Divine love rose up within Him as He was compelled by the hurts and diseases caused by the curse, to pour forth the sweet Calamus of the anointing…..
Last of the ingredients for the Holy anointing oil, is Olive oil. This was the catalyst that sustained the four Ingredients and bound them together for delivery to the appointed task. All of the "principal spices" are gathered and infused into the oil. Then they are strained out - leaving a penetrating, prevailing fragrance in the oil.
When God anoints us, He doesn't overlook or bypass our personality but He redeems it. He uses our individuality. Therefore, the "spices" would be the gifts, talents, experiences, and knowledge which He has given to us. We don’t just have gifts, we are the gift!! He takes us and infuses us with the "oil" or workings of the Spirit. Then through the process of "pressing and crushing”, He strains out the fleshly, carnal appetites, desires and thought patterns - leaving a sweet anointing on our lives –
The word Oil, means “that which flows from the source”. It comes from a root word meaning, " the source of illumination".. What is in the anointing?.... ILLUMINATION THAT IS CARRIED BY THE SPIRIT... KNOWLEDGE GIVEN BY THE SPIRIT... AUTHORITY FLOWING FROM THE SPIRIT.
Without the Holy Spirit there would be no free flow of liberty… compassion ... zeal ... healing... comfort... the power of recovery... mercy ... submission and much more. The ingredients of the anointing reach out through those who carry and release it’s properties, to touch and meet the needs of mankind. It is by the Spirit of God that we are graciously equipping for priestly ministry, whereby we stand before God and man, as intercessors and reconcilers.
2 Corinthians 2:14, 15, "Thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ, and makes manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ." Our “savor” will be determined by how long we linger and soak in God’s glory. 1 John 2:20 “But you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things”. The word “unction” in the scriptures, actually means, “ointment that is rubbed in.”
New Testament anointing was much different than Old Testament anointing. In the Old Testament, the anointing was poured upon, in the New Testament, the anointing was rubbed in. Your effectiveness will never be determined by what is poured out in a single moment but what is rubbed in by prolonged times of worship and waiting in His presence. The unction is always given for a specific purpose – not just to make us feel good.
Through out the Bible we learn what happens when people receive the unction. Apostles move in miracles, signs and wonders….Evangelist, evangelize….Pastors pastor, Prophets prophecy, Teachers give inspired teaching and Kings and rulers concern themselves with justice, truth, and righteous judgment. In the New Testament we learn that a rag tag assortment of disciples who had no recognizable purpose, where they were, are trans-formed into bold preachers and demonstrators of God’s power.
The church began to hear from God, the people begin to pray with fervency and miracles became common place. Jails were open, the dead were raised, missionaries were sent out and God added to the church daily, 3,000, 5,000 and multitudes were persuaded by the Holy Spirit into the church. This is not just a common phenomenon, it was produced by the unction of the Holy Spirit.
James 5:14 “Is any sick (astheneo) 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”. The word here for sickness, is astheneo, and literally means “without strength” and may refer to spiritual depression, emotional distress, as well as physical sickness. In verse 15 the word sick is the Greek kamnos and is translated “be wearied”. The familiar twenty-third Psalm says, “You anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over.”
Here is a detailed description of this account. “At the sheep fold where the sheep are kept in safety, for the night, there is a large bowl of olive oil mingled with spices, and a large container of water. As the sheep pass through the gate, the shepherd examines each one for wounds. These are carefully cleaned as the shepherd dips his hand into the oil to anoint the injury. A cup is dipped into the water and comes out overflowing and the sheep drinks until refreshed.” We should never presume upon the Holy Spirit’s anointing – but cherish it – pursue it – and guard it. If you put the old flesh nature to death every day and live for Jesus, and if you dealing with others in grace, and if you allow life to make you “better not bitter”, and if you daily seek God’s face in prayer and fellowship with the Holy Spirit – THEN, you won’t just have an occasional anointing.
God’s anointing will be cultivated in your life, and equip you for every good work. You’ll reside in the anointing, even as it resides in you. We are commanded to put on Jesus Christ; and as He clothes us more and more, His perfumes will be more and more perceptible to those about us.
We usually don’t realize how ill-smelling our own attributes are, and how many flies have gotten into the oil which the great Perfumer has commenced to put within us. But we understand the difference when we have drawn close enough to Him to discern the fragrance of His pure oils. We begin to detect the offensive odor of our pride when we smell the goodly fragrance of His humility. We detest the vile odors of our flesh, when we encounter the sweetness of His purity and holiness, His submission to God's will, His love and longsuffering, breaks in upon us.
We realize the offensive odor of our impatience and unforgiving spirit toward one another when we smell the perfume of His patience and forgiveness toward us. It is the sweet spices of His attributes that we need the most, which call to us and draw us as it drew John the beloved disciple, who laid his head upon Jesus chest.
It is Jesus who taught us “Give and it shall be given unto you full measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.” So we truly come to realize that to increase the anointing, we must give it away, freely, and unreservedly at every opportunity. Let us all join together as we close in a Prayer of Agreement…..
”Father we address every curse that has entered anywhere, that would limit, take away from, diminish or cancel the anointing upon our lives. You will be broken in the name of Jesus. Let everything that gives strength to any evil covenant against us be taken away today. Blood of Jesus, shield our birthright from every attack of spiritual armed robbers, for we receive the power from above to fulfill our divine assignment this time forward, in the name of Jesus. Let the strongholds of the emptiers fashioned against our destiny this year be scattered and destroyed by the anointing, in Jesus name. We now take back everything the enemy has stolen from our lives in the name of Jesus. Lord, let Your healing, creative, restoring power flow into every area relevant to growth, increase, and wholeness. Lord, correct any disorder and dysfunction, so that every cycle of insufficiency, in our lives, be broken away from us and turned around in the name of Jesus. We tear down and dismantle the roadblock to our breakthrough, let the arm of the Lord, arise, O Lord and before this time next week, we claim unexpected income, sickness healed, deliverance realized, and the joy and freedom of the Lord, enjoyed and embraced. Through the anointing, we receive victory over all the forces of wickedness, and we declare that we are no longer the tail, but the head, no longer beneath, but above, for we take our rightful place as power changes hands in every area of our lives, and signs, wonders and miracles begin to abound. Lord, we receive your mandate to break every curse and to put to flight every enemy of our high calling in Christ. And now, in the name of Jesus, and we thank You, Lord for giving us the victory for your glory, honor and praise, Amen!!
