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 diminishedand become useless, when we try to hoard them, and they are forfeited in the bottomless pit of the self-life, when we try to store them up.
I came across the last Wishes of Alexander The Great .....
On his death bed Alexander summoned his generals and told them his three ultimate last wishes.
1. The best doctors should carry his coffin;
2. The wealth he had accumulated (money, gold, precious stones) should be scattered along the way to his burial place, and
3. His hands should be left hanging outside the coffin for all to see. Surprised by these unusual requests, one of his generals asked Alexander to explain. Here is what he said,
1. I want the best doctors to carry my coffin to demonstrate that when it’s your time to die, even the best doctors in the world are powerless…
2. I want the road to be covered with my treasure so that everybody sees that you can’t take the wealth acquired on earth, with you.
3. I want my hands to swing in the wind so that people understand that we come to this world empty handed and we leave empty handed after the most precious treasure of all, TIME has been exhausted.
We can’t keep the anointing by hoarding it for ourselves. The only way to keep the anointing and increase it, is to give it away! Hoarding is dysfunctional, but hoarding God, is insanity…God won’t stay in our box!!! To refuse to give all that God has given you, back to Him to use any way He wants, is the ultimate hoarder and act of selfishness! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is found in….
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." (I can almost hear the theme song of Mission Impossible now)……Dum, dum, dum, …..
Walking in the anointing, leads us outward, and outside ofourselves, to 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 religion cannot fill the empty place, or hold back the darkness that wants to envelop and paralyze the hearts and minds, from our loved ones and those from the lowest of society to the aristocratic elite.
The world is hungry to see men and women who will stand in the anointing of Jesus and His power and challenge the darkness. 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.
Fantasy Fest is a good view of bondage masquerading as freedom!
When the anointing oil was poured out by Samuel upon David, and produced the warrior king, who slew Goliath, and led Israel in victory after victory, that oil was poured out of the horn of a sacrificed animal.. The anointing poured forth from an act of sacrifice.
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 which means in the Hebrew, (to go higher, to mount up, to be exalted)”.
As Samuel poured out to David, it was poured back to him.
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 an appointment with true freedom….
We don’t nurse it, we don’t curse it, we don’t rehearse it, we give it to God and let Him reverse it!!
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”.
I want to direct your attention to the ingredients of the Holy Anointing Oil illustrates the anointing of the Holy Spirit resting upon Christ and upon the new Testament Church, the priesthood of believers. 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 us today.
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 and furnishings used in Temple worship, including the ark of the testimony, the temple itself, the priest, and the Levites.
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 chooses and 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 traditionally 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 true 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 deceptive snares.
2 Corinthians 3:17 Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty... A free and pure flow of oil…… Isaiah,…prophesying of Jesus in
Isaiah 61, tells us that He was anointed to proclaim liberty to the captives. What a treasure our freedom in Christ is! The way to avoid those snares 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 our 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 is an evergreen, passing through no periods of seasonal inertness. So likewise, the anointing is unchanging and constant 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 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 Yourfruits 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 oils and spices of grace have imparted unto His church.
The foundation of the balm of Myrrh which is mixed with the zeal of the Cinnamon, allows and sustains this steadfast joy and enthusiasm even in the valley of the shadows, and in the night seasons of life.
Misguided zeal, without the sweetness of Grace, can be harmful, fleshly, and destructive and misguided humility and longsuffering can condone, empower and even sanction compromising 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"... This is about SUBMISSION AND HUMILITY. True submission embraces the Lord’s will, not only when it is in agreement with it, but when it is not . 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." The boiling water that hardens eggs, softens carrots….it’s not about what you’re in but it’s about what’s inside of you.
In John 15:5 Jesus says, "Without me you can do nothing." He is the hand which moves the glove. Without the hand, the glove has no life of it’s on and can do nothing.
This is also 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. Like the fingers working together on the hand. No one finger is the entire hand!
Exodus tells us that about 15 pounds of this Cassia 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. There is no “I’ll do it but I really don’t want to” and every one will know “I really don’t want to”……
Submission means that we are under the authority of the Lordand directed by Him. In true submission. He transforms our “Want To” into our “Will To”.
In Psalm 45:8 it also says that the King Messiah’s robes would also smell of cassia (for He said, “what the Father does is what I do”)
Next, let’s notice that the Holy anointing oil contained sweet calamus, which is also the ‘spikenard’ of Scripture. It means, "to stand upright, "to contain the power to recover and remain standing"..
Even though this plant grows in muddy miry soil, the pull of heaven, is greater than the pull of the muck and mire and 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 by the anointing.
The fragrance of the sweet calamus is released as it is crushed. Likewise, the things that come to crush us and break us only release the fragrance of His grace. Instead of making us bitter, Heaven’s upward pull fills the situation with hope and assurance, and sweetens 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 have healing properties. In the Presence of the anointing is the "power of recovery."
Emotional, Spiritual and physical healing is released by the sweet oil of the Spirit’s anointing ... 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 Himas He was compelled by the hurts and diseases caused by the curse, so that the sweet Calamus of the anointing poured forth…..
Last of the ingredients for the Holy anointing oil, is the Olive oil. This was the catalyst into which the four Ingredients were bound together and sustained 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 itself.
When God anoints us, He doesn't overlook or bypass our personality but He redeems it. He uses our individuality. 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 giftwhich God anoints and releases!!!
He takes us and infuses us with the "oil" or the workings of the Spirit. He doesn’t just pour it upon us, but we pass through the oil and it passes through us, and 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 our 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 flow out through those who carry and release it’s properties, and meet the needs of mankind. It is by the Spirit of God that we are graciously equipped for priestly ministry, so that we may 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."
Your “savor” will be determined by how long you linger and soak in God’s glory, the source of the anointing.
1 John 2:20 “But you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know (the Greek word is eidō…to have insight into, to discern) 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.
When you ladies cook a turkey, you rub in those oils and spices real good, and our God knows how to cook a turkey!!!
The unction is always given for a specific purpose – and it’s not just to make us feel good or get goose bumps. 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, as they were, are transformed and re-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. They stopped being the thermometer which only indicates what the spiritual atmosphere is, and became the thermostat, which sets and determines the spiritual atmosphere. Revival comes when we move from being thermometers, to being thermostats!!! And Jails were open, the dead were raised, missionaries were sent out and God added to the church daily, and multitudes were persuaded by the Holy Spirit into the church. This is not just a one time phenomenon, it was and still is 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”. (this represents the spirit’s unction)
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 it says the word sick and the Greek word is kamnosand is translated “to be weary, to lack strength”.
“At the sheep fold where the sheep are kept in safety for the night, the shepherd places 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, as it enters into the safe and secure place within the sheepfold.”
We should never presume upon the Holy Spirit’s anointing – but cherish it – pursue it – and guard it. If you allow yourself to pass through the oil and the oil to pass through you every day, you will deal with others in grace, and life will be “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 anointingbut the anointing will abide and reside in and upon you. 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, until we have drawn close enough to Him to discern the fragrance of His pure oils of the anointing.
We begin to detect the offensive odor of our pride when we smell the pleasant 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 and His love and longsuffering, breaks in upon us.
We realize the offensive odor of our impatience and our 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 in…
Luke 6:38 “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.
Prayer of Agreement
Father we address every deception that has entered anywhere, that would limit, take away from, diminish or cancel the anointing upon our lives. Whatever it is, 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 from this time forward, anything that would limit 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.
Lord, 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.
