CENTRAL THOUGHT
Every believer has an anointing from the Lord.
TEXT: MARK 6:12-14; 1 JOHN 2:20-27; JAMES 5:12-16
INTRODUCTION:
It is commonplace for television announcements to invite people to “anointing services”. It does not seem to matter if it was a “mainline” denominational church or one of those that had broken off of the “mainline” and called themselves “non-denominational” or “inter-denominational”. This practice with the oil bottle seemed to be there. Sometimes we hear it being referred to as an “insurance for the month”, “insurance against the devil”, etc. Some teachers have even gone so far as to regard anointing oil as the Holy Spirit “in the bottle”!
The Scriptures inform us that God’s people could perish for lack of knowledge (Hos. 4:6). Besides, the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding, (Pro. 9:10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”.
It is the responsibility of the individual who has come to the Lord to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling. From Scriptural examples, it is obvious that believers will gain entry into heaven on an individual basis, never as groups or as denominations. “Remember Lot’s wife”, the Lord Jesus reminded us. The two thieves on the cross could have been friends or acquaintances in crime, but at the critical stage each chose his eternal destiny.
In this study, we shall endeavor to motivate brethren to carefully check the Scriptures concerning anointing and anointing oil.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
- To understand the meaning of “anointing”
- To examine the Scriptural uses of anointing oil
- To critically examine misuses of anointing oil in today’s Church
- To understand the place of the anointing in the believer’s life
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1) WHAT IS MEANT BY THE WORD ANOINTING?
To “anoint” literally means to pour or rub oil on a person or thing. In the Old Testament, the practice of anointing could be used in secular situations (such as finalizing a legal contract or preparing a shield for battle) or for religious purposes. Regarding the latter category, objects were anointed such as the temple and its furnishings (Ex. 40:9-10), garments (Lev. 8:30), and sacred vessels (Ex. 30:26). Religious anointing was also used for certain types of people, such as kings (1 Kings 1:39; 2 Kings 9:6), priests (Ex. 29:29; Lev. 4:3), and prophets (1 Kings 19:16; 1 Chr. 16:22; Ps. 105:15). The person anointed was symbolically set apart as holy and consecrated to the Lord. In other words, they were His and to be used according to His purposes. In the New Testament, anointing the sick is connected with the preaching of repentance. Mark 6:12-14 states that “they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad): and he said, ‘That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in Him”. James 5:14, “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” this is in the same vein as the Mark passage.
QUESTION 2) GIVE SOME OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLS OF THE USE OF ANOINTING.
A.) ANOINTED FOR OFFICE
In the Old Testament, whenever an individual took an office they were anointed with oil. The four offices that were anointed were the prophet, the priest, the high priest, and the king. The anointing with oil was a designation of their rank and the acknowledging and recognition of a new level of operation in the Holy Spirit. The oil typified a new anointing, a new level of responsibility, and a new outpouring of God’s power on the life of the individual being anointed with oil.
B.) OIL AND SANCTIFICATION
In the Old Testament, oil also represented sanctification. It was used as a dedication. That sanctification showed that the individual was not only stepping out of something, but they were also stepping into something.
When Samuel went to the house of Jesse to look for the next king, (1 Sam. 16:6-13) God did not reveal to Samuel which son it would be. After Samuel had seen all of Jesse’s sons presented to him, he asked if there were any other sons. Of course, David was out with the sheep. Jesse called for him and immediately Samuel knew that his was be the next king of Israel. Samuel laid hands on David and anointed him with oil, signifying that he was stepping out of being a shepherd and into being king over Israel.
David remembered being anointed by Samuel for the rest of his life. When he was running from Saul and his armies, when it looked impossible that he would become king and was hiding in the cave of Adullam, David would remember the time he was anointed to be king.
The oil represented sanctification. Sanctification means separation, a dedication into a new ministry.
C.) OIL AND THE SACRIFICES (LEV. 2:14-15)
Oil was poured out on the sacrifices made to God in the Old Testament. The sacrifice was separated from man and ordained to God, but also anointed by the Holy Spirit. The sacrifice no longer represented an animal of the field, it now represented something that was going to be used for God’s glory.
D.) OIL AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TABERNACLE (EX. 30:26-29)
When the tabernacle was established in the wilderness, “it was anointed with oil”. The tabernacle represented the habitation of God. Oil was used to sanctify the place where God’s anointing was to abide and the place where the people would come to receive the teachings of the Word of God. The tabernacle was the place where the people would come to be edified, blessed, and encouraged. It was also the place where they would come to praise and worship the Lord, where their sins would be forgiven, and where they could learn about the One who would redeem them from their sins.
E.) OIL AND THE UNITY OF BELIEVERS
Oil was also a symbol of unity in the Old Testament. Psalms 133:2 says, “It (unity) is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments”.
It is however remarkable that in the New Testament, beginning from the public ministry of the Lord Jesus to that of the apostles, we do not find any instance of persons being anointed with oil except for healing purposes.
QUESTION 3) DISCUSS SOME MISUSES OF THE WORD “ANOINTING” IN TODAY’S CHURCH.
It is fashionable to have preachers inviting people to come for “anointing services” where people will be anointed against all manners of evil. At such places, large amounts of oil (with some purportedly from the holy land of Israel) are consumed. In some instances, people are asked to bring articles of their trade for “anointing”. Thus, teachers bring chalk, doctors bring stethoscopes, farmers bring cutlass, carpenters bring hammers, etc. These have “anointing oil” poured on them in hope that the following year will be prosperous and productive! Needless to add that these “anointing services” would still witness worshippers giving monetary offerings. It therefore becomes obvious that “anointing services: have become more commercial phrases aimed at attracting large numbers of people to worship centers.
There have been situations where ministers “anoint” intimate body parts, usually of females. This is not only abnormal but represents a gross misuse of anointing and anointing oil.
QUESTION 4) WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE USE OF ANOITNING OIL IN THE NEW TESTAMENT?
The word “anointing” also means “to massage, to rub in”. In the Old Testament, oil was used for medicinal purposes. Often when a person was sick, they would be rubbed with oil.
The first mention of oil used in the New Testament is in Mark 6:13, “And they (the disciples) cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them”. When Jesus sent forth his disciples, two by two, He had instructed them about how to minister to others. By implication, we know that Jesus instructed the disciples about anointing the sick with oil. The disciples did not use oil for medicinal purposes, but rather as a representation of the supernatural healing power by the Holy Spirit. The oil does not heal. The power of God heals. When Jesus called His disciples, He gave them authority and power over unclean spirits and over sicknesses and diseases.
A.) ANOINTING FOR HEALING
Luke 10:34, “And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.”
When the Good Samaritan found the man who was beaten on the road, he bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine into those wounds. In this instance the use of oil was medicinal.
B.) THE OIL OF GLADNESS
Hebrews 1:9, “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even only God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.” In this verse, God the Father is speaking to His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ at the resurrection. The “oil of gladness” represents that the work was completed. The word “fellows” is a reference to the angels. The importance of this verse is that a human being was exalted above the level of the angels. This verse does not refer to Jesus in His deity; it refers to Jesus in His humanity. Jesus earned the right to be exalted above the level of angels.
C.) ANOINTING WITH OIL FOR THE SICK
James 5:14, “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”.
The anointing with oil has come down through the ages and we still practice it in the Church today. It began in the Old Testament and has continued till date. In the New Testament days people were anointed with oil to receive healing. The oil does not heal. It is simply used as a point of contact for our faith to begin operating as it has been. The oil does not heal; it is the prayer offered in faith that “will save the person who is sick and the Lord will raise him up” (James 5:15). The vehicle God uses for healing to be manifested is the prayer of faith.
This passage is an open invitation to the sick and weak among the brethren to invite the elders of the Church and it should be utilized for our benefit.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
Many today anoint themselves every morning, believing that it will change their day. The just shall live by faith (Rom. 1:17).
As believers, we are no longer servants. We are sons and daughters of God who belong to the family of God. The moment we are born again, we hold a rank in the body of Christ. This is a rank higher than the Old Testament prophets, priests, or kings because they were still servants in the house of God. Romans 8:29 says that Jesus was “… the firstborn among many brethren”. Our bodies become the Temple of the Holy Spirit. It is not only a living sacrifice. Today the Shekinah glory of God swells in us; so we have an anointing form the Lord.
MEMORY VERSE:
1 JOHN 2:20
“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.”
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
MON: Anointing of kings. 1 Kings 1:39; 2 Kings 9:6
TUE: Anointing of priests. Ex. 29:29; Lev. 4:3
WED: Anointing of prophets. 1 Kings 19:16; 1 Chron. 16:22; Ps. 105:15
THU: Anointing by the disciples of Christ. Mk 6:12-14
FRI: Elders of the Church anoint the sick. James 5:14-16
SAT: We have an anointing from the Lord. 1 John 2:20-27