Tag: anointing

Posted in Christian Service, Praise, Word of God

Is God in to Aromatherapy?

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A recent personal quest of my own to learn more about oils from a biblical perspective brought me to one of the first mentions in scripture in the book of Exodus Chapter 25. It was actually the third mention of oil, but the other mentions were of Jacob pouring the oil on a stone

Exodus 25:6 (KJV) says  Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense,

The oil was apart of an instruction from God for a free will offering towards various things for the worship and service of God. Acceptable things that were to be used in offerings. Since the dessert of Arabia could not furnish the oils, it is assumed that the oils were with them when they left Egypt, and would have been treasured substances. I thought about the treasured substances in my own life. Not oils… at least not yet. For I only have a few; but what is treasured in my life is the gift of the Holy Spirit. What a privilege and treasure to have within me the very presence of God.

Moses traveled upon  the mount of Sinai alone, leaving the people of God below to watch the cloud surround the mountain. Moses alone for forty days and forty nights as the people watched. Praise God we live in a different time. I’m not much of an observer, I am for certain a participator. I have always wanted to be right in the thick of anything going on and to set idle in the balcony of life while others are participants is very difficult on me. I’m not sure why I was born so nosey, but I was. 

I found it interesting that when it came to God’s request for the oils, there were (as so often in scripture) a three fold purpose. “Light, Anointing and Sweet Incense.”

Glory to God for the Oil in the Lamp

When I think of “lamp oil.” I think of a kerosene lamp of modern day. Probably nothing compared to the ancient lanterns. But they served the purpose of light. I’ve only experienced the pitch black of night a few times, where there was no source of light coming from anything and it’s not something I would be comfortable with for long. It makes e appreciate the lamps that surround me in my home that I can turn on even during the day and make more light!  But nothing is comparable to the Light of Jesus Christ in my life. 

Jesus says in John 12:46

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

God never intends His children to live in darkness. Even if it’s dark. The fear that I used to feel in the darkness (which I still necessarily don’t like) isn’t what it was. While I have human emotions and fears, they are subsided by the Spirit of Light that lives within me. I am never alone, even in dark times.  Glory to God for the oil!

Glory to God for the Oil of Anointing

I’m learning more and more about my little box of oils that I received in the mail. One of the first things I did was downloaded to Kindle, three books on Oils of the Bible. I dove in head first to learn why they were so important and are they still? And why do I have a pharmacy in my kitchen? Don’t panic… I’m still going to use my pharmacy until the doc tells me not to, but what are the medicinal purposes of the oil and what are the spiritual?

One of the first oils I used medicinally was Tea Tree Oil. This may be TMI (too much info) for you, but my pinky toe and the one next to it were itching terribly one evening. So I looked up in the oils a treatment for skin issues. Low and behold it called for the use of tea tree oil to be rubbed on the affected area. This itch had been an issue for sometime and I’d used other store  treatments for dry feet, etc to no avail. But I slid off my cow girl boots (which may be part of the issue,) and took a smidge, and I mean just a smidge of the tea tree oil and put on my foot. The itch stopped immediately. I kept waiting for it to come back. It did not.  Who knew!? Is it gone for ever? I doubt it, I have multiple pair of pointed toe boots that I adore; but it’s been a week and no itch. I’ve had a couple of other successful treatments with oil on other pains as they would do it in Pain Clinics, and I’m slowly but surely beginning to believe that there’s something to the oil! I’d imagine that after 40 years in the hot sand, a few of the Israelites likely had itchy feet, but that was not God’s purpose for the oil in the sanctuary. 

Oil was used for the anointing of Aaron and his sons in their service to God and the vessels in the tabernacle. Oil was a sacrificial offering likely because of it’s rarity, cost and individual purposes. If oil was important to God, should it not be important to God’s people? I’m not putting more emphasis on oil than needs to be. I’m adding no emphasis toward salvation or brownie points with God because someone uses oil. But the fact that oils had purpose hasn’t changed. 

I understand why God did aromatherapy. I’m kiddding…. But when Paul told the Philippians in Philippians 4:18 KJV

[18] But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.

This was said in allusion to the sacrifices under the former dispensation, in which God smelled a sweet savour, Genesis 8:21, in reference to which, as the sacrifice of Christ is said to be of a sweet smelling savour, Ephesians 5:2, and as the spiritual sacrifices of the saints, as praises and prayers, are called odours, Revelation 5:8, and are said to be acceptable unto God, 1 Peter 2:5; so acts of beneficence are called sacrifices, with which he is well pleased, Hebrews 13:16.

I believe God does His own version of aromatherapy when the Saints of God are offering sacrifices of praise and service to the Kingdom. By the same token I believe that he also instilled within us a joy from certain type scents. Not everyone likes the same. I don’t generally care for fruity scents, but I love earthy scents. I’m not a fan of hardly any flora scents, but lavender is growing on me from my little Box of goodies. 

This study has been good for me today, it brought joy to my soul and I’ll continue my study of the various oils of the bible. I pray you enjoyed it as well. Blessings!!!! From the Jesus Chick. 

Posted in Christian Service, Life Inspiration

What are you doing with the big “A”?

Written by talk2shari Published Discussion Leave a Comment on What are you doing with the big “A”?

big a

Every time I read, hear or think on the anointing of God, my mind goes back to Preacher Walt. A larger than life black evangelist who came to our church for a few years and added a flair to our worship that had not been there previously. How could it have been? We’re a predominately white, redneck, rural West Virginia community. I say that with love and the kindest of intent without shame; I do indeed love where I live and I love the people who live in our community, but we needed Walt to move in and shake us up a little bit. And it did shake a few… they opted for a less loud environment. If you’d come in the doors of Victory Baptist Church on Sunday morning and inspect the crowds fashion sense you’d find everything from Levi and Wrangler, Macy’s and Vans, to straight off the rack at the Dollar General and Goodwill. We have all the bases covered for your comfort level, but if you want a church that makes it about fashion… we’re not your church. We make it about God. But back to Walt. Walt may have given “Mr. T” his first starter kit for jewelry. He loved bling. He also liked fine suits and shoes and everything matched everything and everything was colorful! And when he stood before our congregation to preach he would often put his fingers in the position of the capital letter “A” and speak of the anointing of God, and the privileges of a child of God and by the time he was through you were pretty sure that you alone were the favored child of God and there was no other. Walt preached Jesus, he preached salvation true and free, he did not preach prosperity gospel; he preached truth. And the truth of the matter is a child of God is anointed for purpose and while purpose is not without problems it is with promise. Whew! That’ll preach! will it not? Walt would have liked it!

So my question for us to ponder today is “What are we doing with the big “A”? If you’re saved you have it. God’s placed you in a position with purpose, He’s anointed you and given you the promise of finishing the work that He has started in you. Philippians 1:6 says clearly – Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: – God’s got a plan, but are you workin’ it?

Isaiah 45 tells the story of Cyrus, God’s anointed leader who He literally opened gates that should have been closed.

1Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

As I understand it the gates of the cities and palaces wherever he came were opened to receive him as conqueror including the gates of Babylon which were “left open one night” for the army of Cyrus to take over the city. Cyrus had to battle, but his ways were made straight in that the obstructions in his path were removed.

I’m not saying that our battles will be without problems. We all know that’s not how life works. But isn’t it great to know that as a child of God, He has already gone before us and prepared the way. We just have to stick to the path!

2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

His ways were not only made straight, they were paid in advance.

3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

The Jewish Rabbins say that Nebuchadnezzar having amassed riches from all over the world, worried who he could leave it to when he died. He decided that “nobody” should have it. So he ordered ships of brass to be filled with the wealth and dug a place in the Euphrates where he hid them and turned the river on it. Well guess who found it? Cyrus. God’s anointed. Treasures in the darkness… Jeremiah said when he conquered Asia he brought away thirty four thousand pounds of gold and a whole lot more… that’s a chunk of change!

I don’t know about you, but I haven’t found any pots of gold buried in the river, but what I have discovered is that God provides wealth in a variety of forms. Some monetarily, some in unmerited gifts, perhaps in a great job, and others through friends and family. But as children of God we can all find the blessings of God that have been hidden in our lives waiting to be uncovered.

he question again is, what are we doing with it? Reading  on in Isaiah 45 it says

4 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. 5 I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.

God said, I gave you these things so that people would know “I am the LORD, and there is none else.” That’s your purpose. When Brother Walt stood before our congregation and shouted… yes, really shouted… he stirred our souls. When he was ask to bless the offering of the day he did so by saying and asking us to say it with him, “I have because I give, I give because I have, and therefore, I am never, never ever, without… it’s offering time! And then Heaven would come down as we rejoiced in the goodness of God. Life’s not always good… but God is.

We need to brag a little on God today…

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Posted in Leadership, Life Inspiration, Life's Failures

But Now… get busy

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chick Anointed

2 Samuel 12:19-24

19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. 20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. 21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. 22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. 24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the Lord loved him.

I somehow or another missed this verse in the “But Now Series” so we’re back tracking one in the order that this will be a thorough study. And it’s not one to be missed for a few reasons. The story of David and Bathsheba’s affair was certainly not one of David’s stellar moments. I find it more than a little interesting that the greater portion of “But Now” moments have involved David, we’ll see if that plays out until the end; but it won’t surprise me that it does. Who better for Satan to attack than the man after God’s own heart? If he’s going to ruin a testimony he’s going to ruin one of the most talked about individuals in the community. So before we cast a stone at the fallen child of God, do you know what God’s plans were for them? They might have been a great and mighty soldier for the cross, but for being human. Satan doesn’t attack the ne’re-do-well, how would that help his cause? He attacks someone who really wants to do the right thing, but gets distracted by something beautiful and thinks… maybe just once.

But “once” had a tiny little face and David loved it, but the baby died.

And in this “But now” story David has confused his servants. When the child was sick David refused to eat and wept in great sorrow, “but now” that the child had died, David got up, got dressed and went on about the business of the day. It wasn’t that he was heartless or without mourning, for it says he comforted his wife. And I’m sure in the privacy of their home they still shed tears, but this day David knows that nothing can be done to change God’s mind, and it’s time to go on.

Be it in life and death, life and a career, life and a marriage or life and something else we’ve lost, we have to stop the mourning.  The reason it happened may or may not have been any of our own, but we have the answer; it’s done and we can’t undo it. I have had more than a few of those moments in my life, but I’m not nearly so smart as David. I want to wallow in it for a day, a month, a year… What about you?

Is there something that God has said “It’s over,” and you just won’t let it be? How about today we clean ourselves up, anoint ourselves (putting on the Word of God) and get back in the business of serving and worshiping God as He deserves. I can’t believe I almost missed this “But Now” experience. All Satan had to do was get a computer program to un-bold one word and I missed it, but God knew we needed it. So here are… but now… get busy.

Posted in Christian Service, Life Inspiration

A New Member of My Family

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Photo: 1975 Fritz Otto Kaiser viola purchased today... needs some work, but the more I learn about her the more I'm determined she's a beauty!

I’d like to introduce you to Gretchen, a German made viola purchased from a Pawn Shop in Lewis County, West Virginia yesterday. Her name means “Pearl” and although I have yet to get her valued, I’m hoping she’s a Pearl of great price. This morning as I looked upon her in the case and ran a cloth across her wood I realized she has much in common with the common Christian, who also are pearls of a great price!

The beauty of a pearl is in its luster. Any marring of the surface of the pearl will diminish the luster, thereby reducing the beauty of the pearl. Because pearls are relatively soft gemstones, their surface is susceptible to damage from hard objects,as well as over-exposure to arid environments (i.e., air conditioning, desert climates) and ultra-violet rays. Also true in the care of a violin (or viola in the case of Miss Gretchen). Her wood is dry and worn, likely from the climate it was stored, the surface is marred a little, she’s lost a little of her luster. She was so far out of tune, one string almost detached from no one having played her. The bow was without rosin and squeaked across her out of tune strings making me cringe when I picked her up out of the case at the Pawn shop. She had been cast away un-cared for until the day I found her.

Her resemblance to many of the Christians that I meet on a daily basis had the same effect on my heart… broken. Because I knew there had been an earlier day that she was in fine tune; her song was one of beauty and brought joy to the hearts of music appreciators. But over time she had spent less and less time with the Master and now she lay dry, on a storage shelf and there was little life in her. But I also knew that with a little TLC (tender love and care) I could possibly restore her to her earlier glory and once again she’d be back in service.

So, child of God… does my new found friend Gretchen bear a resemblance to you? Have you pulled away from the Master in service, thinking your song would be better sung in a version the world would accept. After all the gospel song is not appreciated in every venue. And while that’s true, its the only venue that the anointing oil of God is upon, and the location with the greatest blessing.

Matthew 13:45-46 speaks of that pearl of a great price – Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. And while I’m uncertain of the value of Miss Gretchen in the world, I know of the value of her to me already. I didn’t have to sell all that I had to purchase her, she was just $75.00. But the price paid for you and I by the Lord Jesus was indeed priceless. He gave His life so that we could have a relationship with Him and enjoy that precious oil of favor. Away from Him we are dry and brittle and apt to fall apart.

It’s the Lord’s day! you’ve been given another chance for restoration. I hope today finds you a.m. or p.m. in the house of the Lord singing His song.

Posted in Christian Service, Life Inspiration

The Function of the Unction

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1 John 2:20 – But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t always feel like I know all things. Sometimes even the most basic of scriptures will seem foreign to my mind. I’ll sit in frustration trying to cypher out the meaning of the Word of God and it just will not come. And other times a seemingly hard verse to understand will just open itself to my understanding and I’ll be like, “Woah baby, you’re good!” And then I’ll get that knock on my head from the Holy Spirit that says, “Are you Serious Shari? You couldn’t even understand the meaning of the most simplistic verses a few minutes ago,why are you taking credit for the work of the Holy Spirit?

That’s the function of the unction. It is the anointing of the Holy Spirit that reveals the Word of God with a deeper understanding; and its provided to the children of God who diligently seek Him.

Because Bible Study tools are so readily available I often resort to them to help me better understand a verse; and its not that there is anything wrong with that, but I as I discovered through reading the Word this morning, in so doing that I just may be missing out on a huge blessing by denying the Holy Spirit the opportunity to do His job.

1 John 2:27 – But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

A commentary is the the word of man, and he may or may not have been anointed when he wrote it. But if the Holy Spirit speaks to you it’s absolute truth, so which is better? My lesson from God this morning was that I need to be more desperate for God. It’s the theme of a youth conference that I’m attending this weekend and I believe it is what’s lacking in many of our lives. We want to hear from God, but we want it quick, little effort and no cost. And God, Who wants to bless us in abundance, desires to do it through our abiding in Him (staying close, as in a deep intimate relationship with Him… maybe even desperate. Believing our very existence depends on staying close to Him… and it does.

God’s generally not a shouter, if we hope to hear His still, small voice, we need to stay close.
An example of God’s love would be likened to taking teens on this weekend adventure of our Youth Evangelism Conference. Even though its a Christian event, I still want my brood near me. If one of them gets up to go somewhere I want to know where they’re going and who they’ll be with. God wants that constant relationship with us too. It is great that we have Christian teachers, preachers and study tools to learn about God… but we need to be within whispering distance of the Holy Spirit… Protected by the absolute truth.

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In Need of Anointing

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Psalm 52:8-9

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

It’s Sunday. I’m humbled and grateful that I can go into the house of Almighty God and be used by Him in the manner for which He chooses. The world doesn’t understand the grandeur of being in the presence of He Who created the earth, else the house would be full today. Like David, I too want to be like the olive tree in the house of God. A fruit bearing tree that God looks upon with favor, planted and rooted by the river’s edge and soaking up the Water of Life. As I read through scriptures this morning related to the olive tree, its importance in biblical history was evident and so was my need to reflect upon it.

The Oil of Anointing

In Leviticus, Chapter 8, Moses anointed the tabernacle, the vessels, and the people who were used of God in service. If this morning you are found in the service of God you need to understand the importance of having that fresh anointing that comes through the Holy Spirit; whether it’s the nursery, the music, the sound booth, the pianist, or the Pastor, each one needs the anointing of God upon their lives to reach the full potential and effect that God desires in a service. A church service is not an afterthought. Much preparation is needed to usher in the Holy Ghost. Preachers and teachers study, the people pray, those in service study their chosen field of service so that they may do it well and orchestrate the service in a manner that pleases God.  I fear that the excitement in many services today is only a fraction of what it could be because it was a fraction of time that was given in preparation. I know I speak truth, because I’ve seen the effect of my fraction of time in times past.

The Oil of Offering

In Leviticus Chapter 7, verses 11-12 the various offerings of Thanksgiving were “mingled with oil.” Whatever it is that you bring to the table this morning in the house of the Lord needs to be “mingled with oil,” an attitude of gratitude for what the Lord has done in your life. Thanksgiving can also mean confession (of sin, of faith in response to God’s goodness and mercy that He’s extended to you) of the blessings in abundance we take for granted. One thing certain to get the attention and presence of God in your life and in your service today is a humble thankful heart.

The Oil of Healing

Isaiah 1:6 says ~  From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

Believe me when I say I understand the wounds of ministry. I’ve got a few battle scars of my own. But there is one thing for certain; if you do not apply the healing balm of the Word of God your wound will stay infected with the world. You see, I also understand that whether a wound is self-inflicted, saint inflicted or sinner inflicted, it hurts just the same. But in reading and hearing of the Word of God there is soothing that occurs and mends that brokenness in a supernatural way. I can’t explain it, I just know its truth because I’ve experienced it.

I hope you experience the fatness of the olive tree anointing in your life today. I pray that from the beginning to the end of your day your thankful heart will feel the Holy Spirit flooding your soul with His anointing. If there is pain in your life I pray that you feel the balm of Jesus healing that brokenness and that your servants heart will be restored. ~ Blessings! From the Jesus Chick.

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Enjoying the Anointing

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I think on the anointing of God a lot. Primarily because it scares me. I know and understand that with an anointing of God comes great responsibility, so there are some days that I would like to take it off, like a pretty robe. It’s very nice in the cool of the day, but when it gets hot, it doesn’t feel pretty any more, it’s cumbersome.  When times get rough in my life and ministry (they’re actually one in the same) I know that I’m being scrutinized. There are those who would like to be there if I fall, and there are those that wait to see if I fall so they’ll be there to help me back up… I know who they are too. But today I want to talk to you about the anointing of God and why it’s not something that you can remove.

If you’re a child of God, you’re anointed.

Scared?

I John 2:27 says “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

Anointing is Enabled

If you’re saved you’ve been anointed by the Holy Spirit and God has put within you a desire to do His work. You can choose not to do it, but you cannot rid yourself of it. Scripture said “ye need not than any man teach you.” Nobody told me that I was anointed to write and speak. From a small child that desire was in me, but after I accepted Christ it became enabled and directional by the Holy Spirit.  The ability was always there, but the purpose was not fulfilled until I had given myself to Christ.

Anointing is Evident

I feel somewhat vain speaking of “my anointing” , because I am by no means worthy of anything that the Lord does with me, but I only know mine to speak of. I’ve felt the anointing of a preacher as he preached the Word of God, or of a singer whose song ministered to my soul, but I can only tell you of mine for certain. When God began to strategically place people and purpose in my life His designs became evident. Nothing “just” happens after all. It became not only evident to me, but more so to people who knew me and would encourage me. As a matter of fact, fear continually plagued my decision making process and were it not for those encouragers, I’d have likely not continued.

Anointing has an Enemy

Not only will the people in your life see evidence of your anointing, so will Satan. He’ll use multitudes of methods to discourage you from fulfilling God’s design. But… fear not; so long as you continue on the paths God directs God will win victory over Satan’s schemes.

Anointing is Effective

The anointing of God is not to be taken lightly. You need to search your soul for God’s intended design in your life, and once it’s discovered you’ll be effective in that ministry. God will open doors and opportunities that you could have never imagined, I know…He has blessed me again and again, and I stand in awe. He desires the same for you!