Anointing
Anointing Oils can be used as symbolic gestures of our faith
in God. They were used and are used
today for consecration, sanctification, healing with medicinal qualities,
purfumes, funeral and embalming, or weapons of warfare.
It was customary of the Jews to anoint themselves with oil
for refreshing and invigorating themselves:
Deuteronomy 28:40; Ruth 3:3; 2Sam 14:2; Micah 6:15; Psalms 104:15;
Proverbs 27:9; Amos 6:6.
Anointing was an act of hospitality Luke 7:38, 46
It was richly perfumed and expensive: Solomon 4:10; John
12:3
It was used for medicinal purposes. Given to the sick and wounded: Psalms 109:18;
Isaiah 1:6; Mark 6:13; James 5:14.
It was used in Weapons and Spiritual warfare. ‘Anoint the
shield’ refers to the custom of rubbing oil on leather: Isaiah 21:5
Used in preparations for burial and funerals as well as
embalming: John12:3; Mark 14:8; Luke 23:56.
It was used for sanctification, purifying the body: Esther
2:12.
Used as Holy Anointing Oil as in Exodus 30 Holy Oil.
Symbolically, Jesus Christ was called the Anointed or
Messiah: Psalms 2:2; Daniel 9:25-26.
Christ was Anointed with the Holy Ghost: Isaiah 61:1.
OIL of GLADNESS: Psalms 45:7; Hebrews 1:9.
Oil of Joy: Myrrh, Aloes, Cassia
Jesus is the ‘anointed one’: John 1:41; Acts 9:22; 17:2-3;
18:5, 28.
Anointing of the high priest: Exodus 29:29; Leviticus 4:3.
Vessels are Sacred: Exodus 30:26.
High priest are called ‘the anointed’: Leviticus 4:3, 5, 16;
6:20; Psalms 132:10.
Anointing a king was equal to crowning the king: 1Samuel
16:13; 2Samuel 2:4.
Prophets were anointed: 1Kings 19:16; 1 Chronicles 16:22;
Psalms 105:15.
Prepared by the apothecary: Ecclesiastes 10:1.
A trading tool for commerce: Ezekiel 27:17; Revelation 18:13
Holy Spirit anointing and expression of sanctification on
Christians: 2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 John 2:27.
God has anointed Christians: 2 Corinthians 1:21.
How to Anoint
"Is any
one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and
anoint him with oil
in the name of
the Lord."
James 5:14 NIV
"They
drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them."
Mark 6:13 NIV
How to Anoint a Someone
There is no need to pour the anointing oil on a person's head, although that is
recorded in the Bible. Simply get a dab of the oil on a finger and in the
middle of the person's forehead draw a cross announcing you are anointing the
person "in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit", or
"in Jesus' name". Then continue with the prayer that is needed.
Sometimes the oil is placed on a person's body part if there is an injury. It
is not recommended to put it on any type of open wound or incision from
surgery, only around it. Although, many have done so, do so at your on discretion. In the case of Lavender and burns, it is well known you may apply directly to the burn, not only is it soothing it has healing properties that are phenomenal!
Others prefer to get a dab of anointing oil on a finger or palm, apply it to
the palm of the other hand, then rub their hands together to spread the oil.
Then they place their hands on the part of the body that needs prayer, if that
is appropriate, or place their hands on the top or sides of the person's head
while they pray.
How to Anoint a Home
It
is common to bless a house by praying over it and anointing all the door posts
with the oil on the top and both sides of the door frame, in the way the blood
was applied to the doors by the Jews while in Egypt on Passover, representing
the cross of Jesus. Death passes over us and we have eternal life if we belong
to Him. When blessing a house you may also want to anoint the property lines or
corners of your property. We take stakes that have been hollowed out, a scripture placed inside the hole and anointing oil poured in as we pray over them, then we drive them into the ground staking off the four corners of the property wherever we have lived. Many have said they didn't know what it was about our home but it always made them feel at peace and at home, it may be a coincidence but, I think not. We have done this for places of business and establishments as well.
What Can I Anoint?
When
praying for the salvation of someone, many often anoint the person's pillow, bed, shoes, vehicle, boat, sports equipment, briefcase, etc. and pray that God's
love and convicting presence will go where that person goes. We pray over
all our oils that everything the Lord can be for us will go with that oil - the
presence of the Holy Spirit; Be filled with His joy, love, and peace, all the fruits of the spirit; emotional and physical
healing; deliverance from demonic spirits; guide, lead direct and protect our every step going before us preparing the way we should go, etc.
Anointing a Prayer Cloth or Rock
If you
cannot be with the one you plan to anoint you may anoint a prayer cloth or a small rock and send it by
mail.
It does
not matter whether you use frankincense and myrrh, spikenard, or any other
fragrance, or even unscented olive oil, the effect will be the same. It is the Spirit behind the anointing that matters.
What is the Real Meaning of Anointing?
The Hebrew word for anointing means to rub or massage a person with oil. This meant using healing oils of the Bible, not vegetable oil to bless that person on a physical and spiritual basis. True anointing is another lost art and science. Jesus’ feet were anointed with oil several times in the Bible with Spikenard (see Luke 7:36-50 and John 12:1-8).
