Devotions
The letter to the Hebrews says the anointing God placed on Jesus was an anointing above His fellows. The “anointing above His fellows” wasn’t given because God chose to so anoint Him, but because He was willing. He could be anointed to that extent! Going back into the Levitical priesthood, we discover a ritual of an anointing with a specially prepared holy oil. Certain pungent herbs were beaten into the oil, making it fragrant and aromatic. It was unique; Israel might not use that formula for any other oil. When a priest was set apart and anointed, the oil was a vivid type of the New Testament anointing of the Holy Spirit. The holy anointing oil could only be used for the anointing of men with special ministries—priests, kings and prophets. It wasn’t intended for the carnal, sinful person. In Leviticus we read of the consecration of Aaron as the first high priest. The anointing oil and the blood from the altar are mentioned together: “Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood from the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments. . . . So he consecrated Aaron and his garments” (8:30). The fragrance of the anointing oil was unique. If someone went near an Old Testament priest, he could say immediately: “I smell an anointed man. I smell the holy oil!” The aroma, the pungency, the fragrance were there. Such an anointing could not be kept a secret.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22: “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”
God makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. so it’s God who anoints us, sets His seal on us and puts His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit. No church hierarchy or committee can do that. Only God. Our life and ministry reflect God’s anointing or lack of it.
Father, only as Your Spirit fills us will the fragrance of Your anointing be evident in our lives and ministries. In Jesus name – Amen!