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Anointing With Oil

Sermon by Ted E. Bowling

Anointing oil holds a significant place in the practice of faith and healing, reflecting both physical and spiritual dimensions. Throughout the Scriptures, anointing is used for various purposes, demonstrating its importance in consecration and care. In practical terms, anointing oil was applied for health benefits, often used after bathing in dry climates like Israel to close pores and protect the skin, sometimes mixed with fragrances for personal care. It served as a salve for wounds, as seen in the story of the Good Samaritan, who applied oil and wine to protect against infection. Additionally, anointing was a sign of hospitality, where guests were anointed on the head as a token of honor and respect, a practice noted in both the Old and New Testaments. Beyond these physical uses, anointing carries deep spiritual significance. The Hebrew word for anoint means to rub with oil, to consecrate, and to set apart for sacred purposes. In the Old Testament, priests, prophets, and kings were anointed to separate them from the profane to the holy, marking them as God's chosen. Even objects in the Tabernacle, including the ark of the covenant, were anointed to make them holy. This act of consecration is most profoundly seen in Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, whose very title, Messiah, derives from the concept of being anointed by the Father for the special purpose of salvation. In the context of healing, anointing with oil is an outward expression of faith in God's power. When a person is struck with an illness that saps strength and renders them weak, they are to call on the elders of the church for anointing. This act is not confined to life-ending illnesses; it applies to any significant sickness or weakness. It is a sacred process, an acknowledgment of human frailty and dependence on God's will, elevating a personal concern to a spiritual level. The oil itself holds no power; it is God who heals according to faith and His purpose. Anointing is not a guarantee of healing, as healing remains subject to God's will, but it is a special gift, a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made by Jesus Christ, who understands human weaknesses and needs.

Psalm 133

Sermon/Bible Study by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

True unity comes from God via His Holy Spirit and requires humbly submitting to God's terms rather than our own agendas.

How Our Joy May Be Full!

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Joy and gladness are gifts from God, resulting from Christ living His life in us and helping us to love the brethren. This love is perfected through suffering.

Revelation 10 and the Church's History

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Revelation 10 contains the seven thunders and the little book. It serves as an inset, not following a linear time sequence of the book of Revelation.

Liberty Under the Law

Sermon by Mark Schindler

We must discipline ourselves to live within the hedge of God's law, knowing that His Spirit provides the motivation to stay free by submitting to that law.