Luke 7:46 NLT You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint My head, but she has anointed My feet with rare perfume.”
In those days, the conditional use and meaning of olive oil had multiple purposes. For example, when a guest arrived, it was customary to anoint their heads and skin with olive oil, as conditions may have been harsh. After all, it was desert conditions.
For us, modern-day Christians, we assume and equate the olive oil as the anointing oil representing the Holy Spirit. While this is true, Jewish customs, and due to the necessities in those living conditions, the oil was used for many purposes, like hygiene and health.
James 5:14 NLT “Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.”
Today, if we go to pray for the sick person, would we pour anointing oil (olive oil) over them? Which brand shall we use? Virgin or extra virgin olive oil? Of course, we do not practice this method, although some still do, but having oil poured over our heads is a bit cumbersome, messy, and unnecessary. So how would that apply today?
In James 5, church leaders are required to go pray for the sick, but they also had the provisions to share and use their olive oil. It was used for both spiritual and medicinal purposes. This would cost them. They did not just go pray for them, but it cost them in terms of value and money.
We need to learn to honor both ways. When senior pastors pray for your home or other important events, it is a good thing to honor them with an offering. It would be considered your seed of sowing.
This is a kingdom principle. Western culture is more like “Thanks a lot, have a good day.
Modern Christians have been brainwashed into lotto fever. You want much for nothing or little. Buy a $1 ticket for billions! But guess what, you will never win such a scam. We bring such worldly thinking into the churches. You offer a dollar and want much from the King (not our church, but many). Learn to work, sow, and harvest. Learn the Kingdom principle!
In vice versa, leaders praying for the sick and anointing them with oil is not just to impart the beloved HS but to bring something of value. As in those days, they spent their own oil, and I would have to presume they left some for later. We, today, bring food, medicine, or other help that may cost us money.
Like with our new people through the years, we anoint them with the Love of the HS by allowing it to cost us. We help those who need help so they may get on their feet. We may be paying for their rent, food, vehicles, clothes, and other fees. The leaders anoint them with love in teaching them how to live a normal life instead of bottom-feeding. It would not be just to let them live in your house so you can collect rent, or we mandate you to. You need to raise them if needed
With that in mind, why do we need the anointing of the Beloved Holy Spirit? Is it just for leaders?
Additional Comments:
Korean elders do not just collect rent. They clean their pooh, wash their dishes, cook for them, give them rides, take their phones away, etc.
Like the disabled lowered from the roof to meet Jesus, the faith of those who lowered the disabled has saved him. We need to tirelessly work until they’re healed.
Do our leaders have such faith or do we just do the minimum because we r mandated too.
The beloved Holy Spirit told Korean elders last Sunday, “As long as you take care of my people, I will prosper you!”
Of course, this has been our testimony and rhetoric for many years.
We need to know what it really means to get our hands dirty, or are we so concerned about getting our things dirty, having wear and tear, or being inconvenienced?
Senior Pastor Steve Kim