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What is the anointing with Oil?

I need information on the anointing, i.e., what it does, why it’s needed, what it is, etc.

The words ‘Messiah’ (Mayshiyach in Hebrew), and ‘Christ’ (Christos in the Greek), both mean ‘anointed’, and the root of both words mean ‘to rub or smear with oil‘ (Strongs nos. 4899;5547). When we say Jesus Christ, we are saying God’s Anointed Savior.
Olive oil is the traditional Oil of God’s People. It has many uses, and is especially healthy to cook with (I think that’s one reason why I miss southern European food so much.) Salves and ointments have been used as aids to beauty and healing for… a long time. So it is no surprise that a non-sacred act of rubbing with oil, such as the face, hands, etc., is an aid to health, and especially important in many destitute lands.
The most important Message of ‘anointing’ is it’s sacred use. That act represents the Power of The Holy Spirit anointing the person, similar to water Baptism. We need be baptized in Christ fulfilling the act of Baptism with water once, while the act of anointing with oil accompanied with prayer, is to allow The Holy Spirit to work His Power of healing in us. And it should be done when we or others are in need, unlike water Baptism (see James 5:14). It is not the oil which does the cleansing or healing, just as water Baptism is a symbol. It is The Holy Spirit performing the healing. So as Christians, we show outwardly our obedience and faith in our ‘Anointed One’ Savior Jesus Christ, when we anoint with oil. Many Churches have gotten away from anointing, but as written in James 5, it is a pure act for those in Christ.
The King and Queens of Europe are still anointed with oil during their coronation ceremony, just as was done while in the land of Israel long ago. Queen Elizabeth was anointed with oil in 1953 when she ascended to the throne (I hope you see a parallel to Christ’s Throne with that). I have a link to the British Monarchy website on my Links page giving some of the details of the coronation.
Allow me to show you a Message our Savior taught about the anointing with oil. Then you’ll find below a description of ‘anointing’ from Vine’s Expository Dictionary.

Jer 4:30 30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life. (KJV)      

     Note the phrase “rentest thy face with painting” in this verse of Jeremiah 4:30. Also note the result of that ‘painting’. This is metaphor. It doesn’t mean women can’t or shouldn’t use makeup. This reference in Jer.4 is about ‘spiritual harlotry’. Clearly, that deception has much to do with matters of false worship in the flesh. This metaphor shows an attempt at spiritual ‘beauty’ with the ‘painting’ of the face, for the sole purpose of playing the spiritual harlot, going into false worship. Jesus is going to give a different account of those symbols in The New Testament.

Rev 3:18    I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (KJV)      

     This description by our Lord and Savior here in Rev.3:18 is the exact opposite for those symbols of false worship given in Jer.4:30. This particular ‘anointing’ Christ was telling the Church at Laodicea to do on themselves, was to open their ‘spiritual eyes’, so that they might come to Christ’s Truth, instead of relying on the things of the flesh which they were guilty of (see verses 15-17). The ‘eyesalve‘ was to be the bridge for Christ’s Spirit to open their minds to Him.
All this does not mean to rely on ‘ritual’ devices before we think God’s Spirit will work through us. Our Father does not want us to go the way of the superstitious, thinking everything to be an omen, always doing little religious appearing acts to try and produce results from Him. That is paganism. James 5 especially outlines ‘prayer’ as being needed. God works without any acts by man. It is our ‘faith’ in Christ which attones us to Him. But anointing with oil is AOK, as needed, as long as we treat our faith in Christ with understanding and common sense, just as we do at Holy Communion. That’s what makes Christians different from the glitter and gold of idolistic pagan false worship of flesh.

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