#MeditationMonday‬ – Out of the abundance of a man’s heart, his mouth speaks.

Hello dear reader, hope your week begins well. We wish you the mercies of Christ to get through this week, today’s #MeditationMonday verse is:

“YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS; THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS.”

— Hebrew 1:9 (NASB)

The oil signifies anointing and with anointing comes power, this power is usually given by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we can say that where there is an anointing of oil, it is the out pouring of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Holy Spirit is joy!

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. 

— Acts 13:52 (NKJV)

When the Oil of Gladness is poured out over a person, it comes with certain benefits,

1. It Anoints Them to An Office: 

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

— 1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

When the Oil of Gladness is upon a person, they assume a royal office, they become ordained to proclaim God’s praises as kings, queens, princes and princesses in God’s kingdom.

2. They are Consecrated to the Lord:

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

—1 Corinthians 6:20 (NKJV)

When the Oil of Gladness is poured out, it sanctifies a person and cleanses them, setting them apart for the Lord to serve Him and only Him.

Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

2 Timothy 2:21 (NKJV)

3. They are Qualified For Office:

We’ve all heard the saying, God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called and indeed it is true. When the Oil is poured out, it qualifies a person for the office they have been anointed to. Just like Aaron, the oil was poured over him and he became anointed into the office of a priest and the anointing qualified him for that office as well.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

—1 John 2:20,27 (NKJV)

4. They are Strengthened:

The Holy Spirit the strength of every Christian. Receiving in the form of the Oil of Gladness brings strength because the Joy of the Lord is our strength. When oil is rubbed into the body and given a good massage, strength is often restored to weak limbs. So, also the when the Oil of Gladness is poured out, it restores strength and quickens the mortal body.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

— Romans 8:11 (KJV)

5. They are Beautified & Perfumed:

Oil beautifies and perfumes, when oil is applied on skin, it makes it smooth, soft and shiny and this is why oil is often applied on the skin of a babies, to keep it beautified and healthy. When the Oil of Gladness is poured out on a person, the person becomes radiant, both physically and spiritually because the glory of the Lord is upon that person. Even as Moses shone with God’s glory, so also a person who has the Oil of Gladness will be radiant in the eyes of all. So also, oil is a perfume, when it is applied on a person, the scent is difficult to miss, when the Oil of Gladness is on a person, other spiritual minds will be able to perceive and discern it. The ungodly world cannot tell it, but the noses of sanctified saints will be able to perceive the perfume of the Oil of Gladness.

6. They are Healed of Their Diseases:

The power of the Oil of Gladness will ultimately remove every wrinkle, spot or scar in the person who carries this anointing. Oil is known for its medicinal and healing qualities, so also when the Oil of Gladness is poured out, every disease that previously brought sorrow will have to give way and let Joy come in.

7. Their Hearts are Softened:

The Oil of Gladness works to soften and supple hearts. It helps men to humble themselves and be broken before the Lord.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

— Ezekiel 36:26 (NKJV)

 

However, the Oil of Gladness is not for everyone; from our #meditationmonday verse, you can see that there is a condition that must be fulfilled before it can be poured out. There must be perfect holiness before there can be perfect happiness. For the Oil of Gladness to be poured out, a person must love righteousness and hate sin.

Sin is the enemy of joy. When a believer is delivered from sin, he is brought into a state where he can have more room for the joy of the Lord to abide within him.

Notice that the verse says that the oil of gladness is poured out on him above his companions, which means that his companions are anointed too, but because of the passion which with he loves righteousness and hates sin, God will pour out a special Oil of Gladness (which is another name or symbol for the Holy Spirit,) on him above his companions.

Brethren, let us desire to chase after righteousness so passionately that there will be no room to consider sin in our hearts, and as we love and desire righteousness, may we will not go un-noticed before the Lord and may He will see our hearts and reward us with the Oil of Gladness above our companions.

Prayer: Lord, I come to you today to thank you for revealing your Oil of Gladness to me. I pray that I may passionately desire righteousness and hate all forms of lawlessness that you may anoint me with the Oil of Gladness above my companions and I may reap its benefits in my life. In Jesus name I pray, (Amen).

Grace & Peace!

*Points 1-7 are taken from a message by Charles Spurgeon on the Oil of Gladness.