Life on Wings - A Tribute to Dr Ern Baxter

The Holy Spirit as the Holy Anointing Oil - Part 3.

Prohibitions Regarding the Holy Anointing Oil.

The three-fold prohibition with regard to the Holy Anointing Oil is most significant and is comprehensive in a general way of every misuse of the Holy Spirit. What is here displayed in type is in the New Testament repeated in doctrinal teaching.

1. "Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured"- (Exodus 30:32).

The holy anointing oil was not to be "poured upon man's flesh". It was poured on Aaron's head AFTER the mitre and holy crown had been placed on him. There seems to be an intimation of another priesthood given in this precept which was not to be in the flesh but in resurrection. Flesh is sinful and corrupt. "I know that in me, that is in my flesh, there dwelleth no good thing" (Romans 7:18). The Holy Spirit anointing is not intended to further flesh ambition or flesh activity of any sort. Scripture abounds in passages which clearly teach that not only will the Holy Spirit not use or co-operate with the flesh but that He cannot fully manifest Himself until the flesh is reckoned dead and it's deads mortified. Thus christian character is not spirit-blessed good works of the flesh but the "fruits of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22). Nor are the unique ministrations of Christian ministiry but spirit-blessed human talents, they are gifts, empowerings and enablements of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:7-11; 1 Corinthians 12; Romans 16:6-8). The baptism with the Holy Spirit is not intended to glorify the flesh but the Christ. How often we formulate our plans and make our programmes and then ask God to bless them. This is equivalent to pouring the anointing oil upon man's flesh and is strictly forbidden. The flesh is in opposition to the Spirit (Galatians 5:17) and there is congeniality between them whatsoever. When flesh is permitted to express itself in the christian, there can be nothing but conflict for the Holy Spirit is in opposition to the flesh in all it's various aspects of manifestation. In the light of this clear-cut prohibition, how important to a proper appreciation of the Holy Spirit becomes our utter denunciation and repudiation of the flesh.

2. "Neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it"- (Exodus 30:32).

There must be no imitation of the Holy Spirit. What a solemn warning is this. The work of the Holy Spirit is divinely ordained and an inspired record of the manner of this work faithfully preserved for us in the Word of God. To imitate this work either by the cold, formal and in my cases meaningless ritual of apostate christendom or by the fanatical uncontrolled and fleshly gymastics of uninstructed extremists is the modern form of imitating the holy anointing oil. How many have had the hands of noted ecclesiastics laid upon their heads and after the mumblings of certain words, have been told that they have just received the gift of the Holy Ghost? Compare this with the New Testament where the reception of the gift of the Holy Ghost was experienced in a very different manner. And then, going over to the other extreme what a disappointing substitute is the attempt on the part of over-zealous but ignorant people to super-impose upon seekers by human methods what they feel the seeker should have. What unfortunate and far reaching effects this has had on many honest, seeking hearts. There must be no imitation. Let us be true to the Word, and what the Word commands and permits, to this let us be faithful.

3. "Whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall be cut off from his people"- (Exodus 30:33).

The stranger was one who was outside the pale of Israel's blessing, hence all Gentile Christians are reminded that they were strangers to the covenant of promise (Ephesians 2:12). A stranger in a typical sense is one who is unsaved. Christ says of the world in relation to to the Spirit, "whom the world cannot receive because it seeth Him not, nor knoweth Him" (John 14:17). One has well said; "It was not owing to any arbitrary actions, that on the morning of the day of Pentecost the Spirit descended on 120 persons only and not on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the former only had undergone the indispensible preparation". The baptism with the Holy Spirit is only for those who have already received life by the new birth.

There may be a further imitation in this prohibition and that is that no unconverted person ought to be allowed to take any part in the service or worship of God. He does not belong to God's people. He is a stranger and until he is washed from his sins in the blood of Christ, and is a child of God by faith in Christ Jesus he can have no part or lot in anything connected with the true worship of God. "They that worship Him, MUST worship Him in Spirit" (John 4:24).