It is about healing

NORSK
When I mention the sacred anointing oil, many straight away think about ‘healing’. There is nothing wrong in such an association, because, as I will reflect on tomorrow, the sacred anointing oil filled a function even in the treatment and cleansing of the sick under the old covenant. In addition the practice of using oil was prolonged in the Christian tradition:

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
James 5:14-15

Our youngest daughter, Janne, had severe problems with asthma from a very young age. A couple of times the attacks were so heavy that we were afraid we would lose her, and we saw the wards in many hospitals. My mother at that time worked as the administrational leader of a municipal health department, and since she worked close to several doctors, she addressed one and asked:

“What can we do?”
The doctor, who was not a Christian, just looked at her and said: 
“James 5:14-15!”
This shows that we can find just as much faith among those who do not confess faith, as among those who do. Since the oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, the oil also symolized relief and healing.

I have often used oil when I have prayed for the sick, but also on other occasions. It is important to be obedient when the Spirit urges me to do it. On several occasions, remarkable healings have taken place when anointing oil has been used. Yet, I am convinced that God has not made himself dependent upon any physical remedy, because he always looks to the heart (1). In a few isolated instances, I believe that the anointing has been important and even decisive for the person ministered to, because it has functioned as means of faith ignition – where the faith has not gone to the means, but to the pioneer and perfecter of our faith (2).
 
‘Manna’ for today:

Holiness is also about relief

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(1) e.g. 2 Chron 16:9 and 1 Sam 16:7
(2) Hebr 12:2

It is about respect

NORSK
When I study holiness in the Old Testament, it is evident that the Israelites never doubted God’s holiness. They had the Torah with its clear regulations how they should deal with issues concerning their worship and practical life. 

They had seen what e.g. the holiness of the Ark of the Covenant could do the surroundings when it was taken out of its sacred purpose. The Philistines had captured the ark of God but came soon to this conclusion:

"Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people."
1 Sam 5:11 

They firmly believed what Moses learned from one of his encounters with God:

Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."
Ex 33:18-20

They took the consequences of this belief and tied a rope around the leg of the High Priest when he entered the Most Holy Place – in case God should reveal himself. Isaiah’s reaction to the vision in the Temple is another confirmation (1). 

This respect for the holy made them consecrate not only people, but all the items used in connection with the religious life.
A consecrated item was then perfect for its purpose in the ministry. It had the same shape and the same look as before it had become holy. The great difference was that the item had been the object of an act of obedience to God’s description of consecration. It was not its original talent that made it perfect, but the act of faith!

'Manna' for today:

Holiness is about awe and respect

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(1) Isa 6:5

Forutsetning for avling

I dag er det liknelsen om arbeiderne i vingården som er dagens bibelord (Matt 20:1-16). Jeg har talt og undervist fra denne liknelsen mange ganger, og har funnet seks forutsetninger for avling:


* Arbeiderne
Tilgjengelighet er det første Gud spør etter:

Så hørte jeg Herrens røst:
«Hvem skal jeg sende, og hvem vil gå for oss?»
Jes 6:8

* Vingården
Vingården er Guds rike, og vi må aldri glemme at Guds rike er mer enn menigheten

Og dette evangeliet om riket skal forkynnes i hele verden til vitnesbyrd for alle folkeslag, og så skal enden komme.
Matt 24:14

Søk først Guds rike og hans rettferdighet, så skal dere få alt det andre i tillegg.
Matt 6:33

* Lønnen
Hva er lønn i denne sammenheng? - Dette er en utfordring og her noe å reflektere over:

Pass dere for å gjøre gode gjerninger for øynene på folk, for å bli sett av dem. Da får dere ingen lønn hos deres Far i himmelen.
Matt 6:1

Den som gir dere et beger vann å drikke fordi dere hører Kristus til – sannelig, jeg sier dere: Han skal slett ikke miste sin lønn.
Mark 9:41

Er det galt å ha lønn som drivkraft?

David spurte «Hva var det han skulle få, den mannen som feller filisteren og tar en slik vanære bort fra Israel? Hvem er han vel, denne uomskårne filisteren, som våger å håne den levende Guds fylkinger?» Folket gjentok det som var sagt: Det og det får den som feller ham.
1 Sam 17:26-27

* Initiativet
Det er mye ubrukte ressurser fordi ingen har tatt initiativ til å aktivisere dem:

Filip sprang bort, og da han hørte at han leste fra profeten Jesaja, spurte han: «Forstår du det du leser?» «Hvordan skal jeg kunne forstå,» sa han, «når ingen forklarer det for meg?» Så ba han Filip komme opp i vognen og sette seg ved siden av ham.
Apg 8:30f

* Nøden
Jfr ”Nødprinsippet” (i norsk kirkehistorie – bruken av lekmenn)
”Nød” en forutsetning for at det skal skje noe i Guds rike:

Så sier han som er høyt opphøyet,
som troner evig og heter Den Hellige:
I det høye og hellige bor jeg
og hos den som er knust og nedbøyd i ånden.
Jeg vil vekke de nedbøydes ånd til liv
og gjøre de knustes hjerter levende.
Jes. 57:15

* Gjentakelsen
”Den åndelige økologi” - Vingårdsmannen gikk ut igjen og igjen.