TOPICAL BIBLE SUBJECTS
 Messages of Encouragement, Promises and Prayers

"Anointed Purification"
By Evangelist Diana Gray
Copyrighted (c) 2000, All Rights Reserved
 KJV Bible For All Scripture

     Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

     Frankincense and Myrrh are mentioned a number of times in the Bible but do you know what they are used for?  Many times people read about these two aromatic fragrances without fully understanding the significance behind them.  A rich heritage goes back into antiquity which has lasted mankind's whole lifetime, yet for a number of people in the world they are unknown.   How many people have actually smelled their wonderful fragrance? When they have been combined into a sweet smelling, aromatic oil their sweetness fills the air. Let's look at some more verses about these two:

      Exodus 30:34-35 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: 
      Leviticus 2:2 And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: 

     Looking at these verses I would like you to take note that Frankincense if used on the altar of sacrifice as a sweet savour unto the LORD.  Frankincense is a wonderful aromatic aroma which greatly pleases the Lord.  From the dawn of time, it has been classed as a Holy fragrance.  Highly esteemed for its pureness and pleasant sweet scented perfume, yet how many people have actually smelled it? Now let's take a look at verses that command us not to use it:

     Lev. 5:11 But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering. 
     Num. 5:15 Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.

     You see from reading the Bible, there is a time when to use and a time when not to use them, but Frankincense and Myrrh are always classed as Holy.  Myrrh is a precious and strongly scented root.  It has been used going way back in antiquity as an anointing oil for Kings, Prophets and anyone who was ordained into Spiritual Leadership.  All of the Jewish Priests and Rabis were ordained in such a fashion.  These wonderful Holy fragrances combined together leave such a strong presence of the bearer long after they have gone. 
    "Why do you ask are these scents any greater than any other scents?"  Frankincense comes from the bark of  knurled up funny looking trees.  There is nothing special about their looks and if anything they are rather unattractive.  Myrrh likewise comes from the roots of plain looking small bushes.  So what is so special? The scents aren't even from their flowers but of their "bark and roots."  So "what" is so spectacular about them?
     When people have taken Myrrh and crushed it, an aroma like none there fills the air with an extraordinary fragrance.  The same can be said about Frankincense!  Crushing them releases their aromas.  Beat, bruise, and abraise them into a mass of fine pulp and the whole room will be filled with the most wonderful smell you have ever smelled.  All of the battering and bruising brings about their anointed aromas.  Keep doing this until all resemblance of the original plant bark and roots have long disappeared.  Strain and refine them until all that will be left is the pure anointing essence. Any one coming into the presence of this pure substance will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that something wonderful has taken place.
     What does all of this have to do with a Bible Study about "Purification?" Read these verses:

     Peter I 4:12-19 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

      Purification comes from being bruised and crushed.  It comes from being refined and made pure.  It's not easy and sometimes you will feel like your heart will break.  Deep sadness, terrible hurt and persecution can be at your doorstep but the Lord says He will give you a way to get though it all.  The stronger the anointing that a person has the greater the pain and suffering they have endured.  The more humble the anointed person is, the more of life's trials and hardships they have been though.  God's purpose is to mold us into a usable anointed fragrance. 
     Is this easy? No, God never said our life as Christians would be easy but He did say He would give us a way through it.  Dying to ourselves and allowing Jesus to be on the throne brings out the anointed fragrance that is so sweet smelling to the Lord.  The closer to the Lord you get, the more of a broken vessel you will become.  We are to rejoice in all things, rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings.  Rejoice even when the hurts and trials of life are at the overwhelming stage.   Know then that you are going through the crushing and refining process to bring out the Lord's fragrant anointing. 
     "Why is this so," you ask?  Well for one thing we are all full of "Selfish Sinful Pride." Only pain and suffering can break down the walls of indifference and selfishness of a person.  God can only really use us when we become broken vessels.  We will not meet our "true potential" until we have reached that point of surrender when there is nowhere to look but up toward Jesus.  Real surrender comes from being afflicted and oppressed.  It comes and is so hard to take, yet the greatest spiritual people, have been humbled down to their knees before the Lord.
     Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 
     Give up and let God, means to surrender self and allow the Lord to take over your life as Lord of your throne.  Every time you as a Christian, go through pain and suffering know this that you "are" being crushed a little more and a little more.  Soon if you allow it to happen, you will be leaning with everything you have upon the Lord.  Spiritual growth will have taken place in your life and you will know true humbleness.  "True anointed fragrance" comes from a heart that has surrendered itself totally to the Lord.  Daily taking up one's cross in surrendered peace, is a sweet smelling  fragrance to the Lord like none other.
     "Why do some Christians seem to go through harsher hardships than other Christians?"  More is required of them.  The Lord may have a deeper spiritual leadership call upon their lives.  Everyone of us will go through some trials and problems, but there are those who will really be taken down a painful path.  If and when this happens, Rejoice and be exceedingly glad for the Lord has a special call upon your life.  If you desire a deeper anointing from the Lord, than rejoice when the trials come, for come they "must." The Lord will give you a way through and make your fragrance sweet and pure. 
     Is it worth it? The crushing happens to the good as well as the bad.  Trials and troubles will come to us all, but  how many souls do you desire to win for the Kingdom of God?  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad.  All the hardship in the world is worth it if even  "one" soul is saved.  True fragrance comes from Purification.  Purification brings about surrender of self.  Surrender of self brings about humbleness of spirit.  Humbleness of spirit brings about fragrant anointing.  Fragrant anointing brings one into the very presence of the Lord.

May the Lord keep you and help you through your problems as you spiritually grow. 
God bless your special heart Sister Diana Gray

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