what have they seen in your house

8/6/2019 What Have They Seen in Your House

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What Have They Seen in Your House? 1

A.J. Lowe, 1985

Reprinted 1996

Reprinted 2004

All Scriptures are from the Authorised Version

The text ofPsalm 84:6 is from the Revised Version,

(c) Copyright, 1972, Thomas Nelson, Nashville,

Tennessee. It is used by permission.
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Personal Note from the Author

The Bible is different from every other book in the world.

When energized by the holy Spirit, it becomes living and active.

Jesus said,Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that

proceedeth from the mouth of God.

The Bible is food for mans spirit.

Throughout the teaching, you will observe that many Scriptures

from the Bible are used. They are written out in full with the

appropriate references given.

The great benefit of this is that the Word of God is being assimilated

into the readers spirit. And it obviously does away with the need of

looking up references in the Bible simultaneously. It is not for a

moment inferred that the Bible should not be consulted. Indeed, the

greatest compliment you could pay any teacher is to check up on

him. I most assuredly invite this. Please pay me the greatest

compliment possible. Check up on me.

Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in

that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched

the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.

This book should not be treated in a manner whereby it is read as

quickly as possible and then discarded.

In several areas you will find Scriptures repeated. This is to

reinforce a particular point.

The only method I am aware of sowing the seed of the Word of God

into your life, of allowing the Holy Spirit to fuse it into your spirit,


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is by meditation and prayerful reflection. By meditation, I do not

mean that you allow your mind to become blank, that you become

vacant and stare off without purpose into outer space. Rather,meditation is simply thinking, reflecting, pawing over the word,

musing.

Psalm 39:3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the

fire burned; then spake I with my tongue,

By this means the Word is transferred from your mind to your spirit.

It becomes part of you. From this database, the Holy Spirit can bring

it to your remembrance.

Keep this principle embedded in your mind as you explore this

material. You will receive the greatest possible assistance from God

by doing this.


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WHAT HAVE THEY SEEN IN

YOUR HOUSE?

Three ministers reclined in their fishing boat during

the first early morning rays of the dawn light. As the

boat lay moored in the sea of glass the Presbyterian

minister confessed, "Brethren, I have a problem. I

want to OPEN my heart and tell you that I have hada secret drinking problem for many years. Even at

this very moment, I have concealed behind the

wood-grained bookcase, three bottles of whisky. I

want you to pray for God to release me from this

terrible habit."

"Seeing that you have been so frank", the

Pentecostal minister continued, "I also want to

OPEN my heart and confess to you that I have had a

longstanding problem with money. I have fiddled

the books on many occasions to cover my dipping

into the church finances. If I persist in this problem,

I know it will finally be exposed. A lot of people in


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the church will be hurt, and I will spend the rest of

my life in shame."

The Baptist minister sat motionless. He volunteered

nothing. After a period of some five awkward

minutes, the Presbyterian minister questioned,

"Brother, don't you have a skeleton in the closet that

you would like to bring out into the open? Don't you

have something that you would like to OPEN your

heart about? Is there some weakness that we could

help you with?"

"Yes, there is", the Baptist minister acknowledged

rather sheepishly, a broad grin emerging on his

wrinkled face, "I have a problem with gossip, and I

can't wait to get back to the jetty to tell everyone I

know about what I've just heard."

This story illustrates clearly the lack of

DISCRETION when confiding in people.

PIGS AND DOGS

Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is HOLY unto the

DOGS, neither cast ye your PEARLS before

SWINE, lest they trample them under their feet, and

turn again and REND you.


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upon layer upon layer of His nakar. The nakar of

God is His LOVE!

Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts

by the HOLY GHOST which is given unto us.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, LOVE your

enemies, BLESS them that curse you, DO GOOD to

them that hate you, and PRAY for them which

despitefully us you, and persecute you.

Here is the DIVINE INSURANCE POLICY that

safeguards Christians from becoming BITTER,

RESENTFUL, filled with VENGEANCE, and

UNFORGIVENESS. This principle, when activated

in a positive, meaningful way, fashions the priceless

commodity of PEARL deep within the believer's

spirit. These become the pearls that are not to given

to DOGS. Under no circumstances are they to be

cast before SWINE. To do so constitutes a DIRECT

VIOLATION of the clear instruction of the Lord

Jesus. The pearls are NOT to be trampled under

foot. Pigs and dogs are NOT to rend the Christian.Discretion is to be exercised when opening up the

workings of God in the believer's life.

That God is desirous of producing pearl within each

Christian, there is no doubt. The gates of the New


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Jerusalem are fashioned with pearl, and the Lord

Jesus is looking for the pearl of great price.

Revelation 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve

pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the

street of the city was pure gold, as it were

transparent glass.

Matthew 13:45, 46 Again, the kingdom of heaven

is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:

Who, when he had found ONE PEARL OF GREAT

PRICE, went and SOLD ALL THAT HE HAD, and

BOUGHT it.

The pearl of great price is NOT the Lord Jesus. He

is the MERCHANT MAN. He is not looking for

Himself! The pearl of great price is the BRIDE OF

CHRIST, which is composed of people who have

allowed pearl to be constructed in their lives.

In the month of July, 1975, I spoke at length with a

manufacturer of cultured pearls in Honolulu,

Hawaii. During the course of our conversation, it

was explained to induce the flow of nakar, the shellof the oyster is FORCED OPEN, and an INCISION

is made in the flesh with a sharp instrument. This

operation is only performed on adult oysters as the

MORTALITY RATE IS EXTREMELY HIGH

even among mature shellfish.


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How true this is in the growth and development of

the individual believer in the path of maturity. God

will not expose the immature Christian to the

hazardous, rigorous life of pearl construction. And

yet, TESTINGS, TRIALS, OPPOSITIONS, and

CHALLENGES that lie before, are imperative if the

precious commodity is to be manufactured within.

God is more interested in what He does IN us, than

what He does THROUGH us!

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in

tribulations also: knowing that TRIBULATION

WORKETH PATIENCE;

The English word, tribulation, comes from the Latin,

TRIBULUM, which is an instrument for rubbing out

corn, consisting of a broad beam of wood studded

underneath with sharp pieces of flint or with iron

teeth. That which occasions distress or vexation;

severe affliction. The FLAIL is only used on mature,

harvested wheat. It is never used on immature

plants. That this is the path the Christian is to tread

is reinforced in the Book of Acts.

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples,

and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that

we must through MUCH TRIBULATION enter into

the kingdom of God.


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Of all the precious commodities, pearl is

EXCLUSIVE in that it is constructed in a LIVING

ORGANISM. Gold is found beneath the surface of

the earth; so are silver and precious stones. PEARL

is found in a LIVING CREATURE!

1 Corinthians 3:12, 13 Now if any man build upon

this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood,

hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made

manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall

be revealed by fire; and the FIRE shall TRY every

man's work of what sort it is.

Oh, that the longing, the desire, might rise from the

depths of each Christian spirit, 'God, process me.

Work in my life. Let PEARL be developed in the

hidden recesses within. I long for the purpose of

God to be made manifest in my life.'

Within the Christian Church at this present time

there are people that the Lord Jesus refers to as

PIGS and DOGS.

MIXTURE exists on every hand. This will beELIMINATED in the days that lie ahead. People in

this category will either shape up, or ship out. They

will make the necessary adjustment or be

REMOVED from Christian fellowship.

The Apostle Peter addresses the problem:


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2 Peter 2:19-22 While they promise them liberty,

they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of

whom a man is overcome, of the SAME IS HE

BROUGHT IN BONDAGE. For if after they have

escaped the pollutions of the world through the

knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,

they are again ENTANGLED therein, and

overcome, the LATTER end is WORSE with them

than the beginning. For it had been better for them

NOT to have known the way of righteousness, than

after they have known it, to turn from the holy

commandment delivered unto them. But it is

happened unto them according to the true proverb,

THE DOG IS TURNED TO HIS OWN VOMIT

AGAIN; and the SOW THAT WAS WASHED TO

HER WALLOWING IN THE MIRE.

Proverbs 26:11 As a DOG returned to his vomit, so

a fool returneth to his folly.

What a DOG does is peculiar to its nature, it can't

help it.

A PIG functions according to its nature. Thesecreatures operate according to the life that is within

them.

God teaches that a dog will return to its vomit. The

fact that is to be understood here is that if what the

dog ate the first time made it vomit, then what will


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happen when it EATS AGAIN that which originally

made it sick? It must do the same thing. The process

will be repeated over and over and over again. It

can't be helped. The creature is a DOG. IT LIVES

AND FUNCTIONS ACCORDING TO ITS

NATURE.

A sow can be taken from the pig-pen, washed,

scented, and taken to the show. After winning first

prize, and even with the purple ribbon around its

neck, it will wallow in the mire on the first

opportunity that presents itself. The SOW can't help

it. It is a PIG! IT LIVES AND FUNCTIONS

ACCORDING TO ITS NATURE.

Not long after I was saved, I attended a convention

where God moved in a wonderful manner. The rich

blessing of the Spirit was in abundant evidence.

People were greatly blessed helped and encouraged

by the visiting overseas speaker. To my amazement,

I heard that this minister was a HOMOSEXUAL. I

discounted the rumours as malicious. I considered

this to be the devil stepping in, seeking to rob me of

the rich blessing I had received.

Sometime later, a friend of mine, who is now a

missionary in the Philippine Islands, related to me,

"That man isolated me in his room and then

proceeded to make HOMOSEXUAL ADVANCES

to me. Seeing that I was not interested in his


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approach, he produced from his suit-coat pocket a

series of PORNOGRAPHIC PICTURES and

endeavoured to show them to me. When I explained

that I wasn't interested in this type of behaviour, he

responded with, 'Do you want to CAST THE

DEVIL OUT OF ME?' "

This made me sick. I could not believe it. How

could God ever tolerate such behaviour? It could

have devastate me as a young Christian. I could

have been completely overthrown.

Since that time, I have both heard and seen EVERY

ABOMINABLE PRACTICE imaginable. I don't

think there is anything that transpires under the

guise of Christianity that would SHOCK me now.

It's tragic, but it's tragically true.

In asking the Lord why He should PERMIT such

unclean behaviour in the church, another minister

friend of mine was directed to a section of Scripture

in the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel.

Ezekiel 44:9-14 Thus saith the Lord God; Nostranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised

in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any

stranger that is among the children of Israel. And the

Levites that are gone away from me, when Israel

went astray, which went astray from me after their

idols; they shall even bear their iniquity. Yet THEY


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SHALL BE MINISTERS IN MY SANCTUARY,

having charge at the GATES of the house, and

ministering TO the house: they shall SLAY THE

BURNT OFFERING and the sacrifice for the

people, and they shall STAND BEFORE THEM to

minister unto them. Because they ministered unto

them before their idols, and caused the house of

Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I LIFTED

UP MINE HAND AGAINST THEM, saith the Lord

God, and THEY SHALL BEAR THEIR INIQUITY.

And they shall not come near unto me, to do the

office of a priest unto me, nor to come near to any of

my HOLY things, in the MOST HOLY PLACE: but

they shall bear their shame, and their

ABOMINATIONS which they have committed. But

I will make them KEEPERS of the charge OF THE

HOUSE, for all the service thereof, and for all that

shall be done therein.

Uncircumcised, unsanctified ministers are permitted

by the Lord to execute ministries in the outer court

of the temple. They are NOT granted access to the

holy or the most holy. They are afforded a ministry

to the HOUSE of the Lord, but as to the HOLYTHINGS OF GOD they have no part. They are to

bear their iniquity and shame for their base

behaviour. A day of reckoning is coming!

That there will come a move of Holy Ghost

SANCTIFICATION in the church there is no doubt.


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The days of Ananias and Sapphira are to be

repeated.

1 Peter 4:17 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?

Acts 5:1-11 But a certain man named Ananias, with

Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back

part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and

brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostle's feet.

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine

heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and keep back part of

the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not

thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine

own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in

thine heart? thou hast not LIED UNTO MEN, BUT

UNTO GOD. And Ananias hearing these words

FELL DOWN, AND GAVE UP THE GHOST: and

great fear came on all them that heard these things.

And the young men arose, wound him up, and

carried him out, and buried him. And it was about

the space of three hours after, when his wife, notknowing what was done, came in. And Peter

answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land

for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then

Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed

together to TEMPT THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD?

behold, the feet of them which have buried thy


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husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Then FELL SHE DOWN STRAIGHTWAY AT

HIS FEET, AND YIELDED UP THE GHOST: and

the young men came in, and found her dead, and,

carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And

great FEAR came upon all the church, and upon as

many as heard these things.

Not only is the Christian instructed by the Word of

the Lord to be discerning in whom he takes into his

confidence, to whom he SHARES HIS PEARLS,

(those deep workings of God in the innermost parts

of his life), but each member of the church of the

Lord Jesus is admonished NOT TO LISTEN to

every story that people want to fill his ears with.

Mark 4:24 And he said unto them, TAKE HEED

WHAT YE HEAR: with what measure ye mete, it

shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear

shall, more be given.

Luke 8:18 Take heed therefore HOW YE HEAR:

for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and

whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken eventhat which he seemeth to have.

The Christian is warned to beware of both WHAT

and HOW he listens. What has to do with

QUANTITY; how, with QUALITY. He is not


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obligated to listen to everything! He is to TAKE

HEED how he listens, and to what he listens.

In the second church we pastored, a young man

came to see me, Bible in hand. In the conversation

that ensued, I learned that God had 'sent' him to

bring a word of correction to me. I listened. He

spoke of not lording it over God's heritage, not to

seek power like the Gentiles seek power, and that a

prophet has more authority than a pastor. Upon

enquiring as to his pastor's name, he immediately

informed me that he was not resident in any local

church. Upon that statement I instructed him to

CLOSE HIS BIBLE, and told him that he had

NOTHING FURTHER TO SAY. I concluded, "I

deliberately and consciously REJECT everything

you are telling me. I refuse to embrace it. I will not

allow it into my spirit."

I had NO INTENTION of listening to the word of a

young man who had no local church home and who

was not a part of the church. Opening up to that type

of spirit, the spirit of a pastor rejector and lawless

spirit, can only result in that spirit gainingCONTROL and AUTHORITY in areas of one's life.

I did not want any part of that.

Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves

treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth

corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:


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But lay up for yourselves, TREASURES IN

HEAVEN, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,

and where thieve do not break through nor steal: For

where your TREASURE IS, THERE WILL YOUR

HEART BE ALSO.

2 Corinthians 4:6, 7 For God, who commanded the

light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our

hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the

glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we

have this TREASURE in earthen vessels, that the

excellency of the power may be of God, and not of

us.

FELLOWSHIP

Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the

apostles' doctrine and FELLOWSHIP, and in

breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The word for fellowship in the Greek language is

KOINONIA, which means partnership,

participation, social intercourse, benefaction. It is

translated into the KJV as communicate,communion, distribution and fellowship. It comes

from a root word that means a SHARER. This is

translated as companion, fellowship, partaker and

partner.


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The English word means a person or thing joined or

associated with another; a companion; in a learned

society, one who holds a higher status than that of a

member. It is derived from the Old English, felaw,

and the Icelandic, felagi, a partner in goods. Fe,

goods and lag, society. The position and

emoluments of a fellow.

As the connotation from the Greek word, sharer,

indicates, this is a lot more than 'two fellows in oneship'. It reveals an OPENING UP and SHARING

OF ONE'S SELF, a sharing of those things that one

holds NEAR and DEAR TO ONE'S OWN HEART.

Have you ever noticed that it is only people who are

CLOSE to you that can HURT you? When other

people say things, it does not affect you to the extentas someone you hold in high regard and appreciate

greatly. It is because these people are close to you

that they can HURT you.

They are the people you TRUST. When

CONFIDENCES are broken, trust is broken - trust

that may have been built up over many years. Alas,the time consuming process is to be repeated when

that TRUST is SHATTERED.

ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY, is certainly true

when it comes to building relationships. However,

one can't WITHDRAW and seek to find fulfillment


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in the life of one's own company. Man can't fulfill

his social obligations by living like a hermit. God

said it is NOT GOOD for man to be alone. Genesis

2:18

Irrespective of WHO has done WHAT to you, do

not allow yourself to become BITTER and

TWISTED, filled with RESENTMENT and

UNFORGIVENESS. This is the quickest, surest

way to end up in prison.

Matthew 18:21-35 Then came Peter to him, and

said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me,

and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto

him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but,

Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom

of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would

take account of his servants. And when he had

begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which

owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he

had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold,

and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and

payment to be made. The servant therefore fell

down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, havepatience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the

lord of that servant was moved with compassion,

and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the

same servant went out, and found one of his fellow-

servants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he

laid hands on him, and took him by the throat,


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saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellow-

servant fell down at his feet, and besought him,

saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee

all. And he would not: but went and cast him into

prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his

fellow-servants saw what was done, they were very

sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was

done. Then his lord, after that he had called him,

said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee

all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest

not thou also have compassion on thy Fellow-

servant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was

wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he

should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise

shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye

from your hearts forgive not every one his brother

their trespasses.

Regardless of WHO has hurt you, and HOW

DEEPLY, we must learn to TRUST AGAIN. We

must EMBRACE our brother and LOVE AGAIN.

We must allow the love of God to flow from our

wounded spirits, HEALING THE INCISIONS,

creating the valuable pearl in our lives. We mustallow God to WORK in us, so that we become a part

of the PEARL OF GREAT PRICE.

My precious brother and sister, determine that you

will be no longer CHAINED TO THE PAST by

refusing to forgive from your heart someone who


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has wounded you. Determine that you will forever

be FREE FROM THE SHACKELS THAT BIND

YOU.

The Christian is admonished by his Lord to

BECOME PART of the whole, to GATHER

together, NOT ISOLATING oneself.

Hebrews 10:25 NOT forsaking the ASSEMBLING

OF OURSELVES TOGETHER, as the manner of

some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the

more, as ye see the day approaching.

God has determined to work some aspects of our

Christian growth and development in a

CORPORATE manner. To seek Him

INDIVIDUALLY, is to do so in VAIN.

Genesis 43:3 And Judah spake unto him, saying,

The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye

shall not see my face, EXCEPT YOUR BROTHER

BE WITH YOU.

The central fact in all these verses is clear. WE CANNOT GO IT ALONE! We will never develop into

the ALL ROUNDED CHRISTIAN that God has

proposed, unless there is COMMITMENT AND

INVOLVEMENT on a corporate basis.


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Isaiah records a both classic and vivid illustration of

the INDISCRIMINATE opening up and sharing of

the treasures in one's house. It is cited here as it

portrays an imperative lesson in Christian growth

and development. The warning is sounded crisply

and clearly - do not take every person into your

confidence; do not open up to every one who crosses

your path; be discreet to whom you DISPLAY

YOUR PEARLS.

1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened

unto them for ENSAMPLES: and they are written

for OUR admonition, upon whom the ENDS OF

THE WORLD ARE COME.

If there was ever a people who need to have a

measure of understanding and a working knowledge

of the dealings of God with His Old Testament

people, it is THIS PEOPLE, THIS GENERATION,

the people upon whom the end of the age is come.

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that YOUR

BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST

which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye arenot your own?

Isaiah 39:1-6 At that time Merodachbaladan, the

son of Baladan, sent letters and a present to

Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick,

and was recovered. And Hezekiah was glad of them,


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and SHOWED THEM THE HOUSE of his

PRECIOUS THINGS, the SILVER, and the GOLD,

and the SPICES, and the PRECIOUS OINTMENT,

and ALL THE HOUSE OF HIS ARMOUR, and

ALL THAT WAS FOUND IN HIS TREASURES:

and there was nothing in his house, nor in all his

dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not. Then

came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and

said unto him, WHAT SAID THESE MEN? and

from WHENCE CAME THEY UNTO THEE? And

Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country

unto me, even from Babylon. Then said he, WHAT

HAVE THEY SEEN IN THINE HOUSE? And

Hezekiah answered, ALL that is in mine house have

they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I

have not showed them. Then said Isaiah to

Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord of hosts:

Behold, the days come, that ALL that is in THINE

HOUSE, and that which thy FATHERS have laid up

in store until this day, shall be carried to

BABYLON, NOTHING SHALL BE LEFT, saith

the Lord.

Babylon means CONFUSION. When a person

opens up to confusion, when he sows confusion, he

is going to REAP confusion. The principle of

sowing and reaping is a major principle in the Bible.

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked:


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for WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT

SHALL HE ALSO REAP.

There are MANY VOICES in the world today

clamouring for the Christian's attention. Each

demands we listen. The more voices a person listens

to, the greater will be the confusion. We need

LISTEN ONLY to the voice of the SHEPHERD of

the sheep.

John 10:27, 3-5 MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE,

and I know them, and they follow me. To him the

porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he

calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them

out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he

goeth before them, and THE SHEEP FOLLOW

HIM: for THEY KNOW HIS VOICE. And a

STRANGER WILL THEY NOT FOLLOW, but

will flee from him: for they KNOW NOT THE

VOICE OF STRANGERS.

As a Christian, you are NOT OBLIGATED to listen

to every voice - to open up to every person - to show

everyone your pearls, that which God has wroughtin your life. Indeed, quite the OPPOSITE IS TRUE.

Our spiritual ears are to be shielded from the voices

and influences of all and sundry types of teachings.

Hezekiah VIOLATED this principle. He opened up

to confusion. The judgment of God came to him. He


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showed the king of Babylon (confusion) the house

of his precious things. This is very typical of the life

of the Christian believer, sharing those PRECIOUS

WORKINGS OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD in his life,

his pearls, indiscriminately to all who pass by. Be

assured my friend, that PIGS and DOGS are lurking

on every hand. If given the chance, they will turn on

you, rend you, tear you, and trample the pearls of

your life under their disrespectful feet. Don't do it.

Learn from this tragic experience in the life of king

Hezekiah. Your body is the temple of the Holy

Ghost - do not reveal your PRECIOUS THINGS to

everyone. Be wise to whom you OPEN UP to.

You should establish TRUST with the person to

whom you are going to give your confidence. This

takes time. Trust is built up over a period of time -

often a LONG PERIOD of time.

Indeed, ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY, becomes

specifically true when sharing the deep, intimate

workings of God in the Christian's life. This is the

reason that there are a lot of BITTEN PEOPLE

about. These people have COMMUNICATED theirprecious things to others - they have found a

listening ear - people who would give them time of

day - people that would listen. They have heard and

are putting into practice the axiom, 'CHRISTIANS

ARE TO OPEN UP AND SHARE.' While this is

true, the BALANCING FACTOR also needs to be


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applied, the factor of being discreet when sharing

the pearls of your life.

Proverbs 11:1 A false balance is an abomination to

the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.

WHAT PRECIOUS THINGS did Hezekiah share

from his house?

Merodachbaladan heard that Hezekiah had been

sick. He sent a belated gift. This gift had the desired

effect on Hezekiah, who was so grateful for the

present that he responded by OPENING UP the

house of his TREASURES. SENDING GIFTS CAN

BE A METHOD OF PROCURING PEOPLE'S

CONFIDENCE.

SILVER

This precious metal speaks of the Christian's

CONVERSION, his SALVATION, his

REDEMPTION. It shows the blood of the Lord

Jesus Christ as being the purchasing power of that

redemption.

1 Peter 1:18, 19 Forasmuch as ye know ye were not

redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation received by tradition


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from your fathers; But with the PRECIOUS

BLOOD OF CHRIST, as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:

Exodus 30:11-16 And the Lord spake unto Moses,

saying, When thou takest the sum of the children of

Israel after their number, then shall ye give every

man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou

numberest them. This shall they give, every one that

passeth among them that are numbered, HALF A

SHEKEL OF THE SANCTUARY: ( a shekel is

twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering

of the Lord. Every one that passeth among them that

are numbered, from twenty years old and above,

shall give an offering unto the Lord. The RICH

SHALL NOT GIVE MORE, and the POOR SHALL

NOT GIVE LESS than half a shekel, when they give

an OFFERING unto the Lord, to make an

ATONEMENT for your souls. And thou shalt take

the atonement money of the children of Israel, and

shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of

the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the

children of Israel before the Lord, to make an

atonement unto your souls.

The PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE FIELD (the

world) was SEVENTEEN SHEKELS OF SILVER.

Jeremiah 32:6-15 And Jeremiah said, the word of

the Lord came unto me, saying, Behold, Hanameel


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the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come to thee,

saying, BUY THEE MY FIELD that is in Anathoth:

for the right of REDEMPTION is thine to buy it. So

Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court

of the prison according to the word of the Lord, and

said unto me, Buy thee my field, I pray thee, that is

in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin:

for the right of INHERITANCE is thine, and the

REDEMPTION is thine; BUY IT FOR THYSELF.

Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord. And

I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that

was in Anathoth, and weighed the money, even

SEVENTEEN SHEKELS OF SILVER. And I

subscribed the EVIDENCE, and SEALED it, and

took WITNESSES, and WEIGHED HIM THE

MONEY IN THE BALANCES. So I took the

evidence of the purchase, both that which was

SEALED according to the law and custom, and that

which was OPEN: and I gave the EVIDENCE of the

purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of

Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's

son, and in the presence of the witnesses that

subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the

Jews that sat in the court of the prison. And Icharged Baruch before them, saying, Thus saith the

Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these

evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which

is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put

them in an EARTHEN VESSEL, that they may

continue many days. For thus saith the of hosts, the


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God of Israel: HOUSES AND FIELDS AND

VINEYARDS SHALL BE POSSESSED AGAIN

IN THIS LAND.

Matthew 13:38 The field is the WORLD;

Matthew 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him,

when he saw that he was condemned, repented

himself, and brought again the THIRTY PIECES

OF SILVER to the chief priests and elders,

Psalm 66:10 For thou, O God, hast PROVED us:

thou hast TRIED us, as SILVER IS TRIED.

Silver also speaks of the WORD OF GOD and the

believer's CONFESSION.

Psalm 12:6 The words of the Lord are pure words:

as SILVER tried in a furnace of earth, PURIFIED

SEVEN TIMES.

Romans 10:8-10 But what saith it? The word is

nigh thee, even in thy MOUTH, and in thy HEART:

that is, the WORD OF FAITH, which we preach;That if thou shalt CONFESS with thy MOUTH the

Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine HEART that

God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be

SAVED. For with the HEART MAN BELIEVETH

UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS; and with the MOUTH

CONFESSION IS MADE TO SALVATION.


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Proverbs 10:20 The tongue of the just is as

CHOICE SILVER: the heart of the wicked is little

worth.

Proverbs 25:11 A WORD FITLY SPOKEN is like

apples of gold in pictures of SILVER.

Proverbs 15:23 A man hath joy by the ANSWER

OF HIS MOUTH: and a word spoken in due season,

how good is it!

While it is absolutely ESSENTIAL that a Christian

share his faith (SILVER), particularly to those who

are unsaved, at the same time it must be

remembered that in some of the more PERSONAL,

INTIMATE, DEEP areas of individual

REDEMPTION, one is to exhibit a certain amount

of DISCRETION.

GOLD

In the first instance, this metal shows forth DEITY;

in the second, REDEEMED MAN; the third, the

TRIAL OF FAITH, and the fourth, the WORD OFGOD.

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us

EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS

PROMISES: that by THESE ye might become

partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the


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corruption that is in the world through lust.

Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have REFINED thee, but not

with SILVER; I have CHOSEN thee in the

FURNACE OF AFFLICTION.

The word chosen here means GRADED. We are

GRADED in the furnace of affliction.

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when

he hath TRIED ME, I shall come forth as GOLD.

1 Peter 1:7 That the TRIAL OF YOUR FAITH,

being much MORE PRECIOUS than GOLD THAT

PERISHETH, though it be tried with fire, might be

found unto praise and honour and glory at the

appearing of Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples

of GOLD in pictures of silver.

SPICES

These treasures speak of the MATURATIONPROCESS.

Esther 2:12 Now when every maid's turn was to go

in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve

months, according to the manner of the women, (for

so were the days of their purifications accomplished,


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to wit, SIX MONTHS WITH OIL OF MYRRH, and

six months with SWEET ODOURS, and other

things for the PURIFYING of the women;)

Song of Solomon 4:16 Awake, O NORTH WIND;

and come, thou SOUTH; blow upon my GARDEN,

that the SPICES THEREOF MAY FLOW OUT. Let

my BELOVED come into his GARDEN, to EAT his

PLEASANT FRUITS.

Psalm 84:6 Who passing through the valley of

BACA make it a WELL; the rain also filleth the

pools.

The R.V. reads, 'In whose heart are the highways to

ZION. Passing through the VALLEY OF

WEEPING they make it a PLACE OF SPRINGS;

Yea, the early rain covereth it with blessings.

Genesis 49:22 Joseph is a FRUITFUL BOUGH,

even a fruitful bough by a WELL; whose branches

run OVER THE WALL.

Psalm 105:17-22 He sent a man before them, evenJoseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they

hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: UNTIL the

TIME THAT HIS WORD CAME: THE WORD OF

THE Lord tried him. The king sent and LOOSED

him; even the ruler of the people, and LET HIM

GO. He made him LORD of his house, and RULER


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of all his substance: To bind his PRINCES at his

pleasure; and teach his SENATORS wisdom.

The prophetic utterance over the life of Joseph

indicated PROSPERITY and MUCH BLESSING.

In actual fact what transpired was completely the

REVERSE. This seemed strange. Here God had

spoken one thing, but quite the opposite came to

pass. Joseph was SOLD AS A SLAVE in Egypt, by

his OWN BROTHERS! (those close to him.) He

was FETTERED IN PRISON for fourteen long

years. This is a PARADOX of God. It indicates His

strange workings. God was preparing Joseph for

RULERSHIP.

Consequentially, he found himself in the SCHOOL

OF THE HOLY GHOST.

Both EZEKIEL and JOHN experienced a similar

processing in their lives.

Ezekiel 3:1-3 Moreover he said unto me, Son of

man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak

to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and hecaused me to eat the roll. And he said unto me, Son

of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels

with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it

was IN MY MOUTH AS HONEY FOR

SWEETNESS.


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Revelation 10:9,10 And I went unto the angel, and

said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said

unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and IT SHALL

MAKE THY BELLY BITTER, but it shall be in thy

MOUTH SWEET AS HONEY. And I took the little

book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it

was in my MOUTH SWEET AS HONEY: and as

soon as I had eaten it, MY BELLY WAS BITTER.

The VERY WORD OF ABUNDANCE that God

had spoken to Joseph was the VERY WORD that

TRIED him! When God gives any person a word,

THAT VERY WORD will be the instrument of

God's TESTING. That very word will PROVE him.

Further, when God gives a promise to a person,

ONLY GOD can fulfill that promise. There is no

other way the word can come to pass.

Consider ABRAHAM. He tried to bring the word of

promise to pass. It was impossible. It was even futile

to attempt to do so. All that results is a production of

FLESH. Indeed, the conflict now raging in the

Middle East is the result of Abraham trying to fulfillGod's word to him! He simply COULD NOT

WAIT. Admittedly, he was required to wait for

twenty-five years. Notwithstanding, he was required

to wait. The lesson? WHEN GOD GIVES A

PROMISE, ONLY GOD CAN FULFILL THAT

PROMISE.


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TESTING

God NEVER TEMPTS man; He TESTS him. There

is a vast field of difference in the application of

these two words.

Genesis 22:1 And it came to pass after these things,

that God did TEMPT Abraham, and he said unto

him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

The Hebrew word for tempt here, is TEST. It is

translated in the A.V. as adventure, ASSAY,

PROVE, tempt,

The English word is derived from the Latin,

temptare, to TRY, TO PUT TO THE TEST. To

incite to something wrong by presenting plausible or

alluring inducements; to solicit to an evil act; to

allure; to seduce; to incite; to provoke; to solicit or

draw without any notion of evil. In Scripture it

means to TRY, TO PROVE.

James 1:13-15 Let no man say when he is tempted,

I AM TEMPTED OF GOD: for God can not betempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But

every man is tempted, when he is DRAWN AWAY

of his own LUST, and ENTICED. Then when lust

hath CONCEIVED, it bringeth forth SIN: and sin,

when it is finished, bringeth forth DEATH.


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SAMSON is a classic example of being tempted.

Judges 16:4, 5, 16, 21 And it came to pass

afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of

Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of

the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her,

ENTICE him, and see wherein his great strength

lieth, and by what means we may prevail against

him, that we may BIND him to AFFLICT him: and

give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of

silver. And it came to pass, when SHE PRESSED

HIM DAILY WITH HER WORDS, and URGED

him, so that his soul was VEXED UNTO DEATH;

But the Philistines took him, and PUT OUT HIS

EYES, and brought him down to Gaza, and BOUND

him with FETTERS of brass; and he did GRIND in

the PRISON house.

The ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE of the Philistines

was to PUT OUT Samson's EYES, to destroy his

vision!

Observe the programme. ENTICE, BIND,

AFFLICT, PUT OUT HIS EYES. These aredeliberate, planned steps for the conquest of

Samson. When next you are tempted to cry out, "Oh

God, I can't take any more!" - remember, the oft

repeated response from God, "Oh yes, I think, you

can. I'm going to stretch you that little bit more."


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1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken

you but such as is common to man: but God is

faithful, who will not suffer you to be TEMPTED

ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE; but will with the

temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may

be able to bear it.

Thus, the teaching is clear. The processing of God in

the Christian's life is made known.

The SPICES typify the HIDDEN WORK OF THE

HOLY SPIRIT, in the believer's life, AFTER he has

been baptised in , the Holy Ghost. The baptism of

the Holy Ghost is only the beginning of the life in

the Spirit. It is only the INDUCTION into the school

of the Holy Ghost. It is NOT the end. It is NOT the

ultimate. On the contrary, it is merely the beginning.

It is certainly NOT the FULNESS OF THE SPIRIT.

This comes much later in the process of maturation.

When the Lord Jesus Christ was baptised in the

Holy Ghost, He was immediately DRIVEN into the

wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost

returned from Jordan, and was LED by the Spirit

into the wilderness.

The Greek word for led means to lead, to bring, to


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drive, go, pass, induce. It is translated into the KJV

as be, bring, carry, go, keep, lead away, be open.

The Greek word for tempted, means to TEST, ie.,

endeavour, scrutinize, entice, DISCIPLINE. In the

A.V. it is translated assay, EXAMINE, go about,

PROVE, tempt, TRY. It is derived from the root

word which means to PIERCE, a TEST, attempt,

experience. It is rendered ASSAYING, TRIAL, in

its application in the KJV.

It is the undisputed purpose of God to TEST,

PROVE, TRY, EXAMINE, SCRUTINIZE His

people. The wilderness was a necessary experience

for the Old Testament church. It was NECESSARY

in the life of the Lord Jesus. It is NECESSARY in

the life of EACH CHRISTIAN. Don't withdraw

from the wilderness. It is a glorious place of

learning. It is here that the CHARACTER of Christ

is fashioned in the believer's life. Should the

Christian seek NOT TO BE PROVEN, TRIED or

TESTED, then he seeks to be ABOVE both his Lord

and the Old Testament saints.

Matthew 10:24 The disciple is NOT ABOVE HIS

MASTER, nor the SERVANT ABOVE HIS LORD.

SPICES then, have reference to the DEEPENING

WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT in the individual's

life.


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Spices were an essential component in the formula

of the ANOINTING OIL. This oil was used for the

anointing of the PRIESTS in the execution of their

functions in the Old Testament Church. It was also

used for the anointing of the TABERNACLE and its

FURNITURE. This anointing equipped the priests,

the tabernacle and its furniture, to be MOST HOLY.

This points to the deepening work of the Holy Spirit

in the life of the believer, SANCTIFYING,

MAKING HOLY.

FIVE ingredients composed the anointing oil. Each

one represents a SPECIFIC, DISTINCTIVE work of

the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian.

Exodus 30:22-33 Moreover the Lord spake unto

Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee principal

spices, of PURE MYRRH five hundred shekels, and

SWEET CINNAMON half so much, even two

hundred and fifty shekels, And of CASSIA five

hundred shekels, after the shekels of the sanctuary,

and of OIL OLIVE and hin: And thou shalt make of

it an oil of HOLY OINTMENT, an ointment

compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall bean HOLY ANOINTING OIL. And thou shalt anoint

the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the

ark of the testimony, And the table and all his

vessels, and the candlestick and all his vessels, and

the altar of incense, And the altar of burnt offering

with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. And


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thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most

holy: Whatsoever toucheth them shall be HOLY.

And thou shalt anoint AARON AND HIS SONS,

and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me

in the priest's office. And thou shalt speak unto the

children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy

anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.

UPON MAN'S FLESH SHALL IT NOT BE

POURED, neither shall ye make any other like it,

after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be

holy unto you. Whosoever COMPOUNDETH any

like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a

STRANGER, even shall be CUT OFF FROM HIS

PEOPLE.

PURE MYRRH portrays suffering. It reveals the

Holy Spirit leading the believer through BITTER

EXPERIENCES, executing a deepening work,

making him MORE FRAGRANT and MATURE.

Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all

things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many

sons unto glory, to make the captain of their

salvation PERFECT through SUFFERINGS.

The Lord Jesus, even though a Son, ALLOWED His

Father to work MATURITY in his life. This is not

necessary in the life of the Christian, should he

desire to remain a babe. However, should he desire

the deepening work and the maturation process to


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develop his ongoing life in God, then it is to be

clearly understood, THERE IS NO OTHER PATH.

This work is MANDATORY!

MYRRH is a gum that is extracted from a thorny

foliage. It is a HEALING STIMULANT, VERY

BITTER, yet FRAGRANT.

Again, this shows forth the suffering and bitter

experiences the Holy Spirit leads the Christian into

so that his life might become more fragrant and

pleasing to the Lord. The Holy Spirit also

COMFORTS and HEALS after bitter, wounding

experiences.

MYRRH is only ONE of the ingredients of the

anointing oil. This unveils the truth that it is only

one of the functions of the Holy Spirit to lead the

believer through suffering.

Esther 2:12 Now when every maid's turn was come

to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been

twelve months, according to the manner of the

women, (for so were the days of their purificationsaccomplished, to wit, SIX MONTHS WITH OIL OF

MYRRH, and six months with SWEET ODOURS,

and other things for the PURIFYING of the

women;)


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This STEP in the preparation of Esther to meet the

king could not be avoided. In like manner, the Holy

Spirit is PREPARING THE CHURCH, the potential

Bride of Christ, in readiness to meet her King, the

Lord Jesus Christ.

At the birth of the infant Jesus, THREE gifts were

presented to Him. These were GOLD,

FRANKINCENSE and MYRRH. Matthew 2:11

GOLD, when applied to the life of the Lord Jesus,

speaks of the manifestation of God in human form.

FRANKINCENSE speaks of His prayer life, His

communion with the Father.

MYRRH speaks of the suffering the Lord would

undergo at the conclusion of his earthly ministry.

SWEET CINNAMONwas used to allure, to entice, to

attract. This becomes symbolic of the Holy Spirit in

the life of the Christian to attract men and women to

the Lord Jesus.

This spice comes from the INNER BARK of a tree

and has a

SWEET FRAGRANCE

Proverbs 7:17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,


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aloes and cinnamon.

The harlot's purpose is to allure the passer-by with

the intent of making love. This is a counterfeit of the

TRUE PURPOSE OF GOD. One of the reasons for

the Holy Spirit working in the lives of believers is to

make them ATTRACTIVE to the unsaved, that in

turn His people might be possessed with the ability

to ENTICE and LURE men and women to the Lord

that they also might love Him.

A further purpose of God is revealed here. The Holy

Spirit is to lead each Christian into the secret place

of INTIMATE COMMUNION and FELLOWSHIP

with the lover of their souls, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Song of Solomon 4:12-14 A garden inclosed is my

sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain

sealed. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates,

with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,

Spikenard and saffron; calamus and CINNAMON,

with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with

all chief spices.

What a glorious picture this is of the Bride of Christ.

Cinnamon was found in this garden. It speaks of that

which is alluring and ATTRACTIVE to her

Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ.

SWEET CALAMUS was a FRAGRANT REED of


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cane whose roots were highly sought after as a

spice. It was used as a MEDICINE for stomach

disorders. This reveals the work of the Holy Spirit in

developing the believer so that he can MEASURE

UP to the Christ Standard. Calamus is the same

Greek word that is used for REED in

Revelation 11:1 And there was given me a reed like

unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and

MEASURE the temple of God, and the altar, and

them that worship therein.

This is the measuring reed that is used to

MEASURE THE TEMPLE. Another of the

workings of the Holy Spirit that is shown here is to

bring to maturity each willing Christian to the

MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE

FULLNESS OF CHRIST. The FIVE-FOLD

MINISTRY is used by the Holy Spirit in this

process, pointing each growing believer to his short-

comings and under achieving.

Ephesians 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and

some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,pastors and teachers; For the PERFECTING of the

saints, for the work of the ministry, for the

EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST: Till we

all come in the unity of the faith, and of the

knowledge of the Son of God, unto a PERFECT


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MAN, unto the MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF

THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST.

CASSIA is a pulp made from the cassia pods. It is a

LAXATIVE. This speaks of the Holy Spirit's work

in liberating, breaking every yoke, to set free, to

loosen from every bondage.

Psalm 45:8 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and

aloes and CASSIA, out of the ivory palaces,

whereby they have made thee glad.

The KING'S GARMENTS smell of CASSIA.

Cassia has a SWEET FRAGRANCE.

The spices reveal the CHARACTER and FRUIT of

Christ.

Song of Solomon 4:16 Awake, O NORTH WIND;

and come, thou SOUTH; blow upon my GARDEN,

that the SPICES THEREOF MAY FLOW OUT. Let

my BELOVED come into his GARDEN, to EAT his

PLEASANT FRUITS.

Galatians 5:22,23 But the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

SWEET INCENSE


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Exodus 30:34-38 And the Lord said unto Moses,

Take unto thee SWEET SPICES, STACTE, and

ONYCHA, and GALBANUM; these sweet spices

with PURE FRANKINSCENSE; of each there shall

be a like weight: And thou shalt make it a

PERFUME, a confection after the art of the

apothecary, TEMPERED together, pure and holy:

And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of

it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the

congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be

unto you MOST HOLY. And as for the perfume

which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to

yourselves according to the composition thereof: it

shall be unto thee holy for the Lord. Whosoever

shall MAKE LIKE UNTO THAT, to smell thereto,

shall even be CUT OFF from his people.

Sweet incense, used on the altar of incense teaches

the POWER OF PREVAILING PRAYER, through

man's only mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. It further

speaks of the power of prayer and praise offered by

the WHOLE MAN unto God.

Incense symbolises PRAYER.

Psalm 141:2 Let my PRAYER be set forth before

thee as INCENSE; and the lifting up of my hands as

the evening sacrifice.


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Luke 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people

were PRAYING without at the TIME OF

INCENSE.

Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book,

the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down

before the Lamb, having every one of them harps,

and golden vials full of ODOURS, which are the

PRAYERS OF SAINTS.

Revelation 8:3, 4 And another angel came and

stood at the altar, having a GOLDEN CENSER; and

there was given unto him MUCH INCENSE, that he

should offer it with the PRAYERS OF ALL

SAINTS upon the golden altar which was before the

throne. And the SMOKE of the incense which came

with the PRAYERS of the saints, ASCENDED up

before God out of the angel's hand.

The THREE SWEET SPICES speak of the

COMPLETE man, spirit, soul and body.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace

sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your wholeSPIRIT and SOUL and BODY be preserved

blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath

loved us, and hath given himself for us an


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OFFERING and a SACRIFICE TO GOD for a

SWEET SMELLING SAVOUR.

In the offering of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross

of Calvary, His whole SPIRIT, SOUL and BODY

were involved.

The components BEATEN VERY SMALL indicate

the sufferings of our Lord.

These sweet spices were added to pure frankincense

(PRAYERS, SUFFERINGS, and

INTERCESSIONS of the Lord Jesus Christ.)

Frankincense caused the INCENSE TO ASCEND

when burned on the altar.

The adjective SWEET, portrays the intercessory

ministry of Jesus being acceptable to His Father.

The sweet odour permeated the holy place and the

most holy. This is symbolic of the

INTERCESSORY MINISTRY during the church

age of two thousand years.

Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of hisgrace, wherein he hath made us ACCEPTED IN

THE BELOVED.

It is truly sweet to be found in Christ.


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The word pure here, denotes the fact that there is

NO FAULT, FAILURE or SHORTCOMING in the

intercessory ministry of Christ.

The word HOLY, that there is no trace of sin or

iniquity in Him.

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write

unto you, that YE SIN NOT. And IF ANY MAN

SIN, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus

Christ the righteous.

Exodus 30:8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at

even, he shall burn INCENSE upon it, a

PERPETUAL INCENSE before the Lord

throughout your generations.

Here, the ministry of Christ is shown to have an

ETERNAL EFFECT on His followers.

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to SAVE

THEM TO THE UTTERMOST that come unto God

by him, seeing he ever liveth to make

INTERCESSION for them.

The entire being of man is involved in

PREVAILING PRAYER AND PRAISE. When the

Christian is indifferent in his prayer and praise, God

will reciprocate-be becoming indifferent to him.


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STACTE was a FRAGRANT GUM that dropped

from a tree that had been pierced. The word stacte,

means to drop or distil.

Amos 9:13 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord,

that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the

treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the

mountains shall DROP SWEET WINE, and all the

hills shall melt.

Judges 5:4 Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir,

when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the

earth trembled, and the HEAVENS DROPPED, the

CLOUDS ALSO DROPPED WATER.

When praying, the Christian must do so by

PREVAILING, PIERCING PRAYER, until sweet

wine, the doctrines of the Word of God; and water,

the fresh supply of the anointing, begins to distil

upon him.

1 Kings 18:42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink.

And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast

himself down upon the earth, and PUT HIS FACEBETWEEN HIS KNEES,

This posture shows INTENSE DESIRE and

CONCENTRATION as every cell in Elijah's body is

bent in sheer DETERMINATION for the answer to

his prayer.


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SEVEN separate and distinct petitions did Elijah

request before the answer came.

James 5:16-18 Confess your faults one to another,

and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The

EFFECTUAL FERVENT PRAYER of a righteous

man AVAILETH MUCH. Elias was a man subject

to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly

that it might not rain: and IT RAINED NOT on the

earth by the space of three years and six months.

And he prayed again, and the HEAVEN GAVE

RAIN, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

This was the FINEST MYRRH available and speaks

here of the tears of the Lord Jesus in Gethsemane.

STACTE was a MEDICINE that was used to deaden

pain. It had a BITTER TASTE.

Romans 8:26, 27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth

our infirmities: for we know not what we should

pray for as we ought: but the SPIRIT ITSELF

maketh INTERCESSION for us with GROANINGS

WHICH CAN NOT BE UTTERED. And he thatsearcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the

Spirit, because he maketh INTERCESSION for the

saints ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD.

ONYCHA means a scale or a shell. It came from the


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SHELL of the perfumed mollusk which was found

in the Red Sea. It became the basis of a PERFUME

manufactured in the East. The shell was ground

FINE and gave a PLEASING AROMA when

BURNED. It, too, was used as a MEDICINE.

Isaiah 60:5, 6 Then thou shalt see, and flow

together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged,

because of the ABUNDANCE OF THE SEA shall

be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles

shall come unto thee. The multitude of camels shall

cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;

all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold

and INCENSE; and they shall show forth the praises

of the Lord.

The sea speaks of MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE. As

the result of burning incense, (PRAYER AND

PRAISE) multitudes shall be won to Christ.

GALBANUM was a BITTER GUM derived from a

plant. It was used to drive away REPTILES and

VERMIN because of its smell! Again, because of its

healing properties, it was used as a MEDICINE.

Mark 16:17 In my name they shall CAST OUT

DEVILS.

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread

on SERPENTS and SCORPIONS, and over all the


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power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means

hurt you.

It is to be noted here that ALL THESE SPICES

CONTAINED MEDICINAL QUALITIES. The

anointing and power in prayer and praise brings

deliverance for spirit, soul and body. It literally

SCARES THE ENEMY OFF. As the incense rises

to God, health in every aspect can be expected to

become the believer's portion.

FRANKINSCENSE means to be white. It had a

BITTER TASTE, burned freely, and was used as a

MEDICINE and ANTIDOTE for poisons. It was a

GUM that was obtained from an incision in a tree.

It is to be further noted that every ingredient of the

incense was BITTER. Yet to God, they ascended as

a SWEET savour.

Many times, the experiences that seem bitter to the

Christian, are SWEET and PLEASING to the Lord.

Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter,Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an OFFENCE

unto me: for thou SAVOUREST NOT the things

that be of God, but THOSE THAT BE OF MEN.

Isaiah 55:8, 9 For MY THOUGHTS ARE NOT

YOUR THOUGHTS, neither are YOUR WAYS


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MY WAYS, saith the Lord For as the HEAVENS

ARE HIGHER THAN THE EARTH, so are my

WAYS HIGHER THAN YOUR WAYS, and MY

THOUGHTS than YOUR THOUGHTS.

Oftentimes bitter experiences have a REFINING

and PURIFYING work in the life of the believer.

Exodus 12:8 And they shall eat the flesh in that

night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and

with BITTER HERBS shall ye eat it.

Bitter herbs here speak of REPENTANCE. They

also speak of CHASTENING and DISCIPLINE.

Hebrews 12:5-7, 11 And ye have forgotten the

exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto

children, My son, despise not thou the

CHASTENING of the Lord, nor FAINT when thou

art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord LOVETH he

CHASTENETH, and SCOURGETH every son

whom he receiveth. If ye endure CHASTENING,

God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is

he whom the father chasteneth not? Now noCHASTENING for the present seemeth to be

joyous, but grievous: nevertheless AFTERWARD it

yieldeth the PEACEABLE FRUIT OF

RIGHTEOUSNESS unto them which are exercised

thereby.


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Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I REBUKE and

CHASTEN: be zealous therefore and REPENT.

Luke 14:25-33 And there went great multitudes

with him: and he turned, and said unto them, If any

man come to me, and hate not his father, and

mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and

sisters, yea, and his own life also, HE CAN NOT BE

MY DISCIPLE. And whosoever doth not bear his

cross, and come after me, CANNOT BE MY

DISCIPLE, For which of you, intending to build a

tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost,

whether he hath sufficient to finish it? Lest haply,

after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to

finish it, and all that behold it begin to mock him,

Saying, this man began to build, and was NOT

ABLE TO FINISH. Or what king, going to make

war against another king, sitteth not down first, and

consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to

meet him that cometh against him with twenty

thousand? Or else, while the other is a great way off,

he sendeth an ambassage, and DESIRETH

CONDITIONS OF PEACE. So likewise, whosoever

he be of you that FORSAKETH NOT ALL THATHE HATH, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.

Song of Solomon 3:6 Who is this that cometh out of

the wilderness like PILLARS OF SMOKE, PERF-

UMED WITH MYRRH AND FRANKINCENSE,

with all powders of the merchant?


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Song of Solomon 4:6 Until the day break, and the

shadows flee away, I will get me to the

MOUNTAIN OF MYRRH, and the HILL OF

FRANKINCENSE.

Both these Scriptures from the Song of Solomon

have direct application to the BRIDE OF THE

LORD JESUS CHRIST.

TEMPERED, means blended together with SALT.

Salt speaks of that which is savoury, that which is

tasty, that which is pleasing to the palate. The

INCENSE then, must tingle with life! It must have

savour. The Christian's PRAYER AND PRAISE is

to be tempered, seasoned with salt.

Luke 14:34 Salt is good: but if the salt have LOST

his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is

neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but

MEN CAST IT OUT. He that hath ears to hear, let

him hear.

Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the

salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it besalted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be

CAST OUT, and to be TRODDEN UNDER FOOT

OF MEN

The INCENSE needed to be BURNED. The

SMOKE and PERFUME were only created when


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the incense was placed on LIVE COALS from the

altar. In like manner the Christian's prayer and

praise is only acceptable to the Lord when it has as

its foundation, the BRAZEN ALTAR. It is

imperative that the spiritual INCENSE RISE when

laid upon the altar of the blood of God's Lamb, the

Lord Jesus. It must be saturated in the Christian's

FIRST LOVE.

It is widely recognized that prayer and praise from a

dead heart achieves nothing. It is only, when placed

on the RED HOT COALS OF FIRE, that GREAT

CLOUDS OF PERFUME AND SMOKE ascend

into the nostrils of the Almighty. It is only then that

God accepts the believer's prayer and praise as a

SWEET SMELLING SAVOUR. It is the FIRE that

produces the genuine prayer and praise that is

acceptable to God. In a reciprocal manner TRUE

PRAYER AND PRAISE IGNITE A VALID FIRE

IN THE BELIEVER!

Exodus 30:9 Ye shall offer NO STRANGE

INCENSE thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat

offering; neither shall ye pour drink offeringthereon.

This altar was to be used EXCLUSIVELY for

PRAYER AND PRAISE. Nothing more need be

added. Nothing more need accompany it.


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Exodus 30:38 Whosoever shall make like unto that,

to smell thereto, shall even be CUT OFF from his

people NO SUBSTITUTE exists for prayer and

praise. The penalty for imitation was swift and

certain excommunication! Wildfire, man's plans and

schemes, are totally unacceptable to God! It must be

done HIS way.

From reading Luke 1:5-23, it is learned that

Zacharias was found faithfully ministering at the

ALTAR OF INCENSE when the angel appeared

bearing news of the first coming of Christ. Through

PRAYER and INTERCESSION divine revelation

was received. So today, as the church is found

dispensationally in the timing of God at the ALTAR

OF INCENSE, and the ministry of prayer and praise

deepens and increases, the church will receive

FURTHER REVELATION OF THE SECOND

COMING OF CHRIST. It is of utmost importance

to understand that the REVELATION came

THROUGH GOD'S APPOINTED AUTHORITY

WHO WAS FAITHFULLY EXECUTING HIS

MINISTRY IN THE TEMPLE. So also today.

Exodus 30:7 And Aaron shall burn thereon SWEET

INCENSE EVERY MORNING: when he dresseth

the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.

Incense was burned EVERY MORNING and

EVERY EVENING. This was also the time when


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the SEVEN BRANCHED GOLDEN

CANDLESTICK had its LAMPS TRIMMED. At

once, this is indicative of the Lord Jesus Christ

praying for each member of the church that is

disciplined, adjusted, trimmed and refilled with the

oil of the Holy Spirit. It is imperative for its witness

to the world that each and every member of the

Christian Church MAINTAIN A SPIRIT OF

PRAYER AND PRAISE as he is being constantly

being renewed and refilled with the oil of

gladness.

Revelation 9:13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I

heard a voice from the four horns of the GOLDEN

ALTAR which is before God.

From Revelation 5:8 and 8:2-6, it is learned that the

OFFERING OF MUCH INCENSE occurred

immediately prior to sending forth the

JUDGMENTS of God.

PRECIOUS OINTMENT shadows the

ANOINTING.

Many aspects have been considered under the

preceding section of the spices, the components of

the anointing oil. However, it is important to note

here that OIL speaks of the OUTWARD

MANIFESTATION of the working of the Holy

Spirit in the lives of Christians. Both aspects,


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namely the INWARD WORKING and the

OUTWARD WORKING of God, are essential to

equip the believer in becoming the LIGHT OF THE

WORLD.

Psalm 104:15 And wine that maketh glad the heart

of man, and OIL TO MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE,

and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.

Oil makes the believer's face shine!

In the initial instance, this conveys the truth of the

baptism of the Holy Spirit. The precious ointment

gives power for Christian service; power to witness;

power to create JOY, LIFE, ENTHUSIASM AND

LIBERTY.

Isaiah 10:27 And it shall come to pass in that day,

that his burden shall be taken away from off thy

shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and THE

YOKE SHALL BE DESTROYED BECAUSE OF

THE ANOINTING.

Zechariah 4:6 And he answered and spake unto me,saying, This is the word of the Lord unto

Zerubbabel, saying, NOT BY MIGHT, NOR BY

POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT, SAITH THE

LORD OF HOSTS.

Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord


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from the west, and his glory from the rising of the

sun. WHEN THE ENEMY SHALL COME IN

LIKE A FLOOD, THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD

SHALL LIFT UP A STANDARD AGAINST HIM.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive POWER, AFTER that

the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and YE SHALL

BE WITNESSES unto me both in Jerusalem, and in

all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost

part of the earth.

Luke 4:18,19 THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD

IS,UPON ME, because he hath anointed me to

preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to

heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the

captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set

at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the

acceptable year of the Lord.

Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the

SPIRIT OF GOD, then the kingdom of God is come

unto you.

Exodus 27:20 And thou shalt command the childrenof Israel, that they bring thee PURE OIL OLIVE

beaten for the LIGHT, to cause the LAMP TO

BURN ALWAYS.

Oil was used both for the CANDLESTICK and for

the DAILY SACRIFICES.


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This oil came from the olive tree which was a

beautiful evergreen. The fruit was placed in a press

and CRUSHED by stones, or was TRODDEN under

foot.

The Lord Jesus became the fruit of the olive tree,

beaten, when He entered Gethsemane, the garden of

the OLIVE PRESS, and then on to Calvary. He was

beaten and pressed so the Christian might have pure

olive oil, the gift of the HOLY GHOST.

The Holy Spirit is given to ILLUMINATE AND

ENLIGHTEN our spiritual understanding of the

Word of the Lord.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is

come, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL

TRUTH: for he shall not speak of himself; but

whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and

HE WILL SHOW YOU THINGS TO COME.

1 John 2:20, 27 But ye have an unction from the

Holy One, and ye know all things. But the

ANOINTING WHICH YE HAVE RECEIVED OFHIM ABIDETH IN YOU, and YE NEED NOT

THAT ANY MAN TEACH YOU: but as the SAME

ANOINTING teaches you of all things, and is truth,

and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall

abide in him.


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The TWO OLIVE TREES in Zechariah 4, are the

TWO ANOINTED ONES, literally, SONS OF OIL,

or SONS OF THE HOLY GHOST, the

ANOINTING. These are the TWO WITNESSES of

Revelation 11:3-12 They are pictured as OLIVE

TREES.

It was the oil that made the sweet savour, and caused

the sacrifice to be acceptable to the Lord. It is the

ANOINTING on our sacrifice of praise, our service,

our possessions, our finances, that make them

acceptable to the Lord. The OIL then, speaks of the

anointing, the QUICKENING OF THE SPIRIT, the

LIFE, the ZEAL, the ENTHUSIASM that the

believer is to manifest today.

Exodus 29:7 Then shalt thou take the ANOINTING

OIL, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.

Exodus 37:29 And he made the HOLY

ANOINTING OIL, and the PURE INCENSE of

SWEET SPICES, according to the work of the

apothecary.

1 Chronicles 9:30 And some of the sons of the

priests made the OINTMENT OF THE SPICES.

1 Samuel 10:1 Then Samuel took a VIAL OF OIL,

and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and

said,


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Is it not because the Lord hath ANOINTED thee to

be captain over his inheritance?

DAVID was anointed THREE times!

1 Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the HORN OF

OIL, and ANOINTED him in the midst of his

brethren: and the SPIRIT OF THE LORD came

upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose

up, and went to Ramah.

2 Samuel 2:4, 11 And the men of Judah came, and

there they anointed David king over the house of

Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of

Jabesh-gilead were they that buried Saul. And the

time that David was king in Hebron over the house

of Judah was seven years and six months.

2 Samuel 5:3-5 So all the elders of Israel came to

the king to Hebron; and king David made a league

with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they

anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty

years old when he began to reign, and he reigned

forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah sevenyears and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned

thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

The Hebrew word for anointed, means to RUB

WITH OIL, i.e., to anoint, to consecrate, to paint. It

is translated into the A.V. as anoint, and paint.


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The English word is derived from the Norman

French, enoindre, to anoint - from the Latin in, in,

and ungo, I anoint, It means to rub or smear with oil;

to consecrate.

When David was anointed, the oil was not simply

poured on him, it was RUBBED IN!

It is worthy of comment that Saul was anointed with

a vial, (a man made object), while David was

anointed with a HORN, (a God made object). A

horn in the Bible symbolises power.

Habakkuk 3:4 And his brightness was the light; he

had HORNS coming out of his hand: and THERE

WAS THE HIDING OF HIS POWER.

Psalm 133:2 It is like the PRECIOUS OINTMENT

upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even

Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his

garments;

James 5:14, 15 Is any sick among you? Let him call

for the elders of the church; and let them pray overhim, ANOINTING HIM WITH OIL in the name of

the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick,

and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have

committed sins, they shall be forgiven him,

Luke 7:36-50 And one of the Pharisees desired him


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that he would eat with him. And he went into the

Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And,

behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner,

when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the

Pharisee's house, brought an ALABASTER BOX

OF, OINTMENT, And stood at his feet behind him

weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and

did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed

his feet, and ANOINTED them with the

OINTMENT. Now when the Pharisee which had

bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying,

This man, if he were a prophet, would have known

who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth

him: for she is a SINNER. And Jesus answering said

unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee.

And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain

creditor which had two debtors: the one owed FIVE

HUNDRED PENCE, and the other FIFTY. And

when they had nothing to pay, he frankly

FORGAVE THEM BOTH. Tell me therefore, which

of them will love him most? Simon answered and

said, l suppose that he, to whom he FORGAVE

MOST. And he said unto him, Thou hast RIGHTLY

JUDGED. And he turned to the woman, and said toSimon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine

house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she

hath WASHED MY FEET WITH TEARS, and

WIPED THEM WITH THE HAIRS OF HER

HEAD. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman

since the time I came in hath not ceased to KISS


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MY FEET. My head with oil thou didst not anoint:

but THIS WOMAN HATH ANOINTED MY FEET

WITH OINTMENT. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her

sins which are MANY, are forgiven; for she

LOVED MUCH: but to whom little is forgiven, the

same loveth little. And he said unto her, THY SINS

ARE FORGIVEN. And they that sat at meat with

him began to say within themselves, Who is this that

forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy

faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Psalm 20:6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his

ANOINTED; he will hear him from his holy heaven

with the saving strength of his right hand.

Psalm 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the

presence of mine enemies: thou ANOINTEST MY

HEAD WITH OIL; my cup runneth over.

Mark 14:3-9 And being in Bethany in the house of

Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a

woman having an ALABASTER BOX OF

OINTMENT of SPIKENARD very precious; and

she brake the box, and poured it on his head. Andthere were some that had indignation within

themselves, and said, Why was this WASTE OF

THE OINTMENT made? For it might have been

sold for more than three hundred pence, and have

been given to the poor. And they murmured against

her. And Jesus said, Let her alon

what have they seen in your house

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