Day: October 24, 2022

Anointing

Anointing

By Eric Carlson in November-1 on October 24, 2022

In the body of believers today there is a lot of misunderstanding and confusion regarding the term anointing and what it means.  The term anointed is misused, misunderstood, and used out of context by most believers today including myself.

What does it mean to be “anointed?”  Anointing has various uses associated with it.  Those various uses, understandings and applications are bound together in that each involves the application of Olive Oil being rubbed on the person or object being anointed.  Anointing is a consecration; to be set aside.

Anointing in the Tanach is the setting aside of something or someone such as the Temple implements or Aaron and his sons as High Priests.  Anointing scripturally means to be consecrated for a holy or sacred use unto God, the devoting or setting apart of anything or anyone to the worship or service of Adonai.  Anointing is performed by rubbing sacred Olive Oil on the person or item (smearing with the hands).  Anointing in true biblical context is that the object or person being anointed are being sanctified for service unto God.”  The Hebrew term “mashiach” means anointed one and refers to Yeshua the Messiah, in the Greek its “chrio” which is the root word of Christo which means anointed one in Greek, or in English: “Christ”. 

Yeshua was anointed by God for service unto God.  I Samuel 16 records David being chosen as the next king by Samuel who anointed David with that special Olive Oil from a horn (exactly the same way Saul was anointed by Samuel).  It didn’t mean David was King then, it meant he was consecrated, set aside for this service unto God as King of Israel.  In Leviticus all the components of the Tabernacle where anointed, set apart for service unto God by Oil, then purified by the blood!

The oil used to signify that someone or something is consecrated or set aside was a special oil made of ingredients proscribed by God.

Exodus 30:22-32. ADONAI said to Moshe, 23 Take the best spices – 500 shekels of myrrh [121/2 pounds], half this amount (250 shekels) of aromatic cinnamon [61/4 pounds], 250 shekels of aromatic cane, 24 500 shekels of cassia (use the sanctuary standard), and one gallon of olive oil – 25 and make them into a holy anointing oil; blend it and perfume it as would an expert perfume-maker; it will be a holy anointing oil. 26 Use it to anoint the tent of meeting, the ark for the testimony, 27 the table and all its utensils, the menorah and all its utensils, the incense altar, 28 the altar for burnt offerings and all its utensils, and the basin with its base. 29 You are to consecrate them – they will be especially holy, and whatever touches them will be holy. 30 Then you are to anoint Aharon and his sons – you are to consecrate them to serve me in the office of cohen. 31 “Tell the people of Isra’el, ‘This is to be a holy anointing oil for me through all your generations. 32 It is not to be used for anointing a person’s body; and you are not to make any like it, with the same composition of ingredients – it is holy, and you are to treat it as holy.

To use this oil for any other purpose was considered an abomination to God. I want to pause here for to clear up some common, widespread mistakes I commonly hear among the greater body.  An anointing means your set apart for service unto the Holy One of Israel. Often individuals have come to me and say: “Rabbi, you’re operating under a new anointing, or your anointing has increased, or there is a change in your anointing”. It’s common to confuse the anointing with the power of the Ruach HaKodesh and God’s Glory, the Shekinah.  Either I’m anointed by God to be a Rabbi or I’m not.  The anointing can’t increase or decrease, its simply anointed or it’s not.  Anointing is mentioned only twice in the Brit Chadesha in Mark 6:13 and in James 5:14. They both speak specifically about anointing with Olive Oil!

Mark 6:13 – And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.

James 5:14 – Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.

I know this is very subtle, but authority and its source are very important in fulfilling our destiny within the Kingdom of God.  This is performed through S’mikhah, the laying on of hands or ordination. 

Scripture relates that Moses ordained Joshua by placing his hands on him, thereby transferring a portion of his spirit to Joshua (Num. 27:22, 23; Deut. 34:9). Moses also ordained the 70 elders who assisted him in governing the people (Num. 11:16–17, 24–25).  

Here’s a thought to ponder.  The elders ordained by Moses ordained their successors, who in turn ordained theirs and so on and so on so that there exists an unbroken chain of ordination from Moses on through time to the period of the Second Temple and Yeshua!  (Maim. Yad, Sanh. 4:2)

Joshua and those seventy elders were set apart, then S’mikhah was performed-the actual spirit that was resting upon Moses-notice it doesn’t say anointing, it’s the Spirit, the power of God, a literal part of Moses Spirit was transferred from him to each of the Seventy then to Joshua.  This is where they received the authority and ability to carry out their task.  Their power was increased.  So if someone states, Rabbi you’re more anointed than before it’s really not the anointing but the presence or Spirit of the Lord that’s changed.  Elisha asked only one thing from Elijah:

II Kings 2:9. After they had crossed, Eliyahu said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away from you.” Elisha said, “Please! Let a double share of your spirit be on me!”

Paul does the same with Timothy:

II Timothy 1:6. For this reason, I am reminding you to fan the flame of God’s gift, which you received through s’mikhah from me.

Yeshua’s source of power and authority (which came from God) was challenged by people:

Matthew 21:23. He went into the Temple area; and as he was teaching, the head cohanim and the elders of the people approached him and demanded, “What s’mikhah do you have that authorizes you to do these things? And who gave you this s’mikhah?”

Again, the anointing doesn’t change, it’s the presence and power of God that increases.  An extremely powerful period of worship really isn’t anointed as much as it is infused with the power and glory of Adonai through the Holy Spirit.

So where am I going with this.  Let’s look at King Saul, who is anointed by Samuel with oil to become Israel’s first king.  But Saul falters, because of disobedience God will dethrone Saul.  David, Saul’s successor, is also anointed with oil by Samuel to become the next King.  Years after being anointed David assumes the throne and becomes King.  David, in a rare period of peace in his palace ponders the building of a house for God.  Nathan, the prophet of God is given a word for David concerning the building of this palace and a great insight to King Saul and what was removed from him:

II Samuel 7:12-15. When your days come to an end and you sleep with your ancestors, I will establish one of your descendants to succeed you, one of your own flesh and blood; and I will set up his rulership. 13 He will build a house for my name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. 14 I will be a father for him, and he will be a son for me. If he does something wrong, I will punish him with a rod and blows, just as everyone gets punished; 15 nevertheless, my grace will not leave him, as I took it away from Sha’ul, whom I removed from before you.

Here we see a powerful and profound revelation.  The anointing did not depart from Saul, he carries the anointing to be king until death.  What departed from Saul was God’s grace, the presence of God, His Spirit, His Glory.  The verse doesn’t say the anointing was taken from Saul, it was God’s grace, His presence, His Spirit that’s removed.

Now we see this followed through with David.  Even though a young David is anointed to replace Saul as King in I Samuel 16, David awaits the timing of the Lord to ascend to his rightful place on the throne of Israel.  David doesn’t kill Saul even though Saul mercilessly persecutes David and seeks to kill him.  Saul, who is anointed by God, consecrated, set apart to be King is not touched by David because of God’s anointing:

I Samuel 24:10. Here, today you have seen with your own eyes that ADONAI put you in my power there in the cave. Some of my men said I should kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I won’t raise my hand against my lord, because he is ADONAI’s anointed.

As the Psalmist stated:

Psalm 105:15. “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”

So we see scripturally that the anointing is not a power itself; it is the means of process through which someone or something is consecrated, set aside for service unto Adonai! It allows the Holy Spirit to operate through people through people to fulfill their divine calling. The anointing is permanent, the Holy Spirit will only operate through one who is anointed! Understanding your own personal anointing allows you to fulfill God’s call and purpose in your life. May the Lord God of Israel bless you and keep you! Shalom!

Mezuzah

Mezuzah

By Eric Carlson in November-3 on October 24, 2022

On the front doorpost of every Jewish home and the front door coming into our lobby is a small container called a Mezuzah.

Inside this small container is a parchment scroll with these Biblical passages (in Hebrew) written on them:

Deuteronomy 6:4-9. “Sh’ma, Yisra’el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, Isra’el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one]; 5 and you are to love ADONAI your God with all your heart, all your being and all your resources. 6 These words, which I am ordering you today, are to be on your heart; 7 and you are to teach them carefully to your children. You are to talk about them when you sit at home, when you are traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them on your hand as a sign, put them at the front of a headband around your forehead, 9 and write them on the door-frames of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 11:13-21. “So if you listen carefully to my mitzvot which I am giving you today, to love ADONAI your God and serve him with all your heart and all your being; 14 then, [says ADONAI,] ‘I will give your land its rain at the right seasons, including the early fall rains and the late spring rains; so that you can gather in your wheat, new wine and olive oil; 15 and I will give your fields grass for your livestock; with the result that you will eat and be satisfied.’ 16 But be careful not to let yourselves be seduced, so that you turn aside, serving other gods and worshipping them. 17 If you do, the anger of ADONAI will blaze up against you. He will shut up the sky, so that there will be no rain. The ground will not yield its produce, and you will quickly pass away from the good land ADONAI is giving you. 18 Therefore, you are to store up these words of mine in your heart and in all your being; tie them on your hand as a sign; put them at the front of a headband around your forehead; 19 teach them carefully to your children, talking about them when you sit at home, when you are traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up; 20 and write them on the door-frames of your house and on your gates –21 so that you and your children will live long on the land ADONAI swore to your ancestors that he would give them for as long as there is sky above the earth.

Adonai gives us specific instructions to Shema, to Hear, and to Love Adonai with all that we have! We are commanded to teach His words carefully to our children, and we are to affix His word to our door frames and gates! To perform this last command, we use the Mezuzah. A small, cylindrical container that has these scriptures rolled up inside of it and attach it to our door frames! The word Mezuzah comes from the Hebrew root meaning “doorway” or “entrance”

The Mezuzah has El Shaddai (God Almighty) written on the cover of it in Hebrew. If there is not enough room the Hebrew letter “Shin”  alone is written which is the acronym for El Shaddai. Every believer in Yeshua should consider hanging a Mezuzah on their door frame. It is a testimony to the “Living Word”, Yeshua, and lets the world know that your home is covered by the Word of God as He commanded! The Mezuzah should be hung on the main entrance door of the home on the right side of the door frame. It should be placed 1/3 of the way down from the top of the door frame. Low enough for older children to see and touch it, but high enough so smaller children cannot play with it! It is highly recommended that the Shofar be blown in and around the home prior to hanging the Mezuzah, and that prayer be given to the “Most High” asking for blessings, protection, and God’s presence and His word to dwell within your home! The following blessings are recited after affixing the Mezuzah to your door frame:

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who hallows us with His Mitzvot, and commands us to affix a Mezuzah to our door post.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for enabling us to have a home.

Then a home dedication prayer:

Eternal Father, we lift our hearts to you in love, harmony, and Shalom in our family circle. We affix the Mezuzah as a sign of dependence upon your providence. Bless our home and family with mutual love and understanding in Yeshua. May the Mezuzah ever remind us that You are our Father and that You sent Yeshua for us as the “Living Word”. May your Shalom rest upon this home, and all that live here and those who may visit.  May Your love abound here in and in the world. Amen.

When one enters through a doorway where a mezuzah has been affixed, we glance at it and touch it. Some people will kiss their fingertips then touch the mezuzah. This serves as a reminder throughout the day that God is always with us, inside or outside our homes. The front doorpost of a house, due to its visibility to the outside world, represents the family’s values, and is a place to show world your identity, a child of God. By affixing the mezuzah to the doorpost of your home, it gives witness to God, to the world, and to the adversary that your home serves the one true God.

Rabbi and Rebbetzin’s Corner November 2022

Rabbi and Rebbetzin’s Corner November 2022

By Eric Carlson in November-2 on October 24, 2022

October and the Fall Feast Celebrations flew by! We experienced the Presence of Adonai profoundly in our Yom Teruah, Ten Days of Awe, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah Services! A season of repenting, forgiveness, Joy and Happiness! Now we are in November and looking forward to Thanksgiving on November 24th 2022. The traditional teaching for the “First Thanksgiving” is the celebration that occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation, in 1621, however that wasn’t the first. The Plymouth celebration occurred early in the history of what would become one of the original thirteen colonies that became the United States. However, there was another, more modest Thanksgiving at Berkley Plantation, Virginia on the banks of the James River in 1619, two years before the Pilgrims even landed at Plymouth.

On December 4, 1619, after ten weeks at sea, thirty-eight English settlers arrived at Berkeley Hundred, about 20 miles upstream from Jamestowne. Upon arrival Captain John Woodleaf held the first service of Thanksgiving as the newly landed settlers fell to their knees to thank God for their safe arrival. The Charter of Berkeley Hundred stated “We ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.”

George Washington’s October 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation:

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to “recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”

The Thanksgiving celebration became an important part of the American history by the 1800s. Thanksgiving was modeled after the biblical celebration of Sukkot (which we just recently celebrated) when Israel thanked God for sustenance and provision in the desert wonderings.

Thanksgiving as we celebrate it today is one of copious amounts of food:  Turkey, stuffing, vegetables, gravies, and numerous pies and is centered around Family!  Thanksgiving is the most travelled holiday in America, families reunite and come together, and for some it’s the only time of the year they do so.

The act of Thanksgiving is biblical, not the American holiday, but the act.  It is a sacrifice of thanks commanded in Torah where one gives heartfelt thanks to Adonai for many reasons including but not limited to: recovery from illness, delivered from danger, safe return home from a trip or journey, provision and sustenance, or any other reason for thanking Adonai for His blessings:

Leviticus 12:7. If a person offers it for giving thanks (todah {to-dah’}: to give thanks, laud, praise, to confess, give praise to God, songs of liturgical worship in the Psalms, hymn of praise, thanks offering, sacrifice of thanksgiving), he is to offer it with the thanksgiving sacrifice (Zevach Todah: Zevach is an animal sacrifice but is not a Korban, not a sin sacrifice. It’s a sacrifice of covenant righteousness-fellowship with God) of unleavened cakes mixed with olive oil, matzah spread with olive oil, and cakes made of fine flour mixed with olive oil and fried.

Todah is an act of worship whose root word is Yadah, is from the root yad that means hand. So Yada is an extended hand, worshipping the Lord with extended hands. “Thanksgiving” (Todah) is an extension of the hands, avowal, adoration, the kehillah, the congregation of worshippers offering a sacrifice of praise.  In Leviticus 9:22 Aaron raised his hands toward the people and blessed them after offering the sacrifice.  Raised hands signifies praise and worship, accepted of sacrifices, and blessings!  We raise our hands to give thanks for the blessings in our lives to the glory of God.  We find Yada being used when Adonai intervened in the affairs of His people with miraculous deliverance.  Yadah is our response to answered prayers and when Adonai reveals Himself through His word, through revelation, or the manifestation of His presence. Yadah is a believers natural response for Adonai’s blessing upon us or His divine intervention on our behalf. As you gather together with family this Thanksgiving give thanks to the Lord for all that He has done for you and all that He will do for you! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever! This is the very purpose of this day, give Him thanks!!