A Time Of Release

By: Donna J. Kazenske

Definition of the anointing: the supernatural enablement of God which He gives to a person, through the Holy Spirit, to accomplish His purpose.

In Exodus 30:22-33, we find the recipe for the holy anointing oil as given to Moses. The oil contained five different ingredients: liquid myrrh, sweet smelling cinnamon, sweet smelling cane, cassia, and olive oil.

Even as there are different types of ingredients in the holy anointing oil, so are there different kinds of anointings in a believer’s life and ministry.

In Exodus 30:32 – “It shall not be poured on man’s flesh; nor shall you make any other like it, according to its composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you.”

The anointing of God is not something to be played with, nor can it be purchased with man’s hard earned money. Simon the sorcerer wanted to purchase the anointing from Peter and John when he saw them imparting the anointing to the believers in that city.

Acts 8:20-22 – “But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.”

Peter told Simon that his heart was not right in the sight of God. He called this attitude of heart wickedness and told Simon to repent.

How many times has your heart not been right before God? How many times have you found yourself murmuring and complaining in God’s sight because your heart was not right? This kind of heart attitude is wickedness in God’s eyes. When our hearts are not right before God, we hinder the moving of His Spirit in our lives. Repentance must take place in order for us to be in right standing before Him.

Olive oil is one of the main ingredients in the holy anointing oil. Olive oil comes from olives that have been pressed or crushed under pressure. The oil can only flow when the olive is placed under pressure. We find this to be true in our lives as well. Sometimes, God allows us to go through some pretty intense pressure situations of which we really don’t want to be a part of. While we are griping and complaining to God about how bad our particular situation is, God is using the pressure situation to do something wonderful on the inside of us. The pressure that is being applied to our lives is causing the anointing of God to come forth in ways that it’s never been released in us before. The pressure brings the release of the anointing that is needed in our lives at this particular time.

Keeping our heart right in the times of great trial and suffering is something that does not come easy for any of us, however, our circumstances can work for our good if we will take this tiny nugget of truth into our hearts and allow God to make it revelation to us.

The children of Israel found themselves wandering through the desert for forty years because their hearts were not right in the sight of God. They could have reached the Promised Land in 11 days, but because of their continuous rebellion and wrong heart attitudes toward God and His leadership, the trip took forty long years. The whole time they were in the desert, they murmured and complained. God was doing mighty miracles in their midst, yet they neglected to praise Him and give Him glory for His supernatural provision and blessing.

Acts 16:22-24 – “Then the multitude rose up together against them (Paul & Silas); and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.”

I would like you to picture this scene in your mind for a moment. Paul and Silas were thrown into a prison with their backs ripped open and bleeding. The jailer then fastened their feet in the stocks. What a time of trial and testing for these two precious men of God! How did Paul and Silas react to this pressure situation? Did they murmur and complain to God because He messed up their anointed preaching engagement? Did they curse God and declare they would no longer serve Him because He was allowing them to go through this terrible ordeal? Did they yell at the jailer and say, “You’re going to pay for this!”?