How the Oil is Used

The oil is almost always applied using the right thumb, or occasionally is poured on. When applied with the thumb, it is usually applied in the form of a cross. This is to remind us that all blessing come from the crucified Christ, the source of all healing and life for the world.

When anointing accompanies Baptism, the cross is marked in oil on the baptized person's forehead. In this way they are 'sealed' with the Holy Spirit as a reminder of Revelation 7:3 in which the servants of God are "sealed . . . upon their foreheads." In Baptism we are made servants of God.

Confirmation candidates and the sick are anointed in the same way on their foreheads, and for the same reasons. The sick are also anointed, as the need arises, on the infected part of their bodies. In this way their prayer is acted out.

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I have prepared a meditative exercise to help shape or heal our image of God. I invite you to close your eyes, breathe deeply and begin to focus your mind on God.

1. Picture yourself having committed some sin, standing before God the judge expecting to be condemned. The judge recognizes your remorse, accepts your repentance, drops the charges against you, forgives the harm you have done, releases you from your punishment, and sets you free! (Psalm 103:10 -12) "God does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. As the heavens are high above Earth, that's how great God's steadfast love is toward us who respect God. As far as the East is from the West, that's how far God removes our transgressions from us."
2. Picture God as a loving mother/father holding you in his/her arms. (Hosea 11: 3,4) It was I who taught you to walk, I took you up in my arms; but you did not know that I healed you. I led you with the cords of human kindness, with the bands of love. I was the one who lifted you as an infant to my cheek and bent down to feed you.
3. Can you picture God as the anguished parent of a rebellious teenager? (Isaiah 1) "Why must you persist in your rebellion until your head is injured, your heart is afflicted, and you are covered with wounds. I am so weary of bearing the burdens you place on me. If only you were willing, I would take your blood red sins and make them pure as snow."
4. Can you picture God as a shepherd who lovingly cares for you? (Isaiah 40:11) "God is like a shepherd feeding his flock, gathering the lambs in his arms, holding them against his breast and gently leading the mother ewes." Can you picture yourself as a lamb being held against God's breast, or a mother ewe being gently led.
5. Think of God as a wise woman, a teacher speaking to us to set us right (Proverbs 8) "Listen, I have something important to tell you. What I say is right; nothing false, nothing misleading. What I tell you is the plain truth. I will give you good advice. If you listen to me you will be blessed day after day. Whoever finds me finds life."
6. Can you picture God as your lover? (Song of Songs 7) "How beautiful you are, how charming, my love, my delight! Come my love, let us walk together through the fields, then we will spend the night together in the village. In the morning we will go into the vineyard and among the blossoms of the orchard. There I will give you the gift of my love." Have you read Morton Kelsey's book "Sacrament of Sexuality"?
7. Or perhaps you can picture God as a glorious light. (Psalm 119:105) "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." Can you picture your soul being flooded with God's glorious light? Once, while attending a Quaker Meeting, I was meditating on how to visualize the presence of God when a glorious deep blue light filled my consciousness. (Isaiah 60:1-2) "Arise, shine out, for your light has come, and the glory of God has risen on you. Look! though night still covers Earth and the people are in darkness, on you God is rising and over you God's glory can be seen."
8. Finally let's consider God simply as the spirit or reign of love. ( Zephaniah 3:14 -18 ) "Shout for joy, daughter of Zion, Shout aloud! Rejoice and exult with all your heart. . . Have no fear, nor let your hands fall limp. God is in the midst of you as your savior. God will rejoice over you with gladness, and will renew you with love." Perhaps you can feel or imagine your whole being filling to overflowing and being renewed with the spirit of Love. Breathe it in with your breath. Let it flow to your heart. Let it be carried to every part of your body, mind, and soul. Can you feel God's love as emotionally renewing?

Now while continuing to hold the light of God in your soul and the love of God in your heart, center your focus on your breathing again, and gradually become aware of the people around you. When you are ready, open your eyes and rejoin the group. Stretch!

Share with the group your thoughts about some of these images.

Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub, of the Jewish Healing Center, has put together a study by Jewish spiritual leaders of the 10 Psalms which are considered to be the complete remedy. This study has been published by Jewish Lights Publishing of Woodstock, Vt. in a book, Healing of Soul, Healing of Body. It begins with Psalm 16 which urges us to trust in God who watches over us, who turns our pain into gladness, who provides security and rest for the body and who will not abandon the soul. Then Psalm 41 reminds us that God sustains us on our sick bed and, in our illness, heals all our infirmities. These psalms can lead us finally to Shalom! Shalom is not only "Peace"; the cessation of fighting, it is blessing, healing and complete wholeness.

I have always found the psalms to be a source of comfort, strength and healing. When I was in Sunday School we were expected to memorize certain passages of scripture. In Second Grade I learned the 23rd psalm. One phrase always bothered me. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." Then I tried putting it into my own words, "You welcome me at your table where everyone can see how much you love me." That made more sense to me. Since then I have worked at paraphrasing all of the Psalms; putting them into my own words and it has been a great blessing to me. I highly recommend this to you as a wonderful spiritual discipline and a means of bringing you deep inner healing.

One of my favorites is Psalm 103 describing God's compassion and healing.

Praise God, my soul, and from the depth of my being praise the Holy One. Praise God, my soul, and never forget all the benefits of God's kindness. God forgives all our offenses, cures all our diseases. God redeems our lives from the pit of worthlessness, and places a crown of faithful love upon our heads with tenderness; God intends our years to be filled with goodness and our youthful strength to be continuously renewed so that we may soar like the eagles.

We have talked about the healing that is needed to fit us to be receptive to God's healing activity. Now I want to move on to look at some healing experiences described in the Hebrew Bible and the persons God empowered to perform them. Frank Darling in his book Biblical Healing; Hebrew and Christian Roots, emphasized that these healing activities were carried out by persons with a special relationship with God. Isaiah 61 describes the healing mission of God's servant in this way: "The Spirit of God is upon me, because GOD has anointed me; and has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners. . . to comfort all who mourn and give them flowers instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning." Some people are anointed by God to be healers.

One of the earliest references to healing in the Bible involves Abraham. He was seen as a healer because he had a special covenant relationship with God. When Abimelech and his whole household were afflicted with barrenness (Genesis 20:17) "Then Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimeleck and his wife and female slaves so they could bear children."

Moses was another person with a special relationship with God. After receiving God's call at the burning bush Moses protested that he needed proof to show God's people in Egypt. (Exodus 4:6-7) Then Moses discovered that his hand had become infected with leprosy but he was given a sign of God's healing power by the cleansing his leprous hand. After God's people had escaped from Egypt and had crossed the sea,

( Exodus 20:26 ) God assured them through Moses that they would be protected from the diseases which had afflicted the Egyptians "For I am the God who heals you." When Miriam was afflicted with leprosy Moses prayed to God to heal her (Numbers 12) and after 7 days outside the camp she was cleansed and able to rejoin them.

In Numbers 21, we are told that Moses made a bronze serpent on a rod to heal the people who had been bitten by poisonous snakes and save them from the fear of death. People really do die of fear. Even today the serpent on the rod is a sign of healing.

In 2 Kings 5 we read about the prophet Elisha healing Naaman's leprosy by sending him to wash in the Jordan river. Naaman at first protested, but when he humbled himself and obeyed, he was healed.

These examples tell us that healing came as a result of prayer, faith, and humble acceptance. The healings were all performed by people who had a special relationship with God and who were given special gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is interesting to read that the special gifts of the Spirit were passed on from Elijah to Elisha. Elisha asked for a double share of Elijah's spirit. (2 Kings 2) This was the customary request of an eldest son to receive a double share of the inheritance from his father. This was granted to Elisha when Elijah was taken to heaven. The spirit of Moses was passed on to Joshua, by the laying on of hands. (Deuteronomy 34:9) "Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him." In the Bible the hand represented power and blessing. When Isaac laid his hands on his sons to bless them, something was transferred to them that was irrevocable. The Bible often speaks of the Hand of God as representing God's power. We set aside and empower ministers by ordination with prayer and the laying on of hands. At confirmation we pass God's blessing on to the confirmands and empower them to be disciples by prayer and the laying on of hands. In healing ministry one of the ways we can convey God's love and healing power to the sick is by laying hands on them and praying for their healing. Often touch is important in the healing process.

The first time I laid hands on someone in prayer was early in my ministry. I was visiting parishioners in the hospital when a nurse who knew me came to me and asked me to come a pray for a man who saw suffering terribly. When I entered his room the man was very agitated, tossing and turning in his bed and crying out in pain in spite of the drugs he had been given. I went over to his bed, laid my hand on his head and began to pray out loud that God would be merciful to him, forgive his sins, relieve his pain and suffering, and grant him peace. Immediately the man became quiet and seemed to be sleeping peacefully. When I returned to his room a few minutes later the nurse told me that the man had died shortly after my prayer, but on his face I could see a wonderful expression of relief and peace. Wow! What an answer to prayer! Through our hands we express many things, our strength, our own faith and confidence, the love God has given us, and sometimes God's power to comfort and heal. If we lay hands on other people without a firm connection with the love and power of God they can draw the love and energy all out of us and leave us totally drained.

In healing ministry our hands can also communicate in both directions. Not only can we communicate God's healing love to someone, we can also receive things from them. One time when I visited another parishioner who was in pain, I took his hand in mine and told him to give me his pain. He looked at me in surprise and said he wouldn't wish that pain on anyone. I told him that it wouldn't hurt me because I would pass it on the God. Then as I reached up as if to take the hand of God with my left hand, my parishioner gritted his teeth and squeezed my right hand as hard as he could. I felt something pass through my body like a great sigh and he released his grip with a surprised expression of relief on his face and exclaimed: "Wow! it worked!" Other people can transmit their curses, their pain, their fears and anxieties to us and without a firm connection with God we can be sorely afflicted.

There is also something else we can receive through the laying on of hands and prayer. Remember that God's prophets were often called seers because they could perceive things not obvious to others. Our hands may be sensitive to the special needs of the person for whom we are praying. This can be helpful in the discernment of problems of which the person for whom we are praying may be unaware. As we move our hands over the person's body, while seeking any discernment God's Holy Spirit may give us, distress or disorder may be communicated to our sensitized hands in ways that might otherwise be indiscernible. Once when I was working with a person who was experiencing back pain, I prayed for discernment concerning the cause. As my hands passed over the back of the neck I sensed a pinched nerve. More exploration revealed tension in the neck muscles. With my hands laid on the neck muscles and my prayer to relieve stress, God relieved the pain in the back.

Another time I had been experiencing severe pain running down my right leg from my hip. My prayer partner sought the discernment of the Holy Spirit as I stood before him and he gently ran his hands down my body. Suddenly he stopped and told me, "If you get that fat wallet out of your hip pocket it might help." When I took it from my pocket the pain ceased immediately and it has never returned. I was healed!

Exercise - Decide if you want to try laying on hands, receive laying on hands or to be an observer. If you want to try some laying on of hands, pair up with someone next to you who is interested in receiving this ministry and invite someone else to join you as an observer. Lay your hands on that person's shoulders, and pray the Holy Spirit for discernment of anything that may be causing that person discomfort. You may feel various sensations with your hands such as warmth, tingling, tension. As the Holy Spirit leads you share what you are sensing and seek confirmation. You might say: "I am sensing some pain, sorrow, distress, anxiety etc. in you. Is that right? I sense that God wants to offer you assurance, strength, comfort, healing, etc. Would you like me to pray for that with you? Offer prayer as the Holy Spirit leads you. If you don't feel or sense anything after a few moments consider if your own hurts or feelings may be getting in the way and perhaps you should shift roles with your prayer partner. If you both wish to shift roles you may do so.

If something gets opened up for healing in this exercise and you feel the need for it to continue be sure to seek out a prayer partner here later today or someone of your home congregation to continue the process.

The Hebrew Bible can also teach us about what we call soaking prayer. When the son of the widow of Zarephath was stricken, (1 Kings 17:17-23) Elijah cried out to God, then stretched himself over the child three times praying, "My God, let this child's life come into him again." and the child was revived. Similarly, when a Shunammite woman's son was stricken Elisha prayed for his recovery (2 Kings 4:32-36). Elisha lay upon the child, putting his mouth to the child's mouth, and his hands on the child's hands, until the child's flesh was warmed. A second time he repeated the procedure and this time the child sneezed and opened his eyes.

We learn from this that it may take repeated applications of prayer and laying on of hands for complete healing to take place. Sometimes one needs to work with a prayer partner for several sessions as healing gradually progresses. Sometimes it is helpful to immerse a person in the prayers of a prayer group. One person may begin by laying hands on the person's head and beginning to pray. Several other persons then join in and with the permission of the person for whom the prayers are to be offered they may lay their hands on other parts of the body and add their prayers. Several of these soaking prayer sessions may be needed before healing may be completed, but the results can be spectacular. Some years ago Jim contracted polio and lost the use of his legs. I was in a prayer group with his wife, Doris, and every time we met we would soak Jim in this kind of healing prayer. There was gradual strengthening of Jim's legs over several years, until at last he was able to stand upright, discard his crutches, and walk again.

While making hospital calls I discovered a woman who had passed out on the road and wrecked her car. Tests showed that she had suffered severe brain damage. Her husband asked me to pray for her because the doctors felt there was little hope of recovery. For three months our church and others continued to pray for her and to soak her in our prayers as she lay in a coma in the hospital. A few weeks ago when I visited her she sat up, opened her eyes, and smiled when she recognized me. She had come out of the coma, had regained her memory, and she thanked me for the prayers which she believed had been so helpful. Persistence in prayer often gets remarkable results. Praise be to God! Amen.

Questions? Comments?


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Cassia

Cassia was one of the principal spices of the Holy Anointing oil used to anoint priests, kings and their garments. Likewise the coming King Messiah's robes will smell of cassia. Cassia is not frequently used today but was apparently a highly valued commodity in Bible times. The root word, kiddah, in both Hebrew and Arabic, signifies a strip and refers to the strips of bark from which the spice is made. In the spiritual sense, cassia speaks of humility, being stripped of pride, set apart (holy) with a servant's heart. The deep, exotic aroma and the rich color of our Cassia oil make it a welcome addition to our family of Biblical fragrant anointing oils.

Psalm 45:8 "Your robes are all fragrant with myrrh, aloes and cassia..."

Botanical Information:

Botanical: Cinnamomum cassia
Part Used: Bark & leaves
Habitat: Burma, India, South China

Cassia is an evergreen tree with an aromatic bark, similar to cinnamon, but darker, thicker and coarser. The outer surface is rough and greyish-brown, the inside bark is smoother and reddish-brown. The stems are cut down when the bark is mature. The bark is removed in short lengths and dried, then ground into powder or rolled from both sides toward the center, to form a quill resembling a scroll. An aromatic oil can be derived through steam distillation of the leaves to produce a strong and penetrating fragrance.



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Cedars of Lebanon

The cedar of Lebanon is a huge evergreen tree by Middle Eastern standards reaching 90 feet in height, the “King" of all Biblical trees. The wood is astonishingly decay resistant and it is never eaten by insect larvae. It is beautifully majestic and red toned with deep green leaves. The tree bark is dark gray and exudes a gumlike resin from which the highly aromatic oils are produced. Cedars of Lebanon is the strong, fragrant wood used to build David's house, Solomon's house and much of the First Temple. It was also used along with hyssop in the cleansing of a leper's house. It speaks of strength, permanence, endurance and wholeness.

Ps 92:12 "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon."


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FRANKINCENSE & MYRRH

These two fragrances combined not only smell divine, but have deep spiritual significance as two of the three gifts presented to the Messiah after his birth. (Learn more about the spiritual meaning of this and our other fragrances on our anointing oil teaching page.)

In temple days, sweet incense containing Frankincense was placed on the Inner Altar of the Tabernacle and burned morning and evening. It speaks of intercession. Myrrh, used as a burial spice and in purification rites, was a primary ingredient of the Holy Anointing Oil. It speaks of suffering and death, but our total deliverance in the atoning work of Messiah. Frankincense & Myrrh, two of the three prophetic gifts given to the Messiah at His birth, represent His role as Priest and Prophet, signifying all that Messiah would do and continues to do on our behalf.

Is 53:5 "He was wounded for our transgression, He was bruised for our iniquities; ....and by His stripes we are healed."
Heb 7:24-26: "...he is totally able to deliver those who approach God through him; since he is alive forever and thus able to intercede on their behalf."

Note: The Frankincense fragrance listed on the website will always contain a tiny bit of Myrrh to help with the pungency of the Frankincense fragrance. It will either be labeled Frankincense & Myrrh or simply Frankincense.


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Henna

Henna, a shrub producing masses of small, white, heavily fragrant flowers, has been widely used as a cosmetic from ancient times until present. It is popular in the Middle East as a dye which is applied in intricate patterns on the hands and feet of brides. The whole unbroken leaves of henna will not stain the skin; however, when they are broken or crushed the color is released to stain the skin. The mention of the alluring fragrance of Henna is quite appropriately found in the beautiful love song of the Bible, Song of Songs 1:14. It is a smell you can fall in love with instantly and is thought to be the source of Cleopatra's famous captivating perfume. The root word for Henna is derived from an Arabic word meaning emotional tenderness. We, like the Henna leaves and flowers, can become spiritually tender and extremely fragrant when we submit to the breaking of our own wills in true repentance before the Lord.

Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."


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Hyssop (Holy Fire)

Hyssop is a low growing evergreen, bushy herb growing 1 to 2 feet high, cultivated for its flower-tops, from which the fragrance is extracted. The herb grows in arid climates out of rocky soil and out of cracks in ancient walls such as in the old Temple area of Jerusalem. Hyssop was once called a "Holy Herb" because it was used for sprinkling in the ritual practices of the Hebrews. Ex 12:22 reads “And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts..” Because of the reference found in Num. 19:6 (“And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer”), we have called this fragrance “HOLY FIRE”. Hyssop, a very "clean, fresh" scent, speaks of spiritual cleansing by the refining fire of the Holy Spirit.

Ps 51:7 “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”


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The Ketubah Collection - Marriage Covenant

Ketubah is the Hebrew word meaning "It is written" and the name given to marriage contracts for the children of Israel outlining the vows and responsibilities of the groom and the bride toward each other. Many scriptures compare the marriage covenant on earth with the covenant between the Creator and His people. After the Exodus, Moses presented the children of Israel with the terms of one such covenant, the Ten Commandments written with the finger of the Holy One of Israel, which they accepted wholeheartedly with a resounding “I do.” Love for The One True God, shown by obedience to His Word, is the basis on which this covenant is extended to all who believe.

Ketubah is a special aromatic blending of biblical fragrances representing the participants in the holy covenant of marriage:
the Groom, the Bride and the Spirit of The Living God.

Frankincense & Myrrh: fragrances of the Groom

Spikenard: fragrance of the Bride

Hyssop (Holy Fire): fragrance of the Holy Spirit

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King's Garments, a unique blend of Cassia & Myrrh

Myrrh, bitter to the taste, sweet to the smell, was used in purification rites and Holy Oil.
Cassia was one of the principal spices of the Holy Anointing oil used to anoint priests, kings and their garments. Likewise the garments of our coming King Messiah and High Priest, will smell of cassia. Psalm 45:8 "Your robes are all fragrant with myrrh, aloes and cassia...".

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Lily of the Valley

Lily of the valley is known for its delicate, cup-like, pure white flowers and its light and crisp fragrance. The Beloved in Song of Solomon compares herself to one of these after she has heard her lover declare how ravished he is with her. In the spiritual sense, lily speaks of purity of heart.

Song of Sol. 2:1 "I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys."


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Oil of Myrrh

Myrrh, an exotic Biblical spice, was used in purification & beautification rites, in the formula for the Holy Anointing Oil, and in burial spices. Queen Esther was bathed in Oil of Myrrh for six months and with other aloes and perfumes for another six months before her presentation to the king. Bitter to the taste but sweet to the smell, myrrh in the spiritual sense speaks of dying to self to become a "sweet smelling savor" to the Lord.

Esther 2:12 Each girl had her turn to appear before King Achashverosh after she had undergone the full twelve-month preparation period prescribed for the women, consisting of a six-month treatment with oil of myrrh and six months with perfumes and other cosmetics for women.
Click here for a teaching on Purim and the Fast of Esther

Botanical Information:

Botanical: Commiphora myrrha
Part Used: The gum resin
Habitat: Oman, Somalia, Yemen

The small bushy trees grow high on coastal cliffs with little soil and flourish in extreme hot, arid climates. Harvested by hand in the very last days of fall, the gum resin flow is milky white, as it begins to crystallize. The fresh myrrh is packed in burlap sacks, then carried down the rocky paths to awaiting camel packs and onto local markets. harvesters follow the "Frankincense & Myrrh trails" to market just as in ancient days.

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Pomegranate

The pomegranate, a Persian native, is one of the oldest fruits known to man and was highly esteemed by the Israelites. It takes an enormous amount of the flower petals to be pressed and steam-distilled in order to make a quantity of oil. Once pressed the slightly amber oil, which is the basis for all our Pomegranate products, gives off a pleasant and slightly fruity odor. Jewish tradition teaches that the pomegranate is a symbol for righteousness, because it is said to have 613 seeds which corresponds with the 613 mitzvot or commandments of the Torah. Pomegranate is one of the seven species the spies brought back with them to show how fertile the promised land was. It speaks of God's favor exhibited, in fruitfulness and abundance - hence we call it our “BLESSINGS COLLECTION”.

Nu 13:23 "They came to the valley of Eshkol...they brought also of the pomegranates, and of the figs."


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Rose of Sharon

This flower from the region of Sharon in Israel is actually not a rose, but is part of the hibiscus family. Its blooms are nonetheless beautiful and glorious, just as Isaiah depicted the millennial reign when the Bride of Messiah shines forth in all the radiance of her heavenly glory and beauty.

Song of Sol 2:1: "I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys."


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Spikenard

Spikenard, a rare and costly fragrant oil, was used by Mary of Bethany to anoint the head and feet of the Messiah two days before His death, as recorded in John 12:3: “Then Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.” It speaks of the Bride’s extravagant adoration of & intimacy with the Bridegroom, in total abandonment, without regard to cost. We at ABBA call Spikenard "The Fragrance of the Bride", for it symbolizes the bride who has made herself ready.

Song of Sol 1:12 "While the king sits at his table, my spikenard sends forth its fragrance."


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