The Eightfold Anointing

Anointing Yourself Daily For Christ-likeness

When the woman anointed Jesus' feet with oil from her alabaster box, He said she was anointing Him for His burial. He was being prepared symbolically for His death.

Jesus was anointed for burial - Matthew 26:7-12 KJV
"There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial."

You are called to die, just like Jesus. You may not be called to die for your faith physically, but you are called to die to yourself so that you can live once again in Christ-likeness.

Losing your life for Him - Luke 9:23-24 KJV
"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it."

Jesus said in Acts 1:8 that His disciples would be His witnesses. The word "witnesses" is the same word as "martyrs." We may never be crucified, but we are still called to die. With us, it is bloodless martyrdom. We don't die in the flesh. We die to the flesh. If I am truly saved, I am a dead person, resurrected and walking in Christ-likeness.

Bloodless martyrdom for all Christians - Acts 1:8 KJV
"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."

Every morning, in acknowledgement of my death to self and my anointing to be like Jesus, I anoint myself with fragrant olive oil. I recall that I have died to the flesh and come alive in the Spirit, and my life is hidden with Christ in God. I am now dedicated to God. I am no longer my own. I was bought with the price of Christ's blood.

How to anoint yourself each day As you begin each day, you can recommit yourself to God by anointing your body with oil. Here are the eight parts of the body to anoint in this "Eightfold Anointing":

Head
Mouth
Eyes
Ears
Nose
Hands
Feet
Body

At the end of this section are suggested words to say as you anoint each of those parts of your body.

Anointed to die

Sometimes I see Christians using the word "anointed" to describe themselves in press releases. I wonder if they realize that Jesus was anointed not only to be king and priest but also to die for the sins of the world. Death to self for the sake of others is Christ-like. When you are anointed, you become a bridge that others can walk on to get to God. You become a worm that does not strike back, but is easily crushed.

If you believe in Christ, you are saved from hell and going to heaven, but unless you die to yourself and become a disciple-a disciplined one-you may never develop Christ-like humility and apply the principles of the kingdom of God to your life. Being a disciple requires sacrifice. It means laying yourself on the altar of total surrender and allowing God to have His way.

Sacrificial life - Psalm 50:5 KJV
"Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."

Jesus delivered the people of Israel out of their bondage to death, hell, and the grave. He destroyed the power of the devil. However, with all that He did, He still allowed Israel to stay in bondage to Rome. That was because He had given them something far more important than their physical deliverance from Rome. He had given them a spiritual deliverance. Instead of dealing with their temporary condition, He dealt with their eternal condition.