THE FRAGRANCE OF PENTECOST MANIFEST BY THE ART OF THE APOTHECARY

Without the anointing of the Holy Ghost, the body of Jesus Christ becomes nothing but a religious club. Every great awakening, whether with the Methodists or Presbyterians, etc., was always wrought by a sovereign move of the Holy Ghost upon the church. Every Biblical gift and calling of the Spirit must be in the local church for that church to fulfill the great commission. The blood of Jesus Christ and the Word of God are helpless virtues until the anointed presence of the Holy Ghost takes those virtues and gives them wings. It is the trinity of the Blood, the Word, and the Spirit that agree together and cannot operate when separated. Just as the Father does nothing without the Son; the Holy Ghost does nothing without the Father and the Son, so is the earthly expression an expression in complete unity. The Word of God does nothing without the blood; also the Word and the blood do nothing without the Holy Ghost. It is breathtakingly beautiful.

The fragrance of Pentecost is the spices of grace blended together to establish the body of Christ on earth. The Heavenly Father gave us the type of this eternal truth when the priesthood of Aaron was being established. In fact, every great truth of the redemptive grace of Jesus Christ and the New Testament church was manifested in types in the tabernacle, the priesthood, and the sacrifices. The depth of each great First Testament truth can be learned and was understood by the New Testament saints. The First (Old) Testament was their only Bible for several decades and the purity of their doctrines was a testimony to the power of these great revelations.

Let’s look at the picture of the Pentecostal experience in this Old Testament typology. “Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an 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 his vessels, and the altar of incense, And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. And 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, shall even be cut off from his people.” (Exodus 30:22-33)

This is a Biblical picture of real Pentecost and not the modern day movement of the Charismatics. This is the Father’s Spirit in the church taking all the graces of Calvary and blending them together to manifest His glory and to elevate the saints to ministry back to Himself. It is a picture of the church, not conducting television church to entertain, but saints united together by the Spirit to exalt and worship the God of Heaven. It is church like it used to be when men came to worship and not to be worshipped.

The Fragrance of Pentecost

Biblical Pentecost is the only path for the church to return to solid conversion and being Godly saints. When the Holy Ghost is welcomed into a church family or into an individual’s life, that church or person will be absolutely transformed. The power of the Holy Ghost is dynamic, life-changing, soul-refreshing, uplifting and truth saturating. The Holy Ghost truly at liberty in your life will make the reality of Jesus Christ the transforming person in your total personality. He will be a fragrance of the very grace and virtue of the Divine nature reflected and resident in the Son of God and manifest in your life.

Let’s look at the exciting types in this great Scriptural truth.

Principal Spices: These spices were the best or supreme. Each of them had a specific aroma and was powerful to preserve and give fragrance to the mixture. All four spices were not easily obtained, were expensive and, when acquired, were held as a treasury of great worth. When these spices were purchased, they would not be placed in a common container, but were kept in a vessel of value to preserve their highest quality. What a picture of redemptive grace revealed in the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Each of these four spices has their own unique qualities and value.

Pure Myrrh: Each of the spices in this order of four reflects a virtue evident in our Lord Himself. In this case, the myrrh was pure from a word in Hebrew, deror. This properly denotes fluid from the Arabic word, darra, meaning to flow by, which meant the finest and most excellent kind. This pure extract of myrrh is called stacte, which issues of itself from the bark without incision. What a picture of the sinless nature and pure grace of Jesus’ human life.

Before He was crucified or received the incisions of human crucifixion, Jesus was absolutely pure in all His nature and person. The Scripture states in Isaiah’s prophecy, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:7) Apostle Peter stated, “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:19) The Son of God perfectly fulfilled this type in His earthly life.

Sweet Cinnamon: This spice is hot in taste and hot in operation. What a reflection of a life absolutely pure, but aflame with passion and firm resolve to the purpose for which He was born. There was never lukewarmness in His obedience to the Father or His commitment to the redemption of men. He stated, “For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) He could spend the night with the Father and all day with the crowds. He literally poured Himself out to passionately bear the burdens of troubled flesh.

Sweet Calamus: Kenaih bosem, calamus aromaticus or odoriferous cane, is a reed growing about two feet in height, bearing from the root a knotted stalk, quite round, containing in its cavity a soft white pit. It is said to scent the air while growing; and when cut down, dried and powdered, makes an ingredient in the richest perfumes. It is amazing that one of these four spices would be from a weak cane that has no special beauty except in its aroma or scent. This presents a perfect picture of His humility.

Matthew quoted Isaiah with the following words. “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.” (Matthew 12:18-21) His ministry on earth prior to the cross was a perfect expression of total humility and pure grace and mercy.

Apostle Paul expressed this exact nature in writing to the Philippians. “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:6-8)

Cassia: A low, growing plant of no assuming beauty, which provides a sweet spice and offers a picture of the absence of vain-glory. “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” (Hebrews 5:7-9)

The Son of God perfectly fulfills all the graces and types of this combination of spices. Every expression of His person proves beyond a shadow that He was the ingredient from which the holy anointing would spring. These spices were not blended carelessly but in a perfect proportion of each.

Olive Oil: Once each spice had been measured, then a hin (approximately three quarts) of olive oil became the final ingredient. The oil would be the blending of this entire formula and once all the spices were perfectly united, the final result was called “a holy, anointing oil.”

All the beauty that we see in Jesus’ life and death is perfectly manifest in the four spices, but the anointing of the Holy Ghost was God’s method to reveal that life and ministry to the world. The olive oil in this holy anointing oil gives fire and glory to the final results, even as the Holy Spirit of God was added to the life of Jesus Christ. He said clearly, “I do nothing of myself, but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” (John 8:28) The Scripture declared that the Father gave Him the Holy Ghost without measure.

He was the perfect example of human flesh filled with the Holy Ghost and manifesting the anointing of God to the world. And He is still the “source” and the “pattern” of this anointing for the church until we are gathered to Him at the conclusion of the church dispensation. Every display of what is called the anointing that does not perfectly fit this pattern must be soundly rejected. This is an eternal pattern given at the very dawn of the Old Testament church and provided to be God’s type forever.

The Art of the Apothecary

Holy men were responsible for this function from among the Levite priesthood. They were obligated before God to prepare the anointing oil according to the divine formula. The anointing oil, properly prepared and placed on the vessels, the instruments of service, the tabernacle itself, as well as the priest, assured the unction of God’s holy presence in every act of worship and sacrifice. In other words, the apothecary’s “function was the unction.” Let’s read a description of this “unction” that was manifest when the tabernacle was dedicated to God.

“Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34) “So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.” (I Kings 8:11) “So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.” (II Chronicles 5:14)

We dismiss this kind of glory as something that belongs to the tabernacle, Solomon’s Temple, or the Day of Pentecost. Nothing could be further from the truth. Apostle Paul settled this question by clearly showing that the glory (unction) available to the church far exceeds that which is evident in the tabernacle or temple. Here are his words, “But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.” (II Corinthians 3:7-11)

Our next PNA will be “The Function of the Unction is the Body of Christ.” Our new series on “OPEN BIBLE DIALOGUE” will begin on Saturday, February 9th. The title will be “THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS SUPERNATURAL FUNCTION IN CHRIST’S BODY.” A Notebook will be prepared to offer an indepth look and experience for every Believer regardless of their Theological Belief System. This hour demands a new dependency on the Father’s provision for Revelation and Anointing.

7 thoughts on “THE FRAGRANCE OF PENTECOST MANIFEST BY THE ART OF THE APOTHECARY

  1. Although you need not the Baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues to be saved, He gives you more power to be a witness. Unfortuananly some
    Christians that do not have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit such as most Baptist,etc are better witness’s than many of us. Some who have the Baptism do not use the power to be a witness as they should. Azusa755@sbcglobal.net

  2. 1. the church was established BEFORE Pentecost. Period.
    2. The church is a local, visible assembly of believers.
    The church is NOT ‘all saved people.’ Period.

  3. PENTECOST IN PAST AND RUN-DOWN LAODICEAN CHURCHES TODAY

    Dear Joe Chambers,

    When the CLOUD appeared in the tabernacle of the wilderness it ran MOSES AND AARON OUT. The same thing happened at Solomon’s Temple hundreds of years later, when the PRIESTS WERE DRIVEN OUT OF THE TEMPLE WHEN GOD MADE A SHOW OF GLORY. This might be the reason why, OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS DID NOT HAVE THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT. So when the Holy Spirit filled the space, it ran people out. Then when the same GLORY FILLED THAT UPPER ROOM, THE DISCIPLES WERE NOT RUN OFF. INSTEAD THIS PENETRATED THEIR BODIES, AND FILLED THEM. It is a lot like floats and water. The floats that have no water in them are pushed away when the water rises. While the disciples were more like sponges that GOT SOAKED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT. SO THEY WERE NOT PUSHED AWAY LIKE MOSES AND AARON. For Christians that already have the HOLY SPIRIT, IF THIS THING HAPPENED AGAIN IN YOUR AREA, YOU WILL NOT BE PUSHED AWAY. Instead you will become MORE DOMINATED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE GLORY. Unsaved folks would still be pushed away, unless the ALLOW PENETRATION BY HOLY SPIRIT. If they become like a sponge to Holy Spirit, then they get saved and penetrated.

    But WHAT ABOUT TODAY’S LOOT-WARM LAODICEAN CHURCHES? They do NOT have the Holy Spirit. Instead the LOOT-WARM PORK-BARREL PROSPERITY PREACHING LAODICEAN CHURCHES ARE DOMINATED BY SATAN AND HIS DEMONS. The members led by PORK-BARREL ENTITLEMENT PROSPERITY PREACHING FEEL THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO PROSPERITY. So these churches are FILLED WITH SATAN AND HIS DEMONS. THE PASTORS MIGHT EVEN BE DEMON POSSESSED. Maybe even members of these congregations might be demon possessed. What ever “MIRACLES” like healings or other things they preform is not of God, but by SATAN AND HIS DEMONS to promote the FALSE PORK-BARREL GOSPEL. It is from these churches that the ANTI-CHRIST WILL RISE TO POWER. Is it any wonder that LOOT-WARM LAODICEANS VOTED FOR OBAMA? Obama is the next closest thing to the Anti-Christ. The real ANTI-CHRIST will be much bigger. Obama was a test Anti-Christ, to see what would happen for the real one to come in the Tribualtion. The SWING VOTERS ARE THE ULTIMATE FOOLS, AND THEY WILL VOTE FOR THE ANTI-CHRIST LATER. THEY SHALL BELIEVE A LIE. THey already have believed a lie.

    The HOLY SPIRIT DOMINATED PHILADELPHIA AND SMYRNA CHURCHES WOULD NEVER VOTE FOR OBAMA.

    Sincerely,

    Keith Black

  4. Dear Pastor,

    This article makes me weep with joy over the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ and this wonderful faith that we have!

    God Bless
    jaimie

  5. This is that precious annointing that yokes are destroyed because of its power. This is that annointing that made David say my cup runneth over. This sweet savor makes us saints, and pleasing to our Heavenly Father. Indeed, this annointing still draws the best of mankind, and the worst of sinners to Pentecostal altars today. As one man touched by this experience said, I came here a goat, and am leaving a sheep!
    Thank you for a delightful and insightful view of the Holy Ghost. May God bless you.
    Jeff Mayo

  6. listen people if you are “blood washed” why wouldn’t YOU have the Holt Ghost there is the ? are you AS YOU SAY “saved”

  7. MUST BE BLOOD WASHED, BAPTIZTED, FASTING(NO FEAR & BUT FAITH), AND FILLED WITH HOLY GHOST, OR YOUR NOT GOING TO GET OUT OF HEAR.