Thou Anointest My Head With Oil by Rev. Christie Bature: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Thou Anointest My Head with Oil

From Psalm 23 — the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. The theme is: "Thou anointest my head with oil."

When we say "thou anointest my head with oil," we think of the physical ceremonial oil — but before we get to that place, we have to look at what anointing the sheep with oil actually meant to the shepherd.

Anointing was not ceremonial for the shepherd. It was not a ceremony. It was the norm — hands-on care. For the shepherd to anoint the sheep, he would literally pour or rub oil on the sheep's head, especially around the nose and nostrils, around the eyes, around the ears, and sometimes over wounds on the skin. The shepherd cannot do that without touch.

Why the Shepherd Applied Oil

First reason: To protect against insects and flies.

Flies lay small eggs in the nose of the sheep, and those can kill the sheep. The shepherd would apply oil mixed with spices or sulfur, which repels the flies. Without the oil, the sheep would be tormented. With the oil, the sheep becomes calm and restful.

There are small irritations in marriage and family life — just as flies lay eggs in the nose of sheep, little things can kill a relationship if not submitted to the shepherd. The oil acts as a barrier between you and what is coming after you. If you put oil on something, flies can hardly perch on it because they cannot get to what they are chasing. God wants to put oil on you to protect you. Will you let him? Will you be a sheep and not a goat?

Second reason: To heal the wounds of the sheep.

Sheep got caught on thorns — the thorns cut them; rocks cut them; sometimes they got wounds from fighting each other. The shepherd used the oil as a kind of antiseptic balm, soothing and protecting the injury.

Some of us have been wounded but refuse to let the shepherd put oil. We want to hold on to our bitterness. There was a time bitterness was threatening my life. I was bitter, I felt justified to be angry at what had been done to me. I was still preaching — nobody knew what was inside.

One day while reading, Isaiah 26:3 came: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee." God stopped me four times at that verse and asked: "What portions of your heart are you reserving for the bitterness? Because those parts I cannot keep in peace."

Every part of your heart occupied by jealousy, anger, bitterness, resentment, anxiety, or fear — God cannot keep in peace. The result is partial peace, and partial peace is no peace. A wounded fingernail affects the entire body.

Forgiveness is not always an event. Many times, forgiveness is a process. The deeply embedded, ongoing offense takes time. Every day I would come to God: "Father, there is darkness in my soul. Take it from me. I don't have the power to give it up — it is stronger than me. Help me, Lord." It took months.

Third reason: To prevent conflict.

During certain seasons, sheep butt their heads and injure each other. Oil makes their heads slippery, reducing the damage from collision. Even within a household where people wound you — if you stay under the anointing, their wounds will not have effect on you.

If you are busy in the anointing, in your calling, you will not have time for many of the attacks of the enemy. Gossipers can speak against you and be brought to silence by those who know you. Stay in the anointing. It will minimize impact. It will minimize the effect of the enemy's attack.

Fourth reason: For restoration and comfort.

The act itself of putting oil on the sheep was personal. The shepherd would hold the sheep, apply the oil with care, and reassure through his touch. This builds trust and closeness between shepherd and sheep.

Research was done with orphaned babies separated into two groups. The first group was only touched during feeding and diaper changes — no one held them, played with them, or comforted their crying. The second group was held, played with, and touched freely. In a few weeks the first group began to lose weight, became depressed, and rejected food. The second group was thriving — full of life. The difference: human touch.

One of the fastest ways Satan drives a wedge between a husband and his wife is to stop them from touching. No matter how angry, stay connected. No matter how upset, stay in touch. Don't allow the devil to stop you from touching.

What David Was Really Communicating

When David says, "You anoint my head with oil" — he is saying:

• God protects me from what I cannot see coming.
• God soothes the irritations that would drive me into distress.
• God heals the wounds I have picked up along the journey.
• God's care is personal, intentional, and tender. God is mindful of me.

It is deeply experiential — not abstract. The love of God is not abstract. Allow yourself to experience it.

Faith Without Trust Is Useless

You know why we struggle? We have faith, but we don't bring the element of trust. We have faith that the word of God works, but we do not trust that it will work for us. Without trust, faith is useless.

Isaiah 54:13 — "All my children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be their peace." That is the scripture spoken daily over children. When agitated over a son making destructive choices, God said: "Do you really mean that scripture? Am I really their teacher? Then step out of the way. I have a rope tied on their waist — they can only go as far as the rope I release. When I am good and ready, I will pull the rope. You remain at the altar."

We struggle because we draw lines for our children's lives — expecting a straight path. God may have valleys, mountains, and detours in his plan. Who gave you the right to draw a straight line for them? God said: "The day you dedicated them to me, I tied my rope on their waist. They can only go as far as the rope I release."

God will never allow a storm to come to you without first preparing an ark. But you have a responsibility to locate the ark, because the devil will keep pointing to the storm. Once you are inside the ark, the very waters that drowned others will lift you up.

The Three Purposes of the Oil

1. To protect — the oil is a barrier between you and what is coming for you.
2. To heal — allow God to put oil on your wounds; stop holding on to bitterness.
3. To prevent conflict and minimize impact — under the anointing, attacks lose their effect.
4. For restoration and comfort — God's care is personal and tender.

The sheep does not anoint itself. It submits to the shepherd's touch. Sometimes the very thing that irritates you most is what reveals your need for oil.

The oil does not remove the environment. The oil equips the sheep to thrive in it. It does not remove the problem — it puts you in a different place.

The Overflow

God will express himself through you after he has blessed you. You carry more than enough for yourself and for others. God can never just bring you and put you here with only what you need — he will always give you what others need that you can give to them.

The overflow is for others. It is not so you can buy a bigger car. God's order is intentional:

• He will seat you.
• Then he will mark you — anoint you.
• Then he will make you overflow.

When you are full and do not overflow, you become stagnant. You become a reservoir instead of a conduit. And reservoirs smell. The overflow is evidence of the anointing.

Father, thank you for everyone here. Thank you for the honor you have already placed upon us. Help us to walk in the consciousness of it. Help us to be aware every day that we are already honored — not chasing after honor, because you chose to honor us. Thank you for the anointing. Let the overflow be evident from our lives. Bring us into generosity, benevolence, kindness, selflessness — so that the overflow will be evident. Let it draw men unto Christ. In the name of Jesus.