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19th August 2024
MondayReflection
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Nicholas Barta offers
of Soaring Sons and Daughters ministry
The Oil of Unity
Psalm 133
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Recently while reading the Word in my quiet time, the Lord highlighted something to me in the Bible that I had always wondered about but hadn't dug with Him deeper to discover more of the meaning.
Has the Lord ever done that with you?
It's as if He takes great joy and delight when His children seek out the endless hidden treasures all throughout His Word that breathe and bring New Life as we abide in and with Him while reading His Holy Word
(see Proverbs 25:2).
Now that's a treasure hunt!
The Lord showed me one of His incredible hidden treasures when recently reading Psalm 133.
"How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore."
.... Psalm 133 1-3 NIV
When I was reading Psalm 133, I pondered why the Lord highlighted verse 2 so much to me as I asked Him about it.
What is it with the phrase, "running down Aaron's beard" really signify?
We know that Aaron was the high priest and that when they would anoint the high priest, they would pour fragrant olive oil upon him anointing him as the new high priest, but what the Lord showed me next surprised me.
We read in verse 2 that it dripped down Aaron's beard then down the collar of his robe.
As I researched this, the Lord showed me that the 'oil of anointing' dripped down the beard, then collar and then covered the high priest's ephod that he was wearing with the 12 stones of Israel on it now covered with oil ...'the oil of unity'.
The Lord began to speak to me about verse 1 and how this was a prophetic foreshadowing of Jesus Christ who is our forever High Priest, and as He was anointed as High priest, the anointing upon Him would bring unity and blessings among all God's people (from every tribe, nation and tongue).
In a time where violence and darkness is raging, we have this depiction through Jesus' finished work, that as we come together in unity of spirit, hearts and mind (according to Acts 2), the blessing of the Lord of life forevermore is poured out on His people bringing Zoe life* into our lives and the lives we touch through His love alive in us.
I want to encourage you that in whatever spheres of influence you find yourself in, sowing that oil of unity into the atmosphere and into the people through your prayers and actions makes a HUGE difference.
Since we are all called to be the salt and light of Jesus to the world, we move in the opposite spirit of the things of the world to release God's Kingdom upon the earth.
In doing so, atmospheres are shifted as hearts become saturated with oil through our prayers unto the Father.
Make it a point this week to intentionally intercede for unity in the Church, in our state and in our nation as we continue witnessing God unfold more of the incredible things He's doing as His Church is going out of the walls to be salt and light!
*The zoe life is an intimate friendship with that boundless Mystery we call God.
How does this zoe life take shape amid our everyday tasks, as well as responding to the immense social struggles taking place on our streets for a more just and compassionate world?
This critical question invites us to reimagine what God's good news looks like in the nitty-gritty of our ordinary, daily lives.
><(((°>
Nicholas Barta
is a husband, father, author, lead pastor, speaker, and the founder of Soaring Sons and Daughters ministry.
With joyful passion, he ministers the Father's love, sonship identity in Christ, and the revelation of Kingdom family.
He delights in awakening, equipping, and activating people to joyfully encounter God's love through a full sonship revelation, empowering them to effectively pursue their unique destiny.
Nicholas writes from his deep intimacy with Jesus and sows symphony of love into the words of his sermons, books, e-courses, and podcasts, inviting all to intimately experience God's unfailing love.
Abba's table
We are so blessed to be in close relationship with many other churches and ministries across the region!
We as believers in Jesus Christ are truly His family and are BETTER TOGETHER!
Through this journey, in His goodness, God birthed The Aspen Family, where we share the one root system, yet still remain unique plantings of the Lord.
Our Kingdom family at Bridgeway Church and Living Free Ministries are our proud roots that we honour and cherish deeply!
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