lw3-99

JUNE, 2001

Unity Flows Down From The Head

By Pastor Pete Norris

Psalm 113:1-2 -- "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard; that went down to the skirts of his garments."

It is good and delightful to the Holy Ghost for brethren to "dwell" or "sit down; to marry" in real covenantal commitment. We are to dwell "together" as a "unit," joined and compounded by the art of the apothecary. We must endeavor to keep the "unity of the spirit" until we come into "the unity of the faith." (Ephesians 4:3 & 13)

The anointing is a person - the Spirit of the Son, who is the head of the church. The anointing or ointment (the Hebrew root is the same for each) is "precious." This word in the Hebrew means "good, favorable, festive, pleasant, pleasing, well, better, right, best."

This precious ointment, the "olive oil" typifying the anointing that rested on Jesus was:

Poured on the rock where Jesus rested (Genesis 28:18)

Burned for light (Exodus 25:6)

Used to make unleavened bread (Exodus 19:2)

Used for cleansing the leper (Leviticus 14:17)

Used to anoint shield - leather (II Samuel 1:21)

Used to anoint kings (II Kings 9:6)

A sign of outpoured joy (Psalm 23:5)

Mingled to make perfume (Song of Solomon 1 :3)

Corporate unity is like the precious oil that ran "down" Aaron's priestly beard. Oil on the beard is a picture of the full-grown priest, the many-membered new creation, man in maturity and completeness. This anointing rushed "down" to the "skirts" or "edges" of the vestments, to the borders of his robe.

John 17:21-23 - "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them; as thou hast loved me."

The word for "perfect" found in our Lord's high priestly prayer in John 17:23 is "teleioo" and means "to complete," (literally) to accomplish, or (figuratively) to consummate (in character). It also means "to bring to an end, fulfill." It comes from the Greek root word “teleios,” which is translated as "of full age, man, perfect" in the King James Version. This prayer, which is still being answered by the heavenly Father as you read these words, reveals two vital truths of great importance to the church today.

First, all true unity essentially flows "down" from the glorious union of God the Father and God the Son. You and I have each been given the privilege and the right to fellowship in and with that mystery. Second, this corporate unity and anointing will bring healing to others. The woman with the issue of blood, who touched the "hem" of Jesus' garment was delivered (Luke 8:43-44). She pictures the American church bleeding to death because of the bloody issues that men have raised (for "out of the heart are the issues of life," according to Proverbs 4:23).

Our Savior came forth from the bosom of the Father - now Jesus is the issue! Once the woman pressed through everything else and touched Him and His anointing, she was set free! The church is pressing through its mess this very moment, lunging for the garments of wholeness .

Psalm 133:3 - " As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore."

Dew is a rich symbol of the blessing of the Holy Spirit and the unity He brings. The fountainhead for the oil was the head of Aaron. The dew "descended" from off Hermon (the ancient name of Mt. Zion). It was there - and only there - in the place of corporate unity and anointing, that the Lord "commended" or "ordered" blessing, benediction, and prosperity -- ever-increasing, abundant, overflowing life! This is the place and ordained blessing of our destiny.