Welcome to chapter by chapter, four year journey through the greatest book given to the human race, the word of God, the Bible. And we get to go through it chapter by chapter, seven minutes a day and seven days a week. Join us each day and share it with others so they can join this journey that will be life changing. We'll stop at unexpected places on the journey and be challenged. Some verses will create awe and wonder. We'll have chapters that will be instructive and others will find joy and comfort. We will occasionally be convicted and want to change, but all in all, the journey will be worth it. Once in a while, we may take a detour on the journey and hear from some of God's servants on their favorite passages from a chapter of scripture and let them give you their insight. Every journey needs a small detour occasionally. The best way to get the most from this podcast is read the chapter we're discussing before or after, it's his word that transforms. You'll find more and see more than I can ever articulate. Welcome to chapter by chapter. In today's chapter is Leviticus eight. Should I anoint my home with oil? Have you ever heard of anyone anointing items in their home with oil? I know so many stories of wayward children and backslidden husbands having mothers and wives take anointing oil and putting on the doorposts of their bedroom. They would anoint their bed with oil praying that God would convert them and bring them to the Lord anointing things in your home with oil has biblical roots in the tabernacle. Listen to the Leviticus eight 10 Moses then took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it and consecrated them. What was happening as Moses is putting oil on all that was inside this mobile sanctuary? Is this something we can do for our homes and apartments? Should we anoint beds and doorposts like Moses anointed candlesticks, lavers and altars? Should I anoint my home with oil? It's all connected to one key word consecration. We are seeing the importance of the anointing oil and consecration here in Leviticus eight. The oil is the symbol but consecration is the reason. In the Bible consecration means setting something or someone apart for a holy purpose. It was making it sacred and dedicating it or them to God's service. It had the meaning of separation from the unclean because there is a higher calling and purpose. When God first commanded the tabernacle to be anointed with oil and consecrated, it was back in Exodus 40. He told Moses this in Exodus 49, then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it and shall consecrate it and all its furnishings and it shall be holy. It is here in Leviticus eight that Moses follows through. This action by Moses is seen by many Christians as a symbolic act to dedicate their homes to God as the tabernacle was. To many it's an invitation to the Holy Spirit's presence to make the common and unclean holy and set apart. As God was asking for items in the desert church, we were asking for people under our roof. It's not that the oil is magical but rather it is a focus for my prayer and faith. As the blood on the doorpost of the Jewish home in Egypt was for protection, I think the anointing oil on the items in a home is for dedication, consecration and holiness. It helps us pray that the unclean becomes clean. The anointing with oil in your home usually happens when no one is around. The time for spiritual warfare, it's fighting in prayer for cleanness in your home and the lives of your family. My wife and I agreed that we did not do enough of anointing with oil and praying for consecration. I would encourage parents to anoint their children's bedrooms, their textbooks, their cell phones. Totally, I would pray that God would consecrate them when they lay down at night. May God protect their dreams. I'd pray that God would protect their minds in school and that no anti-God worldview would capture their minds and enter their soul. I would pray over that cell phone that every relationship would be God ordained and every destructive relationship would wither. My wife told me she would anoint our children's items and rooms with oil. She anointed the mirrors of our girls that they wouldn't worry about how they look and know that God saw them as beautiful. She would anoint their bedposts that they would stay pure. She would anoint their desks that they would dedicate themselves to study and excellence as students. She would anoint their closets that they would never worry about stuffing it but would be generous with their things. Have that at parents. Wait for an empty home, grab a bottle of olive oil and do what Moses did. Anoint away. The blood of Jesus protects our home. Anointing oil dedicates and consecrates our home. When you anoint and pray, you are declaring war on the devil. The kind of praying and fighting for your home was best seen in the Christian movie War Room. It's about a pharmaceutical salesman named Tony Jordan and his wife and realtor Elizabeth Jordan. They appear outwardly successful with their large house, bank account and a beautiful daughter named Danielle. But behind the facade things are falling apart. Tony and Elizabeth's relationship is strained because the husband is callous, verbally abusive and thinking about cheating. He is away from God and Elizabeth is lukewarm and then Elizabeth has a revival in her personal life through the prayer life of her friend, Miss Clara. She turns her bedroom into a war room of prayer. She's going to consecrate her home and fight for her marriage. This is where the breakthrough came for her family. The climax of her prayers came when Elizabeth at home alone starts to pray this prayer with power and authority. She says this, I don't know where you are devil, but I know you can hear me. You have played with my mind and you have had your way long enough. No more. You are done. Jesus is the Lord of this house and that means there's no place for you here anymore. So take your lies, your schemes and your accusations and get out in Jesus' name. You can't have my marriage. You can't have my daughter and you sure can't have my man. This house is under new management and that means you are out. And another thing, I am so sick of you stealing my joy, but that's changing too. My joy doesn't come from my friends. It doesn't come from my job. It doesn't even come from my husband. My joy is found in Jesus and just in case you forgot, he has already defeated you. So go back to hell where you belong and leave my family alone. I think that home just got consecrated. Thank you for joining chapter by chapter. Every chapter from the greatest book, the Bible, the Word of God, seven minutes a day, seven days a week. We'll see you tomorrow.
