Flies in the Ointment

Flies in the Ointment

Sermon Series: Flies in the Anointing

Pastor Brent Snook

Bible text: Ecclesiastes 9:18-10:1

“The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is the knowledge of your own ignorance.” – Charles Spurgeon

Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good. Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. (Ecclesiastes 9:18-10:1)

Two ways we can go in life:

1. The way of the wise
2. The way of fools

Solomon (the author of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon) used the words ‘fools’ and ‘foolish’ 128 times

I. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ANOINTING

 And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office. (Exodus 30:30)

Anointing – to be set apart

• priests were anointed
• the Tabernacle of God was anointed
• the prophets were anointed
• the kings were anointed

It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard… (Psalm 133:2)

God’s anointing is necessary for leading

God’s calling is bigger than we are

II. THE DIFFERENCE IN THE ANOINTING

The oil symbolized the Holy Spirit

 … I shall be anointed with fresh oil. (Psalm 92:10)

 All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad. (Psalm 45:8)

God did not save you to be like everyone else – He did it to set you apart

“Let thy garments be always white and let thy head lack no ointment.” (Ecclesiastes 9:8)

 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)

 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)

 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (Galations 3:3)

 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. (Jeremiah 17:5)

III. THE DECAY OF THE ANOINTING

 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary* to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. (Ecclesiastes 10:1)

*apothecary = perfume

The example of Saul (first King of Israel)

Reference: 1 Samuel 16:14

Keep the flies out of the ointment

…where sin abounded, grace did much more abound

Romans 5:20