Daily Bread - DEC/07/07

2 Corinthians 1:21 - But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ (The Anointed One) and has anointed us.

The anointing, by definition, is the empowerment of an individual with a special divine ability to accomplish extraordinary things. The anointing confers the glory and honor (kavod) of the Lord upon whoever is anointed. The anointing is usually given through a blessing. Abraham received a blessing directly from God that made him heir of the world (Genesis 12:2; 22:17; Romans 4:13). The blessing came upon Isaac and he sowed even in the time of famine and reaped a hundredfold and became a man of great wealth (Genesis 26:12-14). Jacob received a blessing from his father that resulted in an anointing (empowerment) which brought him glory and honor both with man and God (Genesis 27:33; 32:28). The glory and honor that each man received was in proportion to the anointing that was received from the blessing that was given. Joshua could not lead Israel with the glory and majesty of God until Moses blessed him and gave to him some of the grace that he had received from God (Deuteronomy 34:9; Numbers 27:18-20). Saul could not be king until a "divine enabling" was imparted to Him by the Spirit of God (1 Samuel 10:1-12). Elisha did not have the ability to prophesy until the gift of the double portion was released to him (2 Kings 2:9-14). Jesus was like any other man until the heavens were opened and the Spirit of the Lord came upon Him without measure (Matthew 3:16; Luke 4:14; John 2:11; 3:34). The 120 could not represent the glory and majesty of the resurrection until they were endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; 2:33).

It is through the anointing that greatness is forged. This greatness that is in the anointing is for the sole purpose of bringing glory and honor to the Almighty God. The anointing that Joseph had brought him to the highest position of the rulership in the earth (Genesis 45:13). The anointing that God gave to David made him undefeatable in battle: the oracle of the word of God and the king that brought glory and honor to the nation of Israel. God anointed Solomon to be king and also gave him a special wisdom and understanding that was superior to all others. The anointing that he received not only resulted in riches and material wealth but in greatness of conduct and accomplishment.

The anointing that God gives and the glory that it brings is all found in the presence of God. God descends into that which is consecrated just as He did in the Tent of Meeting or on the Mount where Moses stood before the Lord (Leviticus 9:23-24; Ex 19:16). As He came down and inhabited the temple that Solomon built, He also inhabits those who are consecrated by the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit today (1 Kings 8:10; 1 John 3:24; 1 Corinthians 3:16). As many as will receive His blessing have been anointed to be sons of God (John 1:12; 17:21; 1 John 3:1; Romans 8:29-30). We have been given the honor to share in the same anointing of Jesus as heirs and co-inheritors (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29). The Anointed One who is Jesus the Savior has given to us the same glory that the Father gave to Him because we have received the same anointing. Father conferred all of this greatness upon us when He blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies and anointed us together with the Anointed One. Therefore, arise and shine for your Light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you (Isaiah 61:1; 1 Peter 2:9; John 1:4).

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org