We are anointed

Idenitity crises - who are we.

Anointing is a popular church word,

You’ve got to have the anointing

Many songs about the anointing

we say, “He/she is so anointed”

That song, that sermon, that service, that preacher

God sent me here to remind us about importance of His anointing

You should be concerned about your anointing

Luke 4:18 NASB95

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed,

Background of our Scripture

This is Jesus talking, he is actually reading . . . Jesus is in Nazareth, his hometown, and he is reading a scripture at his hometown synagogue (what would call church)

Just Recently before this, Jesus has been baptized by John the Baptist, and when he was baptized, the Holy S. came upon him in the form of a dove

Then he was spent 40 days in the wilderness, and he was tried and tempted by satan, and he passed with flying colors

And after that, Jesus began to travel and preach in the surrounding areas, and spoke in the synagogues of the surrounding areas, he was also doing mighty works: heal the sick, lame to walk, dumb to talk, and cast out demons

And he was becoming very popular, news of is teaching and miracles spreading like wildfire

And then Jesus returns home, back to the Galilee area, back to his hometown of Nazareth

and He knows the questions on everybody’s mind:

You are Jesus from around the way . . . you grew up here . . .

so how is it that they say, no one can teach as good as you

how is it that they say you are you able to do great miracles?

when did you become so popular?

We thought you were just a homeboy. You were not the only person baptized by John the Baptist that day.

So at church, he is called on to read the Scripture, and they hand him the Isaiah scroll, and picks a particular part to read (what we would call the 61 chapter of Isaiah)

Luke 4:16–20 NASB95

16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. 17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, 19 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” 20 And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

the whole place goes quiet

Are you saying, what I think you are saying?

we thought you would say the reports you’ve heard are exaggerrated

or I am just a disciple of John

or I just able to get a couple of prayers through . . . no big deal

but It kind of sounds like you are saying that you are the Messiah?

and so Jesus says

Luke 4:21 NASB95

21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Yeah, I am saying what you think I’m saying

Well, an argument ensues (you’re just Joseph’s son) and they try to kill him, but he escaped and went on preaching and doing miracles in other towns

But we want to focus on one of the things he read about himself

Luke 4:18 NASB95

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed,

The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he anointed me to . . .

I am able to preach and teach like no other because I am anointed to . . .

I am able to do these great miracles because I am anointed to . . . .

in other words you see the spirit working through me in such a powerful way, because God has anointed me to . . . .preach the gospel, proclaim release, give sight to the blind, set people free

The Bible teaches us that Jesus is our example, and since HE is our example, the Holy Spirit works the same way with us

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to

First we see that the Spirit of the Lord and the anointing are not the same thing

It says that the Spirit of God is on me, because he has anointed me

the scripture does not say that the anointing is the spirit of the Lord

it doesn’t even say that I am anointed by the Spirit of God

Let’s talk about the Spirit of God, the holy Spirit, and anointing

First, the Holy Spirit

Our one God exist as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

The HS is a he, and not an it, but a person; and that person is God and one of the things he does for us is gives us is power

Power through supernatural gifts and abilities

power through teaching us and giving us understanding

by Bringing things to our remembrance

by comforting and guiding us

by Interceding on our behalf with the father

by Convicting us of sin

What is Anointed? - he has anointed me

The greek word chrio – to smear or rub with oil, chosen one

simply put: God chooses someone to do a specific job, and to signify it, to announce it . . . oil was put smeared on them

even more simple, anointed means that you have been chosen to do specific task for God (assuming you accept that task)

David was anointed

The prophet Samuel poured oil over David because God showed Samuel that David was the one chosen to be king of Israel (that was his task)

1 Samuel 16:13 NASB95

13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

What has happened in this short verse

David’s assignment has been revealed

David accepts the assignment (risking his life)

Since David accepted his assignment, the Spirit of the Lord gave him power

That’s why we say Jesus Christ, or more accurately, Jesus the Christ

Because Christ is a title, not a name

Christ comes from that same greek word chrio

So Jesus Christ means

Jesus the anointed one

Jesus the chosen one

He is the ultimate chose one: Jesus was chosen to come for me, live, die, rise, come again

if you want to be “anointed”, accept the specific task(s) God has chosen for you

let me say it another way, if the want the Spirit of God to give you power, you need a because . . .

You must have a reason that God would give you His power

Jesus, His “because” was that he was the Messiah, the Savior

I am the one chosen to fulfill this prophecy in Isaiah. That’s why the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, proclaim good news, give sight, set free

If you want the Spirit of God to work in your life, through your life

you must seek for your “because”

find your “because”

know you “because”

stay aware of your “because”

not forget “your because”

And understand that Jesus was given power by the Spirit “because” it would take power to do what God the Father wanted Him to do

And when YOU accept the task that God has for you . . . it will take power that you don’t have

back to David, it would take power for the forgotten son of a shepherd, from a no-name town to become king of all Israel

In fact if what you are doing for The Lord doesn’t take power, then you haven’t heard him clearly, and you haven’t accepted your true anointing/calling/the task God has chosen for you to do

if you think “God has chosen me to give a penny to every church member, young and old”

I guess you could do that, but that doesn’t take an “anointing” or power

Because God will choose you to do something that will make you say, “How in the world can I do that?”

now if you say, “God has chosen me to pay off the debts of every church member” – that’s going to take some power

The question we should be able to answer is: So God has chosen you, God has called you, has anointed you to do what?

what ministry, what mission, what task, what service

in fact some people are unsatisfied, depressed, unhappy because they don’t know their “because”

Warning: Now don’t get caught up in somebody eles’s because

He will give you power to accomplish what you were chosen to do, created to do, made to do

not going to give you power to do what you were not made to do

not going to give you Holy Ghost power do someone eles’s job

We talk about a blessing with your name on it, but a there is also a job with your name on it, a duty, charge to keep with your name on it, an anointing with your name it

What is my first step after accepting my calling?

you adjust your life to the anointing

There are small adjustments, big adjustments, immediate adjustments, wait for the big moment adjustments . . . just be ready to adjust

adjustments often include leaving something you were very comfortable at doing and starting something else

Some examples

when David was anointed by Samuel

small Adjustment – go play music at the court from time to time

big moment adjustment - (just delivering cheese) Goliath

big adjustment- joined the army

Elisha got a word from Elijah to follow him while plowing

Adjustment – say goodbye family, quit his job, had a good-bye BBQ, and refused to leave Elijah’s side until he got a double portion, and did twice as many recorded miraces

Jesus told his disciples, “come follow me”; they left their jobs

next thing you know they are casting out demons and healing people

Some of you have already received a word – from that sermon, that Bible study, from that brother or sister of the church, in a dream, in a vision, that persistent thought that won’t let go . .you just need to obey and go ahead and adjust

adjust and get your because . . . The holy spirit is using me because

It’s like a shower, it doesn’t come to you, but you go to it

You can only get wet if you get under it

and when you adjust and get under it, you can say, “I am getting clean because the water is upon me”

and the more in-line with the water, the more water is upon you, and the more effect it has on you

Some not even close to doing His will, won’t obey, won’t follow, refuse to get in the water, and then have the nerve to wonder where the power is

or you are like my wife, turn on the shower , and then get distracted, phone, talking to me, TV

have some of us gotten distracted?

I was about to witness, pray, reach out, but got distracted by the bills and personal issues

Some just stick your hand in the shower and say, “Naw, that’s too hot”, “let me wait until it is just right”

the anointing won’t always feel comfortable

in fact it will feel uncomfortable until you get used to is . . . idea of preaching/pastoring for me

some of us are trying to do wash-offs (explain)

just a little water, a little obedience . . . and wondering where the power is

Forget 100, Not even trying to get to 99 ½, about at 49 ¾

and so you see a little power, but something ain’t right, not complete

God told me to give my neighbor $50, but I loaned $50

God told me to volunteer, but I said only if they ask me

Little shower, little power . . .

But if we want to experience God and his power fully, we’ve got to get completely under the shower of the anointing,

it’s often a little shock at first, but then you will start seeing God work, and you’ll start to feel good, and next thing you know you’ll be singing in the shower . .

and if somebody ask you why are always praising, always singing. . .tell them I sing because I’m happy and I sing because I’m free… I’ve got the anointing all over me!

Then You have to stay with it

Some of us have received a Word, adjusted to the Word, and seen the anointing of the Holy Spirit do amazing things. But then after that . . . nothing

You have to stay with it

The anointing does not follow you, you follow the anointing

The calling doesn’t move with you, you move with the calling (you move with the leading of the Holy Spirit)

the power doesn’t follow you, you follow the giver of the power

it’s a moving shower

You must purpose to stay in the center of God’s will

if the shower moves, then you move

if God calls you to add ministry, do it

subtract ministry, do it

Everyday (say everyday)see where God is leading you, that’s where you’ll find His power

So you’ve got to stay prayed up, you’ve got to listen constantly for God’s voice

Just like when checking sports scores on my computer on phone, I have to hit the refresh button to get the latest

Don’t put God in a box, he’s too big, The Spirit is like the wind JEsus said – you don’t know where He’s coming from or where He’s going . . . but when you see Him move, then you move

Not only find out what, but when and where

Even Jesus said in John 5:19a – I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing”

The miracles he performed were not him just making up stuff

The FAther instucted him to

walk on the water

feed the 5000

don’t heal Lazarus, but wait until Lazarus is dead, and then raise him up

that’s why you see the same miracle different ways

He was following the anointing, doing his God ordained job, obeying Holy Spirit instructions

The benefits of anointing

You are going to help some folks

Isaiah 10:27 – says that the anointing destroys the yoke of bondage

Your anointing is going to help some folks, free some folks, deliver, make meaningful changes in people’s lives, impact generations, impact neighborhood, communities, cities, the world

Reach some people that others thought was hopeless

You will see that your life finally makes a big difference

The anointing will work some things out for you - Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

God brings it all together for good “because” you are called for a higher purpose, heard his voice and obeyed

The anointing will take care of you - Matthew 6:33 – seek ye first the kingdom of God, it will put food on the table, clothes on your back, and shelter over your head.

You take care of the anointing and the anointing will take care of yo

Jesus had a lot of “becauses” but the because I’m glad about is me

He was anointed to save me, chosen to rescue me, given power to deliver my soul from hell

In the Garden he thought about not staying under the shower, under his calling, under mission, but as he prayed he got a Word from the Father that told him to go through it, and then Jesus said not my will . . .

and though he was anointed things got rough

so he was anointed when they arrested him

He was anointed when they beat him

Spit on him

Whipped him

Mocked him

Took his clothes

Nailed his hands, nailed his feat

Anointed when gave up the ghost and died

But early Sunday morning!

I don’t care how bad it seems, when you are anointed, nothing can keep you down

When you are anointed, you win in the end

When you are anointed, not even death can hold you

it was in the center of God’s will where Jesus got all power in heaven and earth!

Invitation –

First Word is to become God’s child, get saved

Altar Call

Anointing is not about fulfilling your dreams and plans, but God’s

Some need help finding your because

Some the shower has moved and you didn’t even know it

Some need faith to adjust

Faith to not give up on the anointing

Do the simple things you already know he has called you to

Good spouse, good parent, good child, good worker

Give, forgive

Example - I have confidence in being pastor because he has chosen me

Not because – Howard Caver’s son, my wife is a preacher, my brother is a pastor, my sister is a preacher, passed a few classes, know some Bible, but because I have heard to God’s call