Change in Oil

Intro:

As we continue this oily series. I want to keep at the forefront that anointing had three primary practical uses. Last week we talked about religious purposes of sanctification of objects for worship and for the selection of Aaron and his sons to be priests before the Lord. I do want to remind you that while many people seek the anointing for their own gain and self aggrandizement, but many times people don’t understand that God prefers obedience to sacrifice. Sometimes people are more impressed with gifting and anointing than they are the God who anoints. Can I pause here for a moment and say that although Aaron and his sons were anointed by God through Moses they still disobeyed God and fell into judgment, because they helped the children of Israel to rebel against God by constructing a golden calf while Moses was talking to God. What are saying pastor don’t seek God’s anointing seek his face! The anointing is for purpose, but relationship is permanent! Sometimes people will get the oil, but don’t know the anointer! Can I just say seek God first and all of these things will be added unto you! If you get God through his son Jesus then the oil will come!

Context:

Hannah the mother of Samuel went up with her husband every year to shiloh to sacrifice to the Lord. She was barren and could not have children. Elkanah had two wives and the other wife Peninnah bore him children. In this context Hannah was a burden and Peninnah was a blessing, because children represented wealth and blessings. Every year she would make fun of Hannah, because she did not have kids for Elkanah to sacrifice for, and Hannah cried out to the Lord at the door step of the tabernacle. She cried out so that she lost words and her mouth moved, but no words came out. Eli the priest thought she was drunk, but sometimes church when you hurt so bad and feel so left out your prayer life and your worship will confuse the religious! After she cried out to the Lord the word of the Lord came to Eli and he said go in peace for the Lord has heard you. After they went back home she became pregnant. Don’t miss your shout! I know someone here has been praying until you ran out of words, and it seems like nothing changes. Year after year you are dealing with the same issue, but this time! Somebody say this time! The Lord is about to change you barren to bountiful! From seemingly worthless to worthy!

When she had the child that God had promised her she named him Samuel which says because I have asked him from the Lord, she gave him to the Lord for the Lords service. So she took him to Eli the priest in whom prophesied him to her. Don’t miss this church. When God gives you something it is not always for you pleasure, but sometimes God will give you something for HIS service! So Samuel was taught the word of the Lord and serviced with the anointed of the Lord, but Eli as he got older he became softer. His sons did evil in God’s eyes and began having sex with the women and taking more from the offering than God had instructed. So God punished Eli and his family and cut them off, but the oil was with Samuel. I said all of this to say that although your situation may have started out barren, and even your teacher or leader has messed up doesn’t mean that God is not going to use you! You may have come out of a retched situation, but if the Oil is with you God has a way of keeping you.

Transition:

This brings us close to our text today. Samuel who started out with a barren mother and became the miracle baby, is now the anointer of God. Samuel served as judge over Israel. Israel had lost the ark of the covenant due to Eli and his sons disobedience, but God brought it back after Eli, Samuel’s teacher, died. After a while church folks I’m sorry the children of Israel began to lust after what other churches I mean other nations were doing, The other nations had kings with splendor and command. They did not like that God was their king and the prophet Samuel was their judge. They wanted what other churches I mean other nations had. They wanted to look like, sound like, and act like other churches I mean nations. It is sad church that God has blessed many with anointed leaders, but because they don’t sound like and look like the world or other churches people turn on them. Sometimes church you need to pause and recognize the good that God has blessed you with, because the grass is not always greener on the other side! So they asked, fussed, and had church meetings demanding another pastor I mean king. So God told Samuel don’t be upset they are not rejecting you they are rejecting me. This people have done this since I brought the up out of Egypt, but I will give them what they ask for. So God spoke to Samuel and told him that a man from the tribe of Benjamin will come to you, and I will show you who will be king of Israel as the people request. The Bible says that Saul was a foot taller than his constituents. He was the son of a man of power and valiance. It also said Saul was handsome and that no one looked as good as Saul. Notice church that Saul had everything right on the outside. Sometimes we are so captivated with what’s on the outside that we don’t even pay attention to what is in their heart. God chose Saul for the people. God didn’t want them to have a king, but because they requested it God gave it to them. So Samuel took a flask of Oil and poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him in reverence, and anointed him commander over God’s inheritance. Then the spirit came over Saul, and the bible says in 1Samuel 10:9 that God gave him another heart that day! See church God had to change the inside in order for him to truly be anointed. He was anointed commander meaning warrior to defeat the Philistines, but Saul after being anointed messed up and got out of order.

Close:

Saul got out of place in the second year of his reign. He allowed his status with the people to cause him to forget his place with God. Watch this he tried to make a sacrifice to the Lord, but he was anointed for that. Here it is although he prophesied, because the spirit was on him he wasn’t a prophet. Just because God uses you one time in the service of the Lord does not mean you hold that title! So many folks are hungry for titles based on an occurence, but don’t live the title, because that’s not what God anointed them for! Church there is change in the oil! While Saul operated in the Oil that God had anointed him with he defeated the Philistines and reigned well over all of Israel, but when he disobeyed God the oil moved from him. He was still king and still held the title, but didn’t have the oil for it. I am closing now! Saul was anointed to defeat the Philistines, but in the text today when you lose the oil things change. He was killing thousands one moment and shaking in his boots the next. He was encouraged with the oil, but when he lost the oil he was dismayed or discouraged. Somebody says things change when you lose your anointing. You still can hit that note, you still have that sound, you still have that look, you still have that stature, and you still have the title, but when you don’t have the oil things change. No matter how well you plan, no matter how strong you are, no matter how much money you have if you don’t have God’s anointing it won’t happen. Not only does the anointing and oil change you, but because of the fragrance of the oil it changes your surroundings too. If you want things to change get some oil! If you want things to improve get some oil. Not just any oil, but God’s anointing oil! I decree that right now in your life, your career, your family, your marriage, your finances, and your church would get OILY! Because the oil is about to change your whole situation!