Blessings 25 of the Anointed (1 Samuel 16:13-18) 6/4/2023
Answer 25 of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd RUTC:
Blessings 25 of the Anointed (1 Samuel 16:13-18) 6/4/2023
As we greet the 27th anniversary of One Mind Church, we are electing 12 elders, 8 ordained deacons, and 12 encouragers. Generally, there is an ordination for these positions, but in the Bible, they followed an anointing ceremony. In the Bible, elections of individuals began with pouring oil and placing the hand of the servant of the Lord in blessing. We now omit pouring of the oil and just pray with hand on their heads. The blessings God gave after being anointed were different. David of today’s passage is a representative model of that. What kind of works appeared after David, a young adult, received an anointing through the Lord’s servant, Samuel? First, it said that even David’s close friends saw that God was with him (verse 18). Can God being with someone be visible? They had felt some kind of spiritual grace and strength. Although some people mistreated and persecuted him because they did not know, those who knew the spiritual fact felt it. Those who are being ordained must hold onto this blessing.
Second, those who met David came to love him and David was acknowledged by people (verses 21-22). Those whom God is with are bound to enjoy this blessing (Genesis 39:3-5). David had many failures, but he was acknowledged by God and people throughout his entire life and lived as a spiritual leader. You must hold onto this blessing. Third, it is the blessing of spiritual authority that must be enjoyed in the field. King Saul, who was afflicted by evil spirits, was healed after hearing David play his instrument (verse 23). It is an authority that we must enjoy to save people who are spiritually afflicted (Mark 16:17-18). It said that the sick should call for the anointed ones and have them place their hands over the sick and pray for them (James 5:14-16).
- What is the significance of this anointing (ordination) that such works take place?
First, it means that God has set them apart. Why did he set them apart? It is for God to use them for His important works. For that, the Holy Spirit will be with them, and God will pour down the authority and power of the Holy Spirit, wisdom, and blessings.
1) In the Old Testament, there anointing was given for three important offices.
① Office of the priest. The essence of the five books written by Moses. Was the. authority of the priest. The role of the priest was to kill a lamb and spread its blood for those lost in sin and curses, proclaim their forgiveness of sin, and bless them. The authority of the priest was that important. They proclaimed forgiveness of sin and restored blessings for the people.
② Office of the king. From the book of Judges up until Psalms, the essence of the Bible was the authority of a king. The role of a king was to protect the people of God from enemies and lead them to live within God’s blessings and peace. Depending on the king, the quality of the people’s lives was different. The authority of a king was that important.
③ Office of the prophet. From Isaiah to Malachi, the essence of the Bible was the authority of a prophet. When God’s people were suffering from problems, the prophet relayed God’s Word to them and showed them the way that God had prepared.
2) These tasks that people were elected to do was all a prophecy about Christ who will come (Isaiah 61:1). It was foreshadowing the work that Christ, the Son of God, will come and do as the true Priest, King, and Prophet.
① Christ came as the eternal Priest and died like a lamb to free us from all sin, curses, and destiny (Romans 8:1-2). Even if we fail again, if we look upon this Christ and begin. Anew, all blessings will be restored.
② Christ came as the eternal King, and through His resurrection, he crushed the power of Satan that continues to drag our lives into failure, despair, and darkness (1John 3:8). When we believe in the name of this Christ and call on Him, demons will flee in fear. When those who are struggling with nightmares, depression, and hearing voices fight in the authority of Christ, it will end.
③ Christ came as the eternal Priest and became the way to meet God and became our eternal future (John 14:6). For that, He is with those who have accepted Christ. We can entrust our future as well as our children’s future. No matter how difficult this world is, there is a separate path that the believers will walk on and separate answers and blessings that believers will receive.
- God has given this blessing of the anointed to us who are saved. What does this mean?
1) He called all believers “chosen people, a royal priesthood” (1Peter 2:9).
① When we learned of the authority of Christ and accepted Him, we became someone that possess His authority. For this, he sealed us in Holy Spirit the moment we accepted (Ephesians 1:13), is with us in Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18), allows us to fight and overcome Satan with the power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:28), and promised us the authority of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
② Now, the life we live will be evidence and we will become witnesses to the ends of the earth. The ends of the earth does not only mean physical distance. All the suffering, despair, and darkness that we and the rest of the world experiences is the ends of the earth. As long as we have the authority of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be witnesses wherever we go (2Corinthians 5:20).
③ When believers do not know the authority and power in Christ, who would be laughing inside in happiness? It would be Satan. This is why some believers end up falling into depression and suffering from suicidal ideation. They also sometimes leave the church and follow the world.
2) Who is responsible for this? It is the responsibility of the pastors and church officers that God has raised to help these individuals. When we do not know the authority that Christ gives and the power that the Holy Spirit gives, there is nothing we can do.
① The moment we received salvation, we became people of the Holy Spirit. We possess the right and the authority to continuously enjoy the anointing of the Holy Spirit (filling of the Holy Spirit). We must confirm this every day (3 todays). We must hold onto the Word, confirm the Word in prayer, and save ourselves first. This is the first bartizan of a church officer.
② Church officers are anointed as the commanders for spiritual warfare that must stand before the congregation. Church officers are those who stand in the front (Presbytery). In warfare, the role of the commanding officer in the front is very important. Because you are at the front, you must strengthen yourself. If the frontline crumbles in battle, everyone will crumble. Pray for the restoration of 5 powers. Because you are at the front, you may become the target for Satan. That is why you must stay alert for your family and your church that you must protect. However, because you are at the front, God must give you greater evidence. That is why you must hold onto the covenant of 3,9,3 and pray for the blessing of the throne. Even despair and impossible things turn into unprecedented works when the power of the throne that transcends time and space works upon them (answer 25). Church officers can save the church and the future generations as they enjoy this blessing. This is the second bartizan of a church officer.
③ Church officers are anointed as evangelism disciples that will save the field. This is the third bartizan that church officers must raise up. Just as Jesus raised up 70 layman disciples, the church officers are called and anointed as the 70 disciples of this age. He even gave the disciples the authority to break down the darkness of the field when he sent them out (Luke 10:19). We are the lighthouses, and the lighthouse keeper of our fields. Then, they go out to the 237 nations. All the true church officers of the Early Church lived this way. A lot of persecution and suffering also followed them, but God promised them 100 fold, and they enjoyed the eternal things (Mark 10:29-30).
Conclusion – May all the congregation and the church officers being anointed today hold onto this covenant of the anointing and stand within lifelong 25 blessings.