Thoughts for Life: #84 God's Anointing Confers Blessings

Dr. Wesley L. Duewel: Anointing is the
divine enabling for activity and ministry done in Christ's name and for Christ's
glory. It rests upon the life and ministry and specially crowns and blesses Christian ministry.

But it is not reserved exclusively for so-called "Spiritual" activities. It is God's extra touch upon your mind, skill, effort, memory, emotions, and strength. (Google image, Christian ministry)

Anointing will aid the mechanic to determine problems and solve them, a student taking examinations, an author as he writes, the Christian as he speaks or teaches, the cabbie negotiating traffic, the musician in his playing, the singer in his singing, the artist in his painting, and the poet in his writing.

The anointing of the Spirit is for Christian living, but specially for Christian service in whatever form. It is yours for the asking. It is God's gracious provision for you.

Let me first describe how the anointing affects your living, and then its great effect on your ministry.

1. The Spirit's anointing helps you physically. He can anoint your body so that you are physically strong, refreshed, and adequate for your task. The Spirit is available to help you be at your best. Do you need extra strength? The Spirit is available.

Do you remember how in the spiritual conflict on Mt. Carmel Elijah, seemingly alone, faced the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of the Asherah who ate at Jezebel's table?

When their deception was proved, Elijah slew them as God had commanded for false prophets in Old Testament days. Then came Elijah's prolonged prayer battle on the summit of Mt. Carmel with seven periods of strenuous intercession until God sent the first cloud to the sky.

Before night ended he had run thirty miles ahead of King Ahab to Jezreel (1 Kings 18). Where did Elijah get that amazing strength? From the anointing of the Spirit (v. 46).

Remember Isaiah 40:29-31. "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Francis Asbury testified in his journal for February 24, 1772, "My labours increase, and my strength is renewed. Though I came here weak, yet after preaching three times I felt myself strong."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Used by permission of the author and Duewel Literature Trust, Inc., Greenwood, Indiana. Creative reading style by Jean.

Ablaze for God
#84 God's Anointing Confers Blessings
by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel
(pp. 257- 258) ZondervanPublishingHouse

3 things we should
not believe about sin

Father, Your anointing is Your divine enablement on us, Your children, for activities we take part in, whether in ministry, in our homes or on our jobs.
We find that it's Your touch upon our minds, skills, efforts, memories, emotions and strength from day to day, which helps us to be successful.
May we find that Your Spirit does help us physically, so we can be anointed with strength to keep us strong, refreshed and adequate for our tasks. Thank You that we only need to ask for Your help!
Therefore, we ask for Your help now, to accomplish what You've directed us to do. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Today's Bible verses-

Hosea 10:12 (KJV) "Sow to yourselves in righteousness,
reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground; for it is time
to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness
upon you."

Jer. 24:7 (KJV) "And I will give them an heart to know
me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people,
and I will be their God; for they shall return unto me
with their whole heart."

Ps. 121:7, 8 (NIV) "The LORD will keep you from all
harm — he will watch over your life; the LORD will
watch over your coming and going both now and
forevermore."

Today's quote-

Steve Smith-

When God's children . . .

allow his Word to shine into the crevices of their souls
and humble themselves under the conviction of the Holy Spirit
and allow a holy fear to seize them
and bravely shed their "everything is okay" masks
and confess their sins in a community that aspires to holiness
and such sharing is received with love, acceptance, and forgiveness
and it produces an even greater sense of reverential awe
and prompts others in the community to follow suit
and this chain reaction causes the group to humble themselves to seek God above all else, hungering for Him, surrendering to Him

. . . then revival begins to break out among His people. They are awakened! . . . No awakening emerges without the deeply refining process of confession. Confession and surrender are the crucibles of revival."

(Taken from p.165 of SPIRIT WALK The extraordinary Power of Acts for Ordinary People).

Upcoming posts-

Where Is God?
9/1st- Saturday's post by Jean Oathout

#85 Prayer, Trust, and Waiting on the Lord Remove Weariness
4th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

#86 The Spirit's Anointing Enables You Mentally
6th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

Supernatural Power
8th- Saturday's post by J. Hudson Taylor

(This will be my last posting for a couple of weeks)