THE TRUST OF GOD (V):‘Trustworthiness & Service Anointing’ (I)

 The service anointing not personal but specific of chosen individuals, people and groups to the use by God for the purposes of God and under to the service and for the benefit of others.  Father God has and continues to use men and woman to fulfill his purposes. He will entrust to their charge or endow them with his power – the Holy Spirit – to enable them to do his will and bring his plans to fruition and do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:3).

 The anointing for service is distinguished from the ‘personality anointing’, which is the in-dwelling of the Spirit of God in mankind. It is the ‘born-again’ Spirit that “abideth in you, and …the same anointing [teaches] you of all things, and is truth…”.  It is the anointing which seals believers when they are saved, convicts, teaches, guides, comforts and helps them overcome the flesh and to walk according to the word and will of God. (John 1:12; 3:5-6; 14:16-17; 16:7-13 & 1 John 2:27).

 Note that one may receive the service anointing for a specific purpose upon the discretion of Father God, without having obtained the personality anointing. This was mainly the case of the servants and ministers of God under the Old testament tradition, who were not “born-again” or saved by the Grace of faith in Jesus Christ, because they were under the law.

 Although Jesus states, that “salvation is of the Jews”; and is promised to everyone that believes, “to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (John 4:22; Romans 1:16; Acts 3:26). “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God”. (1 Corinthians 1:24).

 There are many examples in the Old and New Testament scriptures of people been anointed to carryout the purpose and will of God in diverse ways. Let us consider a few below:

 1.1.EXAMPLES OF THE ANOINTING FOR SERVICE

1.  Abraham was anointed to establish the faith in the word of the Almighty God and in His power to accomplish it. (Genesis 12:1; 15:4-8; 17.7; Acts 7:3&5). Sarah was anointed to bear the son of promise to Abraham, on whom and his seed God confers the inheritance of His Promise – the Promise Land. (Genesis 17:16 & 21; 18:10).
2.   Moses was anointed to go and free the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt. (Exodus 3:9-10; Acts 7:34). And God anointed “seventy men of the elders of Israel” who were appointed by Moses that they shall “bear the burden of the people [of Israel] with [Moses], so that [He] will not bear it all alone”. God took of the Spirit who was upon Moses and put Him upon them for that purpose. (Numbers 11:16-17)
3.  Joshua was anointed to lead the people of Israel into the promise land and divide it for an inheritance among them. (Joshua 1:1-2 &6).  Esther was anointed to the position of Queen to save the Jews from extermination. (Esther 2:16-17; 4:7 &14)
4.  David was anointed to be King of Israel to provide an earthly lineage for the Messiah who would deliver and rule over God’s people, and whose throne shall have no end; and the Spirit was upon him. (1 Samuel 16:12-13; 2 Samuel 7:16; Luke 1:27).
5.  The prophet Isaiah was anointed to cause spiritual blindness and deafness in the people of Israel, and to make their heart dull so that they should NOT see with their spiritual eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and convert and be healed until the appointed time (Isaiah 6:8-10).
6.  Mary was anointed to bear the Jesus, the promised messiah, “the son of the Highest”, whose kingdom shall have no end. (Luke 1:30-33).
7.  Jesus was born of the “Spirit of God” (personality anointing as son) and the “Spirit of the Lord” was upon him (service anointing) to “preach good tidings to the meek”, “bind the broken -hearted”, “proclaim liberty to the captives”, “to open the prison to them that are bound” and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” by His sacrifice. Isaiah 61:1-2;).
8.  The “Lord [Jesus] appointed other seventy” to go “into every city and place”, to preach peace “and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you”. (Luke 10:5&9).
9.  Eleven disciples of Christ were anointed to “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” and received the power of the Holy Ghost thereafter “to witness unto Christ on the earth” (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 2:4). 
10.  Paul was anointed to be a “chosen vessel” unto Jesus Christ “to bear [his] name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel”. He was “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in [Jesus Christ]” (Acts 9:15; 22:21 & 26:17-18)

 And all those who believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ by faith, and are baptized, and shall be saved shall receive the service anointing to perform signs IN THE NAME OF JESUS including “to cast out devils”, and to “lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover”. And in terms of spiritual resilience, they Shall “speak with new tongues” and shall “tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt [them]” (Mark 16:15-18; Luke 10:19).

 What can we discern from these illustrations of the service anointing? We can observe generally that the anointing relates to recognising God’s Almighty rulership, His power to deliver, His mercy and redemptive grace and commission to preach the gospel; power to heal the sick, to overcome physical and spiritual warfare, and the assurance of an inheritance of God to those that believe in His saving Grace in Jesus Christ.

 2.   THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS FOR SERVICE