01/08/13

Anointing and Men of God

Numbers 22:10, 11 - And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

In today's message we read that king Balak the king of Moab asks Balaam the Prophet to curse the children of Israel so that he can overcome them and drive them away.

Firstly we see Balak acknowledges the might of Israel and also acknowledges the mighty power of the God of Israel being behind them.

Secondly we see Balak also knows that Balaam who is not of Israel is yet connected to the God of Israel and has a standing with Him, such that if Balaam curses them then Balak would get an opportunity to defeat them.

Balak was not a believer of the God of Israel but yet he was not ignorant of the God of Israel. Balak also was aware the power Balaam had in his standing with the God of Israel therefore approach him for help.

We all know how Balaam got tempted for the riches of the world and cunningly sold the people of God and thus his God. We also know how God later had him punished in a severe way.

Balaam was not an ordinary Prophet, if one studies his words in depth one would for a great surprise for he spoke of Christ the King and of the end times. Here we see a Man of God over a period of time got tempted and sold his anointing for the riches of the world.

In our last message we read about Elisha who was one of the greatest Prophets in the OT, who did one of the greatest miracles almost equal or more than that of Moses and Elijah. He parted the Jordan River like Moses did to the Red sea and Elijah to the Jordan. He also bought dead to life like Jesus did. He manifested the power of God by showing the Angels of God surrounding him.

If we look closely we see a difference between Moses, Elijah, Balaam and Elisha. The former Moses, Elijah and also Balaam were anointed by God directly. Even in the case of David the Lord had sent Samuel to anoint him. But in the case of Elisha we see he got his anointing from Elijah. Even though he got a double portion of anointing and did great things yet he had no standing with God like Moses, Elijah or David. We read in the Gospels Jesus spoke of the Prophets or quoted them and in no place did Jesus speak about Elisha. There is one incident (Luke 9:54-55) where James and John suggests Jesus if they could command fire to come from Heaven and consume people of a village of Samaritans like Elisha did, but Jesus rebukes them saying 'Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of'.

The double anointing of Elisha had the power to bring a dead to life and too after many years but that same anointing did not help him through his own death.

Like we have Shunamatites in Churches we also have leaders/Men of God who are like Balaam and Elisha. There are leaders like Balaam who want to encash on their anointing. They prefer being blessed in this world rather than being blessed with spiritual thing in Heaven. Then there are Men of God like Elisha who want to have more and more anointing. They may not want material riches, put they get high on name, fame, power as Men of God. They will be dedicated to God and also glorify God but they will also tap into the glory of God. These are the people who started their spiritual journey by running after other Men of God and not the God behind those Men. God may use people like Elisha to anoint His people, they will receive God's anointing and not the Man of God's anointing. It is only those who seek a Man of God's anointing and go after the Man of God, will receive a Man of God's anointing and not the Lord's anointing.

Today the Lord is asking each and every leader as Men of God who do they represent and whom do they glorify? The Lord is also asking them to think about their purpose for taking up the mantle of anointing of the Lord is it for the CROSS of Jesus Christ or is it for something else?

To the people of God Jesus warns in Matthew 19:12 about 3 types of Officials of the Kingdom of God (Men of God). First, are those whom God has selected even before they were born, then there are those whom men have made Men of God and lastly there are those who have made themselves Men of God.

It is sad to see many young people called for the Cause of Christ get impressed by Men of God and run after the anointing on them. For example there are today many young preachers, who have the anointing of preachers like T. D. Jakes for they thirst more of him than Kingdom of God, close your natural eyes and open your spiritual eyes when they preach and you will know. I know of some who copy even the way he stands, talks, walks or cough.

Even though we are called to respect all yet let us have wisdom as to discern them and be cautious of them. Let us not run after people because of their prophecies neither after them because of the great things they do in the name of the Lord. Let us always be focused on the Lord and Him alone let us seek.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You have called us for greater things as your people. You call us Princes but our princely kingdom is not of this world. In this world we are called to be servants serving the purpose of the Family - the brethren in Christ - the Body of Christ. Lord we pray You give wisdom to your people to discern the intentions of the leaders and be cautious as to where they are led. Lord may the leaders seek to be glorified by You and not by the people of this world, also may they seek the riches of your Kingdom and not of the kingdom of this world...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Micah 6:5 - O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

2 Peter 2:15 - Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

Numbers 24:1-9
1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.
3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:
4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:
5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!
6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.
7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.
8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.
9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

2 Kings 2:8 - And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.

2 Kings 2:6-15
6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.
7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.
9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

2 Kings 13:21 - And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

Luke 9:54-55
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

Matthew 19:12 - For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Matthew 10:41 - He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)