Thursday, September 12, 2019

Chosen and Anointed

Submitted by Lara Cook
The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7b
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.  1 Samuel 16:13

To be anointed means to be ordained, or chosen by God for a specific purpose. David was a shepherd boy that was anointed to be the king of Israel when he was just 10-12 years old.  It was years before he would actually step into the role, but the vision was cast on his life and the Bible says and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.  From that moment on, David went on to do great things.  He lived with no fear, fighting a lion and a bear with his bare hands, and after that he took out Goliath with no armor and no weapon but a slingshot and a handful of stones.  It was evident that Gods hand was on himand he lived like he believed it. 
Sammuel came to the house of Jesse because the Lord spoke to him and told him to go there because He had chosen one of his sons to be king.  Jesse brough all his sons out except the youngest, David.  With each boy in front of him, the Lord told Sammuel that they were not the one.  Finally Sammuel told Jesse to bring David and the Lord said “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” A few years after that Davids father asked him to take lunch to his brothers on the front lines in the valley of Elah. There he fought Goliah.  He already knew he was anointed and set apart.  He knew the hand of God was on his life and knew that God had big plans for his future.  He went against the giant that had already killed many of the Israelite armywith no armor and no sword.  Hewent in the power of the Lord.  
Gods hand is on you and me too and we have been chosen and anointed like David but we don’t fight our battles in the anointed power of Jesus Christ.  As Christians we have received anointingfrom Him so that we will be equipped to do everything He purposes for us to do.  Wprobably wont be slaying literal lions, bears, and giants, but there will be many giants in our lives that try to take us down.  We need to claim the anointing that is oursand fight our battles in His power.  Like David, He has a purpose and plan for us that He has anointed us for also.  
We are chosen, anointed, and set apart just like David.  How would you fight your battles differently if you fully claimed the anointing that is yours?  If you could comprehend the vision He has cast over you, the claim He has on you, would you ever be afraid?  Later in his life, David made some bad choices and mistakes, and he forgot his anointing for a little while.  Did you forget your anointing?  Has the wrong choices you have made stolen from you the assuredness of His claim on your heart?  There is nothing that will snatch you out of His hand.  You are chosen forever, anointed for eternity. The bears and lions and giants will come.  Fight them with the power of the anointing you already have.  

"And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you, but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him" (NASB).  1 John 2:27

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