Rodney Howard Browne

Last weekend we answered the query, Why do we believe Jesus is God? By taking a look at the Savior’s relationship to His Father, His past, and the Trinity. Now let’s answer the question by having a look at His attributes and works. If Jesus is God, he’s going to have these divine traits. Eternal. Scripture tells us that eternal life is given to us in Christ Jesus. ( Romans 6:23b )

Therefore, Jesus Himself is eternal. John attests this when he declares that Jesus, the Word, was in the start. ( John 1:1-2 ) All-Powerful. Jesus declared to His followers, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” ( Matthew 28:18 ) . Jesus was declaring He was omnipotent God. All-Knowing. Jesus guaranteed his disciples, “. I am with you mostly, even to the end of the age” ( Matthew 28:20 ). Everything that exists is in His presence ; he is omniscient. Life-Giving. Jesus taught, “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so that the Child also gives life to whom He wishes” ( John 5:21 ).

Only God can raise the dead, and only he’ll give life. Forgiving of Sin. Jesus announced the paralytic’s sins were forgiven. The non secular authorities angrily replied, “Who can pardon sins but God alone?” To prove His authority to excuse sins, Jesus healed the person’s infirmity, and in doing so, demonstrated He was God. ( Mark two : 5-12 ) When we look at Jesus’ relations, attributes, and works, we will realize that He is indeed God. He announced it, He lived it, and he showed it!

When I consider the issue of experiencing God’s best in life, I am regularly reminded of my buddy. He once shared a tale from his young adulthood that completely illustrates the necessity to include God in our daily plans and pursuits. One day years back, he was approached by 2 siblings with whom he had become good pals. The men invited him to join them in a new business.
The original investment would have only been $600 - just $200 apiece would make the men equal partners. Mike listened to their proposal, but replied, “No, I don’t believe that’ll work.” And that was the end of it. He didn’t truly think about, and he actually failed to take a bit of time to pray about it. He simply replied out of his very own knowledge and stomach reaction. Business history has shown the folly in Mike’s call. Those two men went on to create a very profitable company. For only $200, he might have owned a full 3rd of that great successful corporation.
However, as my friend later admitted, he neglected to involve God in that call. Had he prayed about it and sought God’s will, the result might have been much different. How frequently have you missed God’s best blessing just because you did not include Him in your decision-making? The Lord wishes the best for every one of His Children. However, this is a most unlikely goal if we leave Him out of our decisions. Bring your pursuits to Him today; His best blessings could be just round the corner.

There were many Jews in the Early Church, who had received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Of course, all Jews were circumcised at birth, but Gentiles were not. Some of the more legalistic Jews – the Judaizers - insisted that only Jews could become Christians and so any Gentile wishing to be saved must first also be circumcised and become a Jew. Even today there are Christians who try to return to Jewish traditions, believing that you are not fully a Christian without it. This is simply not true. The Judaizers accused Paul of preaching a false gospel, but they were the ones preaching a false gospel. Paul calls these men “false brethren”.  The good thing was that they had a high regard for the Law and the Scriptures and God’s choice of the Jews as His chosen people. Their concern was that His commands may be overlooked or broken. However, they proceeded to add their own human traditions and standards to God’s Law and they also ignored the fact that God’s promises are to all nations!

A religious spirit is always judgmental and feels compelled to stuff everyone into the same mold. Because these men were perverting the gospel, Paul did not give them an opportunity to air their views. They were not interested in the truth - all they wanted to do was argue - but Paul refused to be dragged into a fight. Paul had been even more legalistic than they and had been set free and brought into the liberty of salvation through Jesus Christ. He knew all their opinions and he knew they were wrong. There was nothing else to discuss.

The Judaizers accused Paul of perverting the truth, but he had received his message from Christ Himself. Galatians 1:10-12 (KJV) says, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

“The Judaizers said that Paul was a traitor to the Jewish faith, but he had been more advanced in Judaism than most of his contemporaries and more zealous for the traditions of his fathers’ than any of them, until his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road. For the first time, Paul experienced God’s grace and was completely set free. The change was so great that God even changed his name! He was now as zealous for the Gospel as he previously was for the Law – yet with no malice!” (Galatians 1:13-17)

“The Judaizers said Paul compromised and preached a watered down message to the Gentiles, but he had met privately with the other apostles and they, themselves, had declared that the message Paul preached was indeed the true Gospel. Not that he needed their approval because he had God’s approval, but out of courtesy, he met with them. In speaking to Paul, the apostles realized that God had indeed called him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles and gave him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship. They only asked one thing of him: that he would remember the poor, which he was already eager to do.”
(Galatians 2:6-10)

The Judaizers said Paul was disregarding the Law of Moses; however, all he did was to put the law in its proper place. The Law was given to show people where they have sinned and it points them to their need for a Savior – Jesus Christ.

“What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Galatians 3:19-29 NKJV

If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise!

Thus says the Lord: Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house would you build for Me? And what kind can be My resting-place? 2 For all these things My hand has made, and so all these things have come into being [by and for Me], says the Lord. But this is the man to whom I will look and have regard: he who is humble and of a broken or wounded spirit, and who trembles at My word and reveres My commands.  Isaiah 66:1-2 AMP

Rodney Howard Browne teaches us that almighty God created everything that exists—the universe and everything in it—including man. As He has declared: heaven is My throne and earth is My footstool! Yet men have not reverentially feared the Lord, as they should have and as He is worthy of, and have exalted themselves, thinking that they are more than what they really are. This was the devil’s mistake. He dared to exalt his throne above the throne of God!

The God Who produced and formed the world and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade shrines. 25 Neither is He served by human hands, as though He lacked anything, for it is He Himself Who gives life and breath and all things to all [people].  
Acts 17:24-25 AMP

Rodney Howard Browne shows us that men have exalted themselves by casting God aside—the very God to whom they owe their very existence; the God who gave them their life and breath—treating Him as if He is irrelevant, ignoring and disregarding Him as if He is only an invention of man. On the other hand, men have exalted themselves, believing that they could actually build Him buildings that could contain Him. There is no building that could be built—no matter how magnificent by man’s standards—that is a worthy dwelling for our God! So great is He!

Just because you think you are really something—doesn’t mean that you are. You can choose your own way and your own path, but it is the road to nowhere. God is not interested in what you can do for Him or impressed by what you can build for Him. He is only interested in what is in your heart.  The man or woman whom God will regard, whom He is looking for and whom He cares about, are the ones who are altogether humble before God. There are many who claim humility, and yet are not, because they are proud of their humility. It is only a surface humility and makes God sick. He especially hates hypocrisy. God has respect and regard for the one who trembles at his word and reveres His commands!

Rodney Howard Browne tells us that if you are indeed a humble person, you will highly respect God’s word. God, and the rest of us, will all see and know this when we see how personally you take His word to you. We will see it by whether or not you act on God’s word, instead of just talking about it, and we will see it by how promptly you obey His commands. This is the only true measure of humility. John 4:24 AMP says that, “God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).”  Worship that is acceptable to God is worship that is absolutely sincere, coming straight from the heart.

But in every nation he who venerates and has a reverential fear for God, treating Him with worshipful obedience and living uprightly, is acceptable to Him and sure of being received and welcomed [by Him].  Acts 10:35 AMP

God is NO respecter of persons. Anyone—no matter who you are; no matter what you have done; no matter what your nationality—can be acceptable to God on the basis of worshipful obedience!

And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (the special messengers).  Acts 2:43 AMP

So the church throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was edified [growing in wisdom, virtue, and piety] and walking in the respect and reverential fear of the Lord and in the consolation and exhortation of the Holy Spirit, continued to increase and was multiplied.  Acts 9:31 AMP

The respect and reverential fear of God was a hallmark of the early church. When Jesus is your First Love, you will give Him the place of honor in your heart and life!

Therefore, since these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God.  2 Corinthians 7:1 AMP

Let’s not miss out on any of the wonderful things God has in store for us. Let’s consecrate ourselves afresh to reverence Him—to humble ourselves before Him, to get rid of all sin and pride, and to remind ourselves how precious, how wonderful, how powerful and how magnificent our God is and how worthy He is to receive all our praise, honor, adoration and obedience!

Rodney Howard Browne teaches on the Crowne Of Life

Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.  James 1:12 AMPAnd I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me [harass and trouble and molest Me]? 8 And I replied, Who are You, Lord? And He said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, Whom you are persecuting.

III. How should you respond?
    •    Bless your enemies.
    •    Romans 12:14 AMP - Bless those who persecute you [who are cruel in their attitude toward you]; bless and do not curse them.
    •    Resist the urge to fight back – let God fight your battles.
    •    Romans 12:19 AMP - Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God's] wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord.
    •    Hebrews 10:30 AMP - For we know Him Who said, Vengeance is Mine [retribution and the meting out of full justice rest with Me]; I will repay [I will exact the compensation], says the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge and determine and solve and settle the cause and the cases of His people.Rodney Howard Browne discusses the Persecuted Church

I. The Crown of Life
    •    The Crown of Life is also known as the Martyr’s Crown
    •    This crown is promised to those who are faithful unto death.
    •    Revelation 2:10 AMP - Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life.
    •    It is also promised to those who live prepared to die for their witness.
    •    Revelation 3:11-12 AMP - I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one may rob you and deprive you of your crown. 12 He who overcomes (is victorious), I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God; he shall never be put out of it or go out of it, and I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which descends from My God out of heaven, and My own new name.

II. The Crown of Life will be given to those who are persecuted for their faith and yet endure.
    •    Persecution comes simply because we bear His Name.
    •    John 15:20-23 AMP - Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master [is not superior to him]. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word and obeyed My teachings, they will also keep and obey yours. 21 But they will do all this to you [inflict all this suffering on you] because of [your bearing] My name and on My account, for they do not know or understand the One Who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin [would be blameless]; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates Me also hates My Father.
    •    Persecution is the suffering Jesus talks about that His people would go through – not sickness or disease.
    •    Philippians 1:29 NKJV - For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.
    •    You will be persecuted for righteousness and living a godly life.
    •    2 Timothy 3:12 NKJV - Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
    •    Matthew 5:10-12 NKJV – Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
    •    If you are completely submitted and obedient to the Lord and doing His work, and they persecute you, it is as if they are persecuting Jesus, Himself.
    •    Acts 22:7-8 AMP -

 

IV. The Persecuted Church.
    •    Remember – you are not alone.
    •    1 Peter 5:8-10 NKJV - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
    •    Those who have gone before us suffered so that we could receive the Truth.
    •    Hebrews 11:35-38 AMP - [Some] women received again their dead by a resurrection. Others were tortured to death with clubs, refusing to accept release [offered on the terms of denying their faith], so that they might be resurrected to a better life. 36 Others had to suffer the trial of mocking and scourging and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned to death; they were lured with tempting offers [to renounce their faith]; they were sawn asunder; they were slaughtered by the sword; [while they were alive] they had to go about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated — 38 [Men] of whom the world was not worthy — roaming over the desolate places and the mountains, and [living] in caves and caverns and holes of the earth.  
    •    The genuineness of your faith will be tested.
    •    1 Peter 1:5-7 AMP - Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God’s power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time. 6 [You should] be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations, 7 So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.
    •    We are counted worthy of the kingdom of God when we endure persecution and tribulations with patience and faith.
    •    2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 NKJV - We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rodney Howard Browne encourages us to never give up.

V. Don’t ever give up!
    •    Philippians 1:21 NKJV - For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
    •    Struck down but not out.
    •    2 Corinthians 4:7-11 AMP - However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. 8 We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair; 9 We are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted [to stand alone]; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed; 10 Always carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies. 11 For we who live are constantly [experiencing] being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced through our flesh which is liable to death.
    •    Who shall separate us from Christ or His love?
    •    Romans 8:35-39 AMP - Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? 36 Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, 39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
    •    We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us!

 

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.  Joshua 24:15 AMP

1. Rodney Howard Browne teaches that the reason most people fail in their life is because they do not understand authority, they do not recognize legitimate authority and they do not make a proper response to authority.

God is Supreme authority—He created everything and is over everything. Every created thing must bow to Him.

 

Isaiah 45:23

Romans 14:11  

Philippians 2:10-11

 

God created man in His image and gave them authority over the earth.

Genesis 1:27-28 AMP

 

The devil is an illegitimate authority. He stole man’s authority from Adam and Eve.

 

Even though he took man’s authority by deception, God still could not just snatch it back from him. Jesus took it back on behalf of man. The devil never would have crucified Jesus if he had known God’s plan to take back man’s authority and to restore man once again into right-standing with God.

 

1 Corinthians 2:8 

 

God uses His authority for GOOD! God is LOVE, His primary motivation is MERCY and His desire is to BLESS!

2. If you want to succeed in every area of your life, you must submit to legitimate authority. By doing so, illegitimate authority can have no place in your life.

 

You must personally submit your life to the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  

 

James 4:7 KJV—Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

Do not give the devil any place in your life.

Recognize all authorities that God has placed in the earth. Romans 13:1-10

 

Make a decision to walk in the love of God toward all men at all times.  That includes—and is especially applicable to—your own family.

3. Husbands and fathers—God has set you in place as the head of your home. You not only have authority, but you have responsibility.  
 

Make the decision that Joshua made: as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!

 

You cannot force your family into serving God—you must influence them in.

 

Set the example of a godly man, who honors the Lord and is submitted to Him in all things. 

 

According to God’s plan, you should be the most unselfish person in your house—not the most selfish—as is often the case.

You are the head of the house—not the dictator and not the wimp!

Recognize that your wife is not as tough as you are and live considerately with her so your prayers will be answered.

1 Peter 3:7

 

Do not be like a bull in a china shop with your children, but do not abdicate your responsibilities to raise them right either.

 

Don’t irritate and provoke them—raise them tenderly. Correct them and teach them. Ephesians 6:4 

 

Do not break their spirit. Colossians 3:21

You are the protector or your family. Protect your wife and children from anything that could harm them physically, mentally or spiritually.

 

Protect them from corrupting influences.

 

You are there to bless your house and to be a blessing to them.

4. Wives and mothers—God has given you your place, under the headship of your husband, to have authority over your household.

Submit to your husband in the fear of the Lord. Submission is not just allowing someone to walk all over you against your will. Do not make your husband force submission on you by rebellion or indifference.

Don’t be a bucking bronco or a whipped puppy. You must make the decision for yourself. Decide to submit to your husband—in faith—out of respect to God’s Word.

 

Submit without giving way to hysterical fears or letting anxieties unnerve you. 1 Peter 3:6

 

God has given you a pattern in Proverbs 31:10-31

 

Your husband should be able to confidently trust you, because you only do him good as long as there is life within you. Proverbs 31:11-12

Be secure in the Lord; prepare for the future in faith; speak kindly; take care of your family, while keeping your nose out of everyone else’s. Proverbs 31:25-27

5. Children (of all ages) respect the authority of parents that God has placed in you life. They are there for your good—not your harm. God will hold them responsible for your care and well being.

 

Obey your parents in the Lord.

 

Ephesians 6:1-3 AMP—Children obey your parents in the Lord [as His representatives], for this is just and right. 2 Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother–this is the first commandment with a promise–3 That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.

 

Colossians 3:20 AMP—Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.

NB Every one of us will give our own account to God for our own thoughts, words and actions. Whether we are in authority or under authority, let us each one honor the Lord in our choices. In doing so, we will fulfill God’s purpose for our lives and we will leave a trail of blessing and not a trail of devastation in our wake!  

Your first thought might be to say, “Rodney, you can’t be

serious. Surely Jesus won’t meet every need —not every single

need. Some He’ll meet, yes, but surely not every need.”

Yes! He’ll meet every need, every one! Some people think

His power is only for life-and-death situations. But that’s not

true.

 

In fact, Jesus used His power not only to touch people in

every area of their lives, but to meet the needs of His own ministry

as well. When the disciples needed tax money, for instance,

Jesus said to Peter, “Go down and catch the first fish. The money

you need is in his mouth.” (See Matthew 17:24-27.)

 

When you have a need, no matter how simple or how complicated

it is, when Jesus shows up, He’s going to meet that need.

That is the Gospel! It’s Good News!

 

Jesus is also our Miracle Worker. Think about this for a

moment: Jesus walked on water. Nobody benefited from that

miracle except Him. So why, then, did He walk on water? He

walked on water because He needed to get to the other side! He

sent the disciples on across the lake, because when you’re in minister

you need to get away from people and pray sometimes. Then

he walked on the water to catch up with them. When Jesus walked

on water, it did not seem like a necessity, but a luxury. He could

have waited for another boat!

 

If the Pharisees had gotten hold of Jesus, they would have

said, “You’re abusing God’s power! How dare you walk on water

for your own benefit? Who do You think You are? From now on,

please refrain from walking on water and always take a boat like

everyone else. Look at You, taking God’s power and using it for

Yourself”

 

I believe that Jesus walked on water to show us that He

had control over the elements as a sign and a wonder. But I also

believe that He did it to show us that if we are obeying and serving

God, we can trust Him to make a way for us where there is no

way. Most of the time we have no faith for the supernatural, but

God wants us to know that His supernatural power is there for us

when we need it.

 

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible,

but not with God: for with God all things are

possible.

MARK 10:27

 

We could go on and on telling what happens when Jesus

shows up. He showed up at the Pool of Bethesda, around which

lay a great multitude of blind, crippled, maimed, and withered

people. What happened when Jesus showed up? He found a man

who had been there for a long time because he didn’t have anybody

to help him get into the pool.

 

Jesus tells you the same thing He told that man, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk (John 5:8). Do you realize that all we need in our churches, all we need in America, is for Jesus to show up? When He walks in the

door, He is going to make a difference.

 

And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and

his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and

consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may

minister unto me in the priest’s office.

Exodus 28:41

 

Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon

his head, and anoint him.

Exodus 29:7

 

And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin

offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse the

altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and

thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it.

Exodus 29:36

 

And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the

congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,

Exodus 30:26

 

And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and

consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the

priest’s office.

Exodus 30:30

 

And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the

tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it,

and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.

Exodus 40:9

 

And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt offering,

and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall

be an altar most holy.

Exodus 40:10

 

And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and

sanctify it.

Exodus 40:11

 

And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and

anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister

unto me in the priest’s office.

Exodus 40:13

 

And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their

father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s

office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting

priesthood throughout their generations.

Exodus 40:15

 

And the priest, whom he shall anoint, and whom he

shall consecrate to minister in the priest’s office in his

father’s stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put

on the linen clothes, even the holy garments:

Leviticus 16:32

 

Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts,

but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine

olive shall cast this fruit.

Deuteronomy 28:40

 

The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over

them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou

over us.

Judges 9:8

 

And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye

anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust

in my shadow; and if not, let fire come out of the

bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

Judges 9:15

 

Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy

raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but

make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall

have done eating and drinking.

Ruth 3:3

 

Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out

of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to

be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my

people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have

looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto

me.

1 Samuel 9:16

 

Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to

anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now

therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of

the Lord.

1 Samuel 15:1

 

And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee

what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him

whom I name unto thee.

1 Samuel 16:3

 

And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy,

and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to

look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this

is he.

1 Samuel 16:12

 

And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise

woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to

be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and

anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had

a long time mourned for the dead:

2 Samuel 14:2

 

And let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint

him there king over Israel: and blow ye with the

trumpet, and say, God save king Solomon.

1 Kings 1:34

 

And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to

the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest,

anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

1 Kings 19:15

 

And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be

king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of

Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy

room.

1 Kings 19:16

 

Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink:

arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.

Isaiah 21:5

 

Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and

upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to

make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for

iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and

to seal up the vision and prophecy and to anoint the

most Holy.

Daniel 9:24

 

I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in

my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three

whole weeks were fulfilled.

Daniel 10:3

 

That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with

the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the

affliction of Joseph.

Amos 6:6

 

Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt

tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil;

and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.

Micah 6:15

 

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and

wash thy face;

Matthew 6:17

 

She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand

to anoint my body to the burying.

Mark 14:8

 

And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and

Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought

sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Mark 16:1

 

My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman

hath anointed my feet with ointment.

Luke 7:46

 

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that

thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou

mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy

nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with

eye salve, that thou mayest see.

Revelations 3:18

A Relationship and Not a Formula

 

There are several things that we can use to

enhance the anointing in our lives. Let me say, at the

outset of this chapter, the anointing is not a formula; it is

a relationship.

 

Many are trying to imitate other great men of

God. They want to walk their walk and talk their talk, but

not out of a relationship with Jesus. They try to use it as a

means to have God’s anointing manifest in their lives. For

example, some ministers hold a healing meeting so they

can have a crowd, not so that they can get people healed.

That’s the wrong motive for wanting to see miracles take

place.

 

I remember talking to individuals who wanted

what Smith Wigglesworth had. They studied his life and

found out that Smith Wigglesworth used to wake up at

four o’clock in the morning and have communion. Then

he would pray for three hours. So they began to do the

same. But after a little while, they would wake up late in

the morning, realizing that they had fallen asleep, instead

of praying.

 

This action was based on a formula and not a

relationship. It is important to realize that Smith

Wigglesworth did not do all of those things in order to

have miracles in his life. He had a relationship with the

Lord, and then out of his relationship, he ministered and

the miracles were the result.

 

The Bible says, “When they saw the boldness of

Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned

and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took

knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts

4:13). Can people tell that you have been with Jesus

lately? What Peter and John had was not based on a

formula, but rather a relationship with the Lord Jesus

Christ.

 

A Person, Not a Language

 

I think one of the biggest problems in many

Pentecostal and charismatic circles is that people seek a

language and not the Holy Spirit. First of all, the Holy

Spirit is not a language; He’s a person. Jesus said to the

disciples, “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be

endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:59).

Some people think He said, “You will receive

tongues.” What good is tongues without the power? We

have many babbling believers today with very little

power.

 

When He told them to tarry for the Holy Spirit,

they didn’t know what they were waiting for. If there had

come a knock on the door and someone walked in and

said, “I am the Holy Spirit,” I am sure they would have

welcomed that person and said, “Yes, Jesus said You

were coming.”

 

But on the day of Pentecost, there came a sound

from heaven as of a rushing, mighty wind. There

appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire and it sat

upon each of them. They were all filled with the Spirit

and began to speak with other tongues. (See Acts 2:1-4.)

I want you to notice they were filled, then they

spoke. They were filled first. Power was evident in their

lives. You see, the early church had the substance and

unfortunately, the latter church has the formula. Let’s get

back to the substance, the tangibility, the heavenly

materiality of what the early church had.

 

Having an Encounter with God

 

I believe if we would be used of God, we need to

have an encounter with Him. Paul talked about how he

had seen the Lord in the way. Moses had a burning bush

experience. To be honest with you, so did everyone who

has ever been used of God.

 

Job had an encounter with God at the end of his

ordeal. God revealed Himself to Job, asking Job where he

was when God laid the foundation of the earth. “Do you

have a voice that can thunder like me?” God asked Job

(Job 40:9).

 

Job finally spoke to God. His words speak for

many people, I think. He said, “I have heard of thee by

the hearing of the ear: but now my eye seeth thee” (Job

42:5). It’s one thing to read the book; it’s another thing to

meet the author of the book.

 

The Life of Prayer

 

First of all, what is prayer? Prayer is communication

and it’s two ways. In many believers’ lives, prayer is

a one-sided conversation. They pray, “Give me, give me.”

They are always asking.

 

Prayer for the believer should not be a religious

ritual performed on a daily basis by a Christian who

wants to attain a certain level of spirituality. It should be

a daily fellowship with our heavenly Father out of love.

 

We have to realize that we are not under the Old

Covenant, but under the New. Whatever is done under the

New Covenant must be done out of faith and love. Otherwise,

it is nothing more than dead works, something that

needs to be repented of.

 

My Testimony –

When God First Anointed Me

 

When You Grow Up in the Fire,

You Cannot Stand the Smell of Smoke

 

I was raised in a Pentecostal home and born again

at the age of five. I later received the Holy Spirit into my

life at the age of eight. As I was growing up, I continually

saw supernatural manifestations in the church we

attended. I also saw it in my home.

 

I remember on one occasion, my mother fell and

broke her arm in three places. Her arm bone was jutted up

above her wrist. My parents were sitting in the living

room listening to a Kathryn Kuhlman tape back in the

days of the reel to reel tape recorder.

 

After they had taken communion, our pastor came

and laid hands upon my morn and the power of God went

through her arm like pins and needles. She felt a burning

fire running up and down her arm and she knew she was

healed. Our pastor was a powerful man of God. Back in

the fifties, he had gone into a deaf school and emptied it

by the power of God. Every deaf person was healed.

 

When my mother said she was going to cut the

plaster cast off because she was healed, I pleaded with

her not to. I was only about six years old at the time. To

me, if something was broken, it was broken. I thought if

she took off the cast her arm would fall off!

 

She went into the bathroom and filled the tub with

hot water and while she was cutting away the cast with a

razor blade, she was praying in the Holy Ghost. A little

while later, she came out of the bathroom totally healed

by the power of God. This was only four days after she

had broken her arm. It was a total miracle that astounded

the medical profession - a proven, documented miracle.

 

What I am saying is that you cannot grow up

seeing that happen without being affected as a child

towards the reality of the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

The Family That Prays Together, Stays Together

 

My parents would sometimes pray from seven in

the evening until two in the morning. People would come

to the house and not want to leave because the presence

of God was there, the anointing of God was there.

 

We would sit at the table and my father would

start to pray over the food. I could tell from the way he

prayed whether we were about to eat or whether we

would eat a little while later. The anointing of God would

come upon him and he would begin to prophesy. My

mother would put the food back into the oven. She knew

we were about to have church!

 

Hungry and Thirsty for God

 

I knew that there was more, much more. During

the years that would follow, I began to get hungry for

God. In July of 1979, I cried out to God in sheer

desperation. I wanted Him to manifest Himself to me and

in me. I was hungry.

 

He told me that I had to hunger and thirst. At first

said to Him, “Why don’t You just give it to me? I have

served You all my life. I have been a good boy. I haven’t

done this, I haven’t done that, as others have. God, I

deserve it.”

 

He said, “I’m not a respecter of persons. You

come the same way everyone else does. You come in

faith and you get hungry and you desire it. Then I’ll give

it to you.”

 

You have to desire it like a man who has been in

the desert three days desires water. All he can cry for is

water. If a man walks up to him and offers him half a

million dollars, he will push him aside and shout, ‘No,

water, water, water!’ He wants water more than life itself,

because the only thing that is going to save him is water.

 

When you become desperate for the Holy Ghost

in your life like that, so that you want nothing else, then

He will come. There is something about a hungry and

thirsty heart that will cause God’s power to move over a

million people and come to your house.

 

Baptism of Fire

 

As I prayed that day, I told the Lord, “Either You

come down here and touch me, or I am going to come up

there and touch You.” I was desperate. I must have called

out to God for about twenty minutes that day.

 

Suddenly the fire of God fell on me. It started on

my head and went right down to my feet. His power

burned in my body and stayed like that for three whole

days. I thought I was going to die. I thought He was

going to kill me.

 

I thought, He has heard my prayer,

“Either You come down here and touch me or I will come

up there and touch You,” and now He has come down

here and touched me and He is going to kill me and take

me home.

 

I was really praying, “Lord, I am too young to

die.” In the forth day, I am not praying, “O Lord, send

your glory,” I am praying, “Please lift it off me so that I

can bear it.” I was plugged into heaven’s electric light

supply and since then my desire has been to go and plug

other people in.

 

My whole body was on fire from the top of my

head to the soles of my feet. Out of my belly began to

flow a river of living water. I began to laugh

uncontrollably and then I began to weep and then speak

with other tongues.

 

Drunk on the New Wine

 

I was so intoxicated on the wine of the Holy

Ghost that I was literally beside myself. The fire of God

was coursing through my whole being and it didn’t quit. I

began to realize why we would need a glorified body

when we get to heaven. When the natural comes in

contact with the supernatural, something has to give way

and it’s not going to be the supernatural.

He did finally lift that intense anointing off me,

but it stayed lightly on me, that I was aware of, for two

weeks. Because of that encounter with the Lord, my life

was radically changed from that day on.