The word anoint means to choose and empower. In the Old Testament, FATHER chose men and had the prophet ceremonially anoint them with oil as a visible indication associated with the empowering of THE SPIRIT. Once the ceremony took place, there was no question who FATHER had selected for HIS Purpose.
One of the greatest hindrances to success in any endeavor is the mismatch of gifts to the task at hand. Would you want someone who is mediocre building your house? Would you want the worst doctor performing heart surgery on your child? Instead you would want the one person whom FATHER has imparted the gifts and calling to do the work on your behalf. One of the best examples is Bezalel. In Exodus chapter 31 FATHER spoke:
1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
2 “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
4 to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze,
5 in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.”
Would you want anyone else to be charged with the building of the Tabernacle? FATHER knew Bezalel’s calling when HE formed him in the womb. As Bezalel matured, he gravitated toward developing those gifts which would serve FATHER in the optimum manner. You can be sure that Bezalel had a passion for such workmanship. Other workmen who were called to this most important task gladly submitted to his gifts and calling for they knew their limitations.
When you have men in their own wisdom attempting to take on such a project, mediocrity enters in and they ultimately miss the mark of excellence. FATHER would not allow HIS Dwelling Place to be constructed by amateurs who lacked the needed skills for success. Sadly the current system does not operate in the same manner except where FATHER is exalted as the Source of all wisdom and understanding.
Not everyone is called to the forefront of ministry. Some are called to administration, some are called to manage assets on behalf of the Kingdom, and some are called to serve those in need. When everyone fulfills their calling, the overall ministry flourishes. Otherwise the fruit of success is limited. A chain is only as good as the weakest link.
In Acts chapter 6 there were complaints concerning the neglect of the widows. Once again those with the gifts and calling were selected to fulfill the need:
3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,
6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
To Minister, serve, and work all come from the same Hebrew word sharath . When you serve a ministry in any capacity you are effectively in the ministry unto FATHER. When you work and produce funds which in turn help support a ministry, you are also a minister of the Gospel. As you fulfill the calling on your life FATHER will bless you accordingly and be assured that your calling includes spreading the Gospel in some manner. FATHER gave the following promise to those who wholly follow Him and seek HIS Face in Deuteronomy chapter 30:
8 And you will again obey the voice of the LORD and do all His commandments which I command you today.
9 The LORD your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers,
10 if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
FATHER sent us The Holy Spirit to anoint and empower us to fulfill our calling. Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Philippians chapter 4:
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
and in Romans chapter 7:
6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
FATHER has provided the anointing of The Holy Spirit with power for each of us to fulfill our mandate on earth. We have the choice to accept or reject this straight and narrow path. There will be times when the adversary will challenge us, especially when we first embark on a new phase of our walk. Once Jesus was anointed with The Holy Spirit and power He immediately was challenged by the devil. Don’t think it will be any different with you or me. At each major crossroad in my life, I was first presented with a counterfeit alternative that appealed to the world’s wisdom and understanding. We must seek FATHER, HIS Wisdom, and anointing when faced with the counterfeit so we are able to see through the diversion. The adversary would like nothing more than for each of us to be choose a path other than the one which leads to the fulfillment of our calling.
We need the freshness of HIS anointing each and every day. Let us not be void of HIS Word in any area but continue in HIS Word and fellowship. As a result, we will fulfill our calling thereby maximizing our fruitfulness. HIS anointing confirms the path we are on. If there is no fruit whatsoever, it may be time to assess the path to see if an adjustment is required. It may be necessary to be still and wait for HIM to reveal the next steps to take for HE will supply the fresh anointing to fulfill the path HE has selected for each of us. This fresh anointing will ease the burden and at the same time expand the blessing.