Chapel Service

Stockton 99 Speedway

May 5, 2012

“Word(s) Of Life & God’s Involvement”

 Bob Butcher

Last week in Utah we learned about the word that is so important to build into our lives – “Integrity.”

This week I want to share a more obscure word to us today but still one that is ever so important and one we should recognize when it is happening to us; however usually we do not.  You say: …“hmmm …now that sounds mysterious!’

That certainly is true.  It is mysterious!  However, there is a lot to it that we do not understand, yet we should for a number of reasons.  We briefly touched upon it last week in Utah.

The word is: “Anointing.”

Because of the circumstances surrounding it we often hear it called “The Anointing.”

That is because in it’s true form, or when it happens to us, we have nothing to do with it. 

Let’s look at some definitions as we begin:

This is from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary today:

  • the smearing or rubbing with oil or an oily substance
  • to apply oil to as a sacred rite especially for consecration 
  • to choose by or as if by divine election;  to designate as if by a ritual anointment.

Examples of ANOINT/ ANOINTING/ANOINTED

  1. The magazine anointed her the most popular actress of the year.
  2. <anoint the wound with antiseptic to prevent infection>
Origin:

  • Middle English, from Anglo-French enoint, from Latin inunguere, from in- + unguere to smear
First Known Use of the Word: 14th century – Now that cracks me up because that word has been in scripture from it’s original writing by the Old Testament patriarchs like Moses.  I think that was just a tiny bit before the 14th century.
Noah Webster defined ANOINTING in his 1828 dictionary the same way.  That surprises me since society has taken and changed the meaning of so many words over time. Rarely are they keep the same clarity.
In scripture God would instruct His priest or prophet like Samuel (Do you remember him from last week?) to take a flask or horn of oil and pour it over the head of the person He picked for king or priest.
Note at this point: (you might find the Old Testament using the word “seer” instead of prophet)
Here is an example of anointing:
Samuel was the prophet  with integrity and led he nation of Israel before its first “king” …named Saul.
Saul is set in as prince in 1 Samuel 9 -10:1.
  • “Then Samuel took a jar of olive oil and poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, The Lord anoints you as prince and ruler of His people Israel. You will rule His people and protect them from all their enemies. And this is the proof to you that the Lord has chosen you Saul to be the ruler of His people which are His inheritance:”
Note two things here:
  1. You can read the proof God used to show Saul that this was true and that Samuel was acting on God’s behalf.  You must remember that if a prophet was shown to be false they were to be stoned to death.
  2. You should also note that at this point God did not call Saul king, but instead prince or ruler.  God Himself was their King and still in charge.  A boy in the royal line is still called a prince today.  I believe that God still had that issue in His mind.  However Saul was to fail miserably in obeying “Daddy.”
That is one of the reasons God had David waiting in the wings to become king, one that would follow His directions and lead as God directed.  God directed Samuel to anoint David in 1 Samuel 16, many years before David would actually take the throne of Israel.

I want you to note something about anointing at this point.  It comes and goes at the will of the Lord, not us!

1 Samuel 15:35-16:1 says:
  • “Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.”
  • The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your flask with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”
Drop down to 1 Samuel 16:12-14:

  • Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”  So Samuel took the flask of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then left and went to Ramah.   Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and a distressing evil spirit from the Lord tormented Saul.

Note God’s point of view on David in Acts 13:22:
  • “After removing Saul, He made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after My own heart; David will do everything I want him to do.”
So here we have the point that God anoints and un-anoints!
Another thing to remember about David is that he totally understood anointing and Saul was God’s anointed king.  Over the years David had plenty of opportunity to both kill or dethrone Saul.  David never allowed that to happen as he wisely believed one did not mess with the Lords anointed.  That is God’s business alone.
  • 1 Samuel 24:10 – This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I sparedyou; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord the king, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’
Today, Anointing is a “churchy” word, but it is still the missing piece from God that He gives us to accomplish what He asks us to do just like He has done throughout history as we saw above.
When we consider the way God operates today we note that even most churches do not hold to anointing with oil.  Only in certain church congregations do you see them follow a point blank directive that to me is quite clear:
  • James 5:14 – “Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.
Like I said, it sounds pretty straight forward to me, but…
However, God is STILL in the anointing business.
He does it in many different ways today.  Yes, it is STILL His choice …the WHO, the WHEN, the WHERE, the HOW, and also most often the WHY, …which we usually will not understand simply because it is His business and for His reasons, not ours.
A good example with a preacher is that no matter how excellent of a speaker a pastor is, it is that piece that God adds that makes what the pastor says believable; because it resonates in your heart and you say something like “I know Bob isn’t that good, but there is something about what he said.”  That is God anointing His Word, not me.  The anointing is what draws you and you hold onto.
Personally, I recognize when God’s anointing has been upon me.  How?  It’s simple.
You have probably heard me say that when I speak,…
…whether at chapel, or the track invocation during opening ceremonies, or a prayer; …and everyone liked it or thought it was absolutely great,…
…that I don’t even know what I said!
THAT, my friends …was strictly the anointing by the Lord Himself.
How about you?
I bet that if you really thought about it there have been times when things have went especially well in some way.
…Maybe it also was something that you said in an important situation…
…or had advice come out of your mouth that you don’t know where that came from…
…or even accomplishing something you feel that was well beyond yourself …
…maybe like driving an exceptional race way over your head and ability…
…or like coming up with a solution to a problem that you almost think must have been supernatural…
…or what about extraordinary courage in a situation…
….or how about extra strength that you normally do not have anything like that…
Well guess what? …it probably was!  Chances are you have experienced an anointing from the Lord.
The truth is …we miss miracles and God’s involvement in our life all too often and explain it away in some other way!  Heaven forbid that we would give credit where credit is due and look foolish or like a crazy fanatic.
If so, I Hope that you recognized it for what it likely was.
I also hope that you gave the glory that came from it to the Lord who deserved it in the first place.
That is a very important point because the Lord will not share the glory that belongs to Him …period.
Now that you have a better understanding about anointing I hope you both recognize when it comes upon you so you can watch how God uses the results, plus also give glory to Him where it is due.  This is a wonderful way to learn about God and get to know Him better.  He is always busy in your life.  Besides, this is an interesting way that God may; and often does touch your life. 
Next time don’t miss it!  Remember, “ALL things are possible with God!”  (Mark 10:27, Matthew 19:26, and Luke 18:24.)

Extra:

Another anointing reference however strange…

Check out Numbers 22 where God anoints a donkey to speak to a disobedient diviner (soothsayer, false prophet) named Baalam.   Hey, I said ALL things are possible with God.