King David Series: Anointment is not Appointment

Message 6 March 2016 King David Series # Anointing for the Calling

But the LORD said to Samuel, Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand. 1 Samuel 23:14

So David  waxed  greater and greater: for the LORD  of hosts  was with him. 1 Chronicles 11:9.

Anointing comes with calling then placement follows. The timing of the two does not always coincide. Anointing facilitates and enables the called to accomplish their calling. The anointing does not therefore appoint a person for a position of ministry or leadership. It designates and gives potential. The journey from anointing to appointment can be grueling as was the case with David. In between he was a fugitive in arid rocky terrain who learnt to stay connected to his rock of ages. During the process he was refined in resolve and character as preparation for the appointment. Anointing preserves through storms and valleys that lead to appointment. It refines the inner man in preparation. It enables during the appointment delay and facilitates execution post appointment. It gives the abilities that will be recognized by others and result in appointment. Appointment gives legitimacy. Anointing gives capacity.    Prior to appointment David operated in the capacity but not in the position.

God called David from the Sheep cote to replace Saul. Calling is or being made aware of your divine assignment. The failures of Saul included failure to inquire of and obey God’s instructions and seeking direction from a spirit medium (1 Chronicle 10:13-14). David was a product of God’s grace. God could have said giving the people a king had failed. Instead he gave them an eternal kingdom in line with the concept of theocracy they had rejected. David was a product of grace meeting heart attitude qualifications. Even though both were chosen by God, Saul was a product of human demand fitting their expected physical stature qualities.  A young musical shepherd boy would have been rejected by the people. The lesson they needed was that God does not call the qualified but qualifies the called.

• -       Anointing is God’s favor for a task/calling. A virtue God puts on a person to attract his favor for a function or task. Favor is being chosen despite your demerits. Its being preferred, supported, defended, resourced and given what you do not deserve. It is being shown kindness, having rules broken for you as you are dealt with in an extraordinary way. Being given special treatment.
• -       Anointing is God’s hand on a person to do the impossible. Anointing is God’s hand and weapon. It demolishes His enemies. It kills giants. Before the anointed giants have to fall. Anointing defuses fear and inspires boldness to do what the calling beckons.
• -       Anointing is God’s transformer. The anointing does not only bring giants down but it brings giants up.  David transformed the discontent, indebted and distressed into an army by which he conquered. He transform rascals to radicals. They respected his anointing. Anointing imparted through submission. The anointing made people anew and their names - Abram, Jacob, Simon, the two Sauls. Made people exclaim  ‘Is Saul among the prophets.’
• -       Anointing operates in ranks or in accordance with the calling. It flows with revelation believed and acted on. David understood the purpose of his anointing.
• -       Anointing is potential to be released. Anointing is activated by utilization through prayer, faith and obedience to God.
• -       The anointing uses circumstances to mold you to fitness of purpose. Anointing is an apparel, or adornment for a function. E.g. If working in a factory you need an overall, in a mine a helmet, etc.  Anointing brought the army and resources. Anointing attracts resources -  Day after day men came to help David (1 Chronicles 12:22).
• -       The Anointing you respect will work for you. If you dishonor the anointing of God on others you discredit your own God given anointing. David received, released and respected God’s anointing. He would not harm Saul because he was anointed. David also respected the anointing by his willingness to suffer because of it and patiently moved in it.
• -       Anointing is God’s property. It is a part of God’s nature.  Watch out how you deal with it. He extends it to people but does not abandon it to them. He gives without repentance (Romans 11:29) – explains the question ‘was Saul still anointed’. It is a divine trademark of authority.
• -       The anointing teaches, guides and protects. Saul a veteran soldier missed David twice. Not because of lack of skill but because the anointing shielded David. David was saved from Saul’s plots, manipulation and violence. When Saul sent soldiers to arrest David at Ramah, they all prophesied (1 Samuel 18). Saul went personally and also prophesied. Could have been prophesying of how David would be king. Saul said that when he met with David in the wilderness where he was hiding. At wilderness of Maon Just as Saul and his army were about to capture David amazingly a messenger reported that the Philistines had raided Saul’s land. He was forced to cut off his pursuit to defend his land against the Philistines. The Lord's timing is amazing.
• -       The anointing brought to David both triumph and trouble. He was not after the limelight but the limelight sought him out. By it he killed giants.  The anointing then lands him in a wilderness. Once again God used the desert to refine his servant. The nation of  Israel spent forty years in the desert. Jesus spent forty days. The Apostle Paul spent 3 years. The anointing will help you, it will feed you feed and preserve. It was enough to feed a band of 600 men and their families. They did not suffer from hunger and thirst.  God of prosperous times was the faithful God in the rough and tough wilderness. David faced betrayal and disappointment from people he helped in the wilderness. The residents of Keilah and Ziph are examples ((1 Samuel 23:19). But God was with him and did not hand him over to his enemies. God’s prophet, Gad, provided guidance e.g. advised him to leave Adullum cave. His journey:

Anointed at Bethlehem - Music boy in palace - Back to Sheep Côte - Valley of Ela/Goliath – Military exploits at war front - Music boy in palace - Ramah to Samuel – back to palace – Nob to the priests -  King Achish – Adullum - Wilderness of Judah – Keilla - Wilderness of Ziph - Stronghold of Horesh (Jonathan visit encourages and predicts he would be second to him 1 Samuel 23:16, 17) - Wilderness of Maon - wilderness of Engedi with impenetrable rock formations (1 Samuel 23:29) – to Achish of Gath – Ziklag – Appointed king at Hebron – Settled as king in Jerusalem – brief exile from Absalom – Returned to Jerusalem.

In the rocky rugged places David still praised and prayed to God.  The Psalms reveal a tension from his struggles and faith (e.g. Psalm 31, 18, 63).   "Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.  Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge." (Psalm 31:2-4)

The anointing on Christ – the anointed, messiah - was to enable him for the work he had to do to save the lost. E.g. – the messiah. The anointing of the Holy Spirit even raised him from the dead (Romans 8:11).

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.  - Luke 4:18;

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.  - Acts 10:38

All saints anointed. Touch them not as much as David said touch not the anointed.

But the anointing which ye have received of him abides in you , and ye need not that any man teach you : but as the same anointing teaches you of all things , and is truth , and is no lie , and even as it hath taught you , ye shall abide in him .  - 1 John 2:27.

In your wildernesses God is working out his plan in you. As a believer you are already anointed. You possess the Holy Spirit of God who connects you with the very mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:10-16). You have the nature of Christ. You have the kingdom in you. Its all there. The Holy Spirit adorns the believers (Luke 24:49). The Apostles were told to wait in Jerusalem until they were clothed with power from high. You are designated with kingship as you rule with Christ. You have power to transform lives through discipleship.  Put on strength and rise up. Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength! Put on your garments of splendor (Isaiah 52:1),Tap into the anointing. Tap into the mind of Christ. Rise up and walk by faith not by sight. You are called to join in the mission to share Christ and nurture people in him. You are called to know God and bring glory to him through what you do.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

First Floor Dhando House,

66 Eloff Street Extension,

Village Deep,

 Johannesburg,

South Africa