*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*ANOINTING (10)*
*Scripture Treasure.*
2 Kings 4:8 *And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
The power of the anointed must not be judged by the things he/she possesses or does not.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
The Shunammite woman saw the need to provide bread for Elisha. She did not undermine the power of his anointing or judge her provision to Elisha to Elisha's lack of it.
Elisha died and was buried.
It was not the dead body of Elisha that rose the dead, but the power of the Spirit at work in the dead Elisha.
The power could raise a dead body but did not raise Elisha.
This is not because the Spirit could not, but because only Christ has the power to make die and the power to raise the dead. Only Christ has the power over death and the power to raise the dead, Rev 1:8.
John says in John 10:18 *Therefore, doth my Father love me because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.*
*No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.......'*
Jesus was saying He had power over death, but Elisha did not, and no mortal man has, Heb 9:27.
There are two lessons we can learn in today's look at the anointed Elisha.
First, is that the anointed is not God.
While Elisha was alive, he raised the dead. He, however, could not raise himself.
Though there was nothing Elisha or any anointed of God could have control over when they die, it still remains true that there are miracles the anointed, in their lifetime, could command or decree into people's lives, yet they could be lacking in such miracles.
The second is that we must not judge the anointing of a man by what he has or has not.
The Shunammite woman said, *"....Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God,.....'*, 2 Kgs 4:8-10.
She did not judge Elisha by what he lacked, but by a spiritual perception, she knew who Elisha was.
She saw in Elisha what many may or could not see.
Her spiritual ability to see the outward form of an underlying truth and a hidden reality to so many people was outstandingly remarkable.
We all need this spiritual revelation.
We must pray for a spiritually discerned revelation.
The anointed must not be judged by the numbers of followers they command, the affluence, riches, wealth, size of their churches, etc.
What they have or do not have has no influence on the anointing for the breakthrough they release.
David needed support for his troop and sent some of his people to seek help from Nabal, a man whom David told his servants saying, *'.....And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity,*, 2 Sam 25:6.
None of the Lord's anointed, as priests and prophets in the Old Testament (OT) and disciples, apostles in the New Testament (NT) were recognized by their physical possessions.
According to the scriptures, some of them may remain unknown, yet their lives are pleasing to God, and they are operating very excellently before God.
In the days of Elijah, 1 Kgs 19:18 says they were in the range of *".....seven thousand......"* This can not be different from what we have today. It God's word! (ref Ps 119:89).
Today, many have missed the supernatural because they were looking for the spectacular resulting from the laying of hands on them or physical appearances, delivery, or possessions of the anointed.
Many have judged the anointed by what he has but not by Who has him.
Many have judged the anointed by what he has but not by Who is in him.
Many have judged the anointed by what he holds but not Who holds him.
God is the One Who holds and owns the anointed, and by His power, they move.
Anointing is not only more than you can offer money in exchange for. It is more than whatsoever possession the anointed has and the value placed on them.
Always remember that a man's rich possession does not determine the anointing he has, and neither would his lack determine his anointing, Rev 3:8, 17.
What the anointed carries is more than whatsoever he may or not possess.
*Remorse corner.*
Elisha could not stop his own death. The raising of the dead was credited to him. He stopped death over a dead man.
*Call to Word action.*
Covetousness, bad judgment, has robbed many of receiving miracles
Remember, *'And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.*, Luke 12:15.
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Elijah was not described by any possession he had but as *".......an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins.'*
King Ahaziah said to servants, *'....lt is Elijah the Tishbite.*, 2 Kings 1:8.
*Prayer.*
Let me honor Your vessels' anointing more than the physical or material possessions they may have or have not, in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day.
God bless you.