Well, it's Monday again and I had coffee in front of my favorite tel-evangelists on TBN.
When the coffee is gone and the programs are over, I have a little talk with my Heavenly Father. This morning, I say "thank you" which is usually reserved for bedtime. (Like counting sheep, only better.) I was raised to pray for others in the morning and thank God at night. This seems to help with too much self indulgence. Although, my Father in heaven is a generous father and I know I can ask for anything anytime.
After four half hour sermons, from four different speakers, I am feeling particularly good about my freedom as a Christian. (This is a pretty good way to start the week.) To be the righteousness of God, as a gift, through the sacrifice of Christ is so much more than we realize; so much more than we deserve. We do not have to work for anything. We just accept by believing of, and in Jesus and His resurrected life. That's it! I don't think about this as much as I should. It makes me very much at peace, with a lot less stress.
Christians are free from worry and fear. We will be saved through the rapture before the worst of the end times. We do not have to please God by working to do right. We do not have to feel guilt - it's been taken away. You can't change it. It's already happened. Whether you believe it or understand it. We are saved from this world now.
When God looks at a believer, He sees His Son, Jesus. In God's eyes we are as pure as our Savior Himself. His shed blood covers over all sin and God can only see Jesus' holiness. Yes, we are holy. We are ambassadors of heaven. We are apostles. We are brothers and sisters with Christ. We can lay all problems at the feet of our savior and he will plead our case for us. We can go directly to God, the Father and commune. And. . . He will answer us.
When a believer dies, he sleeps. He knows nothing. In a twinkling of an eye he wakes to the rapture with all other believers throughout history. This is an amazing thing to understand. Talk about reducing fear.
As Jesus is in heaven, so are we. We, as believers, can heal and be healed, teach and be taught, anoint and be anointed, give and take communion and receive the same standing as Christ Himself. Understand, we achieve this through what He did and the blood He shed - not by anything we could ever do. We are sinners; have been, are and will be until we are changed to that new life. Our sins no longer count against us. Even as we sin today, it is already forgiven - because we believe that is why Jesus died and rose.
Some time ago, I left a Bible study because the leader was teaching that a believer can lose their salvation. I guess, by committing a sin. At first, I thought we might just agree to disagree, as brother and sister in Christ. That does not work. For one thing, both of us stand firm in our belief.
Let me plead my case here: Did Jesus die for nothing? Is he saying that Christ needs to be nailed to that tree again so he can be saved every time he slips? I say, "NO". It is once and for all - like Paul said. Once died for all! It is done! We are saved. We are free! True believers WANT to do what pleases our Father because we know the love involved and the sacrifice from Him and The Son.
Let us be humble and take a few times today to reflect on all this. Let's go through our Monday being happy for the amazing blessings God has freely given to us through His most beloved son, that He is so proud of.
Amen
Asking for a fresh anointing from God every day can be a blessing to you. Anointing for healing, wisdom, provision, free from debt, safety, increased faith and blessings. Anointing to just get through the day. Hallelujah !
What is anointing? I'm so glad you asked. Actually, whether you had asked or not, I was going to tell you anyway.
Anointing is the ritual act of pouring aromatic oil over a person's head or entire body. The term is also used to relate to acts of sprinkling or smearing a person or object with a perfumed oil, milk, butter or other fat. (I favor olive oil and a "cross" mark made with my thumb on the forehead of any person I am anointing.) Sharing these oils is commonly an act of hospitality. They are used to introduce a divine influence to rid persons and things of dangerous spirits and demons believed to cause disease. This has been recorded from early times.
As a verb, synonyms are: consecrate, sanctify, bless, ordain, hallow.
As a noun, this is a sacrament using oil and the recitation of prayer administered [by a priest] to a person who is very ill or dying.
I object with this act being performed only by religious "authority" (such as a priest); that was a necessity before Jesus became our High Priest. It's a matter of the anointing of the spirit. Those believers in Christ Jesus are anointed by God through the spirit and we do not need anyone to act for us; we have the anointing on us. I Jn 2:27 To perform anointing has nothing to do with education or knowledge. As long as we walk according to the inner anointing of the Spirit, we will know God's will and be acquainted with God's work. Thus, we are capable of doing these works just as Jesus disciples were instructed. Mary performed the anointing of Jesus feet. Jn 12:3
The origin of anointing comes from ancient shepherds who would pour oil over the head of sheep to make it too slippery for insects (ie: lice) to get near the ears of their sheep which, untreated, could cause the pests to burrow into the head causing death. Anointing became used for protection, blessing and empowerment.
The N.T. Greek word (chrio) implicates consecration for office or religious service. Another Greek word for anoint (aleipho) signifies God's blessing or call on that person's life. Ex 29:7, 40:9, II Kings 9:6, Eccl 9:8, Jms 5:14
(The oil itself does not have any power; only God. The oil is just a symbol of what God is doing.)
Another meaning of the word is "chosen one". Jesus was anointed by God, with the Holy Spirit for His life mission. Lk 4:18&19, Acts 10:38 All the kings of Israel were anointed to their position.
After Jesus left the earth, He gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. Now all Christians are anointed. Jn 14:16, I Jn 2:20, II Cor 1:21&22
Jesus anointing has come upon His followers, believers today. I Jn 2:27 When you call upon Jesus' name, the anointing is released on you. When spoken, His name is like ointment. Call on Jesus and watch His anointing release deliverance, provision, healing, protection and make you whole. Ro 10:13 Our anointing is increased by spending time with Him.
Note: Grain offerings were to have olive oil poured onto the fine flour and frankincense added. Oil commonly refers to the Holy Spirit. (I am reminded that, shortly after His birth, Jesus was presented with gold, frankincense and myrrh. Frankincense is an oil used to relieve stress, anxiety and pain. Myrrh is an aromatic resin or gum used as an incense. We all know what gold is; Jesus is more precious than gold./Wisdom is more precious than gold.) The grain offering speaks of Jesus sacrifice and oil speaks of anointing of the Holy Spirit. The grain offering of fine flour (Jesus is the Bread of Life) which had oil poured on it, is Jesus' as man being anointed by the Holy Spirit - which is a sweet fragrance to God, His Father.
For Healing: Acts 10:38, Jms 15:14, Mk 6:13, Lk 10:33&34 Spiritual, physical and emotional healing through anointing.
For revelation: Ex 25:6 Take away the dark and replace it with the light of knowledge through Christ's life.
For provision: I Kgs 17:14 This widow had oil overflowing to sell, share and use.
For financial freedom: II Kgs 4:1-7 Another widow freed of debt with the blessing of oil that paid off all her bills. God's anointing oil.
For deliverance: Ps 23:1-5 David was saved time and again from his enemies.
For faith: Isa 21:5 Our shield of faith must be activated by anointing. We accept anointing through our faith which is increased by the anointing. This cycle starts with just a mustard seed of faith and is enriched by anointing.
For blessings: Ps 133 Verse 3 reveals a blessing of life forever. Today, this blessing is ours.
His promises are true. II Cor 1:20
Have an anointed day through the blessing Jesus bestowed on us through the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Christians are free from worry and fear. We will be saved through the rapture before the worst of the end times. We do not have to please God by working to do right. We do not have to feel guilt - it's been taken away. You can't change it. It's already happened. Whether you believe it or understand it. We are saved from this world now.
Some time ago, I left a Bible study because the leader was teaching that a believer can lose their salvation. I guess, by committing a sin. At first, I thought we might just agree to disagree, as brother and sister in Christ. That does not work. For one thing, both of us stand firm in our belief. 
