Anointed or Called For Ministry!
Today as we continue in the week of the year where we focus on the Baptism of The Lord, we look at two other men who were anointed for the task of ministry and God's special purpose. We usually refer to this as "the call", or one's calling. The other term used is "anointed" or "consecrated" for ministry. Interesting the term for baptism means to totally immerse or cover with God's grace and power. Part of our baptism service is to anoint a child or adult with oil for consecration of that person's life for God and His purposes. When Jesus was baptized he was anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit as He began his ministry by John the Baptist.
Today, we have two stories of anointing and also another form which is the laying of hands to consecrate someone for ministry. In the first instance, David was anointed by Samuel the prophet, as God had rejected Saul as King. The Lord sent Samuel to the town of Bethlehem (where Jesus was born years later!) to anoint one of the sons of Jesse. Jesse started to bring out his sons one by one, but The Lord told Samuel it was none of these. Then, finally he called David, the youngest, who was tending the sheep. God picked him and Samuel anointed him to be the next King by pouring oil over him a sign of the dedication to God's service. The passage says he was filled with the Holy Spirit from that point on. God picked him not because of his appearance, but because he was a man after God's own heart. Jesus would eventually be anointed as King from the same line as King David. And another meaning of the Messiah was called, "anointed one". So we see all the connections.
In a similar but different way, Paul instructed Timothy to carry out his ministry diligently remembering the time the elders laid hands on him and imparted to him the Holy Spirit's gifts for ministry. This does not take away from the fact that Paul still urges Timothy to be wholly devoted to his call and watch his life and doctrine too. Since he was younger his progress would be evidence that The Lord had indeed called him to this role in the early church.
So what does this mean for us? In traditional churches when someone is ordained the bishops and others lay hands on the minister and recall many of these passages as they commission the person for ministry. But there is also a sense that everyone who is baptized and has received the Holy Spirit is "called" to ministry. Paul says in Corinthians, not everyone is a prophet, apostle or pastor, but each person is given a unique gift to build up the whole church. It is the same Holy Spirit who calls different people to different roles in the church. So while pastors and other church leaders may have a special calling to lead the church,feed the church and care for the church, the pastor is also called to equip other believers to the work of the ministry. That is the beauty of the body of Christ. We are all baptized, adopted by God as His sons and daughters, and called to ministry using our gift to build up the church for God's purpose in the world.
Have you ever thought of yourself as called to ministry? Have you taken the time to discover and employ the gift(s) God has given you? If not talk to your pastor. Trust me he needs a lot of help! LOL
Baptism of the Lord
Psalm 29 (The voice of God upon the waters); 1 Samuel 16:1-13 (David anointed king by Samuel); 1 Timothy 4:11-16 (Gift of prophecy with laying on of hands) (New International Version)
Psalm 29
A psalm of David.
1 Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
11 The Lord gives strength to his people;
the Lord blesses his people with peace.
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Samuel Anoints David
16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn 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.”
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
1 Timothy 4:11-16
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Today, we have two stories of anointing and also another form which is the laying of hands to consecrate someone for ministry. In the first instance, David was anointed by Samuel the prophet, as God had rejected Saul as King. The Lord sent Samuel to the town of Bethlehem (where Jesus was born years later!) to anoint one of the sons of Jesse. Jesse started to bring out his sons one by one, but The Lord told Samuel it was none of these. Then, finally he called David, the youngest, who was tending the sheep. God picked him and Samuel anointed him to be the next King by pouring oil over him a sign of the dedication to God's service. The passage says he was filled with the Holy Spirit from that point on. God picked him not because of his appearance, but because he was a man after God's own heart. Jesus would eventually be anointed as King from the same line as King David. And another meaning of the Messiah was called, "anointed one". So we see all the connections.
In a similar but different way, Paul instructed Timothy to carry out his ministry diligently remembering the time the elders laid hands on him and imparted to him the Holy Spirit's gifts for ministry. This does not take away from the fact that Paul still urges Timothy to be wholly devoted to his call and watch his life and doctrine too. Since he was younger his progress would be evidence that The Lord had indeed called him to this role in the early church.
So what does this mean for us? In traditional churches when someone is ordained the bishops and others lay hands on the minister and recall many of these passages as they commission the person for ministry. But there is also a sense that everyone who is baptized and has received the Holy Spirit is "called" to ministry. Paul says in Corinthians, not everyone is a prophet, apostle or pastor, but each person is given a unique gift to build up the whole church. It is the same Holy Spirit who calls different people to different roles in the church. So while pastors and other church leaders may have a special calling to lead the church,feed the church and care for the church, the pastor is also called to equip other believers to the work of the ministry. That is the beauty of the body of Christ. We are all baptized, adopted by God as His sons and daughters, and called to ministry using our gift to build up the church for God's purpose in the world.
Have you ever thought of yourself as called to ministry? Have you taken the time to discover and employ the gift(s) God has given you? If not talk to your pastor. Trust me he needs a lot of help! LOL
Baptism of the Lord
Psalm 29 (The voice of God upon the waters); 1 Samuel 16:1-13 (David anointed king by Samuel); 1 Timothy 4:11-16 (Gift of prophecy with laying on of hands) (New International Version)
Psalm 29
A psalm of David.
1 Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
11 The Lord gives strength to his people;
the Lord blesses his people with peace.
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Samuel Anoints David
16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn 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.”
2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”
The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”
4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”
5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”
“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”
Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”
12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”
13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
1 Timothy 4:11-16
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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