You Are Anointed Series

Cyrus was a Persian king who ruled over a hundred years after Isaiah wrote these words found in our text. He was a man of great influence, a man God used to accomplish His purposes upon the earth.

Allow me to pause here and state that every one of us has influence. Influence means a power that causes an effect by indirect or tangible ways. It means to alter drastically or to change the course of a thing.

It does not matter who you are or what your vocation is, you are an influencer. It does not matter what your economical status, your culture, race, or age is, nor your level of education, if your life in anyway connects with others, you are an influencer, a driving force for change. And God seeks to work through you to accomplish His purposes by your hand.

Cyrus was a man of influence or power. But before he rose to prominence, many scholars believed that in his infancy he encountered adverse conditions that threatened at one time his purpose and destiny; for they believed that Cyrus was an outcast, left exposed to the evil elements of this world as an infant. But, by divine grace he was rescued from perishing by a herdsmanÕs wife because he was to be therein a type of the great Redeemer releasing GodÕs people out of their captivity.

Cyrus, who was spiritually ignorant of knowing intimately the God of Israel, because of being trained up in the worship of idols was yet called by God to manifest His purposes upon the earth.

Isaiah said in verse one of our text, ÒThus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden (or grasped) to subdue nations before himÉÓ The Lord called Cyrus, ÒHis anointed.Ó

Despite his theological or philosophical view, despite his culture, race or age, despite his background or past, God by His own omni-potency or authority called Cyrus just like many of us to greatness. And you can not afford to allow other peoples opinion of you, nor your own past failures or experiences to stop you from being persistent in achieving the destiny God called you to.

They labeled you as a failure, but yet God has called you. Branded you as a nobody, but yet God has called you and anointed you to do great exploits. Even the religious circles have turned their back on you because of their doctrinal view, but yet God has called youÉ

Whenever you attempt to bring about change because of the anointing placed upon your life, it plays on the insecurities of those who have grown accustomed to the way things are and have always been. In this way, your destiny or vision for change is often seen as a threat. But remember, God has anointed you for you to accomplish your purpose.

It is not uncommon for the negative emotions you stir up in people to be unleashed in the form of opposition. What you are convinced Òshould beÓ will be perceived by others as the very thing that Òshould not be.Ó But you must be determined to pursue despite the odds to what God is calling you to.

Regardless of whatÕs driving your critics, regardless of what obstacles you encounter, if you give up now, if you lose heart, what could be and should be will never be; at least not as a result of your labor.

Therefore, tell the person next to you, ÒYour destiny demands your diligence.Ó

It is not a matter of whether your vision or destiny is going to be fulfilled, itÕs a matter of whether you are going to be true, faithful, and persistent in the midst of trials and tribulations so that God can bring it to pass.

If you are going to quit after a couple of conflicts or unwarranted criticisms, you will never realize your dreams, manifest your vision, nor enter your destiny. Commitment and persistence is the desire to withstand every opposition.

Whenever obstacles come along by way of family, friends, church members or even foes, persistence responds with the attitude such as, ÒYou might as well give up because IÕm not going to stop until I poses that what God has promised me.Ó

I donÕt know who I preaching to, but help me preach by telling your neighbor, ÒDonÕt give up, and never take no as answer when it comes to your destiny or vision.Ó

You have to be determined to do what God has called you to do. You have to tell ÒNoÓ this belongs to me. If ÒNoÓ continues refusing you on Monday, than go back on Tuesday and say, ÒThis belongs to me.Ó If ÒNoÓ continues refusing you on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, keep going back until ÒNoÓ says, ÒHere, take it, IÕm tiered of you coming here pestering me!Ó