God’s people are:
A Priestly People
EOLS: We have been anointed by God to function as His priests to transmit his love and forgiveness.
Introduction:
Have you ever known a person who seemed to be the “go to” individual when things went wrong? This person was real, touchable-far from perfect, but there was “something” about them. People were attracted to them and those in need know that they can go there and not get a handout-but receive the truth spoken in great love.
I was raised by that man. My daddy was a priest of the most high God and I saw it demonstrated daily in my home. I’m not sure he even realized it, and only in later years would I realize through study and prayer-what he did automatically by the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
(Here I will insert some personal stories of how I saw my dad reach people).
I call it “doin the business.” The business of Christ’s Kingdom is the business of every one of us who have benefited from His Grace, having received His anointing from on high.
So what is the role of a priest? The word that comes to mind immediately is “mediator.” A priest is a bridge, a conductor if you will. Another apt description could be a transmitter. The priest reaches to and knows the groundwork and the details of a higher power source. That power source can be good or it can be evil. It can be a man or it can be a god! The priest, like an electrical conductor delivers the power from the source, to the recipient-the one in need of the energy source, the “life-source” if you will. Like a radio transmitter, the priest takes a signal, converts and sends it in a way that people can hear and understand.
It’s time to drop the image of a priest in a collar, sitting in a confessional booth! You want to see a priest? Look around this room-and not just at me.
Today as we approach the final part of this series in Zechariah-I want to reacquaint us briefly with where we are in this developing vision. Zechariah continues to ponder the highly unusual apparatus that the angel is showing him.
Zechariah was still a bit perplexed-he queries the angel:
What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?
The angel answered and said:
These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.
The oil delivery system, the very pipes or channels that delivered the perpetual power - was God’s two anointed men for the times: Zerubbabel the Governor and Joshua, the High Priest. The Lord had raised them up and equipped them and filled them with this unlimited supply of anointing so that they could lead God’s people to victory!
Notice the term-"anointed ones." The typical Hebrew word for "anointed" is mashiakh-which is translated "Messiah."
Jesus is spoken of as "Yeshua ha Mashchia",- Jesus the Messiah; Jesus The Anointed One. He is the unique one, the One True Savior, the One who is the very source of oil in our lamps, the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. Yet here, in Zechariah, the Hebrew word is vene-hayyitshar, which literally translated is "Sons of Fresh Oil."
In the Old Testament day, only the High Priest and the King were anointed for office, the descendants of Aaron and David. They were the ones upon whom the oil of anointing was poured out, and they ministered among the people.
But today, we celebrate that day when everything turned around-when the prophecies of old came to fruition and God’s Spirit was poured out in limitless, boundless supply upon His people!
Listen to what God says about the “priests” of today:
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
(1Peter 2:9-10)
YOU my dear friends; you are the Sons of Fresh Oil!
God is anointing you this day-He stands ready to pour out His Spirit upon you to prepare you for service in His Kingdom! You are the ones who will do "greater works" -you will touch the sick and they shall recover. Listen to what Jesus says about YOU:
John 14:12-14 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (13) And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. (14) You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
You are the ones who will bring hope and peace to your world-you are the ones who will lift up the downtrodden and deliver the oil of gladness to the brokenhearted, to the downtrodden-you are the ones who will speak the words of life into a dark and dying world-
You are the one who will deliver words of life to lost, hurt, dying people!
Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Practice!
Demonstrate “The Blessing” concept-prophetic words. Speaking the truth in love-the power of words in delivering “the blessing.” I’m going to call someone forward to speak the blessing over their lives, and just flow with it as the Lord gives the words.
Conclusion:
The Psalmist speaks of the impact of the fresh anointing:
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing-
Life forevermore!
(Psalm 133: 1-3)
Sons of Fresh Oil-just as the anointing oil ran down the first high Priest, and all his progeny as he was anointed for priestly service-the oil that anoints you today goes forth-into your world, and declares LIFE FOREVERMORE!
You have been filled up with the Oil of The Holy Spirit to BURN brightly and to spill over into your generation!
Declare it to the world! Speak it to the darkness-you have been filled and you are continuously infused with a PERPETUAL POWER SOUCE, a PROPHETIC PROCLAMATION is on your lips as the oil runs through you church-and you have the eyes of Christ, who has baptized you with this oil of power and anointing-to see in His PERSPECTIVE!
GO in power, make your proclamation and feed that vision, Sons and Daughters of Fresh Oil- in the Name of Jesus! PROCLAIM THE WORD OF LIFE FOREVERMORE!
It’s not by might, nor by power but BY MY SPIRIT SAYS THE LORD!
