From the Problem to the Solution
#7 - THE ANOINTING IS THE DIFFERENCE
This morning, we're continuing, right on through to years end, our series of messages entitled FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION
And by way of review, we've told you already, that in order to get FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION, we must…
--1. Recognize the Problem
--2. Make a "Word" Decision
--3. Find Our Evidence
--4. Learn to Listen
--5. Have Patience (Patience Works)
--6. Give Thanks In All Things
Well, this morning, we're going to be talking about another step in getting from the PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION
And that is learning to receive and release the SECRET POWER OF THE ANOINTING
Let's read…
Isaiah 10:27 (KJV) "And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing."
INTRODUCTION
In our text this morning, we find the nation of Judah in one of their most difficult times
The Assyrians have burdened them down with…
--despair
--defeat
--desperation
But here the prophet heralds of a brighter future, where there is a promise of…
--a great deliverance
--a great breakthrough
--a great answer to prayer
And how will this be done? BECAUSE OF THE ANOINTING
Notice this – the yoke (THE PROBLEM) will be destroyed because of the ANOINTING
So, it would seem to me, that if I wanted to break ANY YOKE in my life
It would seem to me, that if I wanted to go FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION
Then I would need to…
--find out
--look into
--apply
The power of the ANOINTING in my life
Now, understand the phrase here
It did not say the anointing would BREAK the yoke
For anything broken, most often can be put back together
But it says the anointing would DESTROY the yoke
That means that it would annihilate!
It would be gone…
--completely
--totally
--eternally
That's the power of the ANOINTING!
And if we want to go FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION, then we need the anointing!
Now, let's consider – WHAT IS A YOKE?
A YOKE is…
--a device for joining together a pair of draft animals, esp. oxen, usually consisting of a crosspiece with two bow-shaped pieces, each enclosing the head of an animal
--an emblem or symbol of subjection, servitude, slavery, etc., as an archway under which prisoners of war were compelled to pass by the ancient Romans and others.
--an agency of oppression, subjection, servitude, etc.
And the Bible says that THE ANOINTING WOULD DESTROY THE YOKE!!
NOW there are MANY YOKES that bind us for various reasons
There are…
--physical yokes (sickness, disease, infirmity, health issues)
--mental yokes (depression, fear, anxiety)
--financial yokes (debt, poverty, theft)
--family yokes (children on drugs, rebellious teenagers, marriage problems)
--habit yokes (drugs, alcohol, etc.)
But I'm here to tell you IF YOU WANT TO GO FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION, then you need to understand that THE ANOINTING DESTROYS THE YOKE
And knowing this, someone said "The anointing makes the difference."
And I know what they're saying
But the truth of the matter is that the anointing doesn't MAKE the difference – IT IS THE DIFFERENCE!!!
If you want…
--victory
--peace
--power
--breakthrough
--the yoke destroyed
Then THE ANOINTING IS THE DIFFERENCE!
Now, what, you might ask, exactly IS THE ANOINTING?
Let me answer that question this morning by talking to you about 3 THINGS concerning the SECRET POWER OF THE ANOINTING in your life
First of all, I want you to consider…
1. THE ORIGINATION OF THE ANOINTING
What is the anointing?
The anointing is referring specifically to that oil that was used in the Old Testament that symbolized…
--God's favor
--God's approval
--God's presence
--God's power
Over a certain individual for a particular office or assignment from God
For example…
--the High Priest was anointed with oil
--the furnishing in the tabernacle were anointed with oil
--Kings were anointed with oil
--prophets were anointed oil
What would happen was that when a servant of God was anointed for service, they would take oil and pour it upon their head
And that sacred anointing oil symbolized the PRESENCE AND POWER OF GOD
And today, when we talk about the anointing, we're not talking about just the oil, we're in effect talking about…
--God's blessing
--God's presence
--God's favor
And the way that God imparts the anointing in this day and age is not through liquid, but THROUGH THE PERSON OF THE *****HOLY SPIRIT*****
Jesus said…
Luke 4:18-19 (KJV) "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord."
In other words, the ANOINTING TODAY COMES THROUGH THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
That's why you need…
--the Holy Spirit after you're saved
--to be sanctified and filled with the Holy Spirit
Because the more you are aquatinted with the Holy Spirit – the more access you have to the anointing in your life
That's why the prophet Zechariah said…
Zechariah 4:6 (KJV) "…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."
It's through the ANOINTING that's imparted by THE HOLY SPIRIT that the YOKE IS DESTROYED IN OUR LIVES
So, if you want to go from the PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION, you need aquatint yourself with the Holy Spirit!
He's the originator of the anointing and the anointing DESTROYS THE YOKE!!
Not only do I want you to understand the ORIGINATION of the anointing
But let's, secondly, consider…
2. THE AGITATION OF THE ANOINTING
Because the anointing represents the Holy Spirit
And the Holy Spirit is like a dove that will easily flutter away
Ecclesiastes 10:1 (KJV) "Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour…"
Because what would happen in the Old Testament, is that according to Exodus 30:25-38, God gave very special instructions on how to make the anointing oil
And they would put all these spices and liquids in the container, and it would produce the oil that was used for anointing
And it had a pleasant fragrance
And isn't that the way it is when someone is really anointed – they have a sweet spirit
But supposed you looked down in that cup or bowl, and in that precious liquid, there was a dead fly!
And that's what the Bible is trying to teach us regarding the anointing – we don't need to let anything bring agitation to the anointing in our lives
Just one little fly can get into the apothecary, and it will ruin the whole thing
And I want to tell you that little things can kill the anointing in your life
What are some "dead flies"?
A. A critical spirit
There's nothing that will kill a church or a revival faster than a critical spirit getting into the hearts and minds of a congregation
There's nothing that will kill a family more than a critical spirit
We need to be careful about the things that we say
There was a preacher on a train one time who looked over and saw a well-dressed man and woman with all kinds of jewelry and diamonds dripping from her fingers. But she was complaining about everything – the train ride, the weather, the news, the food, and the service.
This preacher decided he would engage this couple in a conversation. He asked the man, “Sir, what is your business and what do you do?” The man told the minister. Then he asked, “Is this your wife?” He said, “Yes.” “Well, what does she do?” He said, “Oh, she’s in the manufacturing business.” “What does she manufacture?” He said, “She manufactures her own unhappiness.”
We need to be positive about…
--our family
--our church
--our pastor
--our outlook in life
Why? Because criticism can be a DEAD FLY in the anointing!
B. Marital problems
Now, I'm not just talking about the normal day to day misunderstandings that's normal even in the best of marriages
I'm talking about extreme…
--arguing
--bitterness
--anger
Against one another
Malachi 2:15 (KJV) "…Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth."
Take heed to your spirit! Why did the prophet say this? Because if you mistreat and disrespect your spouse, it's a dead fly in the anointing on your lives
You can't even pray when things like this happen
1 Peter 3:7 (KJV) "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered."
C. Unforgiveness (going to talk more about this next week)
D. Depression (lack of joy)
If you're walking around and always seeing the bad in life, then it's going to be a dead fly!
We should cultivate real joy in our lives – notice I said "cultivate" because you have to work at it
As one doctor put it, "Your day tends to go the way the corners of your mouth turn."
That's why we need…
--praise and worship music
--church
--to hear testimonies
Because it brings JOY IN OUR LIVES!
E. Murmuring and complaining (addressed that last week, get the tape!)
F. Pride and stubbornness
1 Samuel 15:23 (KJV) "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…"
Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days. I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell. The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.
Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing reported, “Light, bearing on the starboard bow.” “Is it steady or moving astern?” the captain called out.
The lookout replied, “Steady, Captain,” which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.
The captain then called to the signalman, “Signal that ship: ‘We are on a collision course, advise you change course twenty degrees.’” Back came the signal, “Advisable for you to change course twenty degrees.” The captain said, “Send: “I’m a captain, change course twenty degrees.’”
“I’m a seaman second-class,” came the reply. “You had better change course twenty degrees.” By that time the captain was furious. He spat out, “Send: ‘I’m a battleship. Change course twenty degrees.’”
Back came the flashing light, “I’m a lighthouse.” We changed course.
G. Easily offended
If you're easily offended, that's a DEAD FLY!!
All of these things bring agitation to the anointing in your life
And if you're going to go FROM THE PROBLEM TO THE SOLUTION, then you need all the ANOINTING you can get
Not only do I want you to understand the…
--origination
--agitation
But let's finish, by looking at…
3. THE CORONATION OF THE ANOINTING
Because, when you walk in the anointing, YOKES ARE DESTROYED
David, with the ANOINTING defeated the giant called Goliath
Paul, with the ANOINTING cast out devils
Acts 16:17-18 (KJV) "The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. (18) And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour."
Peter with the ANOINTING preached and 3,000 got saved
Jesus with the ANOINTING…
--fed the five thousand
--raised the dead
--healed the sick
--cleansed the lepers
--opened blind eyes
--walked on water
--came out of the grave on the third day!
The ANOINTING IS THE DIFFERENCE!
What's needed again, is anointed…
--churches
--preachers
--teachers
--Christians
Why? Because the anointing IS THE DIFFERENCE
IN CLOSING
Do you need some yokes destroyed in your life?
Then come forward for the anointing
The anointing IS THE DIFFERENCE…
--in your business
--in your finances
--in your marriage
--in your prayer life
--in this church
David said…
Psalms 92:10 (KJV) "But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil."
Come forward and receive a FRESH ANOINTING!
