Love is in the air. Today is Valentine’s day. We have
recently heard Donna Hall stand up in church and announce that she is
celebrating 62 years of marriage to Lloyd. Dee Near was able to lift up her
parents in prayer as they celebrated 71 years of marriage. Today is the
anniversary of the day that Joel Shade, our worship leader, asked Nancy O’Bryan
to be his wife, the day that my parents George & Jan Bennett celebrate 27
years and the day Jenni & Ron Durbin raise a cheer for 26. At the same
time, many of us are living in the Tina Turner point of view – wondering,
“What’s Love Got To Do With It?”
I got to read Adam Hamilton’s reflection this morning; Adam
is the pastor of the Church of the Resurrection, in Kansas City (one of the
largest United Methodist congregations anywhere). Even as he celebrates 31
years of marriage, he has the ability to notice that love is anything but
constant. If asked, many people will tell us that the secret to a marriage that
last more than 50 years is perseverance. Can I get an amen? Sometimes our love
for our spouse is intensely emotional; other times, not so much. So how do we
ride the waves. It is helpful to carry the hope and the expectation that a life
of love is filled with new surprises and exciting developments that always
exist beyond the horizon. Also Adam has another suggestion. Examine the nature
of love. In his experience, “love is not at first a feeling, but a way of
acting or being toward one another.”
A way of acting and being toward one another is very
relational and this description is perfect for describing the practice of
anointing as well.
Last week I had the joy of attending a retreat for
candidates for ordination in the United Methodist Church. It was very
enriching. I learned from experts in
leadership, change theory, and thought development. Even though the learning
was rich, the worship was also very moving. Rev. Linda Holbrook is a pastor
that transferred here recently from Texas. She wanted to close our retreat
together with a service of anointing. She showed us a bottle of olive oil that
she had procured during a visit to Jerusalem. Then she introduced her desire.
She said, “this oil is special to me but this is not really what anointing is
all about.” She continued, “I want you to experience anointing because
anointing is what God does for us.” It occurs to me that anointing like love is
not at first a feeling, but a way of acting or being toward one another.
When we hear the word anointing, we often flinch a little
don’t we. One person with whom I reflected on the subject suggested that
anointing is a buzz word that he rarely hears in a mainstream church. In fact,
whenever he thinks of anointing it brings out images of people ”falling out” or
“slain by the Spirit of God.”It would be a shame to let a term's current social
baggage hold us back from relational opportunities that can shape our lives.
I believe that scripture is filled with references to the
relationship that we are having with God. More than that, there are brilliant
images of how God is acting or being toward us as well as how we might act or
be towards God. If you will explore this thought with me, you will see how this
is true in the biblical references to anointing.
As for you, the
anointing that you received from God remains on you, and you don’t need anyone
to teach you the truth. But since God’s anointing teaches you about all things
(it’s true and not a lie), remain in relationship to God just as God taught
you. (CEB 1 John 2:27)
What does this mean, then, that you are anointed with the
Holy Spirit?
- It means that you are anointed for meaningful & loving ministry while you live in this world.
- It means that you have been enabled, entrusted, and empowered to accomplish God's will. In my research about this I found about 40 things you are anointed to do. Ten of them are:
- To be able to discern truth - 1 John 2:27.
- To testify of the truth - 1 John 5:6 "This is the one who came by water and blood __ Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth."
- To be able to pray - Rom. 8:39 "and Ephesians 6:18 which says, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. . . "
- To Live a righteous life - Romans 8:4 "in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit."
- To be strengthened with power in your inner being - Ephesians 3:16 "I pray that out of his glorious riches God may strengthen you with power through God’s Spirit in your inner being,"
- To be led by God - Romans 8:9 "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, that one does not belong to Christ."
- To live in joy - Romans 14:17 "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,"
- To live in hope - Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in God, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
- To receive spiritual gifts - 1 Corinthians 12:4 "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit."
- 1 Corinthians 12:7 "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."
- To bear spiritual fruit - Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
- It is this anointing that opens your mind, teaches you, guides you, calls you to pray, empowers you, and enables you to be stronger disciples, more powerful Christ followers. Not just people who are saved, but people who are changed, indwelt, and empowered. [1]
The gift of anointing that we shared in
worship at our retreat was both eye opening and soul shaping. There are so many
descriptions of the ways that that God seeks to act or be toward us and it is
also quite clear that God is calling us to act and be toward God.I pray that
you too will celebrate this relationship with the gift of anointing. Happy
Valentine’s day and may the love you find be more than a feeling.
Enjoy God,
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