Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
1 Samuel 16:13 KJV
Traditionally, during this first anointing, David was a teenager. Jesse and his family had no clout or wealth to recommend a king to Israel. Certainly, no one expected much from, or for, the youngest son of Jesse’s brood.
King Saul had already rejected God. Saul’s error and disobedience ended his kingship and dynasty. All of this before David’s name appears in 1 Samuel.
Anointing is more than consecration. Anointing is symbolic of being placed under the divine influence and empowerment of God. Clearly, David’s lived his life in the power of God’s Spirit.
Divine empowerment, anointing, is an act of God’s choosing. Whom does God anoint? At a minimum, those who proactively seek Him. With sincere hearts. Using all of their time, talent and treasure.
The best part is that anointing is not reserved for an elite few. Common men and women can dare to seek God’s Heart and make themselves available for His service. God anointed a young boy with sheep dung on his sandals. Surely, you can approach His Throne.
At God’s direction, Samuel poured oil on David’s head. Before God spoke to Samuel, He saw the sincere and heartfelt devotion of a mere shepherd boy. God’s sovereign will chooses His anointed. Why not you?
Think: God chooses who He will anoint.
Pray: “Lord, help me to live in, and seek, Your anointing.”
And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
Acts 9:39 KJV
This verse is the last mention of Barnabas in the Book of Acts. In separation. With broken fellowship.
We forget that we live and work with human beings. Even the saints filled with the Holy Spirit. Stuff will happen. Sometimes ugly, messy stuff.
Still, there can be more to the story. It may take weeks, or months, or years. There may have to be acts of serious remedial brotherhood.
Galatians 2 makes full mention of Barnabas. In fellowship. In unity. Even, in disagreement again.
Gospel family is a lot like actual family. There are episodes of fussing and fighting. There are chapters of reconciliation and reunion. “Fall out if you must, but don’t forget to fall back in.”
There is no further mention of Barnabas in Acts, but his story (and Paul’s) didn’t end there. Maybe there’s a chapter in your life with an awkward ending. How do you want the story to end?
The story can have a happy ending. Maybe there’s a brother or sister you need to call. I pray you will take their call, when it comes. Either way, let God continue to write the script of your life.
Think: How do you want your story of Gospel fellowship to end?
Pray: “Lord, help me to be the Gospel brother or sister who heals.”
But Barnabas took him [Paul], and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Acts 9:27 KJV
Please read Acts 15: 37-39 also.
Barnabas, the risk taker took a huge risk on Paul. He wagered his good name, and literal life, that Saul the Inquisitor had become the Paul the Evangelist. He took a similar risk that John the Flake had become Mark the Gospel-writer.
They were risks because history spoke against both men. Apostle Paul himself regretted killing and persecuting saints his entire life. Mark had abandoned Paul at Pamphylia. “The facts are the facts.”
Someone needs you to be a risk-taker. They need you to wager your good name and high standing. Not on a paragon of virtue but on a soul with fresh failures and recent faults.
Barnabas put everything on the line to help someone else achieve their purpose in the Kingdom. In the short run it cost Barnabas something. In the long run, Barnabas is a hero among saints. The two men he saved wrote 14 books in Scripture.
Someone around you needs you to take a risk. In the short run, it may cost you. In the long run, you’ll bless the Kingdom.
Think: God’s Kingdom needs saints who are willing to run the risks.
Pray: “Lord, help me to serve Your Kingdom. Even if it is risky.”
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
2 Timothy 4:11 KJV
Of all the men available to serve in the Gospel fields, Paul called for Mark. A powerful endorsement, to be sure. Mark did not always enjoy Paul’s high opinion.
Acts 15:37-39 tells a very different story. Paul and Barnabas argued over Mark. For at least a time, their relationship was ruptured. Mark’s imperfect past threatened his future with Paul, and in the Gospel fields.
In the miles and years between the two accounts in Scripture, Mark became a profitable worker. He became worthy of confidence. Somewhere along the line, Mark became a go-to man and a writer of Scripture.
Barnabas wouldn’t let past history kill Mark’s potential. Mark made the investment needed to become profitable. Paul eventually came to understand Mark’s worth to the Gospel.
You can be a profitable worker. All it takes is a willingness to invest your time, talent and treasure in God’s Kingdom. Your past history is not a dis-qualifier.
Maybe you have an unprofitable chapter in your past. Bad credit, or not, get up and start again. You have a profitable season in your future.
Think: I can be a profitable Gospel worker, now and in the future.
Pray: “Lord, help me to be profitable in Your Kingdom.”
Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.
2 Kings 4:7 KJV
The widow’s sons likely moved with exaggerated caution. The borrowed vessels and pots brimmed full of valuable oil. Breaking something would create a double loss.
God’s provision is always extraordinary. God often gives more than enough. Ask the widow.
She probably ran to pay the debt that threatened her sons. Likely, for the first time since her husband’s funeral, she could spend a coin without an agonizing decision. Because God provided.
God provided the single jar of oil she poured out. God touched the hearts of friends and neighbors who lent their vessels and pots. God gave the miracle increase of oil that provided for this faithful family.
God provided in their past, then the present and again for the future. She had never been uncared for at any time. Even when she didn’t know it or feel it.
No matter what’s going on in your life, God is there. He provided to get you here. He is providing to keep you here. God is placing in your hand what you need for the future.
God wouldn’t have brought you to this place to leave you now. His faithfulness is working for you at this moment. Get you and yours ready to live in His provision.
Think: God has provided, is providing and will provide for you.
Pray: “Lord, thank You for Your provision in my life; past present and future.”
So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.
2 Kings 4: 5-6 KJV
I’d like to think there were dozens of different oil pots, jars and vessels everywhere. In my mind’s eye, I see the exaggerated caution of the boys, afraid to move without breaking a borrowed item. With a prayer, or a sigh, the widow started pouring oil.
As each jar, pot or vessel filled up, the sense of excitement grew. Oil continued to fill each vessel in turn. From little comes much. The empty is filled, through a miracle of God’s provision.
“I should have asked old Sarah for hers.” “I could have worked a deal with the potter for more of his.” The prepared capacity is filled. The miracle comes to an end.
God has a miracle of provision for you. Perhaps it’s a need you think could never be filled. Maybe you have a vision, but lack the resources to begin, yet alone finish.
Pour out what you have. Your faith, to use what you have, will draw Him close. Your obedience to Him, will be rewarded. His faithfulness will provide more than you have dreamed.
Think: God always provides. Pour out what you have.
Pray: “Lord, in obedience and faith, I will pour out what I have.”
Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.
2 Kings 4:3-4 KJV
Elisha’s instructions violate common sense and the laws of physics. The one pot of oil, the only item of significance in the widow’s house, will fill empty vessels. Borrowed vessels at that.
Elisha is careful to tell her to borrow a large number of empty pots. God’s provision is endless. There really isn’t capacity to contain what God can give.
At each door, an urgent knock sounds out. “Can we borrow all of your empty oil vessels?” The unused capacity of the neighborhood, if not village, is collected as an act of faith.
The empty is about to become full. Where there is lack, there will be supply. More than the widow’s house could hold. More than the town can contain.
Sometimes, you borrow. And no matter how much storage, or expertise, or capacity, or capability you get in your hands, God will over-run what you have prepared. You won’t hold all that God will provide, but you want your share.
It’s an act of faith to prepare so outlandishly. Keep in mind, God delights in providing for His people. I’d borrow from one more neighbor if I were you.
Think: God always provides, more than we can hold.
Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
2 Kings 4:1-2 KJV
Allow me to call this widow, unnamed in Scripture, “Beulah.” She came seeking miracle provision. She took proactive steps to resolve the debt that threatened her family.
Beulah didn’t expect Elisha to mystically learn of her situation. She didn’t expect God to send both revelation and resources from out of the blue. Violating the custom and mores of her time, she approached the prophet of God directly.
Despite her debts, she hadn’t come empty handed. God is a provider. He also sometimes multiplies His previous provision.
Elisha’s questions pointed past the obvious need to the miraculous solution. A solution that started in something Beulah already owned. Commonplace and mundane, a pot of oil would become a miracle of provision and supply.
No matter what you think you lack, God has already provided. Be open to to what God wants to do with what you already have. God provides; past, present and future.
Think: There is already provision and supply in your house.
And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Genesis 22:16-17 KJV
God looked around for a binding authority. He wanted an agency or authority by which He could take an oath. His omniscient eye peered out through all time and space and saw no thing and no one worthy.
Determined, God placed his omnipotent Hand upon His own Word. He swore an oath, invoking Himself. He chose to bind Himself in promise to a mere mortal as an expression of His own faithfulness.
Of course, it’s easy for God. There is no group, agency or government that can block His agenda. There is no circumstance, past, present or future, that can surprise Him. There is no circumstance that can exceed His resources.
When God promises, it does not matter who else says “yes” or “no.” When God promises, no one and no thing can force Him to change. All that remains is the exact date and time of delivery.
Look through Scripture. God has made promises to you. Do you accept?
Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Deuteronomy 7:9 KJV
I don’t question the nature or presence of air. Air is. I assume air. I know that air will always be there.
I don’t question the nature or presence of God. God is. I assume God. I know that God will always be there.
Of course I am limited, fallible and imperfect. This condition is know as “human.” Too often, I ascribe human characteristics to God.
God is so much better than human. And despite that, He loves us. You would think men and women would return the favor.
God has always been. He will always be. In between unending and forever, He is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.
I can count on God. He is God, even when I can’t count on someone else. God is God, especially when I can’t count on myself.
God keeps His promises. No situation can surprise Him. No circumstance can surpass Him.
You don’t need to question what God can do. You don’t need to question whether or not He will be there. All you need to do is love Him. He’ll take care of the rest.
Think: God is the only One I can count on.
Pray: “Lord, You are God. That is why I choose to trust You.”
And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
1 Kings 19:7-8 KJV
God has plans for you. Surprising, extraordinary designs to benefit others through your life. Since God is a big God, His plans for you are large and out-sized.
God’s great and glorious plans are, in fact, too big for you. In a single day, the nation of Israel had returned to the true worship of God at Mt. Carmel. In the days following the “juniper tree incident,” Elijah would appoint kings and shape the future of Israel and other nations.
All of it, even for a prophet of Elijah’s stature, too much for a single man. Elijah needed the supernatural sustenance and support of God, to do the work of God. Faithfully, God provided just what Elijah needed to continue in his appointed tasks.
God’s plans are too big for you. With the plans, He has also provided the strength you need to see them through. Wake up and take in the strength that God has provided for you. You have a great journey ahead.
Think: God is my source and supply in every task.
Pray: “Lord, I choose to trust Your plans and provision.”
And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again. (1 Kings 19:5-6 KJV)
1 Kings 19:5-6 KJV
Elijah’s discouragement and grief sapped his strength. Exhausted, the prophet slept hard, worn out from the events of the week. Mere humans have limits. “Yes, you.”
Sleep is sleep, regardless of it’s source. In this moment, for this man, simple rest isn’t enough. God, via an angel, stepped in to make up the difference.
God’s Holy Spirit extends us and empowers us. That doesn’t mean you can, or should, skip the fundamentals of good nutrition and adequate rest. Elijah is an object lesson in the limits of men and women.
The angel fed Elijah then let him sleep. Simple bread and clean drinking water served as the first part of restoring the great prophet. Maybe a decent meal and a good night’s sleep is what you need.
God is our source. We cannot do it on our own. If you find yourself worn out and beat down, maybe it’s time to let God provide you the resources you need to continue.
Think: No matter what is happening, God is my source.
Pray: “Lord, I choose to trust You, even at the end of my endurance.”
