Embracing Anointing: A Lifelong Divine Calling

Devotional

Day 1: Lifelong Calling of Anointing

Description: Anointing by God is not a temporary assignment but a lifelong calling that requires trust, sacrifice, and a deep connection with the Holy Spirit. Unlike being appointed, which is often task-specific and temporary, anointing involves embracing a broader, more enduring purpose. This calling demands a continuous commitment to God's will and a willingness to step out of comfort zones to fulfill His divine purpose. Embracing this anointing means recognizing that God's plans for us are far-reaching and require a steadfast dedication to His guidance and wisdom. [03:27]

1 Samuel 16:13 (ESV): "Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah."

Reflection: What specific areas of your life do you feel God is calling you to trust Him more deeply and make sacrifices for His kingdom?

Day 2: Embracing God's Call

Description: Moses' initial reluctance to embrace his anointing led to Aaron stepping in, which resulted in the Israelites creating a golden calf. This story teaches us the importance of fully accepting God's call and not letting fear or doubt hinder our divine purpose. When we hesitate or allow others to take on roles meant for us, it can lead to misalignment and unintended consequences. Embracing God's call means trusting in His plan and stepping into the roles He has designed for us, even when we feel inadequate or fearful. [10:25]

Exodus 4:10-12 (ESV): "But Moses said to the Lord, 'Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.' Then the Lord said to him, 'Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.'"

Reflection: In what ways have you allowed fear or doubt to prevent you from fully embracing God's call in your life? How can you take a step of faith today to trust in His plan?

Day 3: Continuous Drive Over Temporary Motivation

Description: True anointing requires a continuous internal drive, not just temporary spurts of motivation. This drive comes from a deep, ongoing relationship with God and a willingness to make sacrifices for His kingdom. Unlike temporary enthusiasm, which can fade, a continuous drive is sustained by a profound connection with the Holy Spirit and a commitment to God's purpose. This enduring motivation enables us to persevere through challenges and remain steadfast in our calling, even when the journey becomes difficult. [16:43]

Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Reflect on your current spiritual journey. Are there areas where you rely on temporary motivation rather than a continuous drive? How can you deepen your relationship with God to sustain your commitment?

Day 4: Societal Implications of Avoiding Discomfort

Description: The modern culture of convenience has led to a lack of drive and determination, even in spiritual matters. We must learn to trust in God's wisdom and anointing, even when it leads us into uncomfortable situations, to truly fulfill our divine purpose. This avoidance of discomfort can result in a superficial engagement with life's challenges and a reluctance to fully commit to God's calling. Embracing discomfort as part of our spiritual journey allows us to grow in faith and develop a deeper reliance on God's strength and guidance. [20:52]

James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection: Identify a recent situation where you chose comfort over God's calling. How can you embrace discomfort in your spiritual journey to grow in faith and fulfill your divine purpose?

Day 5: Prayer for Fresh Anointing

Description: We prayed for a fresh anointing and boldness for everyone listening, encouraging them to shift from an appointed mindset to an anointed one. We declared that God would bring a new, clear perspective and a deeper connection with His purpose for their lives. This prayer is a call to seek a renewed sense of God's presence and guidance, allowing His anointing to transform our lives and empower us to fulfill His divine purpose. Embracing this fresh anointing involves a commitment to ongoing spiritual growth and a willingness to be led by the Holy Spirit in all aspects of life. [28:31]

Isaiah 61:1 (ESV): "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need a fresh anointing from God? How can you seek a deeper connection with His purpose and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound difference between being anointed and being appointed. Drawing from the story of Moses, we examined how Moses initially doubted his God-given authority and anointing, which led to Aaron stepping in to fulfill roles that were meant for Moses. This misalignment resulted in the Israelites creating a golden calf, a disaster that could have been avoided had Moses fully embraced his anointing. The key takeaway is that being anointed by God is a lifelong calling that requires trust, sacrifice, and a deep connection with the Holy Spirit, unlike being appointed, which is often temporary and task-specific.

We also discussed the importance of recognizing and embracing God's anointing in our lives. Too many people are content with serving God in a limited capacity, unwilling to make the necessary sacrifices to fully live out their calling. This reluctance often stems from a fear of stepping out of their comfort zones. However, true anointing requires us to be driven by a continuous internal motivation, not just temporary spurts of enthusiasm.

Furthermore, we touched on the societal implications of this mindset. The modern culture of convenience and avoidance of discomfort has led to a lack of drive and determination, even in spiritual matters. This has resulted in a higher divorce rate, more remote jobs, and a general unwillingness to engage deeply with life's challenges. We must learn to trust in God's wisdom and anointing, even when it leads us into uncomfortable situations.

Finally, we prayed for a fresh anointing and boldness for everyone listening, encouraging them to shift from an appointed mindset to an anointed one. We declared that God would bring a new, clear perspective and a deeper connection with His purpose for their lives.

###

Key Takeaways

1. specific, anointing is about embracing a broader, more enduring purpose. [03:27]
2. Embracing God's Call: Moses' initial reluctance to embrace his anointing led to Aaron stepping in, which resulted in the Israelites creating a golden calf. This story teaches us the importance of fully accepting God's call and not letting fear or doubt hinder our divine purpose.

3. Continuous Drive Over Temporary Motivation: True anointing requires a continuous internal drive, not just temporary spurts of motivation. This drive comes from a deep, ongoing relationship with God and a willingness to make sacrifices for His kingdom.

4. Societal Implications of Avoiding Discomfort: The modern culture of convenience has led to a lack of drive and determination, even in spiritual matters. We must learn to trust in God's wisdom and anointing, even when it leads us into uncomfortable situations, to truly fulfill our divine purpose.

5. Prayer for Fresh Anointing: We prayed for a fresh anointing and boldness for everyone listening, encouraging them to shift from an appointed mindset to an anointed one. We declared that God would bring a new, clear perspective and a deeper connection with His purpose for their lives.

### [03:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:59] - Introduction to Anointed vs. Appointed
[03:27] - Finding God's Will and Call
[04:24] - Sacrifice and Anointing
[09:45] - Moses' Reluctance and Aaron's Role
[10:25] - Consequences of Misalignment
[11:20] - David's Anointing vs. His Brothers' Appointment
[16:11] - Lifelong Anointing
[16:43] - Continuous Drive Over Temporary Motivation
[18:41] - Defining God vs. Allowing God to Define Us
[20:12] - Societal Implications of Avoiding Discomfort
[20:52] - Modern Culture and Spiritual Drive
[22:17] - Trusting Wisdom and Anointing
[23:33] - Purpose and Principle Behind Anointing
[24:29] - Comfort in Uncomfortable Situations
[28:31] - Prayer for Fresh Anointing
[29:54] - Closing Remarks and Future Plans

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was Moses' initial reaction to God's call, and how did God address his reluctance? (Exodus 4:10-16)
What were the consequences of Aaron stepping into a role that was meant for Moses? (Exodus 32:1-6) [10:25]
How did David's anointing differ from the roles of his brothers, and what does this signify about God's choice? (1 Samuel 16:6-13) [11:20]
According to the sermon, what is the difference between being anointed and being appointed? [03:27]

Interpretation Questions

How does Moses' reluctance to embrace his anointing reflect common fears or doubts people might have today? [09:45]
What does the story of the golden calf teach us about the dangers of misalignment in leadership roles? [10:25]
In what ways does David's anointing illustrate the concept of a lifelong calling versus a temporary appointment? [16:11]
How does the modern culture of convenience and avoidance of discomfort impact our spiritual lives, according to the sermon? [20:52]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt reluctant to embrace a role or responsibility you believed God was calling you to. What steps can you take to overcome such reluctance in the future? [09:45]
How can you ensure that you are not stepping into roles or responsibilities that are not meant for you, potentially causing misalignment like Aaron did? [10:25]
Identify an area in your life where you have been serving in a temporary, task-specific manner. How can you shift your mindset to embrace a lifelong anointing in that area? [16:11]
What are some practical ways you can cultivate a continuous internal drive for your spiritual life, rather than relying on temporary motivation? [16:43]
How can you challenge the modern culture of convenience in your own life to deepen your spiritual drive and determination? [20:52]
Think of a situation where you might need to trust God's wisdom and anointing, even if it leads you into an uncomfortable situation. How can you prepare yourself to embrace this challenge? [24:29]
We prayed for a fresh anointing and boldness during the sermon. What specific steps can you take this week to seek and embrace this fresh anointing in your life? [28:31]

Sermon Clips

1. "If you're appointed, yeah, it's just a specific season. And I think it's important for those that are watching that you say, okay, I need to find God's will and call for my life. Okay. Because again, we have to start trusting the anointing and how that anointing can really be placed upon us where we can go out and do some miraculous things, not by our flesh, but by being led by the Holy Spirit." [03:27] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Too many people are just like, yeah, God, I'll go out and do this. I'll go out and do that. But I don't want to revolve my life around it. I don't want to sacrifice for it. And that's why they live in the appointed realm as opposed to the anointed realm, Anthony. And I think that is a great way to say it is like too many people would rather just serve God for a specific time frame. And yeah, I may do one or two things for you, but don't ask me to change my life for you." [04:24] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "I never want to live my life where God's chose me to do something and he has to give it to somebody else because I'm like, I don't talk good. Yes. I mean, that's even more humbling, I think. You know, instead of like God just saying, well, all right, fine. I'll go give it to somebody else. No, I want you to go tell them that you told me you can't talk good." [09:45] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "David wanted to run the battle because he knew he had an anointing to defeat Goliath. It takes an anointing. It takes an anointing to see things in the dark. Well, I always think, like, I want to be chosen not for a particular season. I want to be chosen for life. And that is the difference between appointed and anointed, is appointed just says, look, I'm chosen for a season. You know, I was just doing this for a season. Anointed is like, man, this goes with me." [16:11] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "I've had a mantle placed upon me to go out and do the things that God has for my life. Why? Why do we live in this like motivation, temporary stuff? We should be continuously driven. You know what I'm saying? I always say that about driven over motivation. Because if you're driven, you're continuously going. It's internal. Yeah. If you're motivated, it's like, yeah, maybe you had that one day, two days, whatever, and then it's gone. Motivation is temporary." [16:43] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "They'd rather define God than allow God to define them. And the problem with that is too many people then start to jump off or on this constant flip-flopping of the bandwagon with God. And when they jump off the bandwagon and then want to get back on, and then they want to jump back off, they wonder why they don't have an anointing. Because I mean, realistically, how's that any different than a lukewarm Christian who it says in the Bible, God spits out of their mouth." [18:41] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "We have to be so comfortable with what our relationship is with God and our anointing that God has placed upon our life that we are okay going into uncomfortable situations. That's the better way to say it. Because I mentioned that last show. We should never be too comfortable we should be comfortable in our relationship with god as far as like hey i'm i'm in a good place with the lord where i'm not comfortable is i always feel like i have a burning desire to do more for you god even if it means i got to do something uncomfortable something i don't want to do something my flesh doesn't want to do but i have to make my flesh amen." [28:31] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "We need to learn to live life, learning to find. The wisdom behind something and the agreement behind something instead of the disagreement. Finger pointing constantly at each other is not going to do anything. Now, if we're confronting actual culture that goes against the word of God, then yes, we have that right. We need to do that. But the problem is we have a problem today with trusting wisdom. We see people in the body of Christ who won't speak out because they don't trust the wisdom of God or the anointing." [23:33] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "If you're going to understand the anointing, you've got to trust the principle behind it. You've got to trust the purpose behind it. Purpose principle goes together with anointing. Moses was so afraid of the purpose that God had for his life that the anointing was not able to produce and function as fully as it was. as God intended it. Now, by God's grace, it parted the Red Sea. But Moses had to finally, finally, after how many teeth got pulled, and I say that in a funny way, God had to pull teeth to get him to go, know?" [24:29] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Sometimes we've got to be willing to do things by ourselves and trust walking alone with God and not always needing a helping hand. Sometimes we have to learn, like, we've got to just be comfortable in our two feet and where we're standing and say, look, I am so comfortable in God that I'm okay being uncomfortable with what he has for me. Wow. Think about that." [24:29] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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