Embracing God's Anointing: A Call to Transformation
Summary
In the message delivered by Rev. Taylor Fish, he emphasizes the enduring nature of God's willingness to anoint and use individuals for His purposes, despite the failures or shortcomings of others. He draws from the biblical narrative of Samuel mourning over Saul's rejection by God and highlights the divine directive to fill the horn with oil and anoint a new leader from Jesse's house. This act symbolizes God's readiness to empower another, regardless of past disappointments.
Rev. Fish passionately conveys that God's gaze is upon those who may feel overlooked or forgotten, asserting that God's knowledge of our existence and circumstances is not bound by time or human awareness. He assures the listeners that God has been preparing for their moment of anointing long before they were aware of it, emphasizing the intersection of divine preparation and human readiness.
The message further explores the transformative power of God's anointing, which enables individuals to accomplish what they cannot do on their own. Rev. Fish shares his personal journey, reflecting on his family's history of avoiding God's call and his own experiences of feeling torn between two worlds. He testifies to a pivotal moment when the anointing of God visited him, changing his life and equipping him for ministry.
Rev. Fish underscores the distinction between mere talent or performance and the genuine anointing of God. He illustrates this by comparing two individuals performing the same task—one with anointing and one without—resulting in vastly different outcomes. The true measure of anointing, he suggests, is its ability to break bondages and effectuate spiritual freedom.
The message also addresses the importance of purity and wholehearted devotion to God. Rev. Fish challenges the listeners to examine their hearts and remove any obstacles that may hinder the flow of God's anointing. He emphasizes that God is not seeking talent or external attributes but rather a heart fully committed to Him.
Rev. Fish concludes by calling the congregation to a response, urging them to seek God with desperation and readiness to receive His anointing. He invites them to surrender their excuses, fears, and doubts, and to embrace a destiny-altering anointing that God is ready to bestow upon those with a pure heart.
Key Takeaways:
- God's readiness to anoint and use individuals is not deterred by the failures of others. His divine selection is based on His foreknowledge and preparation, which intersects with our readiness to receive His anointing. This concept encourages us to remain open and expectant for the moments when God chooses to act in our lives. [11:25]
- The anointing of God is transformative and equips us to do what we cannot accomplish on our own. It is not our abilities or past that define our potential in God's kingdom, but rather His anointing that empowers and propels us into our divine purpose. Personal stories of transformation, like Rev. Fish's, serve as powerful testimonies to the life-changing impact of God's anointing. [15:22]
- Authentic anointing is distinguishable from mere performance or talent. It is characterized by its spiritual efficacy, particularly its ability to break bondages and bring freedom. This insight challenges us to seek the anointing that truly makes a difference in people's lives, rather than settling for superficial expressions of ministry. [17:08]
- Purity of heart and wholehearted devotion to God are prerequisites for receiving His anointing. God is not swayed by external appearances or talents but looks for a heart that is set on Him alone. This calls for introspection and a commitment to holiness, as we align our hearts with God's desires. [40:01]
- The response to God's readiness to anoint is a personal and corporate call to action. Individuals are encouraged to actively seek God, remove any hindrances, and position themselves to receive the anointing He has prepared for them. This pursuit of God's anointing requires a genuine hunger and a willingness to let go of anything that stands in the way. [49:28]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1 Samuel 16:1-13 (NIV)
> The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.” ... So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Samuel's initial reaction to God's rejection of Saul, and how did God instruct him to move forward? ([05:43])
2. How did Samuel identify the new king among Jesse's sons, and what criteria did God emphasize in making His choice? ([06:55])
3. What was the significance of the anointing oil in the context of this passage and Rev. Fish's sermon? ([11:08])
4. How did Rev. Fish describe the difference between talent and genuine anointing? ([16:26])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God chose David, the youngest and seemingly least likely son, over his brothers? What does this tell us about God's criteria for leadership? ([25:59])
2. How does Rev. Fish's personal testimony illustrate the transformative power of God's anointing? ([14:24])
3. What does it mean for the anointing to break bondages and bring freedom, as described in the sermon? How can this be seen in the story of David? ([17:16])
4. Why is purity of heart emphasized as a prerequisite for receiving God's anointing? How does this align with the biblical narrative of David's anointing? ([25:59])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt overlooked or forgotten. How does the story of David's anointing encourage you to trust in God's timing and preparation? ([12:14])
2. Rev. Fish mentioned that God is not looking for talent but a heart fully committed to Him. What steps can you take to ensure your heart is fully devoted to God? ([25:59])
3. Are there any "blockages" in your life that might be hindering the flow of God's anointing? What practical steps can you take to remove these obstacles? ([42:45])
4. How can you actively seek God's anointing in your daily life? What specific actions or changes might this involve? ([49:33])
5. Rev. Fish spoke about the importance of desperation and readiness to receive God's anointing. How can you cultivate a sense of spiritual hunger and readiness in your life? ([50:51])
6. Think about a task or role you are currently performing. How can you seek God's anointing to transform your efforts from mere performance to spiritually effective ministry? ([16:26])
7. How can you support others in your small group or community to seek and receive God's anointing? What role can you play in encouraging and praying for them? ([55:47])
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Selection Beyond Failures
God chooses whom to anoint for His purposes, looking beyond human failures and shortcomings. His divine selection is not hindered by past disappointments but is rooted in His foreknowledge and preparation. This divine readiness meets our willingness to be used by Him, creating a powerful dynamic for spiritual service and impact. [11:25]
1 Samuel 16:7 - "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'"
Reflection: Have you ever felt disqualified from serving God due to past mistakes? How can you shift your focus from your shortcomings to God's redemptive selection?
Day 2: Anointing Transforms the Ordinary
The anointing of God is a transformative force that equips the ordinary to achieve the extraordinary. It is not by one's abilities or past that they are defined, but by the anointing that empowers and propels them into their divine purpose. This divine empowerment enables individuals to accomplish what they cannot do on their own, revealing God's glory through human vessels. [15:22]
2 Corinthians 3:5-6 - "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel inadequate, and how can you open yourself up to God's anointing to transform these areas?
Day 3: The Distinctiveness of Divine Anointing
True anointing from God is distinguishable from mere talent or performance. It carries a spiritual efficacy that can break bondages and bring freedom, setting it apart from natural abilities. This divine anointing is the true measure of spiritual impact, as it goes beyond the surface to effectuate deep, lasting change. [17:08]
Isaiah 10:27 - "In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be broken because you have grown so fat [with prosperity]."
Reflection: Reflect on the difference between operating in your own strength versus under God's anointing. Can you identify a time when you experienced the anointing breaking bondages in your life or others'?
Day 4: Purity as the Pathway to Anointing
God's anointing flows to those with a pure heart and wholehearted devotion. He is not swayed by external appearances or talents but seeks a heart fully committed to Him. This calls for introspection and a commitment to holiness, aligning one's heart with God's desires to receive His anointing. [40:01]
Psalm 51:10 - "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Reflection: What obstacles in your heart might be hindering the flow of God's anointing, and how can you begin to remove them?
Day 5: Responding to God's Call for Anointing
The readiness to receive God's anointing requires a personal and corporate response. It is a call to actively seek God, remove any hindrances, and position oneself to receive the anointing He has prepared. This pursuit demands genuine hunger and a willingness to surrender all that stands in the way of God's transformative work. [49:28]
James 4:8 - "Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
Reflection: What steps can you take today to demonstrate your readiness and desire for God's anointing in your life?
Quotes
1) "God doesn't scout out talent; God scouts out hearts. Who can run the fastest, who can swing the bat the hardest... that's not what God is looking for. God is looking for somebody who has their heart set on Him." [31:22] (Download)
2) "The anointing causes addictions to leave people's lives, it causes depression to leave... you can't do it on your own accord, but it causes hernias to go back in people's stomach and it to be healed completely." [17:08] (Download)
3) "I want to tell you what still makes men great: purity makes men great, purity makes young ladies great, separation makes young men great. We're living in a generation where you can be great and not be right." [33:02] (Download)
4) "God is ready to pour out oil upon somebody in this house. If you're hungry, you ought to lift up your hands and say, 'God, here I am. I'm ready for the oil to follow me.'" [13:24] (Download)
5) "I had every excuse in the world... but let me tell you, there was a night that the oil visited me, there was a night that the oil came on my life." [15:22] (Download)
6) "The heart is ready to drastically alter destinies tonight, but it's the heart that we've got to make sure is ready on a Tuesday night." [40:01] (Download)
7) "God said I'm ready to anoint another. God said I'll tell them Dell City the horn has come to visit you tonight. The horn... God is ready to put a new anointing on some young couples in this room here tonight." [11:25] (Download)
8) "I'm preaching to somebody who's trapped and chained by fear... God wants to put an anointing on a pure heart. He wasn't looking at that room when all them other boys were standing there, there was a pure heart he could not forget." [34:48] (Download)
9) "The oil is not coming on your life, Eliab could have been the one, but there was something in his heart that was out of order. Heart issues always stop the oil." [26:14] (Download)
10) "I've got to preach to you that the horn is here to visit us again. The horn is here. Somebody lift up when is the last time you were so hungry for God to change everything about you." [49:28] (Download)
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