The Anointing of the Holy Spirit

The Lord anoints His servants with the Holy Spirit. He anointed Jehu for a mission. Jehu’s name means “Yahweh is He.” Yahweh [the Lord] was He who anointed Jehu to do what he did.

God’s remnant of believers had long endured the scorn of evil leaders. Such leaders persecute and kill God’s servants. Many passages in the Bible urge us to stand with Christ and pray during such difficult seasons.

God told Elijah to anoint Jehu as king over Israel and avenger. Once anointed, Jehu fulfilled God’s Word via Elijah by killing King Ahab’s heir to the throne (Jehoram), King Ahab’s wife (Queen Jezebel) as well as the King of Judah (Ahaziah) who joined in alliance with Jehoram. Jehu ensured that the 70 sons of Ahab and the 42 sons of Ahaziah were put to death as well as the priests of the false god Baal. [1]

“Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, ‘Get yourself ready, take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead. Then take the flask of oil, and pour it on his [Jehu’s] head, and say, thus says the Lord: I have anointed you king over Israel.’” [2]

The Lord’s anointing empowered Jehu to embody the Word of the Lord.

As the son of the prophet anointed Jehu, he said these words, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel. You shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel.” [3]

There will be similar reckoning in the last days of an evil regime by the Lord.

“Rejoice over her, you heavens! Rejoice, you people of God! Rejoice, apostles and prophets! For God has judged her with the judgment she imposed on you.” “In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people, of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.” [4]

In the days of Jehu, Queen Jezebel promoted harlotry and witchcraft. The blood of God’s servants was on her hands. Jehu had her thrown down from a high tower. [5]

Jehu had his guards and officers slay the priests of the false god Baal, destroy Baal’s temple and eliminate Baalism from the land. [6]

The Psalmist wrote, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.” [7]

Those who build on the unreliable promises of deniers of the Lord do need to stay up late and eat the bread of sorrows because it is just a manner of time until all that they have sought to accomplish in their rivalry against their Creator will crumble. Those who compete with God, always fail.

God’s beloved sleep peacefully. They also have time to enjoy their families. The Psalmist continues, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.” [8]

One tell-tale sign of Satanic activity is war against families and children. The enemy does not want husbands and wives to remain committed to one another. He does not want us to raise up children to perpetuate the human race. He has convinced people in many lands to rejoice in killing unborn humans. It is satanic.

Children are a blessing from the Lord. Blessed are those who have a quiver full of children.

The Psalmist asks the Lord to shame and turn back those who hate Zion... referring to the place where the culture of God thrives. He declares in his prayer that the wicked man shall perish, “Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; do not plunder his resting place; for a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.” [9]

The Psalmist encourages us not to fret because of evildoers. Be patient! Their days are coming to an end. “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the wicked; for there will be no prospect for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out. My son, fear the Lord and the king; do not associate with those given to change; for their calamity will rise suddenly, and who knows the ruin those two can bring? [10]

God blesses those who judge rightly. “He who says to the wicked, ‘You are righteous,’ him the people will curse; nations will abhor him. But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them.” [11]

All this being said, let us come back to Him to whom we owe everything: Jesus Christ. What did Jesus on the night He was betrayed? “The Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” [12]

Though we have good intentions to bring about goodness in the world, we will ultimately fail our mission if we forget what the Lord did for us. We need to remember via bread and cup the Lord’s death. He died for us that we might live eternally. He wants all people to be saved. So, while as righteous people, we pray for, work toward and hope for evil regimes to fall, we must also pray for those who are under Satan’s power and darkness to turn from Satan to God, and from darkness to light. God has converted numerous persecutors of Christians to become His servants. Those who have perpetrated great evil have become valiant publishers of the Gospel.

First comes the cleansing of sin by faith in the blood of Christ, then, comes the infilling of the Holy Spirit by which we serve God faithfully.

The Apostle Peter denied the Lord three times at the very moment that Jesus was being tried in the public square. He wept bitterly. He repented. Later, Jesus told Peter, “When you are converted, strengthen your brothers.” Peter was already a believer in Jesus. Jesus referred to Peter’s conversion on the Day of Pentecost. From that day forth Peter faithfully testified for Jesus! How? The Holy Spirit baptized Peter with power from on high. Just what we all need! Let us pray that more and more of God’s people will receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit for God’s glory and for Christ’s mission on earth to be accomplished. [13]

[1] 1 Kings 19:16, 2 Kings 9:1-33, 10:7-28
[2] 2 Kings 9:1, 3
[3] 2 Kings 9:6-7
[4] Revelation 18:20, 24
[5] 2 Kings 9:22-37
[6] 2 Kings 10:25-27
[7] Psalm 127:1-2
[8] Psalm 127:3-5
[9] Psalm 129:5, 15-16
[10] Psalm 129:19-22
[11] Psalm 129:24-25
[12] 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
[13] Luke 22:32, Acts 1:4, 2:4, 5:41