TRIPLE ANOINTING RESTORED

God’s people had undergone great suffering at the hands of Israel’s unrighteous kings. They had experienced God’s judgment as a result of their leader’s errors.

GOD’S PROMISE TO RESTORE

Thus, God’s promise brought great hope to them “I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning, after that you will be called the city of righteousness, a faithful city” [Isa 1:26]

To a people, who for centuries had known only leadership with a partial anointing, this was a promise of glorious restoration. God promised to give them leaders again who would rule with the same anointing as their first Judges – men like Moses, Joshua and Samuel.

This recurrent theme was often in Isaiah’s message: “behold, a king will reign righteously, and princes will rule justly. And they will be like a refuge from the wind, and a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry country, like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land” [Isa 32:1-2]

The identity of this righteous king unmistakably emerges as we read further scriptures.

* “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us,
* and the government will be given to us,
* and the government will rest on His shoulders;
* and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace …………… [Isa 9:6].

This Prince of Peace would also enjoy the Prophet – Priestly and Kingly anointing. The Lord will stretch forth thy strong scepter from Zion, saying “Rule in the midst of thine enemies……….” The Lord has sworn and will not change; Thou art a Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” [Ps 110:2-4].

He who was to come would bear the full anointing of God, being both King and Prophet-Priest. He would bear a “strong scepter” and rule as a righteous King. He would be a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

His anointing would be so great he would be known as: “The Anointed One” [Messiah in Hebrew; Christ in Greek]

GOD’S PROMISE FULFILLED IN JESUS CHRIST

God’s promise to restore the full anointing has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He was “anointed with the oil of gladness more than anyone else” [Heb 1:9]

“Jesus rules as our great high priest” [Heb 3:1] and as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” [Rev 17:14]

He alone bears “all power and authority in heaven and earth” [Matt 28:18]. He alone “has been made unto us

* righteousness,
* sanctification and
* redemption” [I Cor 1:30] “ For harmony is as precious as the fragrant anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, and ran down onto his beard and onto, the border of his robe” [Ps 133:2]

A beautiful illustration and truth is expressed in the above verse. The anointing which came on the high priest ran from the head down to his body.

WE ARE TO BEAR HIS ANOINTING

Now we know we are members of Christ’s body [1 Cor 12:27 ] we know Jesus is the head and high priest [Eph 1:22;, Heb 3:1]. Hence, the “triple anointing” that was poured out on Him flows down to us the members of His Body. We can partake of the same anointing that was upon Him.

His was the ultimate illustration of the anointing God wants us to have.

As church leaders we are to bear His anointing, an anointing

* to live righteous, holy lives
* and an anointing to heal the sick, cast out devils,* and preach this Good news of the kingdom to the ends of the earth in short,
* an anointing of power.

[1st Peter 2:9] says we are “……….. A royal priesthood [king – priest]” “we have been made unto our God kings and priests” [Rev 1:6, 5:10].