The Epistles constitute letters written to the early Churches in different locations. As Christians, these letters are directed at us as well. From these letters we learn about our identity, rights and privileges in Christ, etc. So Christians are to live on the new testament (especially the epistles).

As true as that is, we cannot deny that we still learn a lot of lessons from the old testament. Most practices of the old testament may be obsolete but the principles remain timeless and still applies to us today.

Second Kings 8:1-13 is an interesting old testament scripture. It is a really long portion of scripture but it made an interesting and insightful read to me …..

“And 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. Now when you arrive at that place, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and go in and make him rise up from among his associates, and take him to an inner room. Then take the flask of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord : “I have anointed you king over Israel.” ’ Then open the door and flee, and do not delay.” So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead. And when he arrived, there were the captains of the army sitting; and he said, “I have a message for you, Commander.” Jehu said, “For which one of us?” And he said, “For you, Commander.” Then he arose and went into the house. And he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “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. For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab all the males in Israel, both bond and free. So I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. The dogs shall eat Jezebel on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. ’ ” And he opened the door and fled. Then Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, “ Is all well? Why did this madman come to you?” And he said to them, “You know the man and his babble.” And they said, “A lie! Tell us now.” So he said, “Thus and thus he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord : “I have anointed you king over Israel.” ’ ” Then each man hastened to take his garment and put it under him on the top of the steps; and they blew trumpets, saying, “Jehu is king!” “
II Kings 9:1‭-‬13 NKJV

There is just so much being said about anointing in this passage..

Through the Bible we find 3 groups of persons who were anointed in a similar way as Jehu; Priests, Prophets and Kings.

Some of the applications of the term ‘anointing/anointed‘ in the Bible include; for consecrating a place, a vessel, a body before burial, or as a tradition following a wash.

The process of becoming anointed as narrated for Jehu is quite different from how Jesus was anointed. For one, there was no physical pouring of oil on Jesus’s head by any prophet. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost by God Himself…..

“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
Acts 10:38 NKJV

This was a special form of anointing different from what upheld in the old testament. However, despite the obvious differences in the method of the anointing of Jesus and Jehu, we see similarities in the events that follow someone’s anointing…

Jehu was as much God’s choice for His people at the time he was anointed as Jesus was. So although Jehu received the pouring of oil on the head by a prophet (while Jesus did not), Jehu was first chosen by God.

There is just so much we can glean from Jehu’s story. When God anoints you….

1. He Separates you.

2. He promotes and honors you.

3 He puts you over a territory with a specific assignment.

4. He gives you authority and power.

5. He gives you influence

6. He defends you.

“Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.” “
Psalms 105:15 NKJV

7. He sets you up for celebration.

Well then, who is qualified to receive these privileges? Anyone who is anointed by God!

As Christians we receive the same anointing as Jesus did when we become baptized by the Holy Spirit.

“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
II Corinthians 1:21‭-‬22 NKJV

Have you located your territory? Are you wielding your authority and exercising your power? Are you assured of the special protection available to those chosen of God?

The purpose of the anointing is to make power available for good works to be done. Don’t waste it..

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 KJV

When God anoints you, you have power to witness for Christ.

We have all of God’s promises in Christ.
In Christ God said YES to all His promises. Oh yes! You can have them ALL.

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

When burdened beyond measure, remember that there is a God who can raise the dead. Trust in God, depend on God, rely totally on Him. He is able and willing to deliver you from the worst of circumstances. He will restore, renew and strengthen you. He is the God who delivered us, delivers us and continues to deliver us.

Praying in the name of Jesus presupposes that we will not ask of anything outside Jesus’s approval. Jesus’s name represents Him, Jesus is the Word, Jesus represents the Word, and the Word of God is His will. When we go to the Father in the name of Jesus we do not go outside of the promises, rights and privileges we have in Christ Jesus.

There is no greater Kingdom work than that given in the great commission.
Our job as Christians therefore is simple; to get others (unbelievers) to know the Father, and to believe in Him through Jesus Christ. And to be a continuous source of inspiration to other believers through our love and faith walk.
Any activity directed at getting people into the Kingdom of God is the Father’s Business.

a sound mind is a mind that is at peace; free of worry, fear, anxiety. A mind capable of good and rational thinking thinking. A wise mind.
Jesus gave us peace. He gave us His peace. The seed of peace was planted in our spirit when we got born again. We are to let the fruit of this seed rule us.

Kings reign and rule through words. Their decrees become established and they govern their domains through them. Kings give commands and processes are immediately set in place for actualization of such commands. Kings rule through words.

A shepherd is someone who tends and rears sheep. A shepherd caters for the sheep. A shepherd has a responsibility to guide, protect and provide for the sheep. So in a sense, the shepherd watches over the sheep and the sheep is fully dependent on the shepherd.

There is therefore a strong bond that exists between a shepherd and a sheep. The shepherd loves the sheep and expresses this love in the level of care given to the sheep and in return, the sheep trusts and relies on the shepherd.

Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd, which He quickly contrasts with a Hireling (a hired hand, who is not the owner of the sheep). From the way Jesus sees it, a shepherd is considered ‘Good‘ when he can go to any length (including losing his own life) to care for the sheep (John 10:11)

We don’t need any other Shepherd dying for us, Jesus already did.

Below I share Psalms 23:1‭-‬6 from the Easy-To-Read version. I pray that it is a reminder to us all, that Jesus is truly committed to caring for us. As you read this Psalm today, consider and assume the position and confidence of its writer….

The Lord is our Shepherd; He watches over and caters for us……..

The Lord is my shepherd. I will always have everything I need. He gives me green pastures to lie in.

He leads me by calm pools of water. He restores my strength.

He leads me on right paths to show that he is good.

Even if I walk through a valley as dark as the grave, I will not be afraid of any danger, because you are with me. Your rod and staff comfort me.

You prepared a meal for me in front of my enemies. You welcomed me as an honored guest. My cup is full and spilling over.

Your goodness and mercy will be with me all my life, and I will live in the Lord’s house a long, long time.

So a sign is usually indicative of something and is often looked out for. For example, a rainbow may indicate changes in season, a thunder may signal a coming storm.
If believers are to lay hands on the sick to recover, then there is healing power in a believers hand (in the name of Jesus). But how best to prove this except by acting on it.