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.

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.

The abbreviation, CEO (Chief ExecutiveOfficer), tells of someone at the top of an organization’s chart or an organogram. Someone responsible for making major decisions, managing operations and resources. Someone who is the key reference for dealings of the organisation.

Jesus is the Head of the Church. Can you see Him at the top of the Church chart?

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus said I will build My Church….

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.“
Matthew 16:18 NKJV

“My Church” here refers to a company of the Redeemed in Christ, the body of Christians, Christ followers.

Ephesians 1: summarises how Jesus gained His headship…

“….and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
Ephesians 1:19‭-‬23 NKJV

Christ is the Head of the Church which is His Body.

Can you see Jesus at the head of the Church?

A Church marching towards unity of faith, a Church without walls or borders, a Church that is not confined to a place, space or location.

Can you see Jesus at the head of the Church?

There are no denominations, no Pentecostals, nor Presbyterians, nor Catholics and all such names (John 4:23). It’s one Body, headed by Christ (I Corinthians 12:20, John 17:22). The local assemblies are important to Jesus’s vision, but yet, your local Church is a small unit, a contributing cluster of the whole. The ministry gifts (Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Evangelists, Pastors) all work towards actualization of this unified Church (I Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:12, Acts 20:28).

Can you see Jesus at the head of the Church?

The Body of Christ is made up of members (individuals), you and I, with specific preordained roles and contributions to the whole (1 Corinthians chapter 12).

Have you found your place in this company? Where do you fit in? What are you doing about your part/role? We are ultimately answerable to Jesus. Do you have a report to share with Him?

Can you see Jesus at the Head?

He is building His Church, He is watching over His Church. He is the Vine, His Body constitutes the branches (John 15:5). He is High Priest (Hebrews 5: 1-1, Hebrews 4:14). He is Advocate for His Church (I John 2:1). He is busy building His Church and the gates of hell cannot stop it.

When you see Jesus at the Head of the Church, your perspective and attitude to Kingdom business will change. When you see Jesus at the Head, your ministry and service will have a new meaning, focus and drive.

“Jesus asked them, Have you never read in the Scriptures: The very Stone which the builders rejected and threw away has become the Cornerstone; this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? [Ps. 118:22, 23.] I tell you, for this reason the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this Stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom It falls will be crushed to powder [and It will winnow him, scattering him like dust]. [Isa. 8:14; Dan. 2:34, 35.] And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables (comparisons, stories used to illustrate and explain), they perceived that He was talking about them.“
Matthew 21:42‭-‬45 AMPC

ONE is a number, the lowest cardinal number.

ONE is also used to refer to or identify a person.

And ONE also describes something of same quality and make-up, something that is identical. This is the meaning of ONE this write-up is about.

The Bible tells us in Hebrews 2:11, that those that are sanctified (the Body of Christ) are ONE with Him who sanctifies (Jesus Christ)

“For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren”
Hebrews 2:11 NKJV

We are one with Him in quality and substance. As He is, so are we in this life (I John 4:17).

Imagine if I came to you saying and insisting that; ‘I want only your head to follow me’, you’ll probably look at me in confusion and probably quietly wondering if all is well with me… It is impossible for a head to be active, move on it’s own while seperate from the body.

Colossians 1:18 identifies Jesus Christ as the….head of the Church, the beginning and firstborn from the dead..

“And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.”
Colossians 1:18 NKJV

“Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body and [individually] you are members of it, each part severally and distinct [each with his own place and function].”
1 Corinthians 12:27 AMPC

He is the Head of the Body (the Church; His Body, the Body of Christ). The Church constitutes other parts of the Body. But all are one and of the same make-up, the same person.

“so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
Romans 12:5 NKJV

The Body of Christ is Christ. You are Christ! Jesus relies on His body to continue to function on earth. He is dependent on the Church even as the Church is dependent on Him.

I hope you think on this for a bit…

He died, was buried and resurrected, and we were in Him.

He conquered principalities and powers, we were in Him. We conquered them as well.

He overcame sin, sickness and death, and so did we.

He is seated at the right of the Father in Heaven, a position of authority, and we are seated with Him.

You are Christ!

“But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him.“
1 Corinthians 6:17 AMPC

This is good knowledge, however it is not a knowledge to get us puffed up, rather it should enable us walk in victory..

Jesus remained humble despite His God status, and so should we..

“He was like God in every way, but he did not think that his being equal with God was something to use for his own benefit. Instead, he gave up everything, even his place with God. He accepted the role of a servant, appearing in human form. During his life as a man, he humbled himself by being fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross.”
Philippians 2:6‭-‬8 ERV

REST is an expression of faith and total trust in God.

One coming of Jesus was all that was needed. He came that we might have life and have life more abundantly. Jesus came once, and that one coming was enough to secure our salvation, healing, peace, wealth and all things that pertains to life and godliness.

in this Kingdom worry has no place because we know to ask and receive, seek and find, to knock and have access to open doors (Matthew 7:7). We know to say, believe and have, to speak to the mountain believing, and to see it move (Mark 11:23).

Some things in life are just impossible. For example, it is impossible for a virgin to give birth to a child (well, except with current medical interventions). It is impossible for a dead person to come back to life (John 11:44). It is not normal to be subtracting from something and yet for that thing to be increasing (Proverbs 11:24)

So when Mary said to the angel; ‘how can this be’? She wasn’t being unreal.

“Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus . Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
Luke 1:30‭-‬31‭, ‬34 NKJV

That is why I can understand how you feel about taking that seemingly impossible step. It is practically impossible to achieve success as is.

Well, my Bible tells me ‘nothing is impossible with God’, and that includes every possibly impossible thing.

The question then is; ‘are you doing it on your own or with God?‘

“Commit your way to the Lord , trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.“
Psalms 37:5 NKJV

God is the One who brings impossible things to pass.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

God doesn’t want us sick and physically weak. He wants us to prosper, be in good health, even as our soul prospers. A weak state is only beautiful as long as we become more focused on God, committed to fellowship and prayer, humble, teachable, calm, attentive, trusting and dependent on God