THE THREE ANOINTING

THE THREE ANOINTING SPEAK OF

a) Justification : our being forgiven
b) sanctification: purity of heart
c) Authority and power: God wants us to enjoy the fruit of all three anointing in our lives and ministries. Let us examine some men in the bible who enjoyed this “triple anointing” or “full anointing”

Example

1. Melchizedek

“Your strength shall be renewed day by day…..you are a priest forever like Melchizedek” [Ps 110:3-4]

Under the Mosaic Scheme, one had to be a member of the tribe of Levi to be a priest. When Jesus came, He was born in the tribe of Judah, the tribe the kings were to come from [Genesis 49:8-10]

What right then did Jesus have to a priestly ministry [or for that matter you and I]? He was of the wrong tribe!

The Apostle Paul solved this dilemma in his epistle to the Hebrews. He explains that Jesus priestly order [Hebrews-7].

Melchizedek is one of the most mysterious characters in biblical literature his name in Hebrews mean’s “king of righteousness” he was also the king of a city known as Salem [later named Jerusalem which in Hebrew means city of peace]

So by translations, he was king of peace and king of righteousness.

Melchizedek was also the priest of the Most High God, blessed Abraham after his defeat of the kings. Abraham even gave a tithe of the spoils of the war to him [Genesis 14:18-20]. Melchizedek functioned as the prophet-priest and king. As such he was fitting e.g. [type or prophetic picture] of the coming king, Jesus.

What made Melchizedek a prophet – priest and king? It was the anointing that was upon him. He “functioned in the unction” God made Melchizedek who he was by anointing him.

And that is the way Jesus, the high priest of our confession, operates. That is also the authority by which every spirit filled man of God operates. We exercise prophetic, priestly and kingly rights only by virtue of anointing

2. MOSES

Moses was another man who enjoyed this “triple anointing” God used Moses to deliver His people from Egypt. Then through Moses, God gave Israel the law. Moses ruled over them for forty years. He could do so only because he bore a very special anointing of both a prophet – priest and king

As a priest, he interceded for Israel and instructed them in the way of righteousness. He also ruled over them as a king. A tremendous anointing for prayer and power characterized his life. He bore a full anointing. He was a man who exercised priestly rights of access to the Lord as well as great kingly authority over the people.

Interestingly, Moses is not given the title of “Priest or King” but he functioned in both capacities.

3. THE JUDGES

The “Judges” were also men and women who bore this “triple anointing”.

I need to clear up misconception about the Judges.

1. They were “saviors” in that they saved the nation from their adversaries.
2. They were “deliverers” in that they delivered Israel from oppressive enemies.
3. They were “judges” only in the sense that they brought their judgment and wise counsel to the Nation.

They were not “judges” who sit on judicial thrones in court rooms handing down legal decrees.

After Moses died, Joshua and the judges [deliverers] who succeeded him bore the [triple anointing] to both deliver Israel from their oppressors and to bring them back to spiritual renewal of their relationship to God and God back to the people. They functioned as Kings by rising up and leading armies who would throw off the yoke of oppressors. They led by righteous rule and decrees but they were given the title of neither “priest nor king” they just “functioned in unction” as both.

As the spirit of God came both upon them during times of dire need in Israel they would implement the actions that God wanted them to take. This informal method of running things kept the leadership from becoming institutionalized and burdensome to the nation. Institutionalism has usually proven a curse to the common person in the nation or the church.

4. SAMUEL

Samuel appears to be the last of this long list of men who bore the triple anointing for 1,000 years [Melchizedek to Samuel]. God had put this “triple anointing” on men to provide leadership for his chosen people.

Like Moses, Joshua and Judges before him, Samuel was raised up by God for a special time of need in Israel, Samuel, in keeping with precedent, didn’t carry the title of priest or king. However, the function of a prophet - priest and king was evident in his life.

During the time when Israel needed to hear from the Lord, Samuel was anointed to prophesy because the Levite priest-hood had become corrupt; Samuel offered sacrifice and interceded for the people. Samuel also provided the leadership Israel so desperately needed like Melchizedek, Moses, and many of the other Judges, Samuel ministered under the full anointing of Prophet-Priest and King.

These anointed men’s lives were holy to the Lord, and their ministries bore the indisputable power and authority of Kings. They also functioned in priestly ministry as they were anointed of God.

But this millennium [1,000 years] was coming to an end the winds of change were blowing strong in Israel. Discontent with God’s way was underlying public opinion. The people would soon be demanding change that would have dramatic impact on the way the anointing came upon men.