We are studying the subject of the three-fold anointing. We are finding that with each anointing David was empowered to fulfill the next part of his destiny. One teacher described it this way, the poured over anointing, the anointing that is smeared on and finally the rubbed in anointing. The inference here is that each of these anointings is a sign that the character and nature God has been more deeply ingrained in God’s man. In other words he has been sanctified body, soul and spirit.
1 Thess 5:23 KJV
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
To illustrate this we have but to look at David when he was moving from his first anointing to his second. What we found was that he did not just tolerate Saul; he deeply admired him and loved him. To love a leader who has caused such pain and suffering that went from throwing spears at us to driving us from our ministry is almost beyond our comprehension. Most men and women of God I know including leaders can barely get over being slighted by a leader much less persecuted. Perhaps now we are beginning to see how precious the preparation and training of David was to God’s heart.
This is a very difficult thing for many of us to understand. That is how could David continue to honor and even love the man who treated him with such disdain. Should not those in authority be exemplarity? Of course they should but when they are not God; will not allow us to disrespect them. He may call us to begin to pray for and work toward change and when we do we may experience an even fiercer persecution. Yet God will not allow our hearts to become critical or bitter. Why would he want to use us if we are no better than Saul?
Saul’s pursuit and persecution of David was relentless. He drove him away from his honored position, he hounded and hunted him, and he ordered anyone who gave aid to David to be killed. He took David’s financial means of support away from him. Yet David never stopped loving Gods’ choice. Hear the words of this remarkable servant when he hears of Saul’s and Jonathan’s death. Let us look again at David’s’ words when Saul and Jonathan were slain.
2 Sam 1:21-25 TLB
For there the mighty Saul has died;
is God’s appointed king no more.
22 Both Saul and Jonathan slew their strongest foes,
And did not return from battle empty-handed.
23 How much they were loved, how wonderful they were-
Both Saul and Jonathan!
They were together in life and in death.
They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
24 But now, O women of Israel, weep for Saul
Only the nature of God can love like that. I would like to tell you a personal story that cost me dearly in the physical, emotional and spiritual realm. After being a pastor for the first seven years at great sacrifice to my family and myself the one over me in the Lord brought charges against me. The charges were based on a check for seventeen dollars.
At that time we had a Christian school and the lighting was poor over the first graders offices. That night after hours I secured a church check went to K-Marts and purchased some lighting. I worked almost to mid-night installing them for the next school day. A few months later the Lord moved me to another church. The incoming Pastor found this check and brought it to our state leader. It had not been signed correctly. From there they accused me of misappropriating of funds and reported to our national headquarters. An investigation was started and eventually nothing was found to accuse me of. By then my name had been slandered my heart broken and deep wounds implanted into my spirit.
During this time I called the leader who was over me and asked the question “why did you not give me the benefit of the doubt and give me a call, the Bible says if we have ought against our brother to go to him first and perhaps it can be settled easily”. He just stated he was the leader and well within his rights for the actions he had taken. If ever I have seen a Saul leader this man fit the bill. Yet God had placed him over me. Why?
I will never forget what happened at our next international gathering. We were in a great room with many thousands of ministers. The meeting was adjourned and I found myself in this huge auditorium with the leader that had brought charges against me. He slowly walked over to me and said “you win”, I replied “pardon me?”, he said again “you win”. I replied “I don’t understand what are you saying”. He said “I have mouth cancer you win, will you please pray for me and forgive me that I might be healed”. I laid my hands on him and in that great auditorium prayed for the Lord to heal him. Through that one incident God instantly healed my roundedness and I truly loved that man. My heart was broken for him. Remember the warning not to seek a leadership position because leaders receive a stricter judgment?
A few months later I received a phone call from this same individual asking me to meet him for lunch. He lived almost seven hundred miles away. We made an appointment and as we sat down for lunch he said “I have been healed”. Well that was two of us who had been healed. He was healed from mouth cancer and I from a deep hurt..
Perhaps it was right there when I passed the test to move into the second anointing. My dear wounded ones there is a grace available to those who have been deeply hurt by spiritual leaders. It is indeed possible not only to forgive them but genuinely love them. We are in a season when God is ending the rule of Saul and his system. Yet God will not permit those who have unforgiveness or criticism in their hearts to lead this next move of God.
The Lord healed me from the wounds inflicted by those who deeply hurt my family and me. It occurred like this. He spoke to my heart one day and said “son no one gets by with anything if they do not repent – he then reminded me of the verse that says “vengeance is mine saith the Lord and I will repay”. He then began to show me the future of those who had hurt me so badly. In one case I saw their family fall apart, their children rebel and strife enter their relationships, and a crippling stroke follow the head of the household. It was though I was watching a video. Over the next couple of months I saw all of this unfold in the natural and it broke my heart. I found myself in constant prayer for them.
Why has the Lord allowed you to be wounded? Why has he kept that one who has hurt you over and over again in a place of authority and power? Is He seeking a replacement for Saul? If He is the Lord will not release you from your season of refining until you learn to love and pray for Saul. This love too must be genuine not a casual moment of forgiveness.
In our next article we will look at the war that developed over the Saul system that was left after his death and how David’s’ second anointing was able to prevail and establish the beginning of Gods’ due order. From there we hope to move too his third anointing and what it means to “reign” for and with the Lord.
