Who are the Anointed Ones?
· There will be two messages that relate or connect to this: Saying, Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm (Psalm 105:15).
· Back in the day, some sermons were preached that alluded to the preacher being more special than the people who they didn’t think were called into ministry. In other words, they gave the impression that they were on a higher level than the other children of God.
First of all, every child of God is anointed, a minister, or has a calling that God has purposed for them to fulfill. Therefore, no person should think they are in better standing with God that someone else is. In fact, the Word of God says: Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves (Philippians 2:3).
Secondly, anyone who has a leadership role should be the servant of all: But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant (Matthew 23:7). So many people have been brainwashed into putting certain leaders on pedestals. This is because of ignorance.
Jesus Christ never put Himself on a pedestal
· Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name (Philippians 2:5-9).
· For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Luke 14:11). For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted (James 4:10).
· Every child of God should have a servant’s heart; Just as Jesus came to serve, so should we. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).
· What about the second part, are we willing to lose our lives for the sake of the Gospel? Many people were martyred and lost their lives in other ways, rather than compromising their belief. Jesus tells us that Zechariah (the prophet) was killed between the temple and the altar (Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51). Source, the internet - John the Baptist He was killed by Herod the Tetrach in Matthew 14:1-12. Herod had imprisoned John because of John’s disapproval of the king’s divorce for the purpose of marrying his sister-in-law.
Stephen boldly preached the Gospel. He clearly called out those who put Jesus on the cross. This did not make the religious leaders happy. They were so angry that they gritted their teeth and stoned Stephen (Acts 7:54-60). As he was dying he looked into Heaven and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He then looked at his persecutors and asked God’s forgiveness on them.
· As with many martyrs through the centuries, Stephen was killed by the religious establishment. Those who passionately stand for the cause of Christ are persecuted by those who have built their own idea of God.
James was killed by King Herod Agrippa I according to Acts 12:1, 2. He was killed by the sword during a time the king was starting to persecute the church.
· I don’t know about you, but I am willing to serve Him if it costs me my very life, no matter what kind of death it is. As Paul the apostle wrote it is better to be with the Lord: For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better (Philippians 1:23). ~ Betty A. Burnett ~
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