Christian Living

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Have you ever wondered why David suffered so much? He was anointed three times for one position,

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.1Sam16:13

2 So David went up there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 David also took the men who were with him, each with his family, and they settled in Hebron and its towns. 4 Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. 2Sam2:2-4

When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. 2Sam5:3

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed, they came in full force…

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 2Sam 5:17

After becoming king, he was later dethroned by his son, Absolom, was then exiled for up to ten years and had to take refuge among the Philistines that he had helped to defeat. How humiliating. He ‘scratched on the door of the gate and let saliva fall down his beard.’ He pretended madness when his cover was blown and later fled.



That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. 2Sam21:10
But the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sing about in their dances: " 'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands'?"
King Saul continued the chase until he committed suicide. David had many opportunities to take revenge but he would not touch the Lord’s anointed. He waited for God time although he knew a long time ago that he would be king and had even had a preview of his palace when Saul invited him in for a while. .
While on the run when his son dethroned him, Shemei had the boldness to curse David but he kept his nerves.

Shimei Curses David
5 As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul's family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. 6 He pelted David and all the king's officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David's right and left.

Whilst on exile David found many vagabonds, the disgruntled and indebted people whom he gathered and recycled into a formidable fighting machine . unfortunately one day they were raided and all their wives and children were carried away by the Amalekites. They wanted to stone David but he had to encourage himself in the Lord.

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. 1Sam30:6




John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit in his mother’s womb. He knew his mission and wasted no time in fulfilling it. He was uncompromising, even when it comes to royalty. He was not afraid to tell the king he was wrong in taking his brother’s wife..


The king was furious and sought a way to nail him. the opportunity came on his birthday when Herodias daughter after dancing beautifully was invited by Herod to name her prize. On consultation with her mum, she requested for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Immediately Herod ordered the execution of the prophet. Soon the head of the fiery prophet of God was on a platter.

3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, 4for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.
6On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much 7that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." 9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10and had John beheaded in the prison. 11His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

How gruesome. This was an attempt to discourage Jesus, but he was focused on His mission. He would not be deterred.



The prophets -notably Jeremiah Thrown Into a Cistern

1 Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah was telling all the people when he said, 2 "This is what the LORD says: 'Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague, but whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live. He will escape with his life; he will live.' 3 And this is what the LORD says: 'This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it.' "
4 Then the officials said to the king, "This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin."
5 "He is in your hands," King Zedekiah answered. "The king can do nothing to oppose you."
6 So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king's son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.


The Lord himself after fasting for forty days and forty night came back from the wilderness in the power and started doing miracles, fulfilling his vision

14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside Luke 4:14

. The Pharisees and Saducees were provoked
. They attacked him in various ways and tried to undermine Him. They saw him as threat. They plotted to get rid of him. Later the same Jesus that was popular a while ago, as people proclaimed:’ Hosanna!, Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, was jeered and booed. The people chanted, ‘Crucify Him!. Crucify Him! Release Barabas! Crucify Him..
Jesus was crucified.
Paul
The Church


Yet despite the attacks and possible attacks, it is better to be overflowing with the anointing of God.
Service without the Holy Spirit being fully involved is drudgery, pain without gain, struggle without a mussel, groping in the dark, and sweat without sweet.
The anointing is the presence and power of the person of the Holy Spirit. And when He is allowed to clothe you, endue you, fill you, empower you, you rise from the mundane earthly plane to the supernatural plane. God adds His extra to your ordinary and you become extraordinary. The anointing destroys yoke, lift burdens. When Jesus Christ was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power He went about doing good…healing all those that were oppressed of the devil.
Before he commenced His ministry he went into the temple and took the scroll and turning to Isaiah, read:
'The spirit of the Lord is upon Me…' And when He finished all eyes were fixed on Him.(Luke 4:18)

David feared he would lose the Holy Spirit when he sinned and cried in Ps51 take not your holy spirit from me….

The Holy Spirit is vital in our ministry. He is the counsellor the Standby, Paraclete- one called alongside to help. He is our friend to the end. He strengthen, guides, comforts, empowers, shows us things to comes , takes of the deep things of Jesus and shows them to us.

When you know the benefits of having Him, you will be comforted even when you’re going through attacks arising from your relationship to God. Because you know that He is always with you. You know that when you are hard-pressed on all sides, you will not be crushed. When you are perplexed you will not be in despair. When you are persecuted you need not be in despair. When you are knocked down, you will not be knocked out. Yes in the world you may face tribulation, but you can take comfort in the comforting words of Jesus: ‘I have overcome the world’. ‘Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world. Whoever is born of God overcomes this world and this is the victory that overcomes this world, even our faith. No weapon fashioned against us shall prosper, When the enemy comes like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise a standard against him.

‘37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our … Jesus said I will send you another comforter that he may abide with you forever.

I would rather be attacked and have the anointing, than not have the anointing and be left alone.

Are you being attacked?
The Lord is your light and your salvation. Fear not. The Lord is the stronghold of your life. Of whom should you be afraid? When your enemies come in one way, they will flee in seven ways. The weapons of your warfare are not man made but they are divine, mighty through god to the pulling down of strongholds.
Your warfare is not with human beings but spiritual wickedness in the kingdom of darkness. Be not sidetracked. Keep your focus. Endure hardness as a soldier of Christ. If God be for you, who can be against you? The angels of the Lord are on assignment on your behalf. They have been given charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
Jesus was attacked. Paul was attacked. David was attacked, so you will be attacked.
But keep your eyes on Jesus the Author and Finisher of your faith. He has gone ahead of you to make every crooked path straight. The fact that you’re being attacked shows that you’re doing something right. It shows that you’re not compromising your standards. God is bragging about you and will reward you.
God fought for Israel and He will fight for you. He fought for David and He will fight for you. He fought for Daniel and his friends and he will fight for you.
You will not die but live to declare the works of the Lord. Weeping may endure for the night but joy is coming in the morning. You will see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living. Stand still and see your salvation! Those that have come against you in one way will flee in seven ways in utter terror and stampede. The angel of the Lord will drive them away.

Where they have invited you for battle, you will gather spoils in unimaginable proportion, like Jehosephat and Judah. Press on for the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus. Christ in you, the hope of glory. The outward man may perish but the inward man is being renewed day by day. Nay, in all these things you are more than a conqueror through Christ. Greater is He that is in you than he than is in the world. Jesus was anointed with Holy Ghost and with power and went about doing good, healing all those who were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him. God is with you. You go with your anointing and continue to do good things. And God will take care of you. You will not die before your time.

Those who know their God shall be strong and they shall do great exploits. Alleluia!

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