LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 23:5-6, You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Pastor Ed Newton continued his teaching on the oil, the anointing oil, by referring to Psalm 23. He related how the shepherds would pour oil on the sheep to protect from flies. If this did not happen flies would get in the ears and nose of the sheep. [Imagine a fly getting into your ear or nose and the trial that would cause.] Pastor said the sheep’s life depended on the shepherd doing this. The oil would also aid the sheep to heal when it had fallen and prevented infection from setting in when it had scrapped or cut itself.

“You anoint my head with oil.” Like the shepherd pours oil over the sheep, God sends His Holy Spirit to live within the Believer the moment salvation occurs. God anoints Believers with His oil to protect their mind, to restore them, to heal them and to cause them to thrive (Sermon notes). Believers are to put on the armor of God each day – you can relate that to God’s anointing. “Opposition will come! Our Shepherd will sustain the Believer” (EN).

“My cup overflows.” “This is a strong statement about the Holy Spirit’s covering – it moves from our head and flows to other parts of the Believer’s life. The anointing has now been placed in the Believer’s hand” (EN). Pastor said the cup represents one’s calling. Psalm 16:5, “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.” “Through the overflow, God not only filled David’s life, but it also affected others. God fills your cup [the Believer’s] according to your calling; the cup represents your ability to do what He has called you to do – with His help and guidance. That means your obedience to faithfully carry the “cup” God has given to you; your assignment has been given to you by Jesus and is not to be compared to another” (EN). Psalm 15:6, “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” “Past experiences prepare us for today. God’s assignments happen according to God’s timing; He decides when that time is. The Believer must often endure, be patient until that time comes.” Acts 17:26, “From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.” (NLT).

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Pastor stated this is not just a hopeful statement. Believers can be confident in their Shepherd. This is about God’s goodness and His mercy. Goodness refers to God causing all things to work for our benefit and speaks to His faithfulness in the things happening around us. Mercy means God stays committed to us when we do not deserve it; mercy addresses the things within us. (Sermon notes and EN).  God pursues you, Believer! That is putting goodness and mercy together to find favor (EN). “Favor chases you to give you clarity. It chases you when you need strength, when you are weak. God never changes even when your circumstances do. He is faithful even when you are not” (EN).

Pastor Newton ended his message with saying your anointing is to lead others to the One who anointed you. God’s favor is not given to you for just this moment; God anoints you for a mission. Allow your anointing to be seen by others and share what God has done in your life. Allow His anointing to flow through you for others to see.