A school district on the coast of Texas had a rough time achieving success on state-mandated tests for several years in a row. They were on the verge of having their accreditation pulled, and they took a drastic step. They threw out all their traditional programs, ditched recess, and made lunch time a part of each student’s educational day. Teachers used conferences to tutor students, and after-hours programs were put in place to ensure maximized learning opportunities. Even waiting in line for the bus became an educable moment.
When all was about to be lost, the school district took extreme measures, and they lifted their test scores to some of the best in the state.
We can do that in our Christian walk. Our extreme power comes from God’s horn of oil. It flows over us in our moments of need, and we are filled with the anointing. In the inrush of God into our need, we are empowered to do great things for him.
In 1 Samuel 16:13, David found strength greater than all his brothers.
“Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.”
Exodus 35:30-33 tells us of the anointing given during the construction of the tabernacle.
“See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft.”
Ephesians 1:13-14 talks of our infusion of salvation power.
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
1 Corinthians 12:1-5 invokes us to throw everything aside to raise our spiritual awareness by any method we can.
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord…”
Acts 2:1-5 shows us God’s horn of oil flowing over his creation, empowering them to greater glories in Christ from that day forward.
“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven…”
That Texas school district cast aside every unnecessary thing in order to achieve success. When we want to find true excellence in God, we must do the same thing. Only when we are trimmed of our excess distractions will we be able to focus fully on him.
When we want our Christian example to be its best, we have to toss out the rest.
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Code: FGO.E.03.15b.vp.esv