The Anointing Part Two – Relationship or Religion
By: Pastor Rodney Howard-BrownePublish date: 04/30/2017
Foundation Scriptures:
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. 15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:14-19 KJV
But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. 17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. Luke 5:15-17 KJV
But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. 1 John 2:20 KJV
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
1 John 2:27 KJV
And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. Isaiah 10:27 KJV
1. Jesus Said: My Yoke is Easy and My Burden is Light.
a. Matthew 11:28-30 KJV – “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
b. Many people don’t have a relationship with Jesus – they only have religion.
c. People think that God requires rituals.
d. If serving God is too heavy or stressful for you, you are not doing it right.
2. Religion or Relationship.
a. Many religions rely completely on rituals for their religious duty.
b. People are comfortable with a program.
c. Even spirit-filled believers have their rituals.
d. Seminars.
e. Armor of God.
f. Confession.
g. Prayer.
h. The devil can’t stop you from becoming born again, but he will try to get you focused on a works-program.
i. Jesus did all the work. You just need a relationship with Him.
3. Relationship – Walking with Jesus.
a. We need to have discipline.
b. We need to spend time in the Word and in prayer.
c. However, don’t bog yourself down in religious rituals.
d. Remember it’s a relationship.
e. It is a love relationship with God.
f. Reading His Word and talking to Him.
g. Remember, if you have to force anything, it’s not God.
h. The river flows.
i. Your relationship with the Lord should be peaceful, not stressed.
4. Hungry and Thirsty for Righteousness.
a. Matthew 5:6 KJV – “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
b. Prayer.
c. Word.
d. Fasting.
e. Worship.
5. Worship is the Highest Form of Prayer.
a. Worship Him – daily – not only when you are in church.
b. Don’t ask for anything – just honor Him and tell Him how much you love Him.
c. Cultivate your relationship with Him.
d. Jesus says, Come to Me – I will give you rest.
e. Do not try to do things to be accepted.
f. You already are accepted.
g. Ephesians 1:6 KJV – “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
h. Receive His love and love Him back.
i. 1 John 3:1a KJV – “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…”
j. 1 John 4:17-19 KJV – “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.”