BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

Though no one minister of the gospel carries the fullness of the anointing for all five of those offices, all of us together have every bit of it. If only the apostles had been anointed by God, as many people have been deceived into thinking in the past 2,000 years, we would still be in one, big mess. And what if in today’s Church only the pastors were anointed, and maybe a few evangelists? It wouldn’t be any different. In fact, it’s that kind of religious tradition that has cheated the Church out of the full manifestation and demonstration of God’s Anointing. Meanwhile, what about the majority of people sitting in the congregation? Where is the anointing for them to minister to the needy people they encounter every day? What about the farmers and business managers, the police officers and schoolteachers in life? Where is their anointing to minister—like the apostle, the prophet, the evangelist, the pastor, the teacher? The answer to these questions is found in partnership. The Apostle Paul wrote to his partners in ministry at the church in Philippi and said, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:3-5). Here the word fellowship is an Old English translation of the Greek word for partnership. It means “equal part in a single endeavor.” Paul, who ministered in at least three of the offices—apostle, prophet and teacher—considered these believers in Philippi to be his “equal partners” in ministering the gospel. And that’s why he went on to say: “Even as it is meet for me [even as I am able] to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace” (verse 7). Partakers of my grace. When you see the word grace, particularly in Paul’s writings, don’t just think of it as “God’s unmerited favor,” which it is. But also see it as a reference by Paul to the anointing. Because he equates the two as one and the same. And why not? The very fact that the Anointing of God can be in us and on us is an ultimate act of grace on God’s part. So Paul was saying, “Because you supported me in every way possible—not only when I was with you in Philippi, but when I ministered in other places—you can expect the same anointing that’s on me for ministry to be on you and your household. You are equal partners—equal partakers—of my anointing.” Applying that to our lives today, the businessman or businesswoman who is plugged into a local church should have the same anointing for ministry on him or her that is on the pastor of that church. For that matter, every believer should be equal partakers of the anointing that is on the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers of our time. How? By joining those in fivefold ministry in equal partnership in the gospel. By getting in there and praying and supporting their ministries in any way God directs them. Remember God is not satisfied for Jesus to be the only One Anointed. What good would it be for all that anointing to remain “sitting at the right hand of the Father” in heaven when all the burdens and yokes are down here on earth? What’s more, He is not satisfied for just a handful of apostles to have been anointed 2,000 years ago. They’re no longer in the earth where ministry anointing is needed. No, God will not be satisfied until every member of the Body of Christ—the Body of His Anointed ones in the earth today—is walking in the fullness of His power. So, let the Spirit of God connect you with the ministries He is calling you to support. Then get into “covenant partnership” in the gospel with them. Once you do, start partaking of their grace. Draw on the fullness of those anointings. Expect the anointings to minister, that are on their lives and ministries, to rest on you and your household. You have the anointing to live life. Now step over into that anointing for the lost and dying world around you. Be the first person—the first banker, nurse, student, homemaker, salesman—in your church who “goes about doing good, healing all who are oppressed of the devil.” Go for the full measure of God’s Anointing! V

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