Anointed But Not Yet Appointed
“Just because I don’t look like what you have in mind, doesn’t mean I’m not going to blow your mind.” ~ Dr. Rhema Ehiemere
On Saturday night, Dr. Rhema Ehiemere guided us in exploring the story of David’s anointing (1 Samuel 16:1-13) from a fresh perspective. His message was titled “I Am Anointed For This,” and as we examined David’s journey, Dr. Rhema emphasized the true meaning of leadership. At the beginning of 1 Samuel 16, we find Samuel mourning because Saul had been rejected by God. God then instructed Samuel to stop mourning and go to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem. David, the youngest son of Jesse, was a shepherd boy who had been overlooked by his family.
When Samuel arrived to anoint one of Jesse’s sons, David was not present. Samuel first saw Eliab, David’s brother, and assumed that he was the one God had chosen. However, God intervened, saying, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at; people look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV). Even when David was called to be anointed, people couldn’t understand why the Lord would choose him. They failed to realize that David’s journey as a leader began in the desert while taking care of the sheep.
Dr. Rhema left us with three steps for those who desire to lead in this season.
- SHIFT
- Are you grieving over something God has replaced?
- Are you afraid to change?
- Because of his mourning, Samuel was stuck and almost missed God’s direction for a new King!
- God is a moving God; he already had a replacement in mind for Saul!
- If you are waiting for God to move, you MUST MOVE!
- The price of who you are going to become is the death of who you are now!
- SACRIFICE
- Samuel was afraid that if Saul learned he was going to anoint another king, Saul would kill him.
- God instructed Samuel to take an animal with him and tell Saul he was going to sacrifice it to God.
- The antidote to Samuel’s fears was his sacrifice.
- As a leader, you must make sacrifices to reach a new level.
- Leadership will cost you something. And without sacrifice, leadership is just an ambition.
- The spotlight will reveal parts of you that public devotion did not take care of. (ex; your motives, character, actions, etc)
- Jesus is the perfect example!
- He took our place so that we could have HIS place!
- As a leader, before you sacrifice for others, remember who sacrificed for you! (1 John 4:19)
- Do you have the ability to sacrifice?
- SLAY
- God does NOT need your perfection; He needs your cooperation!
- There is a responsibility that comes from leadership!
- You have to do something with what God has given you!
- You have to take action!!
- God anoints you for a PURPOSE!
- He does NOT need people who will lead others in public, He needs those whom He can lead in private!
- Real leadership is NOT about the title, it’s about the mantle!
- It’s all about obedience!
- Your empowerment is for an assignment!
Leadership is costly, but it’s worth it when it’s from God. How could you shift, sacrifice, and slay in this season?
