ANOINTED FOR BURIAL
Opening Hymn:
1: IN heavenly love abiding,
No change my heart shall fear;
And safe in such confiding,
For nothing changes here:
The storm may roar without me,
My heart may low be laid;
But God is round about me,
And can I be dismayed?
2: Wherever He may guide me,
No want shall turn me back;
My Shepherd is beside me,
and nothing can I lack:
His wisdom ever waketh,
His sight is never dim.
He knows the way He’s taken,
and I will walk with Him
3: Green pastures are before me,
Which yet I have not seen;
Bright skies will soon be o’er me,
Where darkest clouds have been:
My hope I cannot measure,
My path to life is free;
My Savior has my treasure,
And He will walk with me.
BIBLE READING (NKJV)
PSALM 23
1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;
For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Psalms 23:1-6 NKJV
TEXT: PSALM 23:5; MARK 14: 8.
5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Psalm 23:5. NKJV.
6. But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done good work for Me.
7. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.
8. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.
Mark 14:6-8. NKJV
EXHORTATION:
The inter-denominational Anointing Service was concluded and my friend left for his family’s abode. But not without blessing two members with 2 cheque leaflets bearing some high 7 digits, for them to start their businesses.
After his birthday during the 7-day Revival, he informed me that he knew that his mission on earth is almost accomplished. But after praying for him, he bowed with a saying that he hopes to join us at the next morning’s Mega Sunday that rounds up the 7 days Revival.
The next morning, an hour before the Church Service, we heard that he was one of the victims of the car crash involving a truck that lost its control. I was permitted to examine his body that Sunday morning. No part of his body seems wounded or bruised, and even his car was not mangled, as all the members of his family came out of the modern Volvo car unharmed… That kind-hearted man who loved humanity and served God – full of energy at 67 – the man blessed with a good life, is now lying lifeless. Was he just being anointed for his burial last night?!
Indeed, all flesh is grass!
I find Isaiah 40: 1-11 (noting verses 6 and 7) irresistible at times like this:
1. “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God.
2. “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the Lord’s hand Double for all her sins.”
3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert, a highway for our God.
4. Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places smooth;
5. The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
6. _ The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?”_
“All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
7. The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass.
8. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”
9. O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lineup your voice with strength,
Lift, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
10. Behold, the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him;
Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.
11. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.
Isaiah 40:1-11 NKJV
🦅 Theme: ANOINTED FOR BURIAL.
🦅 Text: MARK 14: 6-8.
🌹 In this life, we have many debts to pay – not just in monetary terms. So, we seem to have less time to reflect on the fact that whatever success we achieve in the service to God and humanity… is our contribution to godliness, anointing us for our burial. 💕
🤔 Do we even reflect on how our life will end unless we are confronted with a situation where someone’s life is snuffed out by that emissary, Death?
In our text from the gospel today, Mark 14: 6-8, Jesus Christ had his passion in mind when He immortalised Mary of Bethany’s deed in the four gospel accounts. Great deeds to God are to bless His household, encourage and bless His true ministers, and assist the poor while they are alive. Not ignoring the cries of the living, only to donate millions for their burial.
Anointed for Burial conveys the message that we must remember that one day in time, our sojourn on earth will end, and so – let us immortalise our names in our creator’s mind by standing in the gap for the need of God’s Church (which includes the needy), not for us to be praised – but for our end!
This is where that musing in Isaiah 40 comes into reckoning… a prompt for the elect to ‘shout’ (Isaiah 40:6) is needed, more than ever before, to shake us back to life and proper reasoning – from our slumber; from our fleeting belief in our achievements; from our proud judgement against those who wait on God after their hard work is yet to yield results; and from our elitist denials of the need for Christian ethos in our community – that make us put our creator aside in favour of “seeing is believing”. Christianity does not ever reject the success of science. Scientific records have even proven most scriptural affirmations. God is real. He still guides those whom He created, today!
This life must end someday for all mortals: Those who served God for humanity’s good would have been spiritually anointed for their burials, and then we shall gain ve account of what dividend we gained with God’s investment in our lives, on that fearsome day.
Brethren, the scripture advises us, repeatedly, in the Book – Haggai – to consider our ways: With what we see at these end times, is it not high time you and I pondered on what our (individual) lives represent?
Is your life – and mine – fulfilled in our wanton devotion to self-centred seeking after wealth and limited happiness (that emerges but naturally fades away with time)? Is your life expectations all geared towards wealth, fame, power and luxury? Yes, a study of the scriptures affirms that you will find them, if you are diligent in your work, human relations and your faith. But your enjoyment of these lovely quests of life is only temporal: For, before we are ready for what comes after, we shall die, at our God-given time. Even believers shall be “caught up” where the rapture comes before death!
Death will come when it will come. But what would you have made of your life before that time that wealth cannot buy out?
Where is your investment today? Has it been on those ever-changing business prospects that had led many into depression, or have you spared some of your blessings to make life better for your family and those who need your assistance? Do not stay stung waiting till you consider yourself to be rich: God has blessed you with something to share with Him for the promotion of life!
The greatest investment is to give your life to Christ – trusting that He cannot mismanage your life.
If the trumpet sounds today, will you be in the number “saved by grace”?
PLEASE, PRAY WITH ME:
1. O Lord, teach me to make wise use of this brevity of life; help me invest in issues of eternal value, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
2. O LORD, convert my rags to a destiny of greatness – that I may be a helper to mankind and not an oppressor of the weak, in Jesus’ Name.
3. O Lord, restore me and my destiny to your original plan – for a believing life and ministry – in Jesus’ Name.
4. I reject destiny demoting thoughts, speeches, deeds and names, in the Name of Jesus!
5. O Lord, grant me a new grace of opportunities, and the power to make the best out of them beyond my wildest imagination, in Jesus’ Name.
6. I choose not to operate below my divine destiny, so help me God, in Jesus’ Name.
7. O Lord, anoint my eyes, hand and legs to locate my divine purpose, and serve before the end comes, in the Name of Jesus!
8. My destiny, resurrect from untimely burial, in Jesus’ Name.
9. Every power contending with my divine destiny, be cast into the abyss, in Jesus’ Name.
10. Every mirror of darkness and crystal ball monitoring my destiny, be shattered into pieces, in the Name of Jesus Christ.
11. By thunder, trepidation, and brimstones, O God, arise and scatter every Occult conspiracy against my life, family and ministry, in Jesus’ Name.
12. Whatever image used in representing me and my destiny in the Occultic world, catch fire and cremate its evil guardians, in the Name of Jesus Christ.
13. Every coven of the powers of the night – working against my life and destiny – be cremated, in the Name of Jesus.
14. In the Name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Ghost, Almighty Father, turn every arrow of darkness targeted at me, my family, my ministry and the Universal Church into the blood of Jesus, and NOW, let them return to convert their senders to servants of Christ Jesus!
15. Any power assigned to kill and bury my good virtues, family love, business, career, and ministry, be decimated, in the Name of Jesus.
16. I receive an excellent spirit from the triune God. Now, let every power antagonizing or oppressing my divine helpers and their families, collapse now and die, in Jesus’ Name. Amen!
💕 GIVE THANKS TO GOD WHO HAS JUST ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS!
🦅 This Tuesday is special, glorify God in it – sacrificially! You will laugh in gladness, in Jesus’ Name!