Humility Is the Master Key: Seven Steps Jesus Took to the Anointing

Sermon outline

The anointing is received the way Jesus received it at the Jordan: by connecting to God's servant, submitting, humbling yourself and praying until heaven opens.

1. Train your human spirit

   Reading from the Chronicles, he says that as an athlete prepares for a race, a Christian can train to be effective in the kingdom. He gives six steps: get up early and spend time with God, spend time with God's Word in your day, read and listen to your pastor's material, attend church regularly, get involved in the work of God, and get involved in financing the kingdom of God.

   Illustration: People do not go to work undressed, and time in the Word each morning dresses you in a way no one can see. From his own life: he kept praying for finances and nothing happened, until the Holy Spirit told him to be faithful with his tithes, offerings and seed. Since then he sows a seed into the house of God before he prays over any big project or business deal.

   “Spiritual things don't come upon you by chance.”

   • Titus 2:12
   • Hebrews 10:25
   • Ephesians 5:26

2. Be strong and very courageous

   The Chronicle for that Sunday is taken from Joshua 1:7. A life of faith takes courage, tenacity and persistence, and it takes courage to declare God's deliverance and healing in the face of a challenge. Israel lost courage when they heard about giants in the land, but Joshua kept the Word in his mind and heart day and night and reminded himself that God was on their side.

   Illustration: The Israelites thought their battles were over once they had crossed the Red Sea, and decided not to fight when they heard the report of giants.

   “Living a Christian life or a life of faith takes great courage.”

   • Joshua 1:7

3. Your workplace is holy ground

   Answering a viewer who asked how to apply biblical principles to business life, he points out that Moses was herding sheep, in the middle of his working day, when God met him at the burning bush. God does not divide life into sacred and secular. If you are a Christian, God lives in you, so he is with you in the boardroom, on the aeroplane and in the client's office, and he is interested in your success.

   Illustration: Moses was not at home, at a meal or resting. He was at work when God called to him and told him to take off his sandals.

   “Your workplace is a holy place. God is standing right beside you.”

   • Exodus 3:5
   • Matthew 10:40
   • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

4. 1. Associate and connect

   Turning to the baptism of Jesus, he says these few verses hold the steps the Saviour himself took to the anointing without measure. God has an anointing for you and he gives it through his servant, so you must be in a church and ministry that carries it. Do not judge the vessel by age, colour, culture or background. God chooses and uses his vessels as he wants.

   Illustration: John the Baptist ministered far away in the wilderness, wore homemade clothes and ate locusts and wild honey, yet he was the one the Lord went to.

   “You must see beyond the unattractive human frailties and buy into the anointing.”

   • Matthew 3:13-17

5. 2. Submit to the man or woman of God that God has placed you under

   Jesus did not only attend John the Baptist's ministry, he submitted to it. He was not a spectator, a commentator or a critic. When it was time for baptism he went forward and took part. Many people hang around a ministry without ever following what is taught. When you walk into the house of God, humble yourself and become teachable, and you will leave with a word, an idea or a concept from God.

   Illustration: The older, wealthy person and the young person with a string of degrees who both sit in church thinking, what can this preacher teach me?

   “A person's presence does not indicate that he or she is submitted there.”

   • Luke 3:21

6. 3. Humble yourself in the kingdom

   Jesus joined the ranks of the congregation and was baptised with all the people, as a commoner. It is hard for people who are elevated in society to humble themselves in church, but status, wealth and degrees do not matter. What matters is how hungry you are. If Jesus had not humbled himself and been baptised, he would not have received the anointing.

   “The master key to receiving anything in the kingdom of God, I must emphasize this point, is humility.”

   • Luke 3:21
   • Matthew 18:3

7. 4. Do not be negatively influenced by other men and women

   John tried to stop Jesus from being baptised. In the same way, well-meaning friends, relatives and even trusted men of God may give advice that turns you away from the anointing. Because the anointing is the most precious gift you can receive from God, it comes with the most stringent tests.

   Illustration: Elijah tried to stop Elisha from following him from Gilgal to Bethel, to Jericho and on to the Jordan. The test showed whether Elisha truly desired the anointing.

   “Do not let any human being keep you from doing what you must do to become anointed.”

   • Matthew 3:14
   • 2 Kings 2:1-6

8. 5. Complete all necessary formalities and fulfil all righteousness

   Just as there are formalities to complete before you enter a school, a university, a bus, an aeroplane or a country, there are things to fulfil to qualify legally for the anointing. Jesus' submission to John established his own authority, and when that authority was later questioned he pointed back to John. Every minister should establish the basis of his spiritual authority by having submitted to a man of God and being properly ordained.

   Illustration: When John Wesley was challenged about the authority by which he preached, he said he preached on the authority given to him by his ordination under the Church of England.

   “His submission to John the Baptist ministry was essential to legally establish his own authority.”

   • Matthew 3:15
   • Matthew 21:23-27

9. 6. Understand the timings of God

   Jesus said, 'suffer it to be so for now.' He would go on to minister independently of John and on a different theme, but at that time he needed to attend John's meeting and submit to John's practices. People who do not understand times and seasons misalign themselves and take the wrong road. Do not misbehave during a crucial and humbling season of your life.

   Illustration: The questions people ask: do I have to honour this man of God for ever, do I have to submit like this for ever?

   “The kingdom of God operates with times and seasons.”

   • Matthew 3:15

10. 7. Prayer and spirituality

    It was while Jesus was being baptised and praying that the heaven was opened. Prayer is an important step to receiving the anointing, and Jesus taught us specifically to ask the Father for the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who anoints us, helps us win souls and cast out devils, and performs the supernatural acts of God as in the book of Acts.

    Illustration: While the rest of the congregation were probably holding their noses coming out of the water, Jesus was praying.

    “Perhaps the most important prayer you will ever pray is the prayer for the anointing.”

    • Luke 3:21
    • Luke 11:13