THE HONOUR AND THE ANOINTING PART 4

The Honour and the Anointing Part 4

Scripture: 2 Kings 4:8-17

Topic: The Honour and The Anointing Part 4

We shall in this quiet time begin a series in which we see clearly the relationship between honour and the anointing. I trust the Lord that point by point you will come to the place of honour, and enjoy the fruit of honour.

4. Honouring the anointing provokes unspeakable blessings on your behalf

“And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and SHE CONSTRAINED HIM TO EAT BREAD. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.  And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. LET US MAKE A LITTLE CHAMBER, I pray thee, on the wall; and LET US SET FOR HIM THERE A BED, AND A TABLE, AND A STOOL, AND A CANDLESTICK: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.  And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.  And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.  And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life”

                                                                                                                                                2 Kings 4:8-17

There are some important points to glean from the story of Elisha and the Shunamite woman. 

1.She took a quality decision to honour the anointed.

2.She began to honour the anointed at a lower level.  This lower level was the honour she bestowed on him by giving him bread and food

3.The Shunamite woman moved to a much higher level of honouring the anointed.  She did this by building a house for him and by furnishing it.  She honoured him at this highest level by making his life comfortable. 

4.The power of God on Elisha was provoked after he had received the honour from this woman. Elisha did not ask about the woman’s needs when he was eating her bread. He only asked about her needs when she built the room and he stayed in the room enjoying the candle, the table and the chair that she had made for him.  

5.The Shunamite woman received the great blessing of pregnancy, even though her husband was an old man. The stark reality of the old age of her husband is mentioned as a great natural obstacle to this woman receiving a miracle child.  There was no river too wide, no mountain high and no distance too high for God’s power after the anointing had been honoured. 

1. Honour the anointing in a substantial way

"But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.  Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; NEITHER HAST THOU HONOURED ME WITH THY SACRIFICES. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, NEITHER HAST THOU FILLED ME WITH THE FAT OF THY SACRIFICES: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities”

                                                                                                                                            Isaiah 43:22-24

The great prophet Isaiah speaks forth the word of the Lord concerning the honour of the anointed.  He gives details about the honour that he is expecting.  This great passage reveals that God expects to be honoured substantially. God expects you to honour the anointed with your riches and with the best that you have. God asks several questions:

1.Why have you not brought me some of your small cattle ?

2. Whey have you not honoured me with sacrifices?

3. Why have you not brought me some sweet cane? 

4. Why have you not brought me money?

5.Why have you not brought me the fat of the sacrifice?

6.Why have I only been burdened with your sins and your problems?

You see, it is important to honour the anointing substantially.  It is important to honour the anointed with your riches.  God is expecting the honour to come through your money, your cattle, your sweet cane and the fat of your sacrifices. Are you doing that today? Or are you honouring the servant of the Lord with worthless gifts and sacrifices?

Credit: Excerpt From

The Anointed and His Anointing

Bishop Dag Heward-Mills