ACCEPTED, APPROVED, & ANOINTED

by Connie on 2002-06-16 00:01:42

Luke 3:22 – “And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove
upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art My Beloved
Son; in Thee I am well pleased.”

Acts 2:22 – “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man
approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God
did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.”

Acts 10:38 – “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and
with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were
oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him”

The Lord Jesus Christ was Accepted, Approved, and Anointed of God.

#1 HE WAS ACCEPTED – The Father God on numerous occasions addressed Him
as “…My Beloved Son; in Whom I am well pleased” or “in Whom My soul
delighteth.” In other words, God the Father took great pleasure in His
Son. He thought well of Him. He was favorably inclined toward Him.

1 Peter 2:4 – The Apostle Peter described Him as such: “…disallowed
indeed of men, but Chosen of God, and Precious.”

John 8:29 – In His own words, Jesus testified of the Father’s love for
Him: “And He that sent Me is with Me: The Father hath not left Me alone;
for I do always those things that please Him.”

#2 HE WAS APPROVED – Acts 2:22 says that He was “…a man Approved of
God…” That word “approved” means that He was accredited, shown forth,
pointed out, declared to be, proved by arguments, and demonstrated.

What means did God use to approve of His Son?

Acts 2:22 – He was “A Man approved of God…by miracles and wonders and
signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you…”

Matthew 11:5 – John the Baptist while in prison had heard of the works of
Christ. What were these works? “The blind receive their sight, and the
lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are
raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”

Luke 7:21 – Luke in his Gospel also recorded the works of Christ – “And
in that same hour He cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of
evil spirits…”

The Apostle John several times in his Gospel made reference to the works
of Christ even through the testimony of Jesus –
John 5:36 – “But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works
which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear
witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me.”
John 14:10 – “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father
in Me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the
Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works.”
John 14:11 – “Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me:
or else believe Me for the very works’ sake.”

#3 HE WAS ANOINTED – Acts 10:38 tells us – “How God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good,
and healing all that were oppressed of the devil: for God was with Him.”
God consecrated Jesus for the Messianic office. He set Him apart for this
work by anointing Him with the Holy Ghost and Power. He gave Him the
power to perform miracles and mighty works.

Everywhere that Jesus traveled, from one place to the other, He did good,
and healed all those who were oppressed of the devil. This healing
included the healing for the body as well as the soul. He made people
every whit whole, but He also freed them from their sin and error.

The word “oppressed” used here means to exercise harsh control over one,
to use one’s power against one, and to exercise dominion against one. The
oppressor in this case was none other than the devil – the slanderer and
the false accuser.

1 Peter 5:8 – The Apostle Peter referred to him as “your adversary.” He
likened the devil unto a “roaring lion” who walks about “seeking whom he
may devour.”

Luke 4:36 – Luke in his Gospel spoke of Jesus having such great authority
and power that “He commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.”

1 John 3:8 – Then again, the Apostle John spoke in his epistle of the
Lord Jesus – “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He
might destroy the works of the devil.”

What works did Jesus do as a result of the Anointing on His life?

Luke 4:18 tells us that Jesus preached the Gospel to the poor, healed the
brokenhearted, preached deliverance to the captives and recovering of
sight to the blind, and He set at liberty all those who were bruised.

Isaiah 61:2-3 – Isaiah 61 adds that He comforts all those who are
mourning in Zion, gives beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning,
and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

The question is – Are you oppressed of the devil? Are you in need of
this Anointing that destroys the yoke of bondage?

If you are not in this situation, perhaps you know of someone who is in
need of a touch from the Lord.

The Lord Jesus is the ANOINTED ONE, chosen of God for this task.

Hebrews 13:8 tells us – “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and
for ever.”

In other words, Jesus is still going about doing good, and healing ALL
who are oppressed of the devil.

He is still healing the brokenhearted.
He is still binding up their wounds.
He is still proclaiming liberty to the captives and opening the prison
doors to those who are in some form of bondage.
He is still setting all those at liberty who are bruised in their spirit
and soul.

He is still comforting all who mourn in Zion.
He is still exchanging “BEAUTY” for people’s “ASHES” and lives of failure
and pain.

Lastly, He is still clothing people all across this world with the
garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

What gives Him the authority to do all this?

Because He is, has been, and always will be the ACCEPTED, APPROVED, and
ANOINTED of God. He is the Son of God.

Call on Him today.

He not only has Your answer.

He is your one and only answer.

May God Bless His Word.

Connie Giordano