Anointing Sunday: The Anointing for Testimonies [in September]
Ministering: Pastor Emmanuel Sola Olowokere. August 29, 2010.
View photo album of the service
Today is the Anointing Service for the month of September. That’s significant because it signals a new month is on the horizon. It also shows God’s mercies to you and I haven’t ceased. Because of His mercies, He has preserved us till now. I trust you’re as grateful as I am for that.
With the onset of a new month, in Strong Tower Parish, comes prophecy: God’s word on His plan for us in the new month. What is His plan? He says September is “My Month of Testimonies”.
Note these four things about prophecy:
• Keeps one’s eye on the future (Philippians 3:13)
• Makes one stay ahead (Genesis 13)
• Gives joy and breaks depression, sorrow, and worry
• Words that can never fail
Having made some sense of prophecy, let’s try to understand testimony. Testimony could mean five things:
• The Tablet in which the Mosaic Law was described (Deuteronomy 4:4-5;6:20)
• The Ark containing the Tablets God delivered to Moses (Exodus 25:16-21; 26:33)
• The Divine Decree that attests the Scriptures
• First hand authentication of a fact or evidence
• Solemn declaration usually oral made by a witness under oath
• An open acknowledgment or public declaration of a spiritual experience after an encounter with God or His word
The fifth definition of testimony would be our focus. When you’ve had an encounter with God, you will have a compelling story to tell. Your experience will make a public declaration of His goodness inevitable. In the name of Jesus Christ, however difficult your current situation, because of this prophecy, you will have a different story to tell.
Luke 1:5 -70 tells the story of a dedicated but challenged man who had an encounter with God and subsequently had a different story. A devout self-proclaimed old man who was husband of a woman “well stricken in years”; Zacharias and Elizabeth were childless but nonetheless committed to God.
Along came an unexpected encounter with God that showed how hopeless Zacharias was to becoming fruitful. In spite of his unbelief, Zacharias was told he was about to be a father but would become dumb until the child was born because of his unbelief. The supposedly barren couple had a child as the angel told them (prophecy), and testimonies followed. After this encounter with God, Zacharias’ and Elizabeth’s experience made a public declaration of God’s goodness inevitable (verses 46-50; 58-70). They had a testimony to tell about God’s goodness.
What must you do once your testimonies begin to manifest? At least three things:
• You must keep praising God as Zacharias did
• You must not forget who did it
• Use your story to encourage others in same or similar situation
