ANOINTED TO LABOR
Pastor Charles Peck
Over the years God has called people to do special jobs in the kingdom. Under the law God chose Prophets, Priests and Kings and placed his Anointing on them to accomplish His mission. And in this period of grace or the CHURCH age; God places his anointing on believers to accomplish His plan in the earth today.
We all received His spirit when we entered into the Kingdom of God , but God gives an extra measure of his anointing. To those who “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.”
In the book of Ex. 31: 2/5 “See, I have called by name Bezaleel, and I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass. He is skilled in cutting of stones, to set them in place, carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.”
Have you ever heard of Bezaleel? Few people have. Yet, this important Bible character had an experience with God that should inspire and encourage each one of us.
Bezaleel was chosen as the chief architect, in building the Tabernacle, he was to design and execute the work, and assign work to those that God had given him. God had anointed Bezaleel to work with his hands. He was gifted for manual labor. God had not called him to preach, he was not gifted for music, and he was not placed on field of battle. God simply called him to build the Tabernacle.
Many people are slow to answer the call for service because they fear their work is not good enough; they feel that the work that is noticed is the only way to serve God. But that is not true.
God needed men like Moses, Aaron and Joshua; but He also needed Bezaleel! The work God called him to do was of such importance that God gave him a special anointing for the task. Moses had the spirit for administration and prophecy, Aaron had the spirit for the priesthood and Joshua had the spirit for conquest. But Bezaleel had the spirit for design and building.
His name, means “under God’s shadow”. He never became the great statesman and organizer that Moses did. His voice was never heard to preach to the host of Israel . Neither was he qualified for the priesthood. He was not gifted in military, was not able to accompany Joshua as he rode in the forefront of Israel ’s army.
Unable to preach, sing, make music or serve as a priest or wage warfare. Yet, this man had within a divine gift, a spiritual anointing for a specific job, to build the tabernacle.
The Kingdom of God needs a multitude of workers in the various fields of labor. Each of us needs to find our place in the service of the Lord, and accept God’s anointing to fulfill that task.
If Israel had only statesmen, then who would have fought the battles? If all had been soldiers, then who would have served in the priesthood? So God chose Bezaleel to this special work of building a place where his presence would abide.
He was the principal workman in the building of the Tabernacle, the pattern of which came directly from God. When God chose Bezaleel proved that the Holy Spirit is sovereign in His work. Sometimes we may question why God does things the way he does and choose some people and not others, let us remember that his gifts are distributed severally as He wills.
Bezaleel was working under shadow of the Almighty God and with the aid of those that God had selected to help; he went forth to build the Tabernacle and all the furniture in it.
The Holy Spirit possessed Bezaleel and inspired him to prepare the temporary habitation of God. In our time, that same empowering Spirit gives to every man a work to do. God has placed in the Kingdom preachers, teachers, musicians and other positions that complete the work in the ministry, and all by the same spirit.
It is a high and honorable calling to have the Spirit of Bezaleel. Regardless of what the task may be, if you have that same anointing you will be successful in what ever job God has assigned for you to do.
To work under the shadow of the Almighty God will always bring His power, it is the anointing the breaks the yoke. If we can remember Peter instructions, and have fervent charity among ourselves, this will cover a multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging, as every man that received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any may minister, let him do it as of the ability which God give to him, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. 1 Peter 4: 1-2
As you study the building of the Tabernacle with the furniture, the candlesticks, the laver, the altar, the cloths you will say, this had to be a God thing.
Although Bezaleel doubtless received his name from Godly parents who knew what is was to dwell beneath the shadow of the Almighty, this man lived a life in the will of God, and was therefore responsive when the call came. He is known as one, having the anointing for labor.
When Moses made reference of Bezaleel, he said here is a man that God called by name. What a JOY to know that our names are written down in the book of life, and that God knows us by name.
As I search the Word of God, many have heard the call and responded, some to building, some to singing, some to preaching and other to teaching. Some just gave their best, the woman with just a few pennies, yet, she gave her all.
Let us look deep within our hearts and see what gift we might have to offer in the service of the Lord. Everyone one of us is gifted, we just need to release it to the Lord and allow Him to use our gift for His glory.
Remember reading parable of the talents that were given. To one he gave five talents, and to another he gave two talents, then another he gave only one. Yet, he gave to each according to their ability. The one that received the five went and traded to double his amount, and the one that received two gained also two others. But the man who received only one talent buried his.
Well you know the rest of the story, this man with the one talent said he was afraid so he hid his in the ground. And the lord was very angry with him, called him slothful, lazy and inactive. So, whatever talent that God has given you, use it to bring glory and honor to His wonderful name.
Let the Bezaleel anointing rest on your work, it may be just a hello to someone, a kind word to a friend, maybe a cup of water in the name of the Lord. Whatever the task, do it with all your might.