HELP FOR YOU

ANOINTING THE SHIELD

PART ONE

PART TWO

PART THREE

THE ANOINTING OF THE SHIELD GOES BACK AS FAR AS THE ASSYRIANS AND THE Babylonians.

Isaiah 21:1-10 The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land. A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it. My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure has he turned into fear unto me. 5 PREPARE THE TABLE, WATCH IN THE WATCHTOWER, EAT, DRINK: ARISE, YOU PRINCES, AND ANOINT THE SHIELD. For thus has the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth. 7 <THIS IS WHAT HE SEES> And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed: 8 <THIS IS WHAT HE THINKS HE SEES> And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: 9 And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he has broken unto the ground. O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.

VS 5 IS TALKING ABOUT THE LACK OF PREPAREDNESS, AND THAT LACK IS PARTICULARLY EXPRESSED IN NOT HAVING ANOINTED THE SHIELD.

THE ASSYRIANS BECAME WORLD RULERS, AND THEY DID IT BY A SUPERIOR WEAPON!

THE WEAPON THAT THE ASSYRIANS USED TO CONQUER THE WORLD WAS CALLED THE BROAD SWORD.

THE BROAD SWORD WAS DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE OTHER SWORDS THEY HAD BEFORE. BECAUSE PEOPLE DEFENDED THEMSELVES WITH A SHIELD, THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD HIT THEM WAS IF YOU CAUGHT THEM WITH THEIR SHIELDS DOWN, YOU ATTACKED FROM THE BACK, OR YOU HAD SOMETHING STRONG ENOUGH TO PIERCE THE SHIELD.

BECAUSE THEY BEGAN USING METAL SHIELDS, PEOPLE LOOKED FOR NEW WEAPONS TO CAUSE GREATER DAMAGE.

THIS WAS A SWORD THAT WAS A LONG BLADED SWORD WITH A REAL WIDE BLADE MADE OUT OF SPRING STEEL. THIS SWORD WAS DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SWORDS BECAUSE IT HELPED PEOPLE OVERCOME ANOTHER SOLDIERS SHIELD.

INSTEAD OF TRYING TO PIERCE A SHIELD, THE ASSYRIAN ARMY TOOK THE BROAD SWORD AND THEY SLAPPED THE SHIELD WITH THE SIDE OF THE BLADE, (LIKE THIS) AND WHEN THEY SLAPPED IT WITH THE SIDE, THIS LONG BLADE OF SPRING STEEL WRAPPED AROUND THE SHIELD, AND WITH A LITTLE TWIST OF THE WRIST IT WENT AROUND BEHIND AND WOULD CUT OFF AN ARM, CUT OFF A LEG AND DISABLE THE SHIELDED SOLDIER. AND THE WORLD WAS RULED BY THE ASSYRIANS BECAUSE OF THE USE OF THE BROAD SWORD.

NOW EVERYONE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CONQUER THE ASSYRIANS.

WHAT IS ONE STEP UP FROM THE BROAD SWORD?

THE BABYLONIANS DISCOVERED A NEW WEAPON UNDER KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR THAT DEFEATED THE BROAD SWORD. T HIS IS WHAT IT WAS: THEY TOOK A COMMON SHIELD, A METAL SHIELD, AND TOOK SOME LAMB SKIN AND WRAPPED IT AROUND THE EDGES OF THEIR SHIELD, LAYER UPON LAYER AND THEN FASTENED IT. AND THEN, THEY ANOINTED it WITH OIL AND IT BECAME VERY SOFT. NOW, WHEN AN ASSYRIAN SOLDIER SLAPPED the BROAD SWORD AGAINST THEIR SHIELD THAT HAD AN INCH OF LAMBSKIN LAYERED AND ANOINTED, THERE WAS A DULL THUD AND NOTHING HAPPENED. THE SHIELD SIMPLY ABSORBED THE BLOW.

NOW WE KNOW THAT THE Babylonians WERE CONQUERED. THE PROPHET DANIEL GIVES US AN IMAGE AND HE TALKS ABOUT THE BABYLONIAN EMPIRE AND THAT THEY WERE CONQUERED BY THE MEDES AND THE PERSIANS.

THE WAY THAT THE MEDES AND THE PERSIANS CONQUERED THE BABYLONIANS WAS SOMETHING VERY SURPRISING. STRANGELY ENOUGH, THE THING THAT THE MEDES AND THE PERSIANS USED TO CONQUER THE Babylonians WAS AGAIN THE BROAD SWORD.

THE SAME THING THAT HAD BEEN USED BEFORE!! BUT YOU SAY HOW COULD IT WORK? T HE Babylonians HAD DISCOVERED THAT THEY COULD DULL THE BLOW.

YOU SEE - THERE IS SOMETHING VERY UNIQUE ABOUT LAMBSKIN, ANOINTED. AS SOON AS YOU HANG IT UP AND IT'S NOT ANOINTED, THE OIL DRIES OUT AND IT BECOMES HARD.

THE BABYLONIANS, AFTER THEY HAD CONQUERED THE WORLD, BEGAN TO CELEBRATE, THEY GOT KIND OF DULL IN THEIR MILITARY PREPAREDNESS AND IN DANIEL CHAPTER FIVE IT DESCRIBES THE EXACT EVENTS THAT WERE TAKING PLACE WHEN THE BABYLONIAN EMPIRE FELL.

Daniel 5:1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.

Daniel 5:4 In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

AS THE STORY UNFOLDS, THE KING IS DISTRESSED. THE QUEEN (VS 10) SUGGESTS DANIEL TO INTERPRET THE MEANING OF IT. HIS ANSWER IS IN DANIEL 5:17-28.

Daniel 5:25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. 27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. 28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

LOOKING HERE IN DANIEL WE ARE SEEING THE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT IS HAPPENING.

THE BABYLONIANS HAVE CONQUERED THE WORLD, AND NOW THEY ARE SIMPLY HAVING A DRUNKEN FEAST - INCLUDING THE DESECRATION OF TEMPLE VESSELS OF GOLD AND SILVER TO DRINK FROM. G -D PROCLAIMS JUDGMENT!

NOW ISAIAH SAID (Vs 5): Arise, anoint the shield.

IF THE Babylonians HAD BOTHERED TO PERIODICALLY PUT A FRESH TOUCH OF OIL (ANOINTING) UPON THEIR SHIELDS, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN READY.

BUT WHEN THEY CAME OUT WITH THEIR SHIELDS, THOSE SHIELDS THAT THEY HAD LEARNED TO DEFEAT THE BROAD SWORD WITH, NOT HAVING ANOINTED THE SHIELD - THE LAMBSKIN DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. AND AGAIN THEY WERE SLAUGHTERED ON THAT PARTICULAR NIGHT AND THEY WERE CONQUERED.

THE SIGNIFICANCE IS THIS: THE SCRIPTURES DESCRIBE THE SHIELD IN THE BRIT HADASHA (NEW TESTAMENT) AS THE SHIELD OF FAITH.

Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

PART TWO:

OUR SHIELD

WE BELIEVERS, WHEN WE HAVE COMMITTED OUR LIVES TO MESSIAH, HAVE A LAMB COVERED SHIELD. ITS BY THE BLOOD OF MESSIAH THAT WE ARE FORGIVEN AND WE HAVE THE SHIELD OF FAITH TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THE ADVANCES AND THE MISSILES OF THE ENEMY.

IT IS ONE THING TO QUOTE THE WORD OF G -D, AND IT'S ONE THING TO REMEMBER THE PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE COMMITTED YOUR LIFE TO THE LORD, BUT SOME OTHER INGREDIENT IS NEEDED. IT'S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO HAVE ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS OF SIN; BUT WHEN YOU ARE WALKING AS A BELIEVER, YOU NEED PERIODIC ANOINTING OF THE H OLY S PIRIT TO KEEP YOUR HEART TENDER, TO KEEP YOURSELF ALERT AND FIGHTING READY! ISN'T THAT CORRECT?

WE NEED A TENDERNESS AND AN ANOINTING BEFORE G -D ON A CONTINUING BASIS.

SOME BELIEVERS HAVE COMMITTED THEIR LIVES TO THE LORD, THEY HAVE MEMORIZED A FEW SCRIPTURES, ATTENDED WORSHIP SERVICES FOR A TIME; AND THEN THEY FEEL THAT THEY ARE EQUIPPED FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

WHAT OFTEN HAPPENS, HOWEVER, IS THAT THEY BEGIN TO SLACK OFF, AND THE ENEMY COMES IN AND THEY ARE TRIPPED UP AND FALL INTO SIN.

WHEN THIS HAPPENS, OTHERS LOOK AND SAY WHAT HAS HAPPENED? HOW COULD THIS BE. WERE THEY REALLY SAVED? A ND THE ANSWER IS - OF COURSE THEY WERE.

THEY MADE A COMMITMENT BUT THEY FORGOT ONE THING - WE NEED TO HAVE AN ANOINTING THAT COMES BY THE OIL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THIS ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BRINGS A FRESHNESS TO YOUR SPIRIT - AND LIKE ANOINTING THE LAMBSKIN ON THE SHIELD, IT KEEPS US SOFT AND PLIABLE, TEACHABLE AND USABLE. IN ISAIAH 10:27, THE SCRIPTURE DECLARES THAT IT IS THE ANOINTING THAT BREAKS THE YOKE. THEREFORE LET US MAKE SURE EVERY YOKE <BURDEN, WEIGHT, PRESSURE> IS BROKEN BY SEEKING FOR AND RELYING UPON THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Isaiah 10:27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance <KJV: weight>, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance <KJV: patience> the race that is set before us, 2 Fixing our eyes on Yeshua the author and perfector <KJV: finisher> of our faith; who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

NOTHING WILL SUBSTITUTE FOR THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!!!!

PART THREE:

SYMPTOMS OF A DRIED SHIELD

1) NO TENDERNESS BEFORE G-D

When nothing seems to stir you below the surface.

No fear of a mighty and righteous G-d

No real desire for Holiness

(Lev 11:44, 19:2 Be Holy, for I Am Holy)

It will begin to creep upon you, when the Broad Sword of the world begins to beat against your shield; if you allow the lack of anointing to take place, sooner or later it will cause some major destruction behind the shield that you thought was protecting you.

Isaiah 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

WE READ ISAIAH'S WORDS AND THINK WOULD I LOVE TO EXPERIENCE G -D LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW WHAT BRINGS DOWN THAT PRESENCE OF THE LORD? A HUNGERING AFTER G -D BRINGS THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, a CONSTANT SEEKING of A NEW ANOINTING.

Isaiah 29:13-14 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

SOME TALK A GOOD GAME, BUT THEIR HEART IS NOT IN IT.

2) A GROWING SENSE OF PRIDE IN ACCOMPLISHMENTS, RATHER THAN A HUMBLENESS BEFORE G-D.

I COR 1:25 - 31

SOMETIMES WHEN THE SHIELD BEGINS TO DRY AND THERE IS A LACK OF ANOINTING WE BEGIN TO FEEL SELF- IMPORTANT. "G -D IS SO LUCKY TO HAVE US". T HAT IS NOT THE KIND OF ATTITUDE THAT G -D APPRECIATES IN US.

3) A TENDENCY TO SETTLE FOR LESS THAN THE GENUINE

WE CAN SOMETIMES TAKE SUBSTITUTES FOR THE ANOINTING OF G-D, OR SETTLE FOR LESS THAN G -D'S BEST. DON'T DO IT!! G -D IS FAITHFUL AND WILL ACCOMPLISH EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY MORE THAN WE ASK OR THINK.

THE ANOINTING IS CENTRAL TO EVERYTHING. WITHOUT THE ANOINTING ALL PREACHING, TEACHING, SINGING, OR DANCING IS JUST EMPTY RITUALS. HUMAN IMITATIONS OF G -D'S GLORY NEVER MAKE IT.

Psalm 127:1 "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it."

4) A GREATER TOLERANCE OF COMPROMISE, AND A TENDENCY TO HARBORSECRET SIN

G- D'S STANDARDS ARE STILL THE SAME! SOME PEOPLE, OR EVEN RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS MAY REDEFINE THEIR STANDARDS, BUT G -D HAS NOT CHANGED.

Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

HOW DO WE KEEP OUR SHIELDS ANOINTED?

BY CONSTANTLY RETURNING TO THE SOURCE OF LIVING WATERS, THE LORD OUR G -D, DESIRING AND EXPECTING TO BE FILLED WITH THE H OLY S PIRIT.

LET US ENDEAVOR TO KEEP OUR SHIELDS ANOINTED. SEEK G -D DILIGENTLY, AND EXPECT HIS R UACH TO BE POURED OUT UPON US.

WE CAN SEE VARIOUS EXAMPLES IN THE SCRIPTURES WHERE THE EARLY BELIEVERS SOUGHT FOR AND RECEIVED AN ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

ONCE AGAIN, THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE AS IN THE LAST SCRIPTURE:

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

THE WORD COMMANDS US NOT TO SEEK THE WORLD'S "HIGHS", BUT TO BE ENERGIZED WITH THE ANOINTING OF SPIRIT.

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Philippians 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Yeshua HaMashiach, unto the glory and praise of God.

GOD HAS GOOD

PLANS

FOR YOUR

FUTURE

know what I'm doing.

I have it all planned out--

plans to take care of you,

not abandon you,

plans to give you

the future you hope for.

"When you call on me,

when you come

and pray to me,

I'll listen.

Jeremiah 29:11

(Message Bible)