A Monthly Article
by Rev. John Arcovio
December 1998

WHEN YOUR DEDICATION MATCHES YOUR ANOINTING

Reprinted

by Brian Kinsey

Hebrews 11:32

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and [of] Barak, and [of] Samson, and [of] Jephthae; [of] David also, and Samuel, and [of] the prophets:

I John 2:20

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

The many characters that are found in the Bible are often presented
to provide for us a contrast between those who have obeyed the voice of God and those who struggled to do so. Every successful minister must learn for himself how to distinguish the voice of God from the many other voices that one hears in this world. You can be very easily deceived into thinking that an emotional power rush is the same as the moving of the Spirit, but tragically it is not.
One must learn to try the spirits and see whether they be of God or not.
Unfortunately, in the beginning of one's ministry the only way to determine the difference is by trial and error.

Let's consider the biblical contrast between two men listed in the heroes of faith -- Samson and Samuel.

There are many similarities and disparities in their ministries that I
believe provide clear spiritual direction if we examine carefully the
example of these two men. It is not good enough for us to experience the anointing of God we must learn to compliment the anointing with a certain amount of discipline and personal dedication. There is a difference between Old Testament anointing and New Testament anointing. The word, "anointing" is not used in the New Testament except in I John and it is translated as "unction" rather than anointing. The difference is simple the anointing of the Old Testament is poured out the word, "unction" in the New Testament is a word used for, "rubbing it in." The only way to rub it in is to develop a love for
the things of God and not for the things of this world.

The similarities between Samson and Samuel are many.

1. Samson was given a deliverance ministry, the enemies he faced were the Philistines.
2. Samuel was, also, given a deliverance ministry, his enemies were the Philistines.
3. Samson's birth was accomplished by the supplication of his parent's
and promised by divine visitation. Samuel's birth was the same.
4. Samson was given to the Lord all the day's of his life by a Nazarite
vow. Samuel was given to the Lord all the days of his life by serving in the tabernacle.
5. Samson had a tremendous unction and anointing of strength. Samuel
received a tremendous anointing of hearing the voice of God.
6. Both had a covenant relationship with Jehovah established at their
birth.

Anointing that comes through covenant relationship can bring deliverance to a lost and dying world. But it can, also, be very dangerous. Anointing that is not disciplined by dedication & relationship will be wasted anointing.
Deliverance that will not last and ministry that will not be perpetuated to the next generation. Remember Samson had no successor but Samuel did. Samson left this world without a child Samuel left this world after anointing David King.

The disparities are many as the contrasts between the two men and their deliverance ministries.

Samson's strength could only be provoked through vengeance and
revenge. The enemy had to hurt him with tragedy before he moved into action. Samuel was moved by the glory of God into action. Don't ever use your anointing for personal gain. Always remain zealous for the glory of God. When you minister to others you gain certain privileges that others have no access to, use those privileges wisely and responsibly. Samson used his for self-gratification but Samuel used his anointing for the sake of the kingdom of Israel.

Samson broke every vow of the Nazarite covenant. He loved the world
more than he loved the purpose. Your love for God's purpose will be tested over and over again. So get ready. Samuel on the other hand kept the law of God without fail. I Samuel 3:19 documents Samuel's relationship with the Lord and how God was with him in everything that he did. But it is very striking that not one single word Samuel spoke ever fell to the ground. "And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground."

Samson never had a personal visitation from God except when God
showed him the jaw-bone that he discarded after his victory. This was only to quench his thirst and for his own self-preservation. Samuel was privileged to experience a revelation of God through the word. I Samuel 3:21 says, "And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD."

Samson did not have favor of the people. Judah even bound him and
delivered him to the enemy. Samuel had the favor of the people. I Samuel 3:20 says, "And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel [was] established [to be] a prophet of the LORD."

Samson could never conquer himself. Samuel conquered himself and
submitted to the command of God. Here is the missing link in many people's lives. They conquer many things but never themselves. Only when you have learned to master your emotions, your passions and your desires can God elevate you higher in the kingdom.

Samson delayed revival by one generation. Samuel passed on his
heritage to the next generation (David). Samson was able to with the jawbone of an ass slay 1000 Philistines, but after the victory when he prayed he attributed the victory to himself. Judges 15:16 says, "And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men. Samuel always gave Glory to God." I Samuel 12:23 says, "Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:" I Samuel 7:12 says, "Then Samuel took a stone, and set [it] between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us."

Samson's ministry was self-centered. Samuel's ministry was God-centered.

Six times it is recorded that Samson went down on his journey's.
Samuel was recorded about 15 times as going up. Do you want to go down or up in your ministry?

When Samson died only his family attended the funeral. When Samuel
died, all Israel wept.

Samson never sacrificed to the Lord, nor went to the tabernacle in
Shiloh. Samuel did. Samuel's personal devotion to the Almighty made all the difference in the world.

Samuel was an intercessor for the people. He was given access to
the Holy Place to minister because he found favor with God. His ministry included many mighty feats of supernatural proportions. All accomplished because of his dependence upon God. He offered sacrifice and it thundered and discomfited the enemy (I Samuel 7:10). There was thunder and rain at harvest to convince the people that he had truly heard from God (I Samuel 12:16).

A supernatural presence surrounded Samuel that when Saul and his
servants entered it, they were influenced by it and began to prophesy (I Samuel 19:21-24). This spiritual influence needs to be on every true man of God.
Only when there is prayer and fasting -- a dedication that matches your anointing -- can it happen.

Jesus is the best example of dedication and anointing being perfectly
matched.

Between Jesus' baptism and his temptation or shall we say his
anointing and his dedication--he progressed from being full of the spirit to returning in the power of the spirit. If you want the power of the spirit you have to learn to resist the temptations to use your anointing for personal gain and use it only to further the cause of the kingdom and the purpose. Whether this dedication is revealed in your personal disciplines or in your relationship with others it is necessary that you allow the Almighty to order your personality and behavior in such a way that God will always be glorified.

Luke 4:1 says, "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from
Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness", Luke 4:14 says, "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. "

Samuel was so respected by future generations of prophets that his
prayer life became a hallmark by which all intercessors would be measured. For the prophets themselves listed Samuel among the very elite of those who by virtue of their walk with God were known for their ability to pray and get answers.
What good is it to pray if you don't get answers. When anointing and
dedication are perfectly matched you get more than just the drudgery of the early morning prayer shift you receive something much more valuable -- you get answers.

Psalms 99:6 says, "Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel
among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them."

Jeremiah 15:1 says, "Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, [yet] my mind [could] not [be] toward this people: cast [them] out of my sight, and let them go forth."