I Am Anointed For This - Part 9 by Pastor Jerry Eze: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

The Culmination of the Anointed Life

This is the close of the series I Am Anointed for This. The text is Luke 1:26–38 — the annunciation to Mary.

One young woman, without any intention to be anyone significant, received a visitation. The angel Gabriel came in unto her and said, "Hail, thou that art highly favoured. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women."

Mary was troubled. She cast in her mind what manner of salutation this could be.

Connection Is How Prophecy Finds You

Mary was not of the lineage of David. The prophecy was assigned to the house of David — to which Joseph belonged. By engagement to Joseph, prophecy found her. Not by bloodline. By connection.

Imagine if Mary, before the annunciation, had woken up one morning and decided to end the engagement. She would have walked away from a destiny she did not yet know was hers. There is prophecy attached to some connections that eyes have not yet seen.

Mary could fast seven days dry. Mary could pray six hours. But if Mary was not connected to Joseph, nothing concerning that specific prophecy would have worked in her life. There are seasons when the Lord is not asking for more effort — he is asking for alignment. He takes you by the hand to an association, a place, a person, through which everything he has said about your life becomes a reality.

There were decisions made. People that came your way that seemed coincidental. God is not done with those connections yet. Do not walk away from a breeding ground because you do not yet understand it.

What Manner of Salutation Is This?

Mary saw Gabriel and was troubled — but she did not ask who he was or where he came from. There was already a familiarity. What alarmed her was not the person but the nature of the greeting. "What manner of salutation is this?"

There is a day in every anointed life that feels like that. A burden to pray you cannot explain. A scripture that will not leave you. A dream where children were handed to you. A command that rises in prayer to open nations. A restlessness you do not understand. That day is called: what manner of salutation is this?

Do not dismiss those encounters. Interrogate them. Ask why the burden has come. Do not wait for someone to announce a fast — your encounter is already telling you to consecrate yourself. Some of those moments were 40-day assignments. Some were instructions to read a specific scripture again and again. Do not throw away the encounter.

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Pastor Jerry Eze

Streams of Joy International, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria

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Luke 1:28–30 — the angel's greeting contained three specific things:

1. Highly favoured — Favor

   Favor opens doors. But favor alone is not enough. There are powerful men who are not favored, and there are favored men who are not powerful. Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain — the Bible says so. There are gates that will not respond to charm, personality, or presentation.

2. The Lord is with thee — Presence

   Between favor and power, God placed his presence. Whether you are powerful or favored, his presence is the anchor. It keeps both from becoming pride or manipulation.

3. Blessed art thou — Power

   The word blessed in its original meaning is to be empowered to prosper. There are realms that only respond to power. You can enter a room well-dressed, articulate, and favored — and a power will refuse you. While you left rejoicing, something began working against the outcome. That is why after every favor, return and power it out in prayer. Do not celebrate favor and go to sleep. Power your favor. A man who understands power will be favored even by those who do not like him.

   When Herod ordered the massacre of children under two, Mary was highly favored — yet favor was not enough. God told Joseph to run. It was a matter of power. Favor had to be backed by a move of God.

Template for movement: Favor. Presence. Power.

When Man Fails, Holy Ghost

Mary asked, "How shall this thing be, seeing I know not a man?" The answer from the angel: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee."

Mary said: man. God said: Holy Ghost.

When there is no man, ask the Holy Ghost. When man has failed, ask the Holy Ghost. When ideas run out, ask the Holy Ghost. When you do not know how to navigate, ask the Holy Ghost. He is the comforter, the spirit of truth, the one who leads into all truth.

The power of the Highest overshadows when there is a relationship with the Holy Ghost. Not power without relationship. The sequence is: relationship first, then overshadowing. When you are overshadowed, people stop seeing you and start seeing what is on you. When you speak, they are not hearing you — they are hearing the weight of what rests on you.