The Lord is my shepherd… Ps 23:1 NKJV

The Shepherd King stands between you and your enemies, ready to bring the authority of heaven into every situation. The Old Covenant was a great covenant. Under the promises of Psalm 23 and Micah 2:12,13 the Lord as the Shepherd King would break forth upon the enemies of His people to bring them deliverance, blessing and rest.

For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.  Rom 5:17 NKJV

The transforming power of who we are in Christ is so amazing, so extraordinarily explosive that if you ever get a vision of it, your life would never be the same. The Twelve, the apostles of the Lamb, got a good dose of it and turned the world upside down. The anointing of a king dwells within us. Through this anointing Joseph rose from being a prisoner to being a prime minister, Moses rose from being a stuttering shepherd to one who could stare down a Pharoah, Esther and Mordecai took down Haman, saving the Jewish people, David rose from following sheep to leading the great nation of Israel as her greatest king, and Paul rose from being a persecutor of born again ones to being the great apostle.

David was anointed with oil three times – by Samuel, the men of Judah, and finally by all Israel – and each time increased in authority.

Now when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. 1 Chron 14:8 NKJV

One of the subjects that military leaders study is the concept of a ‘just war.’ What are the ethical considerations that justify fighting and killing other people? One of the most basic is self-defense. If you are threatened with bodily harm, with a threat to life, liberty and property you have a moral obligation to resist that threat. We will see that the king anointing is an anointing that produces peace. But that peace comes through the establishment of the authority of the kingdom of God. Goliath must be resisted. It is as immoral to be a coward as it is to be an adulterer.

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. Prov 28:1 NKJV

How did David walk out that anointing? Esther said, If I die, I die. The king anointing is an anointing of courage and conviction. A vision of eternal life undergirds this impartation of authority. The fear of death, and all of its attendant fears – the fear of loss, the fear of pain, the fear of humiliation, etc. – are the shackles that keep believers from walking out as kings in life. The reality of eternal life, which was just as real for OT saints as NT except it was conditional, frees one from the fear of death and all the others. David had that hope!

And David heard of it and went out against them. Then the Philistines went and made a raid on the Valley of Rephaim. 

The Philistines attacked Israel. ‘Just war’ time!

And David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” 1 Chron 14:8-10 NKJV

The first thing David seeks is revelation. Great questions on his part! If you want a clear word from God ask specific questions. Then sit quietly and listen. There is an art to asking questions. I am deeply convinced that we must learn to ask better questions of the Lord.  Ananias in Acts chapter nine just didn’t understand, so he asked questions.

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 

Ananias perhaps saw his name written on a wall. The Lord will write on walls (Dan.5:5). Ananias responded comfortably like he was used to, even expecting to be hearing from God. Are you ready for a text from Heaven on your cell?

So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying.  And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” 

Ananias was perplexed. Paul was a persecutor of the faithful. Perhaps he remembered Haman. Here is the secret – you never know that someone is going to be a Haman or a Paul until you get revelation, so ask! One aspect of the king anointing is not to be taken advantage of, not to be fooled. Ask for the discerning of spirits, which includes human spirits! Ananias thought that it was good that this guy was blind. Maybe he should be strung up like Haman, as well!

Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 

Then he gets clarification. I am most effective when I get clarification. Until then I’m shadow boxing, not really hitting the mark. Never accept anything but a clear word from God. When you hear things like, “I’m in control” or “just trust God” that is the voice of your soul, and what it has been programmed to say, and not the voice of the Spirit. God does not speak in cliches, and cliches do not impart faith.

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.  For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” And Ananias went his way…Acts 9:10-17 NKJV

Ananias says, He is not a Haman! This…is going to be awesome!

Now, back to David.

David is a type of Christ as King. David never physically got wounded even though he was in the midst of serious physical combat. Jesus never was touched physically even though there were at least a dozen physical threats to His life, until He as the High Priest offered Himself as the Passover lamb. My friend Paul pointed out to me that what made David a man after God’s own heart was that he never stopped worshipping the true God. The other great reality was his humility.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight — That You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge. Ps 51:2-4 NKJV

There is much more that we can develop from the King anointing, but time is running from me and I must head to the airport to go minister to some of you. In the midst of these turbulent times, the Lord is precious, and the word of the Lord is precious. David said that he awoken the dawn with his praise. Take the time everyday to first worship and praise the King before you enter any of your other activities. I have done this for years now. I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, and the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses. That time is so precious. You start your day walking with the King, and you will live out your whole day in the King anointing. Amen? Love you!

Remember dear one, we must be about our Father’s business…