Have you ever heard of the tea cup anointing? Well, I hadn’t either until God said to teach about it. Let’s just think about tea cups for a moment. Most of the ones that I have ever seen are dainty, fragile, and made of porcelain. They are only used on special occasions. Do you know we are guilty of having little tea parties at church? Are we content in enjoying the “high tea” anointing, or do we want more? High tea is still popular today in some cultures. In the 18th Century, ladies and gentlemen went to high tea around 3 o’clock in the afternoon. It was a very formal affair with tea, refreshments, and entertainment all taking place in an outdoor atmosphere. Have you ever thought that this could be a reflection of the state of the church today?
I am not satisfied with just a little tea cup anointing. Psalms 23:5 says that the Lord anoints my head with oil, and my cup runs over. This is God’s abundant grace and special favor to rejoice in His presence. The shepherd’s cup is much different than a little tea cup. His cup is a stone hollowed out which holds 40 to 50 gallons of water for the purpose of feeding the sheep. This cup represents drinking abundantly. You cannot feed sheep with a tea cup anointing. With only a tea cup anointing, there is barely enough for me to drink let alone share it with others. Isaiah 61 is the prophecy of the anointing of the coming Messiah. Anoint means to rub with oil to consecrate someone. Luke 4:18 is the fulfillment of the prophecy, and Jesus has passed this anointing on to the church. This anointing continues to be fulfilled right now but not to the degree that God intends for it to happen. We must drink from the shepherd’s cup instead of continuing to have our little tea cup services. Isaiah 25:2 says that I, as a believer, am to anoint my shield. When I think of a shield, immediately the shield of faith comes to my mind in Ephesians 6:14-16. Do you know most of us have not anointed our shields, and they are our most prized possession? There is so much unbelief in the body of Christ today. Unbelief is the enemy of faith, and it is running rampant in the church. We must have an anointed shield of faith and use it to destroy all the missles and fiery darts that the enemy shoots at us. We must contend for this faith. Contend means to be in a competition to WIN!
We also must anoint our heads with oil when we fast according to Matt. 6:17 NIV. Perfumed spices or scent was usually mixed in with the anointing oil. Have you ever anointed your head before you fasted? We are instructed to do so by Jesus. 1John 2:20 states you have an anointing from the holy one, and you know all things. Vs. 27 says the anointing you have received abides in you. The word know means to regard as true beyond a doubt. This anointing is the antedote and conquers our unbelief. It goes way beyond our natural minds. We receive truth in a way that human instruction cannot provide. It is transmitted from God’s spirit to our spirit, in other words, deep calling to deep.
2 Cor. 1:20-21 states that all the promises of God are yes and amen in Him to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God. In Mark 16:20, the word established means confirming. The disciples went out and preached with supernatural phenomena following. A new dispensation, the age of grace, entered the world. It is now working through us believers. This is why everywhere you turn these days, you are hearing people talk about God’s grace. God is pouring out His power and confirming His word with signs, wonders, and miracles. This is God’s great grace, and now is the time to receive it!
Are you satisfied with the tea cup anonting, or do you want to drink from the shepherd’s cup?
Betty Lively, Associate Pastor
