Talented or Anointed?

Ok family! I need your feedback on this one. First off, I think it is safe to say that we've all seen an enormous amount of talent thus far. For me, some of the talent is just flat out "jaw-dropping."  Detroit, where I currently reside, has been tremendously blessed with gifted, phenomenal, and talented singers and musicians. Now whether it is under the umbrella of the secular or the Gospel/Christian genre, we have to admit that they are "talented."

 

However, we need to observe the subject of what's TALENT and what's ANOINTED... 

So often in my lifetime, I've heard people say,

• "Oh my! He is so anointed", or 
• "She is so anointed"

All this-after hearing 26 runs, a squall, and watching a spin move!!  Ok seriously though!  I'm certainly not saying that any of the previously mentioned variables will disqualify a vessel of being anointed, but it has become very apparent to me that the definition of the "Anointing" has been distorted greatly in the Body of Christ.  There is much to be desired by the one who is desperate for deliverance like the Canaanite woman; who came to Jesus because her daughter was vexed with a devil.

(Matthew 15:22-27) Here is a woman needing deliverance! But, it was not lawful for her to receive a blessing that belonged to the Children of Israel. In fact, Jesus reiterates this law by saying, "It is not 'meet' or 'lawful' for HIM to give the children's bread to dogs. ***Note here, Jesus was not insulting this woman but rather testing the level of her faith. (Matthew 15:27).. And she said,

"Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."

What a powerful statement of faith! Ok, I thought I should do a drive-by here...

 

Now, you may be asking yourself, "What is the point Jason is trying to make?" Well here it is:  Just like this Canaanite Woman, there is a hunger in the earth at this very moment that is escalating every day for the real, unadulterated and authentic Presence of God. God so desires us to be a conduit of His Glory! (Romans 8:19)… "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." I submit to you family -that the Presence of God is not manifested through the operation of talent only. The anointing and/or the Presence of God ALWAYS comes to provoke and accomplish change in the heart of those that are bound, broken and burdened. The anointing of God has a very specific purpose. Isaiah 10:27 gives us clarity on purpose saying, "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." In Samuel 16, David, the great psalmist was beckoned by the servants of King Saul to come and play before him; for he was being troubled by an evil spirit. I admonish you to read I Samuel 16 in it's entirety. Here you will find that David was not only talented (skillful) but the "Lord was with Him" (anointed). David, having the Lord with him- was empowered to 'play' the evil spirit off of King Saul.

 

So here's the question(s):

• Do you sing to impress the crowd?
• Do you play to draw someone's attention to your chops or chord structures?
• Do you perform, or do you minister? 

Or, are yokes being destroyed or burdens lifted? By this the question is answered, whether you're experiencing talent or the anointing.

I admonish you, as well as myself, to submit your gifts to the Will of God that He may use them to bring forth deliverance to those that are bound, broken and burdened. Be what God intended you to be…..ANOINTED!

PRIDE: Will someone please take out the trash?

What is that stench? Do you smell that? Is there anyone who's going to finally take that outside, and put it in the proverbial dumpster? Or, are we just going to let it sit and fester; eventually affecting everyone around?

To my colleagues in music ministry: I ask you, Who wants to step up and take out that Glad Bag of trash? Yep! This thing has been stinking since the "Fall of Lucifer." What is this thing I'm talking
about? You've guessed it: PRIDE!

Unfortunately, many of us have had before, or are presently now housing this un-Hefty Cinch Sack of pride in our hearts. Where did this horrible spirit come from? I think the more appropriate question would be:

• Who did it come from? Or better yet...
• Who brought in this trash?

Let's journey together to Isaiah 14:12-14.

Verse 12 says, "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!" Verse 13..."For thou hast said in thine heart, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:" Verse 14..."I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the most High."

What a tragedy this is! Imagine with me for a moment. You have the honor, God-given grace, and privilege of being 'Guardian (Covering) of the Glory of God'. GOD, the Creator relishes in His creation saying that 'you sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. You are covered completely by every precious stone. God's craftsmanship in you is so strategic with the tabrets and piping, created in you from the very beginning.  If God decided to blow a wind Himself from Glory, it would flow through 'your pipes' releasing the Sound of Heaven! (Read Ezekiel 28:12-19) My God-gifted brothers and sisters: We've got to ask ourselves...

Is this not enough?

Is it not enough that God has strategically created us to guard the glory? Ezekiel 28:15 continues to address Lucifer's self-inflicted demise saying: "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity was found in thee."

To blend it together for you...

I know for me; one of the worst things is to come home from a long day and the trash was not taken out. Oh yeah. You know the results. It stinks throughout the house entirely!  When we are prideful, we leave the glory of God unguarded and/or unprotected! Not only that, but we're saying in our hearts - that our gifts are more important than the glory. We'd much rather bring glory to ourselves than to HE who is the King of Glory.

Don't take the fall like Lucifer did. He can't recover from his act of pride. Destruction is imminent for him. Proverbs 16:18 says, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

Thank God for His Grace toward us! If you discern that you are operating in pride, humble yourself before HIM who sits on the throne.  God is still looking for someone who HE can blow the "Wind of His Glory" through. He won't blow it through the stench of pride.

Pardon me, while I take out the trash...

-JCS

Did you hear that?

As minstrels and/or psalmists, many of us have heard countless songs on numerous media sources; that if heard often, could possibly influence your direction in how you play, sing or even write. Certainly, there are artists that are notable in presentation and in their ability to put together phenomenal and almost mesmerizing arrangements; ultimately leaving one impressed and clamoring for more. But do you use these artists or songs as the "bar" for success? Do you think subconsciously (or even consciously) that "I have to 'DO THAT' to BE LIKE THAT?'"  Family, it is not wise to get locked in to a personality, sound or even a movement. GOD is ALWAYS creating! HE's always pouring out fresh oil & doing new things. (No need for Dr. Dre loops & Jay-Z hooks!) We will talk about that in a later blog. Moving forward...Listen to God express His heart in Isaiah 43:19 saying, "BEHOLD, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye NOT KNOW IT...?"

Now I have to stop here...

It is imperative to "KNOW" when there is a shift in the atmosphere. Not only that, but it's important to listen for the 'Sound of Heaven.' (Ask me about that when you have some time) The only way to increase your ability to hear the sound, is when you practice a Life of Worship; especially when the PA system is off and the church doors are closed.

It's not too late though. If you fall short on your daily devotion to God. GET UP and begin today. The KING of GLORY awaits! Let's dive deeper...

• Now the B-clause of (Isaiah 43:19) goes on to say, "I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." My fellow minstrels, psalmists, and believers: God's intention is to raise you up and "make room for you in the midst of your wilderness" and use you to "bring moisture in a dry place". (Wow) And since HUMILITY is our posture, ALL GLORY belongs to GOD.  
• The A-clause of (Psalm 33:3) says, "Sing unto HIM a new song..." This is not to say that we should not listen or even worship God with songs that have been written by artists who've "heard" from GOD to write, compose, arrange, etc... 

Well frankly, that leads us to the point of this weeks thought. DID YOU HEAR THAT? What are you saying Jason? Well, I'm glad you asked. :-)

Question...Have you ever stopped and quieted your spirit to ask God: 

• What is it that YOU want to hear, Father? 
• What do YOU want me to sing to YOU, or play for YOU in Your honor?
• What is the sound that YOU want offered up to YOU?

These are all critical questions that need to be applied on a day-to-day or moment-to-moment basis. As God is always creating and looking for those that will worship Him in "Spirit" and in "Truth"...(John 4:23-24)

Make no room for your potential to be carnal. Don't be fooled! We all have the potential to be carnal, because of the raw gift. Remember: the 'gift' is there without repentance...(Romans 11:29). But take the gift and offer it totally to the Will of God and listen for the sound HE wants. Stay in HIS PRESENCE and YOU WILL HEAR THE SOUND. 

Upon GOD's command, release it!

To the Gifted in the Kingdom

It is imperative to know that we (psalmists and minstrels) are called to carry God's glory, but NEVER to take it. NEVER allow the accolades of men to cause you to put down your "stave" and put His glory on your own "cart."

Uzzi found out first-hand (in I Chronicles) the consequence of this disorder. Beyond the physical death of Uzzi, his purpose and destiny was snubbed out becuse now the "Ark of the Covenant" was being pushed and pulled (ie, taken, instead of carried).

Anytime you put your hands on it, the 'Death of Destiny' is emminent. Staves were specifically designed to go through the rings of the God-designated cart. In turn, the Ark of the Covenant would be elevated ABOVE the four (4) Levites that rested the staves on their shoulders. This indeed is God's visual position of "HUMILITY" for His people. I Peter 5:6 instructs us to humble ourselves UNDER the mighty hand of God that He may exalt us in due time (season).

So, my fellow friends, psalmists, and minstrels alike...hold on to your stave, and dont let anyone fool you into using a new cart.

Until next time...be blessed.


-Jason C. Smith (JCS)