Abraham and the Anointing

Romans 4:
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

There is a little tidbit of practical knowledge tucked away in this verse that is hidden by the translation. We see that Abraham was strong in faith, but what we don't see is HOW Abraham was strong in faith. The word translated as “was strong” in the Greek is “endunamoo.” It means to be in a state of being filled with dunamis. Dunamis is the “virtue” Jesus used when he healed people (Mark 5:30, Luke 6:19).

In other words, Abraham wasn't just strong in faith, he stirred up the anointing of the Word – the dunamis – concerning his faith. Let me paraphrase: (The word stagger means to withdraw, to back away.)

And having heard the promise, “So shall your seed be,” he did not consider his contradictory circumstances, nor did he back away from or question the promise of God, but stirred up the anointing of that promise, giving glory to God. And when he was fully persuaded of it, it was counted to him as righteousness.

The fruit of righteousness is answered prayer, it is faith fulfilled.

So what is the practical application?

The Word of God carries an anointing. Faith is the process of stirring up that anointing within you, causing it to grow. Filling yourself with it. Once that anointing is strong enough within you, it will fully persuade you. And your answer will come. This is consistent with the parable of the sower (Mark 4:14): faith grows from a seed, and after some time, it bears fruit.

But if you want your faith to grow, you need to be stirring up the dunamis that word carries, giving God glory with it. I'll give you a hint, you cannot do it silently. God doesn't call silently, and neither can you.

Faith confession is not a matter of repeating something, as a rosary, or some other rote prayer. Faith confession is giving God glory for his promise, stirring up the anointing that is on his word to do so. Speaking that anointing to your problem (Mark 11:23, Zechariah 4:6-7). It is this anointing, this power, that brings persuasion, and the answer.

Ephesians 6:10 says, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” The word “Be strong” is this word “endunimoo.” We should be stirring up the dunamis of the Word every day.

Copyright © 2011 Burley Ward. All rights reserved