INTRODUCTION

I was once ministering at a church where the pastor seemed to have difficulty with the way I was presenting my message. In recent times, I have developed a whole series of audio/visual accompaniments to my preaching in order to relate the Gospel in a more relevant way to a generation that receives all their information in a visual way.

 

THE NEW LITERACY

In fact, there is a new literacy in our online media age where the saying "one picture is worth a thousand words" is a true reality! Having said that, there will never be any substitute for the anointing and the power of the declared Word of God. However, that 'Word' can be declared visually as well as vocally, and even though the message is non-negotiable, the packaging must be appropriate to the generation we are trying to reach.

 

JUST THE OPPOSITE

It was difficult to minister in that church, even though many people later testified that it was life changing. For me, it was like wading through wet concrete! When I got up to preach, I had to build my own anointing from scratch - not always the best way to accomplish God's purpose for that service.

 

Shortly afterward, I ministered in a church that seemed to be just the opposite! I had known the pastor since we relocated to America in 1999 and had enjoyed a very fruitful relationship with him over the years, which included a mutual respect and honor for each other. This pastor, even though in his mid-sixties, was open to new innovations and welcomed my presentation, trusting me to bring a message for his church in whatever way the Lord had laid on my heart.

 

BELIEVING YOUR OWN PUBLICITY

Having been in the music industry for many years prior to becoming a Christian, I am more than familiar with the question of 'ego' arising from believing your own publicity. I was never prey to the lies that publicity agents would broadcast to the world about you, in order to build you up larger than life to be a 'rock idol'! I'm saying that to assure you that now, with my identity firmly in Christ, I don't need to have my ego stroked!

 

However, this older pastor understood the principle of how honor releases the anointing. In his introduction of me, he spent time filling in his people on the history we had together and encouraged them to welcome and honor me as a gift sent with a message for that house.

 

HEAVEN ON EARTH

When I began ministering, it was as if heaven had come down to earth! The anointing flowed and God's Word sank deep into the church's heart. With hardly any prompting, the whole congregation answered the altar call. After the service, many people came to me testifying how there had been a deep shift in their hearts.

 

HONOR RELEASES THE ANOINTING

Even Jesus struggled with the problem of familiarity breeding contempt when He could not do a lot of miracles in His own hometown of Nazareth, because He was considered just a 'local boy.'

 

Honor releases the anointing. It's the anointing that breaks the yoke of bondage. Let us encourage a culture of true honor in the Kingdom, so that God's will might be accomplished more effectively.