It’s shocking to know that after many decades scientists are still searching for what they have termed to be the "missing link". Once discovered, this link will finally validate the theory that man evolved from a sub-specie to what he is today. This missing link has been slipping out of the grasp of these scientists on a consistent basis. If only they could put this link in its place, they say, it would resolve scores of problems and questions that mankind is facing today. I’m quite confident that by discovering and accepting the facts outlined in the Bible these same problems and questions would be resolved. God long ago resolved that "missing link".

It was equally shocking for me when I realized that there has been a "missing link" within the ranks of us as Christians for far too long, or just maybe it had been missing from my life. It seems to me that the Holy Spirit has been telling me about the most important "link" to the abundant life Jesus mentioned while still here on earth. That "missing link" had been slipping through my hands for years and my life displayed this fact.

When I began studying the full context from which the scripture above was taken, something fresh seemed to pop into my spirit. I could see that something was occurring that prevented the power of God from being fully realized in the lives of the people. How could the power of almighty God be short-circuited? Isn't He God? Well after a bit more study, it became quite evident to me that the manner in which the people were receiving Jesus into their lives had everything to do with the amount of power released to them.

The "missing link" was uncovered about their lives and also in my life. That link is simply, "honoring the Anointing" that was on Jesus. Receiving Jesus merely as the "'carpenter's son", "Mary's son, brother of James and the others, dishonored the Anointing of God on His life. And it is the Anointing of God that made the power of God available to deliver the people of all their oppressions. I can almost hear you say, "… I knew that, what's else is new?" Well what's new is that there is more to this need for honor than we see on the surface.

Those people became offended in and at Him. Actually they were offended in and at the Anointing that was on His life. How dare He do the things He was doing? After all, He was just one of the "home-boys". Think about the following:

• Their offense prevented the full flow of the Anointing because

• They knew Him only as who and what He had been
• They could only receive Him as who they saw Him as - human
• They became offended in His ability and knowledge because:
• They couldn't see, so He shouldn't see
• They allowed their pride to get in their way
• His ability magnified their limitations

• Their offense led them to dishonor His Anointing, thus:

• That act of offense was the same as "… touching God's Anointed One, and doing His prophet harm."
• That act of offense stemmed from their personal pride or "self exhalation".
• That act of offense and dishonor allowed strife, confusion, envy and every evil stay within their lives. (James 3:16)
• Dishonor brought unbelief, and unbelief stops the power of God from working

What did all this have to do with me? We know that Jesus isn't here "bodily" any longer and we would never become offended with Him now. But He is here in the person of His Body. And here is where the connection (link) can be made to the power of God for my life on a daily basis. The amount of honor and respect I give toward anyone that is in the Body will determine the amount of God's Anointing that is able to flow through my life. The amount of offense and dishonor I direct toward anyone in the Body, will limit the flow of the of God's power through my life. Notice that this respect and honor must be given toward ANYONE in the Body.

Yes, that especially includes my spouse (who is a part of the Body). Notice that in the story Jesus could "…there do no mighty works…" Here is the missing link to the unhindered power of God in my home. Honoring and respecting the Anointing of God that is on my spouse is the same as if I am honoring Jesus. After all, He lives in my spouse. The Anointing on my spouse deserves the same honor. Expand this to the parts of the Body that are our: supervisors, subordinates, employees, employers, and fellow workers. Through our dishonor could it be possible that, "… there He can do no mighty work, because of our…" They saw Jesus as an ordinary person, and we've seen each other as ordinary people. How much honor of the Anointing have we given to those "ordinary people" we're involved with daily? How often have we viewed them as worthless, horrible, a pain, less than, someone to avoid or tolerate? How many times have we prevented God's best from flowing through our offices, homes, departments, and churches, because we failed to see beyond the errors and shortcomings of these "ordinary people"?

We've had a tendency to view those we know the most as being less Anointed. We see them as they were and not as God sees them as they are. My spouse is Anointed to be able to do things I am inept at doing. Why not honor that area of her Anointing? It's there for my benefit. My strengths are to remove the burdens where she is weak. Her strengths are there to remove the burdens where I am weak. Both areas of strength are because of the Anointing of God.

Just think about the financial prosperity we could enjoy at home if we honored the one that is Anointed to handle the checkbook, the short and long term investing. If the parts of a local assembly are honored as Anointed and not just portions of the local assembly, how tremendous the power of God could flow. Cliques and favoritism would be eliminated, and the true power of God could be released through many. We tend to honor through eye of need, greed and fear. My business would be the hottest thing in the area if honor could be extended to the parts of the body that are in charge as well as to those who aren't. Remember though, honor is never demanded or coerced, but is given freely. They deserve honor because God has honored them with His Anointing.

As I begin to practice honoring the Anointing, the knowledge, the abilities, the revelation of other parts of the Body, then Jesus can in "that place do mighty works" because of my belief in the Anointing that's present. If you want a "spine chilling" revelation of just how serious dishonor is, take a look at what is written in

1 Corinthians 11:23-30. Look at what results when no honor or improper honor is directed toward any part of the Body of Christ (The Anointed One).

Other References:

Ephesians 5:21-33 Honor the husband, honor the wife, and honor each other.

Ephesians 6:1-3 Honor the parents

Ephesians 6:4 Honor the children

Ephesians 6:5-8 Honor the employer

Ephesians 6:9 Honor the employee

Titus 2:1-15 Honor each other and walk in honor

Feedback About This Article

Back