The Anointing to Do God''s Will
By Bishop Keith A. Butler

September 27

Colossians 1:9-10

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; (KJV)

Colossians 1:9-10 is a prayer just for you. Paul prayed that you be filled with the knowledge of God's will. The Greek word here for knowledge is epignosis, which means the exact complete and full knowledge of God. When you are filled with the knowledge of God's will for your life, you can have times when things go up and things go down; but it won't move you because you know you are in God's perfect will.

He also prayed that you be strengthened. This is what happens when you are filled with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. You will be strengthened with all might according to the Father's glorious power, developing all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. In other words, you can go through something, and still keep your joy.

You may face a catastrophe on this side and on the other side. But it won't bother you. You'll hang in there with patience, longsuffering and joy. You will still be able to do the job because you know that what you see is temporary. It has to change because you know what you are called to do. That is what this knowledge will do for you.

Longsuffering develops in you when you are functioning in God's will. You will be able to handle a whole lot of adverse situations and people. See, in my job I have the opportunity to deal with situations and people. In one church alone I pastor 20,000 people. Now when you pastor 20,000 people you have opportunity to walk in love.

But it doesn't take that many people as you well know. If you are married, you have opportunity to walk in love with that one person. Then, if you have kids, there is even greater opportunity. We can even go to relatives and coworkers. There's more opportunity to walk in love. The point being, when you are involved in completing God's mission for your life, when adversity arises, you have the ability to stand strong because you know that God called you to do what you are doing.

And as you fulfill God's plan in the earth, the anointing comes on you to handle whatever comes along.

Scripture References: Luke 4:18; 1 John 2:20, 27