Touch Not God’s Anointed

Touch Not God’s Anointed

(here is a lesson to be learned)

1982

So many times through the years I have heard egotistical ministers declare Touch Not God's Anointed. The command to touch not God’s anointed is found in only two places in Scripture: “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm” (1 Chronicles 16:22; and Psalm 105:15).

These passages are mostly used in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles by preachers or their followers to defend themselves from criticism. Personally, in over 40 years of ministry, I have never used it for myself in any circumstance.

 Of course, this helps these preachers to protect themselves from examination. It allows them to do and say anything they want. Yet they are misusing this particular declaration. Paul the apostle himself brought correction to the leaders of the early church. In the book of Galatians one time, Paul had to rebuke the Apostle Peter in front of all of the other leaders because he had withdrawn himself from the Gentiles when the Judaizers came into a community meal.

Galatians 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

The fact is that all believers today are to some extent anointed by God. We are all set apart for the work God has given us in this world (1 John 2:20).

 “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (2 Corinthians 1:21–22).

Now, my wife and I had taken over this church that had a lot of problems in the summer of 1982. This couple that had started the church offered to let us take the position of being the main authority over this body. I told the pastor who was leaving that scripturally that would not be correct. That because he founded the church that he should put us on a probationary situation. I told him that he should keep an eye over us, and this church which he had started for at least a year. Then we could discuss whether or not he wanted to hand the corporation over to us.

Even though he had established us as the new pastors over this work, I told him he was still responsible before God to what happened to this small group of people. They agreed with this suggestion. After this couple left, approximately four or five months later the building that we were meeting in was sold out from underneath us.

We took the congregation and began to meet in the local YMCA. Because all the equipment that we would need was already at the YMCA, we stored the churches equipment in the garage of the parsonage.

We began to look for a new facility that we could move into, that we could call our own. Wonderful things had begun to happen in the church since we had become to pastor it. More people were being added daily. We were beginning to grow and see people healed, delivered, saved, and filled with the Holy Ghost.

One day I received a phone call from the previous pastor. He told me that he was not given the position he thought that he was going to get at the Bible College where they had moved to. During this time he had not sought work because he thought they were going to hire him, even though they were never given such a commitment. He told me that they desperately needed money. That he had been informed that we were no longer in the same building. I told him we were looking for a building to occupy, and at this time we were meeting at the YMCA. He did not Inquire about how the church was doing.

Out of the blue, he told me, I need you to sell all of the equipment of the church, including the chairs, PA system, overhead projector, everything involved with the church. Actually, I was quite surprised that he would ask me to do such a thing because the church was still in operation and growing.

 I got very quiet within my heart, asking the Lord what I should do? I heard verily clearly the Lord say to me: You, Your Self, Personally Cannot Sell the Churches Equipment. Now please listen to this: I did not say that they could not come back and sell it, I said I could not sell it.

I told him over the phone that I could not do this for him. He got extremely upset with me, so he put his wife on the phone. Actually, I believe she grabbed the phone out of his hand. She began to yell at me over the phone. Telling me that I was not to be touching God's anointed.

Now, of course, I was also a minister of the gospel, and God's spirit had been working through me in powerful and wonderful ways for the last almost 8 years. I did not bring this fact up to her. What I did next shocked her. I just started laughing not in a mocking way but gently. It just hit my funny bone that she would be screaming at me over the phone, and prophesying death, trying to put a curse or fear on me. But I had already discovered the Scripture that declares:

Isaiah 54:17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

It was obvious that she was operating in the wrong spirit, like when John and James were asking Jesus if they could call fire down from heaven. She finally wore herself out with her yelling and screaming prophetic nonsense at me.

When she got quiet I told her: I did not say that you could not have this equipment and all the furnishings of the church. That is not my decision, it is yours. The way that the incorporation has been set up you have the authority and power. The only thing I said is that I would not do it. You can come and do what you want with this equipment. I guess she had worn herself out, so she simply said okay. And hung up the phone.

I Did Not Say Anything to the Congregation

The church had already been through dramatic changes, so I perceived in my heart just to be quiet about the whole situation. If they did come we would not miss the equipment anyways, because God could always supply more.

Approximately a week later there was a banging on my front door. There this couple stood huffing and puffing demanding the equipment. They had driven over 1200 miles. I told them there was no problem just follow me. I went outside and walked over to the garage. I opened up the garage door for them. Then I simply turn my back on them and went back into the house.

They had rented a local U-Haul trailer to connect to their car. They backed up the trailer to the garage doors and began to load all of the equipment, chairs, tables and everything else that we had moved out of the building where the church had been located. It took them several hours, but when they were done they drove away.

I actually thought that would be the last I heard of them but that was not to be. Here this couple had done something that was not very loving or intelligent. They advertised everything that came out of the church in the local newspapers.

The following Sunday, a week after this incident as we were gathering for the church service, one of the congregation members spoke up. They said pastor we saw an ad for all of our equipment that came from our church in the newspaper.

 I stood there quietly for a moment praying, asking the Lord what I should say. Now, the Bible says to speak evil of no man so I was not going to slander this couple. I quietly said yes, that this equipment was from the church with all the furnishings.

They said what is this all about? I told them that the previous pastor and his wife were desperate for money and came back the 1200 miles and took the equipment. I said according to the Constitution and bylaws of this church I had no right to stop them. I did not think that they were going to sell it locally, and I am so sorry about that.

I said here is our opportunity to walk in love, and to pray for that couple. I told them that sometimes people simply are mixed up in their heads, and they make wrong decisions. I said may God help all of us. Let's just pray for them right now, and give them to the Lord.

Yes, we did lose more people because of this, some people just could not release, or forgive this couple. From that time forward we never did speak again about this, at home or at the church, or to the congregation. Over 35 years have come and gone, and I'm sorry to say that eventually this couple left the ministry, and ended up getting a divorce. I only say that, not to be critical of them, but that we need to really seek God's face in every decision we make.