(This image of God’s glory appearing over the worship team was taken in one of our overnight services by our media team in 2015)
Some years ago, I was disturbed by the news of a very gifted and powerful evangelist who had fallen into sin. He preached with such a great demonstration of power that I have never seen anyone else do, but he was living in sexual immorality while performing those signs and wonders. His message was the very powerful gospel of Jesus Christ of Nazareth we believe in without any additions or contradictions. So I was wondering what went wrong with him. The Lord answered me in my thoughts in a way that had never heard or thought of. He said, "There is a difference between the anointing and the glory of God. A lot of preachers are operating in the anointing, which I placed upon them but do not operate in My glory."
The anointing is the 'rub-off' of the Holy Spirit that is put upon anyone who wants to serve God in public ministry for the purpose of empowering the anointed individual to perform the task for which he is sent.
The glory of God is the weight (heaviness), majesty (dignity), and splendor (brightness) of His essence and presence.
Unbelievers can be anointed with Power
The anointing has absolutely nothing to do with the glory. Anyone (even an unbeliever) can be anointed to do a particular work, but only a specific kind of servant of God can carry the weight, exude the majesty, and radiate the brightness of His glory.
In the Old Testament, we see a pagan king named Cyrus being anointed to deliver the children of Israel from the bondage of Babylon.
Isaiah 44:28 (NET) says, "Who commissions Cyrus, the one I appointed as shepherd to carry out all my wishes and to decree concerning Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and concerning the temple, ‘It will be reconstructed.’”
Isaiah 45:1 (ASV) says, "Thus saith Jehovah to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings; to open the doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:"
Cyrus was not a Jew or even a Proselyte. He had no relationship with God and was a wicked ruler who oppressed his people as a ruthless dictator, yet God had specially anointed and empowered him for a particular assignment. Cyrus was an efficient conqueror who mightily wielded the sword and the bow as he trampled on his enemies (Isaiah 41:2, 25). This is not the description you would expect of an anointed servant of God. Rather, it is associated with terrorists and dictators. Yet Cyrus is called the anointed servant of God.
So you can be an anointed minister of the gospel without being saved! This is what Jesus taught the seventy-two disciples. They came rejoicing that they had seen the effect of His anointing upon them, but He told them that they were to rejoice in their own salvation.
Luke 10:17-20 (NET) says, "Then the seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!” So he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Look, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and on the full force of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names stand written in heaven.”
When a person is commissioned by an anointed minister to do the work of God, he receives the anointing to do that work effectively whether he is born again or not. The seventy-two cast out demons because Jesus had commissioned and anointed (empowered) them for it.
Luke 10:1 (NET) says, "After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him two by two into every town and place where he himself was about to go."
Luke 10:19 (NET) says, "Look, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and on the full force of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you."
It is possible that someone may go to a Bible school, graduate with a PhD. in Theology and be commissioned into ministry without being saved. That person may even start a Christian denomination preaching the gospel and performing miracles. Such a minister and his ministry will experience the anointing, but will never experience the glory of God.
There are two types of false prophets. One is the occultic spiritist who knowingly and intentionally works with evil spirits (demons and/or fallen angels). The one who is anointed but is not born again is the second type of a false prophet, and such is the one who will be shocked when Jesus disowns Him at judgment.
Matthew 7:15, 21-23 (NET) says, “Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves... “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do many powerful deeds?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’"
Immature believers can be anointed with Power
It is not only unbelievers who can operate in the power of God without the glory but immature believers also. This is the category to which the powerful evangelist who sinned belonged. One of the most gifted and anointed men of God in the whole Bible is Samson, yet he is probably the most indisciplined character as well. Samson is the perfect picture of the statement that says, "God’s greatest gifts are hidden in the most flawed vessels." Samson was anointed from birth after his parents had encountered an angel.
Judges 13:2-5 (NET) says, "There was a man named Manoah from Zorah, from the Danite tribe. His wife was infertile and childless. The Lord’s angelic messenger appeared to the woman and said to her, “You are infertile and childless, but you will conceive and have a son. Now be careful! Do not drink wine or beer, and do not eat any food that will make you ritually unclean. Look, you will conceive and have a son. You must never cut his hair, for the child will be dedicated to God from birth. He will begin to deliver Israel from the power of the Philistines.”
Judges 13:11-14 (NET) says, "So Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he met the man, he said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to my wife?” He said, “Yes.” Manoah said, “Now, when your announcement comes true, how should the child be raised and what should he do?” The Lord’s messenger told Manoah, “Your wife should pay attention to everything I told her. She should not drink anything that the grapevine produces. She must not drink wine or beer, and she must not eat any food that will make her ritually unclean. She should obey everything I commanded her to do.”
Judges 13:24-25 (NET) says, "Manoah’s wife gave birth to a son and named him Samson. The child grew and the Lord empowered him. The Lord’s spirit began to control him in Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol."
Samson was called and anointed from birth to deliver the children of Israel from the bondage of the Philistines. His calling and anointing was special, for he was to be consecrated (separated as holy unto the Lord) with what was known in the Law of Moses as the Nazirite vow.
Numbers 6:1-8 (NET) says, "Then the Lord spoke to Moses: “Speak to the Israelites, and tell them, ‘When either a man or a woman takes a special vow, to take a vow as a Nazirite, to separate himself to the Lord, he must separate himself from wine and strong drink, he must drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from strong drink, nor may he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins. All the days of his separation he must not eat anything that is produced by the grapevine, from seed to skin. “‘All the days of the vow of his separation no razor may be used on his head until the time is fulfilled for which he separated himself to the Lord. He will be holy, and he must let the locks of hair on his head grow long. “‘All the days that he separates himself to the Lord he must not contact a dead body. He must not defile himself even for his father or his mother or his brother or his sister if they die, because the separation for his God is on his head. All the days of his separation he must be holy to the Lord."
For other Israelites the Nazarite vows was taken by choice for a brief period, but for Samson, it was a life-long calling he was born into. Tradition says that the Nazirites of Israel kept and combed their hair into seven locks representing the seven Spirits of God. So the unshaved hair of the Nazirite was probably a picture of the covering of God's glory upon His special servant. That is why they were not to remove the hair by shaving. But Samson insisted on doing what he wanted, rather than serving God. He began by ignoring God’s instruction against marrying someone outside his faith, and he’s failing to honor and obey his parents (Deu 7:3-4). Nonetheless the anointing which was on his life worked. Next, Samson ignored the instruction for a Nazirite not to touch the dead (Judges 14:5-9) and drink wine (14:10); yet the power of God was still evident. The downward spiral of disobedience continued, but Samson didn’t see the spiritual implications of what’s he was doing.
Later in Israel’s history, David would fight the Philistines for God’s glory, but Samson got into a fight because he is pursuing a forbidden relationship with a Philistine woman. Still, in Judges 14:19, we read that Samson was able to accomplish his feats because the “Spirit of the Lord” came upon him. This sounds strange. There is a tension here. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, and then he did something he was not supposed to do. How come? You would think that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon Samson and say, “Do this and that, but don’t violate your vows! This is not what I want you to do!” Yet time and time again, Samson ignored the instructions of God and did whatever he pleased. Whenever you see the phrase "the Spirit of the Lord upon," you will notice that the Bible is talking about the anointing or empowerment of the Holy Spirit that is placed on anyone for public ministry. Jesus used the same phrase to announce His sevenfold mission as the Messiah (Christ).
Luke 4:18 (NET) says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed."
Unlike Cyrus, who was a pagan king; Samson was an Israelites born as a Nazirite. This would sound like someone who was born into a Christian family with a special ministry calling upon their life, got born again, and Spirit-filled as a little child. Samson is a type of the immature and anointed Christian who lives in sin, contrary to the standard of his calling. Like Samson, ministers of the gospel are called to live a consecrated life.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NET) says, "I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
The same standards that were in the Nazirite vow are present in the requirements for the anointing of deacons and pastoral elders or bishops in the New Testament (Titus 1:5-9, 1 Timothy 3:1-12, 1 Peter 5:1-4). The story of Samson ended tragically after he disclosed the greatest secret of his Nazirite vow, which was to keep his hair unshaven to Delilah, the Philistine prostitute he was with. She managed to shave his hair while he slept, and the next time when the enemy came, his power was gone. Then the Philistines managed to capture Samson, removed his two eyes, put him in prison and made fun of him (Judg 16:1-22). There are important lessons for believers who are in ministry here:
Every man or woman of God has a secret to keeping their anointing as in the Nazirite vow. As Samson's hair was his covering as symbol of the seven Spirits of God, the anointing of the Holy Spirit is a protective covering upon the minister.
1 Corinthians 11:15 (NET) says, "But if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering."
If a minister keeps on living in sin without repentance, he places himself under another master who is not the Christ, and God will remove His hedge or covering of protection around his life.
Romans 6:16 (NET) says, "Do you not know that if you present yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness?"
This why some great ministers lose their spiritual vision (make to discern), and later get sick and/or die. Gifts and callings are without repentance, but the anointing (empowerment grace) for public ministry is withdrawn once you submit to the devil by continuing to violate God's Word.
James 4:4-7 (NET) says, "Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy. Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, “The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning”? But he gives greater grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.” So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you."
Samson had the opportunity to repent for breaking his Nazirite vow, his hair grew again and he managed to destroy the Philistines though he had to die with them in the process (Judges 16:23-30). This also teaches us that as New Testament ministers, there is forgiveness for sins but it doesn't remove the consequences of the sins. Samson was forgiven but still he died. You maybe forgiven after falling in sin, and still lose your ministry after being forgiven. By the way, God prefers to judge us for the sins we have committed in the flesh now in this life, so that we may not be judged again when Christ shall come.
1 Corinthians 5:1, 4-5 (NET) says, "It is actually reported that sexual immorality exists among you, the kind of immorality that is not permitted even among the Gentiles, so that someone is cohabiting with his father’s wife. When you gather together in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I am with you in spirit, along with the power of our Lord Jesus, turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord."
Such a person's ministry will be destroyed in the fire of God's judgment, yet his recreated spirit is saved through the same fire.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15 (NET) says, "Each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire."
How and why the Anointing can be mishandled versus why the Glory can not be mishandled
One of the most important truths one can ever learn from the bible is that the anointing can be used, abused, and/or misused; and that there is a big difference between the abuse and misuse of the power of the Holy Spirit.
Abuse of the Anointing
Abuse is when you use the right thing for the wrong reason. Abuse of the anointing happens when someone applies the power of the Holy Spirit to an abnormal use. Can the anointing really be used for the wrong purpose? Has it ever happened? Where, and what are the consequences? The first thing is that the anointing is a gift from God to empower a person for his calling, and the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable. Once He gives you a gift and calling, it's yours even when you get to rebel.
Romans 11:29 (NET) says, "For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable."
When the bible speaks about Heylel (Lucifer), the angel who later fell in rebellion to become Satan it mentions that he was an anointed cherub that covered (protected) the holy mountain of God.
Ezekiel 28:14 (NHEB) says, "You were the anointed cherub who covers: and I set you, so that you were on the holy mountain of God; you have walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire."
Many Christians need to understand that when they are dealing with the devil, they are dealing with an anointed enemy; so that need to exert their authority over him from a place of something superior to the anointing - which is the glory of God. One of the things that the beast of Revelation 13 is going to receive from the devil (dragon) is his power/anointing (dunamis), and by it, he is going to perform a false resurrection to claim that he is the Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 says, "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders."
Revelation 13:2 (NET) says, "Now the beast that I saw was like a leopard, but its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority to rule."
Revelation 13:3-4 (NET) says, "One of the beast’s heads appeared to have been killed, but the lethal wound had been healed. And the whole world followed the beast in amazement; they worshiped the dragon because he had given ruling authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast too, saying: “Who is like the beast?” and “Who is able to make war against him?”
What is false about this resurrection is not that there will be no actual healing or resurrection, but what is fake is that it is not done the Spirit of God in glory to the praise of the Father. Brothers and sisters, I present unto you a truth: All power that is at work in the universe belongs to God, including that which is being abused by the devil and his regiment.
Revelation 19:1 (NET) says, "After these things I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a vast throng in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God."
The difference between witchcraft and the prophetic ministry is not in the power by which they are done, for the anointing that works in the two different things is the same. The difference is in the purpose to which the anointing is being applied. In prophetic ministry, the anointing is applied to its rightful purpose, and in witchcraft, it is abused for the opposite reason. The devil is the author of the abuse of the power of the Holy Spirit, and everyone who operates in the occultic ministry of fallen angels and demons is an abuser of the anointing.
The consequences of abusing the anointing are very dire, eternal torment in the lake of fire together with the chief anointing abuser.
Revelation 20:10, 15 (NET) says, "And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are too, and they will be tormented there day and night forever and ever... If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire.
A lot of (mainly occultic) preachers are abusing the anointing in this day and age. For example, when a pastor makes people sleep in church and jumps on them, it serves no proper use of either edifying the church or glorifying God; but it leads to idolatry as people exalt him. When a minister makes people eat grass, drink sewage, or records them when they are manifesting demons to show the world how powerful he is, it mocks the very image and likeness of God in which His people are made. There is a reason why good doctors perform surgery in private and not in public. They don't have to show the intestines of their clients on the screen while stitching them, do they?
The Misuse of the Anointing
Misuse is applying the right thing to its proper use in the wrong way. The misuse of anointing is the application of the power of God to its rightful purpose in the wrong manner, usually for reasons driven by the flesh. An example of someone who misused the anointing in the Old Testament and suffered the consequences immediately is when Moses struck the rock with his rod to miraculously bring out drinking water instead of speaking to it. Earlier on the Lord had instructed him to strike the rock with his staff which he did, and indeed, water came out!
Exodus 17:5-6 (NET) says, "The Lord said to Moses, “Go over before the people; take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile and go. I will be standing before you there on the rock in Horeb, and you will strike the rock, and water will come out of it so that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in plain view of the elders of Israel."
Later when faced with a similar situation, God gave Moses a different instruction and told him to speak to the rock. But Moses, in anger, hit the rock twice instead of talking to it; yet the water still came out as the anointing was at work.
Numbers 20:6, 8-11 (NET) says, "So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting. They then threw themselves down with their faces to the ground, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. “Take the staff and assemble the community, you and Aaron your brother, and then SPEAK to the rock before their eyes. It will pour forth its water, and you will bring water out of the rock for them, and so you will give the community and their beasts water to drink.” So Moses took the staff from before the Lord, just as he commanded him. Then Moses and Aaron gathered the community together in front of the rock, and he said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must WE bring water out of this rock for you?” Then Moses raised his hand, and struck the rock twice with his staff. And water came out abundantly. So the community drank, and their beasts drank too."
Sometimes, we get familiar with how we have operated by the anointing in the past that we miss the instruction for a different kind of operation of the Holy Spirit, and though it will still bring results, it will disrupt God's purpose for the miracles and it brings us under immediate judgment. Moses died prematurely without fulfilling his mission, and lost his ministry because of this one act of anointing misuse! The coming out of water from the rock did not justify Moses' disobedience. He was out of tune with God despite the miracle!
Numbers 20:12 (NET) says, "Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to show me as holy before the Israelites, therefore you will not bring this community into the land I have given them.”
Deuteronomy 32:48-52 (NET) says, "Then the Lord said to Moses that same day, “Go up to this Abarim hill country, to Mount Nebo (which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho) and look at the land of Canaan that I am giving to the Israelites as a possession. You will die on the mountain that you ascend and join your deceased ancestors, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and joined his deceased ancestors, for both of you rebelled against me among the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the desert of Zin when you did not show me proper respect among the Israelites. You will see the land before you, but you will not enter the land that I am giving to the Israelites.”
Many people in the church today are willing to join in the errors of their leaders because they have seen the power of God manifesting in miracles. Miracles do not validate the error or false teaching of an anointed minister. An anointed minister can go into error like Moses. Always check everything that comes from the pulpit with the Word of God. Moses died without a sign of aging or sickness in his body to prove that it was only because of misusing the anointing that God took him.
Deuteronomy 34:5-7 (NET) says, "So Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab as the Lord had said. He buried him in the land of Moab near Beth Peor, but no one knows his exact burial place to this very day. Moses was 120 years old when he died, but his eye was not dull nor had his vitality departed."
Such is the result of misusing the power of God.
How and Why the Glory can NOT be Mishandled
Having seen that the anointing can be misused and abused from the bible, it is equally important that we find out whether or not the glory of God will not be mishandled in the same way. Remember that the glory of God is the weight, majesty, and brightness of His nature. The glory is God's heaviness, honor, and brightness. In the Old Testament, the glory of God was represented by the Ark of the covenant upon which His presence dwelt among the children of Israel.
The Glory in the Ark of the Covenant
The ark of the covenant was the place of God's presence. While the Lord was present among His people (Exodus 13:17–18, 21–22), He localized His presence in the tabernacle.
Exodus 25:8-9 (LITV) says, "And let them make a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell in their midst. According to all which I am going to reveal to you, the plan of the tabernacle, and the plan of all its vessels, even so you shall do."
But in a more specific way, the ark of the covenant served as the place of the presence of God.
Exodus 25:21-22 (LITV) says, "And you shall put the mercyseat on the ark from above. And you shall put the testimony into the ark, which I shall give to you. And I will meet you there, and will speak with you, above the mercyseat, from between the two cherubs which are on the ark of testimony, all which I shall command you concerning the sons of Israel."
In the wilderness, the Israelites lived in the presence of God continually. The glory of God rested over the Ark of the Covenant, and it also rested over His people. They were identified with the glory of God’s presence that was physically visible to them in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. And when the glory of God appeared in the tabernacle, not even Moses could enter into the sanctuary.
Exodus 40:34-38 (LITV) says, "And the cloud covered the tabernacle of the congregation; and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to come into the tabernacle of the congregation because the cloud dwelt on it. And the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle. And as the cloud went up from the tabernacle, the sons of Israel pulled up stakes in all their travels. And if the cloud did not go up, then they did not pull up stakes until the day it went up. For the cloud of Jehovah was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel in all their pullings up of stakes."
The Gentile nations of that day recognized that the people of Israel carried the presence of God. Wherever they went or rested, the LORD God of Israel was with them. When the children of Israel went into battle with their enemies such as the Philistines, they took the Ark of God's presence with them, knowing that God's glory was a guarantee of victory in any battle.
1 Samuel 4:3 (LITV) says, "And the people came into the camp, and the elders of Israel said, Why has Jehovah stricken us today before the Philistines? Let us take the ark of the covenant of Jehovah to us, and let it come into our midst; and it will save us from the hand of our enemies."
The Philistines themselves knew that they had no chance of winning the battle for as long as the Ark of the Covenant was among the Israelites based on the history of how God had delivered Israel from the bondage of Pharaoh in Egypt.
1 Samuel 4:5-8 (LITV) says, "And it happened, when the ark of the covenant of Jehovah came into the camp, all Israel shouted a great shout, and the earth shook. And the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, and said, What is the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they saw that the ark of Jehovah had come into the camp. And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God has come to the camp. And they said, Woe to us! For never has it been like this before. Woe to us! Who will deliver us out of the hand of these great gods? These are the gods who struck Egypt with every plague in the wilderness."
So, for the Philistines, the battle strategy was simple. They only needed to take the Ark of the Covenant from Israel to win the battle; which they did.
1 Samuel 4:10-11 (LITV) says, "And the Philistines fought, and Israel was beaten. And they each one fled to his tent. And the blow was very great, and thirty thousand footmen of Israel fell. And the ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli died, Hophni and Phinehas."
When the ark was taken, a woman who was dying in childbirth named her son Ichabod, which means that the glory of God has departed. The taking away of the ark of the covenant was a bigger blow to Israel than the defeat in the battle.
1 Samuel 4:21-22 (LITV) says, "And she called the child Ichabod, saying, The glory has departed from Israel, because of the taking of the ark of God, and because of her father-in-law and her husband. And she said, The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been taken."
The Glory of God versus Abuse
But could the Philistines abuse the Ark of God's presence for the wrong purpose to promote their own idols? When the Philistines took the Ark of the Covenant into the temple of their fish god Dagon, they would learn that the glory of God can not be abused in a very hard way. The glory of God in the ark crushed Dagon and brought diseases among the Philistines so much that they did not want the ark or know what to do with it anymore.
1 Samuel 5:1-7 (LITV) says, "And the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. And the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to the house of Dagon, and set it near Dagon. And the men of Ashdod rose early on the next day. And, behold! Dagon had fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of Jehovah! And they took Dagon and put it back in its place. And they rose early in the morning on the next day; and, behold! Dagon had fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of Jehovah, and the head of Dagon, and the two palms of its hands, were cut off at the threshold. Only the flat part had been left to him. On account of this the priests of Dagon, and all those coming into the house of Dagon, do not step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod until this day. And the hand of Jehovah was heavy on the men of Ashdod. And He wasted them, and struck them with hemorrhoids, Ashdod and its borders. And the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, and said, The ark of God of Israel shall not remain with us, for His hand has been hard on us, and on our god Dagon."
The Philistines started dumping the ark of the covenant on each other, and no one wanted a piece of it.
1 Samuel 5:10-12 (LITV) says, "And they sent the ark of God around to Ekron. And it happened as the ark of God came into Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought around the ark of the God of Israel to me to cause me and my people to die. And they sent and gathered all the rulers of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its place, and it may not cause me and my people to die. For there had been a great destruction throughout all the city. The hand of God had been very heavy there. And the men who had not died were stricken with hemorrhoids. And the cry of the city went up to the heavens."
The Philistines had to finally return the ark of the covenant to Israel together with a guilty offering to be healed from the plague caused by their failed attempt to abuse the glory of God.
1 Samuel 6:1-3 (LITV) says, "And the ark of Jehovah was in the field of the Philistines seven months. And the Philistines called for priests and for those divining, saying, What shall we do to the ark of Jehovah? Let us know with what we shall send it to its place. And they said, If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, you shall not send it away empty. For turning back you shall return a guilt offering back to Him. Then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why His hand has not turned away from you."
This is very different from the anointing. The devil doesn't know what to do with the glory of God and can't stand God's presence, yet he fights for any bit of the anointing which he can access, such as when he fought for the anointed body of Moses.
Jude 1:9 (BBE) says, "Now when Michael, one of the chief angels, was fighting against the Evil One for the body of Moses, fearing to make use of violent words against him, he only said, May the Lord be your judge."
Brothers and sisters in Christ, there is a place above the anointing where the devil has no ability or capacity to access the believer, and it is the glory of God! Satan doesn't the anointing as much as he fears the glory. The enemy can manipulate the anointing but has no access to the glory of God!
How and Why the Glory can not be Misused
Abuse and misuse are not the same thing. While abuse is abnormal use for the wrong reason, misuse is improper use for the right reason. So, the question goes, can the glory of God be misused? The answer is no, and here is why...
2 Samuel 6:1-8 (BBE) says, "And David got together all the fighting-men of Israel to the number of thirty thousand; And David, and all the people who were with him, went to Baal of Judah to get the ark of God, over which the holy name is named, the name of the Lord of armies, whose place is between the winged ones. And they put the ark of God on a new cart and took it out of the house of Abinadab which was on the hill: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were the drivers of the cart. And Uzzah went by the side of the ark, while Ahio went before it. And David and all the men of Israel made melody before the Lord with all their power, with songs and with corded instruments and instruments of brass. And when they came to Nacon's grain-floor, Uzzah put his hand on the ark of God to keep it safe in its place, for the oxen were out of control. And the wrath of the Lord, burning against Uzzah, sent destruction on him because he had put his hand on the ark, and death came to him there by the ark of God. And David was angry because of the Lord's outburst of wrath against Uzzah: and he gave that place the name Perez-uzzah, which is its name to this day."
Here, we see a Levite priest called Uzzah dying for trying to stop the ark of the covenant from falling by grabbing it with his hands. God would not let a man put his hands around the ark of His presence to save it from falling, for it would have made Uzzah God's savior. Once we understand who God is in His glory, we realize that His wrath must issue forth when people treat Him as less than He is. It is clear that Uzzah and the other priests bringing the ark into Jerusalem had little regard for the law of the Lord concerning the ark. They had the ark on a cart, instead of placing it on the priests’ shoulders by the poles made for its transport, which was a violation of God’s commands (Exodus 37:1–5 & 1 Chronicles 15:1–15). David and all of Israel learned the hard way that the glory of God can not be misused by adding to it any form of human assistance. This is a very important lesson for believers, especially those who minister in the church. God does not want human assistance when He is doing things by Himself in glory. He doesn't even want you to interfere with your anointing and spiritual gifts! When God’s glory descended in the tabernacle built by Solomon, the priests whom God Himself had anointed to minister could not minister because of the glory of God.
1 Kings 8:10-13 (NASB) says, "It happened that when the priests came from the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that He would dwell in the thick cloud. I have surely built You a lofty house, A place for Your dwelling forever.”
What happened to the priests was not new. It had happened earlier on to Moses himself!
Exodus 40:35 says, "Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle."
God is ready to share His power with anyone who is ready to serve His purposes, but He will not share His glory with anyone.
Isaiah 42:8 NKJV says, "I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images."
