1. Introduction
When we desire to see kingdom anointing expressed through us in signs and wonders and people entering the family of God, our focus needs to be on loving God and loving the anointing. We do this by studying the anointing and learning how to flow.
The essential requirement to moving into Kingdom anointing is a personal relationship with God, a relationship with Jesus and a relationship with Holy Spirit.
Kingdom anointing is seen in the life of Jesus and exampled in King David and Cyrus, king of Persia. In this study, we will focus on the prophecy over Cyrus, giving keys to moving in the power of God.
2. Cyrus, king of Persia
A. Temple Builder
“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, … the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: ‘Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, “The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up.”’”
2 Chronicles 36:22-23
We know from history that Cyrus was able to defeat kingdoms. So we can learn something from this chosen vessel of God to defeat the kingdom of darkness and advance the realm of Jesus Christ.
Let’s look at the prophecy over Cyrus’ life so we can apply it to our situation to build the kingdom of God. Cyrus established the temple of God in Jerusalem. Like Cyrus, kingdom anointing needs to focus on establishing the temple of God in the heart of the believer. We do this through loving, fathering and mothering the people of God.
3. Kingdom Anointing Requires Loving God
Cyrus, God’s Instrument
Isaiah 45:1
“Thus says the LORD to His anointed,
To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—
To subdue nations before him
And loose the armor of kings,
To open before him the double doors,
So that the gates will not be shut:
This scripture refers to God holding Cyrus’ right hand. Holding hands speaks of a personal relationship God wants with us, not just to gain victories through us. The Fellowship of the Mystery of His Will teaches that He wants us to disarm principalities and powers. We must disarm the principalities and powers through wisdom, faith, and boldness. Jesus often went up into the mountains to pray to spend time alone with His Father.
This scripture means we are holding His left hand; He leads us.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
Romans 8:14
Some people are keen to engage in spiritual warfare but unaware that God may not lead them into a particular battle. Learning to be led by the Spirit, not the crowd, is vital to maturity. I have observed Christians get spiritually attacked by getting involved in a conflict God did not intend for them. As a result, they become sick or face poverty.
4. A Heart for God’s People
Isaiah prophesies about Cyrus, 150 years before the Medo-Persian empire conquered the Babylonian empire in 539 BCE.
The first thing we learn about Cyrus is that he has a good heart for people and God.
Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd,
Isaiah 44:28
And he shall perform all My pleasure,
Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,”
And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”‘
What we learn from this is that we need to be the same. We need a good heart for people, the church, and the temple of God (the corporate and individual body of Christ).
A. Shepherd’s Heart
Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd,
Isaiah 44:28
When we desire a breakthrough anointing that will bring in the kingdom of God, the key is to have a shepherd’s heart for the people of God. David described the shepherd’s heart in the 23rd Psalm. A shepherd leads the flock with loving care and attention, ensuring nourishment, shelter, rest and protection from predators.
The LORD is my shepherd;
Psalms 23:1-4
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
And leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
B. Have God’s Desire
And he shall perform all My pleasure,
Isaiah 44:28
If we want to see the breakthrough anointing, then the desire of God will be our desire. Smith Wigglesworth never read the newspaper because he said it reduced his faith. He would say to his sons-in-the-Lord, “Leave that (newspaper) at the gate if you want to come into my house.” Although it is good to keep up with the information, if we are going to be noticed by God and have God answer our prayers, let our mind be on Him and His business – the kingdom. I do not waste time listening to things I cannot control because it leads to worry. If it is necessary, someone will be sure to tell me!
The number of people anticipating the Antichrist and the mark of the Beast to happen in the future is concerning. Because these prophetic events already took place two thousand years ago. Such people are rarely able to move in the power of God because this is not kingdom thinking. The power of God moving through us comes from realising the kingdom is here now, not in some future millennium. Many people ask me how they can hear God speaking clearly. It’s simple, ask Him about what is of interest to Him! His Kingdom! It does not mean He is not interested in our needs; He is. He said,
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:33
C. Encourage the Church
Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,”
Isaiah 44:28
If we want to be an anointed king, then we need to encourage the true Jerusalem – the church of God:
…For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Galatians 4:24-26
Paul identifies the true Jerusalem by comparing the old and new covenant. Saying that the natural Jerusalem represents the law, while the true Jerusalem is the people of the New Covenant, both Jew and Gentile alike.
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Hebrews 12:22-24
D. Laying Foundations in the Temple of God
And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”‘
Isaiah 44:28
There are two types of temples in the New Covenant – personal:
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
And corporate.
in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:21-22
To be kingdom-anointed, our ministry should always point people to God dwelling in us and the body of Christ.
5. Heart of Righteousness Ensures Kingdom Anointing
Essential to walking in kingdom anointing is righteousness. Not just the gift of righteousness that comes from the covenantal atonement, but walking in righteousness. Here is our definition from the study on righteousness.
A. Defining Righteousness
… He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
1 John 3:7
A righteous person is he who practices righteousness! The word ‘practices’ is present tense. In other words, practising righteousness needs an active outworking of honesty in our daily lives. However, the New Covenant gives us the nature of God, who is holy and righteous. Being righteous means, we can do righteous acts and therefore are righteous. In ‘righteousness‘, we learned many people are considered righteous in His sight but not enough to enter the kingdom of God. Entrance requires belief in the Lordship and resurrection of Jesus.
B. Cyrus as a Righteous Person
Cyrus is such a person and the reason why God chose Him.
I have raised him up in righteousness,
Isaiah 45:13
And I will direct all his ways;
He shall build My city
And let My exiles go free,
Not for price nor reward,”
Says the LORD of hosts.
Historians tell us that Cyrus recognised that Yahweh Elohim was the God of heaven:
Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia:
Ezra 1:2-3 (Hebrew names used for clarity only)
All the kingdoms of the earth the Yahweh Elohim of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Yahweh Elohim of Israel (He is Elohim), which is in Jerusalem.
According to these historians, he had a sense of morality and did not plunder like those around him. His enemies, the Greeks, respected him for his good ethics and moral leadership.
6. Kingdom Anointing Brings Kingdom Authority
Shortcuts to inheriting the nations are risky. Many ministries fall by the wayside, unwilling to grow in authority or be under an apostolic relationship.
A. I Will Give you the Nations
“Thus says the LORD to His anointed,
Isaiah 45:1
To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—
To subdue nations before him
Remembering we are in Jesus, and He in us, the promises that apply to Jesus also apply to us:
Ask of Me, and I will give You
Psalm 2:8
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
B. Reigning Over Principalities and Powers
“Thus says the LORD to His anointed,
Isaiah 45:1
To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—…
And loose the armor of kings,
This scripture means that we will break through the protective barrier surrounding principalities if we have this kingdom’s authority.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
C. Responsibility of the Ministry Gift
As we desire to grow in kingdom anointing and authority, God will allow us to come against different principalities and powers He wants us to victory over. Those with a five-fold ministry will meet one of the five principalities assigned against our gift.
Those called to be an evangelist will come against the anti-Christ spirit, which hates the anointing of your life to see people born again.
Being a teacher, then the assigned adversary is deception.
A pastor must overcome the spirit called death and hell, gaining victory to walk in health.
The prophet will undoubtedly meet their Jezebel spirit.
The apostle will meet Leviathan at some stage in their ministry.
D. Maturing the Ministry Gift
Now, these are a generalisation because, in reality, we will all meet different ruling spirits. Other ministry gifts will grow to have authority over those principalities specific to their call. However, suppose we are walking in righteousness. In that case, God will usually only allow us to face one principality until we have a measure of authority over it. Once we have defeated that adversary, He will present the next. True apostles will gain victory over all five; true ministry prophets will usually gain authority over four. They are different from the other ministry gifts because apostles and prophets are the foundations of the church.
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
Ephesians 2:20
Christine and I learnt what it meant to have authority over ruling spirits like Jezebel, Anti-Christ, Death and Hell, Deception, and Leviathan. Destroying these five spirits strengthens the five ministry gifts.
However, this authority only comes through suffering some adversity before overcoming it. When those with ministry gifts are willing to grow in the king’s knowledge, kingdom and righteousness, the church body will benefit greatly.
7. Open Double Doors of Honour
Double doors speak of being honoured in the presence of kings.
“Thus says the LORD to His anointed,
Isaiah 45:1
To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—
To subdue nations before him
And loose the armor of kings,
To open before him the double doors,
So that the gates will not be shut:
These doors access the throne room of principalities and powers in our spiritual life.
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Colossians 1:16
Our authority is complete as we grow in faithfulness to the call. Like Cyrus, who saw many natural kings fall to his armies, we will see spiritual thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers fall to us in Jesus’ name. Remember, these are adversaries who God wants us to overcome through kingdom demonstration and walking in righteousness. We achieve this through wisdom, boldness and faith.
8. Plundering the Enemy’s Camp Through Kingdom Anointing
Once we have opened the king’s throne room door, we can plunder the king’s domain! The outcome is that we see people come to Christ. This ministry is gleaning the harvest, seeing up to 75% of people come to Christ and 40% healed in meetings!
A. Gates Will Not be Shut
“Thus says the LORD to His anointed,
Isaiah 45:1
To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—
To subdue nations before him
And loose the armor of kings,
To open before him the double doors,
So that the gates will not be shut:
Nothing stops us from plundering his storehouses once we have access to the king’s throne rooms! Just step out in the ‘rest’ of faith and preach boldly, expecting a harvest of souls and healing miracles.
B. He Will Go Before You
The going before you in verse 2 relates to the kingdom business:
I will go before you
Isaiah 45:2
And make the crooked places straight;
I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron.
Many times I am amazed at how smoothly things go.
Sometimes we need to battle, but He will go to war before us. All we need to do is stay close to Him. He is the one who will level the mountains, raise the valleys and make a highway of holiness for us.
We must keep being led by the Spirit, praising the Lord, and walking in righteousness and holiness.
C. Moving from War to Victory
In particular, I love it when we win the battle in the realm of the spirit. We arrive in a region or city and can sense the struggle. We go to war through prayer, prophetic action/declaration or preaching. The first healing is often the hardest, but the miracles start to come thick and fast. Many people accept Jesus. There is no fight, and God moves in with His angels to heal the sick, cast out demons and open people’s minds to the gospel. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are often the way God wins the battle. For me, it is usually the prophetic word or the gift of healing.
It is precisely what this scripture says. First, the double doors open into the principality’s throne room. The ruling spirit is de-throned, and then everything else falls. Prison gates open, shackles of sickness or torment retreat from afflicting people, eyes of people’s understanding become opened, and deaf ears hear the gospel – Hallelujah!
© Use by Permission Awakening Impact Ministries / Dr Neville Westerbeek van Eerten 2024
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