Sunday sermon by Pastor Rajesh Mathew, Cornerstone Church, 28 August 2022

Isaiah 45: 1-3- 45 “Thus says the LORD to His anointed,

To Cyrus, whose right hand I have [a]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:

2‘I will go before you

And[b] make the [c]crooked places straight;

I will break in pieces the gates of bronze

And cut the bars of iron.

3I will give you the treasures of darkness

And hidden riches of secret places,

That you may know that I, the LORD,

Who call you by your name,

Am the God of Israel.

The holy Spirit gave me the Word- Next level anointing. God is going to anoint some of you for the next level. Not the wisdom you have now but the next level wisdom, not the favour you have now but the next level of Favour; not the grace you have now but the grace of the next level, not the current helpers but the next level of helpers, not the blessing you have now but the next level of blessing, not the finances now but the next level of financial breakthrough, not the ministry you have now but the next level of ministries, not the health you have now but the next level of health, not your current spiritual level but the next level of spiritual anointing. Take it in the Spirit. Certain lives are going to experiences the fresh move of the Holy Spirit. This will manifest upon certain lives.

I refuse to be where I am now, say it loud.

Don’t think how this will happen? The Holy Spirit will do it. You only need to say, ‘Lord I am ready to enter into the next level’. In life God has created us to move from one level to another level. To move us from one phase of life to another phase- this is God’s desire.

Just like in the sphere of education- Will you study all your life in kindergarten? Even in education, there are levels, grade 1 to 10 and then degree and PhD. You can’t study in nursery all your life.

God has kept levels in your life. Thee are levels in the ministry. If you are stuck in one level only, it is very frustrating. God is not wishing that you are stuck only in one level. That’s why the word says that He transforms us from glory to glory, from strength to strength, from faith to faith.

You can’t face the future with an anointing of the past. You can’t face the giants of 2022 with the anointing of 2021!

That’s why you need to say I am stepping into the next level. Lord anoint me to get into the next level by His grace. The devil wants you to be stagnant. He wishes that you remain stuck! Today God is releasing an anointing upon His church.

If your car gets stuck in a traffic jam, the cars behind you will get annoyed with you. Only you know that your car has broken down but those behind you don’t; know that. They may ask you to get out of their way.

This morning heavens do not want you to be stuck in one place.

I don’t want a mental break down. I won’t have a mental, financial, spiritual breakdown. God is anointing me so that I don’t remain stuck! Receive it your spirit. UNSTUCK!! Time to be unstuck! The oil is going to flow!

Psalm 92:10- You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured onme.

What is that horn? It is your authority, your strength. God says that with new oil God is anointing your horn? Why? To take you forward. To move you ahead.

The Holy Spirit is showing me that the church of God is going to move forward in India. Even if the laws change and are contrary to the church, it won’t be a hinderance for God’s church. The Holy Spirit is the one who will move the church of God forward. The Lord is moving the church

in forward like an army. God is raising up armies of God in the east, north, west and south of India. Are you a part of this army? If yes, say YES Lord!

1 Samuel 9:20- 0 As for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not be concerned about them, for they have been found. And for whom are all things that are desirable in Israel? Are they not for you and for all your father’s household (family)?”

• Saul was going after the lost donkeys of his father. The prophet says, don’t worry about them. They have been found. Today God is restoring you whatever you have lost. It may be your health, finance, ministry, relationships.
• You may be going after what you have lost but you need to know that at the same time there is an oil that is kept for you that is coming looking for you when you are looking for something, it may be a health or a job or a family relationship, or a marriage, or a child. You are looking for something. Don’t be a donkey seeker! Saul did not tell the prophet about the lost donkey but instead the prophet himself tells Saul, don’t worry about that and he goes on to say that the desire of the entire Israel is upon you!
• The message bible says, don’t worry about the donkeys. So, don’t worry! At this moment Israel’s future is in your hands. India’s future is in your hands, God is giving this generation India’s future. This nation’s future is upon your hands. The future of your family is given to your hands by the Lord. The future of your children, is given into your hands. The future of your business is given into your hands. There are people looking for house, for jobs etc and that’s why many people come to church.
• But God is sending prophets to reveal more important things. The future of your life, your generations, your nation. It is not just seeking donkeys for greater things.

God wants to bring your entire family to a royal status

• Oil came upon Saul not because he seeks donkeys but to reign like a king. God has a greater purpose for your life. He has an important purpose over your life. Visa will come, children will come, homes will be built, cars and blessings will all come. Don’t be worried about that but let His greater purpose be revealed to you.
• Ask Him to reveal His greater purpose to you. You are meant to be a person with a purpose and goal. It is not to be weighed down by 1 or 2 crore rupees of debt God will do it. don’t be wearied but the losses in your business. But this oil is to reveal your greater purpose in life.

Saul says, I am the least of the tribes but God doesn’t look at your tribe to pick you. God deliberately chose the weak to shame the strong. God chose the foolish to shame the wise. I am

the biggest example of this. He looked for the most foolish one to make him a pastor of the wise people. He looked for the weakest to make him a pastor of the strongest! H

God doesn’t look at your caste, at your tribe, at your educational level. He has a goal and purpose over your life. This morning the Holy Spirit wants to stir up God’s purpose in your life. The stone which the builders rejected and called worthless became the Cornerstone. This is the Cornerstone church. Many rejected this church but the Lord has made it the Cornerstone.

Many people may have called you useless but heavens have set their eyes on you. He is TOOO God! Only He can do something.

• The oil was waiting to take Saul to the next level. Jesse had 7 children. Samuel prophet comes with oil to the seven children of Jesse. The prophet did not know who to anoint. He saw the first one- strong, handsome, intelligent and educated and very good looking. He was about to anoint him but wait, God said, he may be all of this and more but I look at the heart. All the outwardly things are good but still God looks at your heart.
• Are you hungry for God, are you thirsty for Jesus? My heart is only for you, nobody more important to me than You Lord! If you say that, then the oil will flow for you.

1 Samuel 16:7- Man is moved by the outward appearance but Jehovah looks at the heart.

• That means that your appearance cannot move you into the next level. Your workout muscle, your looks, your family name, your certificates or your wealth will not take you to the next level. I know people who have had a double PhD but still working as a waiter. Nothing wrong with being a waiter but being a waiter after two PhDs is not good.
• There are people who have gone to Bible colleges but not won a single soul to Christ. There are people who have studied the Bible in Greek and Latin but have not preached once from the pulpit.

Nothing outwardly will take you to the next level but it is only the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit.

• So, Prophet Samuel came to all the 7. The 7th means is the sign of perfection but the oil did not fall upon him the 7th son of Jesse. Just because you are perfect, it doesn’t mean you qualify for the next level.
• The 8th son was David, he was shepherding the flock and Bible scholars say that he was a mistake of Jesse, an illegitimate child. Even in things that may seem like a mistake, if you are ready to come under the oil the Lord will lift you to the next level.
• God is saying this to somebody who is guilty about the mistakes you have made, but God says just come under the Oil.
• David’s heart was for God. There is nothing more important for this 8th one. The son who was seen as a mistake by the entire family, the Lord anointed and took him to the next level. • David came from obscurity to light.

The season ahead is that where those who are insignificant will be raised by the Lord. Those who were hiding in jungles, God will bring them to light. God will bring to the forefront those preachers who nobody wanted.

The first anointing took him to the palace.

The second time, made him the king of Judah

The third time, made him the king of entire Israel.

There is another level for you! God has kept it for you.

Isaiah 45: 1-3- 45 “Thus says the LORD to His anointed,

To Cyrus, whose right hand I have [a]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:

2‘I will go before you

And[b] make the [c]crooked places straight;

I will break in pieces the gates of bronze

And cut the bars of iron.

3I will give you the treasures of darkness

And hidden riches of secret places,

That you may know that I, the LORD,

Who call you by your name,

Am the God of Israel.

1. God says, “Cyrus who is anointed”- BE THE CHILD OF PROPHECY

• This was spoken 200 years before Cyrus was even born! Not when Cyrus was sitting in a meeting. Even before you were born, God had a plan to anoint you and was waiting. Cyrus was a son of prophecy.
• Be a prophetic child. There is a prophecy about your life. Look at everybody God used, they all had a prophecy about them. John the Baptist, even before he was born, God had declared the purpose of his birth. He was meant to be the forerunner of Jesus, the one who will prepare the way for the Lord. What he will eat, wear and where he will sleep was written before he was born.
• Jesus too was sent to fulfil the prophecy. Even what Jesus would say on the cross was written earlier on and the prophecy was fulfilled. Look at Samson in the Old Testament or Paul in the New, there were prophecies about them

There are prophecies about you! You need to find it from the Bible. Your faith should be based on the prophecy that came through from the Word of God.

• God has said in advance that He will pour out His Holy Spirit upon all people. If you own that prophecy, you will see it happen. Joel the prophet said that and it still speaks to you! It is written about you, even before you were born. It is written that by His stripes you are healed even before you had the disease. You need to find out the prophecy written about you.
• If you believe, you and your family will be blessed. He delights in the prosperity of His saints. Hold that prophecy tight. If you do, heaven will release an oil to help that Word fulfil in your life. Only the anointing will move you into the next level.

2. FAMILY YOKES WILL BE BROKEN

To subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings,

• Every nation comes out from a person. In the older days a couple would have 11 to 12 children and one person I know had 24 children and if they further had 10 children, it would actually become one church and go on to become a village. Anointing means a burden lifting and yoke destroying power of God.
• There are family yokes that will stop you from moving into the next level. Everybody and every family have this. There is some yoke in the family that holds you back. In a family, all

women are beautiful to behold but not one is married. There is a yoke that stops them from moving into the next level. The devil says, you sit there beautiful, have boyfriends, have fun but I won’t let you move to the level of marriage. That which breaks yokes is not your smartness, it is the anointing.

• This morning certain family yokes be broken in the name of Jesus. Some people have been doing business for years but seeing no profit. These are family yokes.

Why does the anointing come upon you? To lose the armour of kings!

• There are certain yokes which are territorial spirits or territorial yokes. My spiritual father used to show me when I used to go with him to pray. He used to show me some streets and say that all the homes in this street have at least one drunkard. All the households in that area, both rich and poor were slaves to alcohol. Such yokes will be broken when you receive the anointing.
• Not only will you see the yokes upon you breaking but also yokes in your entire area and people in that area too will see the deliverance and steer them into the next level. • Some areas, no matter who does business, there is no prosperity. Certain areas where people just die at a young age. These are territorial yokes.
• If you receive the Lord theologically and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour, it may not necessarily break all yokes from your life. You need to be filled with the Holy Spirit that comes from your faith in Jesus. If you are filled with that oil, the yokes will be broken.

3. THE ANOINTING WILL OPEN DOORS

To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut:

• When the anointing comes, then doors will open for you. Whether it is for business, for children, for marriage, for ministry, doors and gates will open, when you walk under this oil. The Holy Spirit is saying that He will open certain international doors for His people.
• Certain persons will see God open up big doors for your children. Paul said, that God has opened for me an effective door for ministry.
• Which door needs to open in your life? If the doors need to open, just walk in the oil of the Spirit. When it sees the oil, the doors will open. No door will shut before you.

Last week, I was in Nagpur, when I was sitting in the room in prayer, the Lord said, you go wherever you want and the doors will open ask of me and I will give you the nations. • For certain people, doors of marriage, education, business, universities be opened in Jesus name.

• There are also Gates that need to be opened. Even inside the seas there are gates. If someone from Sri Lanka enter into Indian waters, they are caught. There are unseen doors underwaters and also in the air. India needs to grant permission to flights of even the richest countries, like emirates, Etihad to cross sand use the Indian air space.

Similarly, people may have passports, visa, influence but yokes are stopping you from entering into the new nations. God is breaking off that yoke by the power of His anointing. This is also for your children and not just for you.

• The oil upon Aaron’s head flows down his garment. The oil upon you will flow down to your children.
• Last week I saw the wishes pouring in with people dancing and the singing for my birthday. I was overwhelmed. When I went back home I told the Lord, let those who celebrated always have celebrations in their lives. I refused to be blessed alone.
• May doors open. Financial doors open up, spiritual doors, doors of blessings open up, doors for the next level open up. Let my spiritual children and my church experience doors being opened upon them.

I refuse to be limited to Kochi! I refuse to be a local champion. My business will not be limited tothis city. Let the nations open up for you. May the Lord open up doors for you.

4. THE LORD HOLDS YOUR RIGHT HAND

To Cyrus, whose right hand I have [a]held—

• The Lord says, I hold His right hand. He holds our right hand. Jesus has held your right hand, what more do you want? Not to keep you in the same level but to take you to the next level. He Himself will take you to the next level holding you right hand.
• His right hand will drag some of you to the next level. Some people are scared to go to the next level. They worry- What if I fall, what if I slip, what if I fail? But God says, ‘son, daughter I have held you right hand. I will not fail even if you do!’
• The Lord’s Right Hand will take you from failure to victory. His right hand.

The Holy Spirit is moving. The Holy Spirit has held your right hand, not to see you defeated but to see you victorious.

Nations of the world will open for some of you. Doors of health will open.

A paper that needs out be released from the health board of a nation is being releasedmiraculously. Heavens are opening out that block.

The Holy Spirit will take you walking miraculously in paths that you never have traversed in the past miraculously.

• For the just shall live by faith. The righteous shall live by faith. If you do not have faith, then you are not just, you are not righteous. You are unjust if you are not walking in faith. It is not a small thing. The just shall live by faith.
• If you are justified by the Blood of Jesus, you will walk in the blessing of God.

Hebrews 1:9- You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” Because you love righteousness and hate wickedness, I have anointed you with fresh oil. • If there are mistakes you have made in your life, ask him forgiveness. You cannot carry the oil and sin together. Ask Him for forgiveness. There is oil residing in you.