Sermon Tone Analysis

The Strength to Endure Trials

An Ox is an animal known for its ability to labour, plow, pull and trample with strength and power.

In ancient Israel, the Ox was considered a prized possession.

It was a symbol of wealth & luxury.

The most common Hebrew term used to define an Ox is Shor.

OX - (שׁוֹר, shor).

The Lexham Bible Dictionary defines Ox as a large domesticated animal used for farming duties such as plowing and turning millstones.

Unblemished oxen were called for in Israelite sacrifices (e.g., Lev 9:18–19; Deut 17:1).

The revelation of the passage is that your life becomes the sacrifice.

Twelve Yoke of Oxen

Twelve pairs of oxen A large team that symbolizes wealth, representing what Elisha would have to give up to follow Elijah.

The twelve pair of oxen were labouring to prepare for a harvest.

Twelve is the prophetic number of prophetic government.

12 Tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles, 12 Patriarchs, etc.

The Apostolic Flow and Function

We get the terminology from 1 Corinthians 9:9 by applying the Apostle Paul’s reference of an Ox to broaden the understanding of the apostolic flow and function to the anointing.

The Ox anointing is the apostolic anointing.

The apostolic anointing carries a laborious function and a plowing capacity of an Ox.

The Ox is a strong and powerful animal known for its muscular frame.

It is associated with production, work, and the increase of wealth.

The Strength of an OX

An Ox is designed to plow and trample by force to bring forth extraordinary results!

Plow - To move forcefully into or through something, to proceed steadily and laboriously.

Proverbs 14:4 (ESV) - Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

A barn can be kept clean if there are no oxen present.

Paul quoted Deuteronomy 25:4, which states that an ox should not be muzzled while it treads out the grain.

Simply put, when an ox is used in a harvesting operation, it should be allowed to partake of some of the harvest.

The strength and labour of an ox is a representation of the apostolic anointing.

Apostles are forerunners who pioneer new roads into unlikely places to establish and to build for the kingdom of God.

Apostolic ministry plows into new territories and tap into greater dimensions in the spirit realm.

If there isn’t any messes, then there isn’t any harvests.

No one likes things messy.

People like to be apart of things that have the appearance of comfort.

Churches that do not operate with an apostolic anointing serve as little to no threat to the powers of darkness, but once an apostle comes in on the scene the powers of darkness notice and start to react.

The Ox anointing births powerful moves of God that will challenge the minds of people by spiritually advancing the church to reach higher depths leading to reformation and transformation.

People experience intense warfare when they leave their dry, seeker-friendly, religious centers because now they’re coming face to face with the demonic powers operating within the region they live in.

People who carry an Ox anointing do not build comfort centers, but will build centers of revelation, impartation and activation!

The apostolic mantle builds people and brings forth radical transformation in churches, communities and families.

The Ox anointing breaks through dry spiritual climates by hard spiritual labor and apostolic building!

Apostles Are Laborers

9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.

10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ.

We are weak, but you are strong.

You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.

11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless,

12 and we labor, working with our own hands.

When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;

13 when slandered, we entreat.

We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

The Corinthians had become self-sufficient; they were living in luxury, comfort, and ease.

“It is positive disloyalty to seek our crown before the King gets his.” - H. P. Barker

The church of Corinth enjoyed prestige and privilege, while the apostles were suffering from hunger and thirst and nakedness and persecution.

The true Apostles were put on display like condemned captives at a victory parade, condemned to die, like criminals in the arena at the mercy of executioners.

They are a “spectacle,” which translates theatron.

Theatron -“what one sees at a theater, a play.”

It is as if the world is their stage, while both angels and humans in the amphitheater staring at them.

Instead of living a life of luxury Apostles are working hard with their hands.

They blessed those who cursed them.

They endured persecution instead of getting revenge.

They spoke kindly about people instead of slandering them.

In the eyes of the world, they are considered to be trash.

They were hunted, pursued, and homeless.

They were made as the filth of the world, the scum of all things.

“If the Apostle Paul were living today, could he say to us, as he said to the Corinthians, “You have reigned as kings without us?” - Unknown

Characteristics of an Ox Anointing

They’re strong and apostles have spiritual stamina.

They plow through hard ground and dry spiritual climates - They are not afraid to get their hands dirty.

They’re determined and immovable.

They’re patient and endure hardships.

They’re unfazed by opposition of challenge.

They’re visionaries and master strategists - They plan for the future.

They’re builders - They create pathways for the move of God.

They’re stewards of kingdom revelations and heaven’s mysteries.

They’re pioneers and forerunners.

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They’re humble servants of Christ.

Humility, Tears & Trials

Acts 20:18–19 (ESV) - And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews.

18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,

19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;

Peirasmos (Greek) - Temptation, test, trial.

1 Peter 1:6 (ESV) - In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials.

James 1:12 (ESV) - Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Steadfast, Immovable and Abounding.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV) - Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

“Be steadfast” translates a word that means to be “firmly or solidly in place.”

The Church of God must “stand” in the gospel, and they must stand firm.

“Be immovable.”

Nothing must move the people of God.

“Be abounding” translates a word that here means to “be outstanding, be prominent, excel.”

Just Stand

The enemies of musk oxen are wolves.

When oxen remain undivided and use their strength against wolves they become an immovable force.

When an Ox realizes its strength they become impenetrable against the wolves.

The wolves will realize that it cannot overpower the oxen and will eventually flee.

Ephesians 6:13 (ESV) - Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.