Monday 10 June 2013

The Anointing of the Holy Spirit


Scripture: 1 John 2 v 27; James 5 v 14

 

In the Old Testament Kings and Priests were anointed with a special oil which set them apart to God for a special office. Old Testament prophets were anointed by the Holy Spirit for the time of their prophesying but the Holy Spirit did not remain on them continuously. The Holy Spirit is also known as the Holy Ghost; the Spirit of the Lord; the Angel of the Lord. The word spirit and angel are interchangeable.

The first person upon whom the Holy Spirit came and remained was Jesus Christ. His whole life was separated to God's plan and purpose. In John 1 v 32 - 34 John the Baptist confirms that he saw the Spirit descending and remaining on Jesus and he repeated it twice as something very unusual. He knew that Jesus was He who would baptize people in the Holy Ghost and he bore record that Jesus was the Son of God.

After Jesus' resurrection and just before His ascension to Heaven in Acts 1 He told the apostles - His chosen followers - to await the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, which came ten days later. It fell upon 120 of them in Acts 2 and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. This turned Peter from a guilt ridden man who denied Jesus into a powerhouse filled with the ability to preach and convert 3000 people. The anointing of the Holy Spirit empowers people to witness for the kingdom of God and Jesus in a dynamic way with signs and wonders following.

The anointing is most precious. The oil of the Holy Spirit is invisible but powerful. It transforms lives. First your own as you are now under new management in a beautiful way. Your life becomes ordered and there is a flow that was absent before. You speak in tongues and your spirit is edified; your mind is vibrant with ideas; you are energised to be proactive with Jesus; you are filled with love, joy and peace from a well that never runs dry.

The more you yield to the Holy Spirit of your life and desires, the stronger the anointing becomes, the deeper the guidance becomes and your prayer life intensifies. You hear the Lord's voice and its easy to obey Him. You begin to leave all planning to Jesus and to just follow Him. He is the only Leader you need to follow. He appoints and anoints those who will deliver His Word and minister to those in need but we are all Kings and Priests in His Royal Priesthood - 1 Peter 2 v 9.

The Holy Spirit is our teacher and the anointing is fresh every morning. In your morning devotions expect your cup to be filled to overflowing. Let it flow into your family first in love and attention to their needs. Pray for them to be blessed. Let it flow in your business and towards your colleagues that all around you receive the peace and joy as you treat everyone with respect.

Let it flow in the Church as you heed the Lord concerning the ministry of the Word according to 2 Corinthians 4 v 1 - 2. Do not handle His Word deceitfully. Check everything with His Word so that false doctrines are choked and only the pure truth is delivered to His followers. The Holy Spirit is also known as the Spirit of Truth and He cannot bless lies or any falseness. If you continue to disregard His promptings He will quietly withdraw and you will not even know that your candle has been extinguished. Revelation 2 v 5 Jesus says "Remember therefore from whence you are fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."

So do not grieve or offend the Holy Spirit because it will result in a departure from the intimacy of fellowship and a blockage to the flow of the anointing.

Some things to be mindful of are

- harsh criticism or judgment of others

- twisting the Word to fit your beliefs

- blocking other's who are anointed

- departing from Grace back to Law

- not discerning a false anointing or doctrine and allowing it to invade your ministry.

These five things have brought the Church into disrepute in many places. Do not follow willy nilly after things that look like they might enliven your meetings. Follow Jesus who is the Way the Truth and the Life with all your heart, mind and strength and you will have a beautiful anointing of the Holy Spirit forever.

Prayer: Heavenly Father we rejoice that we can be baptized in the Holy Spirit to be fruitful and blessed with gifts. Thank You for the precious and powerful anointing on Your Word and on Your children. Keep us faithful to the anointing of the Holy Spirit to learn and grow and teach others the truth. In Jesus' name. Amen.