THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

A person turns to the Lord by the work of the Holy Spirit. When the Word is preached, the Holy Spirit reveals the truth about the Lord and the need to open up our heart and lives to His call. No-one can confess Jesus as the Son of God expect by the work of the Holy Spirit. Once a person decides to live for the Lord, He is sealed by the Holy Spirit for redemption. Yet it was necessary in the first century church for a person to be aware of the presence and work of the Holy Spirit.

It is the Lord Jesus who baptizes His people with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist speaks to the people regarding the baptism Christ was going to give. Even the Lord before His ascension asked His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem till they were clothed with power from above. The disciples were so reliant on the inspiration and revelation given to them by the Holy Spirit. We see this recorded all through the book of Acts. A new covenant believer should be much aware of the Holy Spirit and the way the Spirit leads.

Anointing of the Holy Spirit can be summed up as an infilling experience of the Holy Spirit in a person. In Acts 2, the hundred and twenty were filled by the Holy Spirit. We see the power of the Holy Spirit displayed as the disciples prayed together. In Acts 4, we see Stephen being filled by the Holy Spirit as he was being stoned to death. He saw heavens open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. In Acts 9, we see Ananias being inspired by the Lord to pray for Saul of Tarsus that he might be filled with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 10, we see the household of Cornelius being filled by the Holy Spirit as St. Peter preached.

Scripture References:

“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Matthew 3:11)

 

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13)

 

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)

 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

 

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:4)

 

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 4:31)

 

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55)

 

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 9:17)

 

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

PRAYER

Prayer is the life line of a Christian. In the Old Testament times when the leaders called to pray, people prayed. The agents of revival prayed. The law restricted access for a sinner to cling to the throne of God. In the New covenant we have a way opened by our Lord Jesus Christ to access the Father. As the whip pounded His flesh, it was a new way opening for us to approach God. Our Lord Jesus offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins and now we can go with boldness into the throne room of God to seek Him.

 

St. Paul encourages us to “pray without ceasing”. Our prayers have the potential to bring a huge change in all realms of life. Prayer is the most powerful weapon in our armour. One thing is sure, when we reach heaven we would see the many missed opportunities, the untapped potential, the unused gifts, the missed out great plans of God all because we failed to pray. Hence it’s so important to cultivate a lifestyle of prayer.

 

Set apart time to pray during the day. Be aware of His presence through out the day and keep conversing with Him. Days of fasting and praying can help you cultivate a blessed lifestyle of prayer. Be a prayer initiator where God has planted you.Be a channel of His blessings!

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SOME QUOTES ON PRAYER

The most glorious works of grace that have ever took place, have been in answer to prayer.”
— William Carey

 The answer to prayer is assured not only by the promises of God, but also by God’s relation to us as a Father.”
– E.M Bounds

  Prayer means that I come in contact with an almighty Christ, and Almighty results happen along the lines He has laid down.
— Oswald Chambers

    Prayer must be red hot. It is the fervent prayer that is effective.
– E.M. Bounds

 Work as if everything depended upon work and pray as if everything depended upon prayer
– William Booth

   The prayer that prevails with God is the prayer into which we put our soul, whole stretching out towards God in intense and agonizing desire.
– R.A. Torrey

    A man is what he is on his knees before God, and nothing more.
– Robert Murray Mc Cheyne

  Oh! one hour with God infinitely exceeds all the pleasures and delights of this lower world.”
– David Breinard

Scripture References:

“You who answer prayer, to you all people will come. (Psalm 65:2)

 

Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. (1 Chronicles 4:10)

 

Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.” (2 Chronicles 14:11)

 

Hear my cry , O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalm 61:1-2)

 

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)

 

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

 

In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. (John 16:23-24)

 

Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. (Matthew 18:19)

 

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:18)
pray continually, (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

 

And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. (Revelation 5:8)

Meditating the Word of God

The Word of God is exalted above all. We read in the Genesis account that God created everything by His word. We see through the Holy Scriptures how people responded to the word of God. Those who obeyed the word of God and honoured the statutes of God were blessed and were used by God for His purposes.

Hearing the word is one thing but meditation on the Word is an entirely different spiritual discipline. An individual’s walk with the Lord is determined by the amount of time he spends in the word. One cannot meditate on God’s word without giving the highest importance to it. After the death of Moses, as Joshua was ready to take on the new leadership position of the people of God, the Lord asked Him to meditate on the Book of the Law. As a leader, he had to have a thorough knowledge of the Book of Law by think-ing, musing on the Holy Scriptures. He was commanded by God not to de-part from the written word. His success depended on how much He meditat-ed and lived the word of God.

Our Lord Jesus also spoke about the two builders – the one who built his house on the rock and the other on the sand. When we hear the word of God and do not actionize it, we are standing on sinking ground. Storms and struggles are bound to come our way and the ability of our life depends on how seriously we take God’s word and how we medi-tate on the statutes and implement them.
Follow a Bible Reading Plan that will help you get acquainted with the whole realm of the scriptures.

Take a passage or a verse and ask the following questions.

1. What is the context of the verse/passage? You can take the help of commentaries to know more.

2. What is the message implied in the verse/passage? Highlight the main words, points, ideas.

3. Write the points down.

4. Is there any other reference in the scripture that help you estab-lish the message or lesson learnt?

5. How relevant it is to your life-style and how can you apply it? Describe how you can make a change by applying the principles.

6. Have an implementation strategy of the lesson learnt.

7. Speak about the scriptural revela-tion to your mentors, friends and validate the inference.

8. Once you validate your under-standing, write/type and record it in a journal or blog.

9. Keep doing the same everyday and you will see your life being built by the powerful principles of God’s word.

10. Keep researching, reading and understanding more on the pas-sage.

To start with you can have a daily devotion book and see how the au-thor/teacher analyses a verse and brings out scriptural truths.

Scripture References:

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8)

 

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:2-3)

 

For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel. (Ezra 7:10)

 

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:7)

 

My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. (Proverbs 4:20-22)

 

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives free-dom,and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:25)

Praise and Worship

A child of God after embracing the glorious riches of salvation will be in awe of the Lord and His grace showered on him. A thankful heart is what God desires from us.

In the Old Testament times we had the law that made sacrifices mandatory for worship. In the New testament times we needn’t bring any bull or calf to offer thanksgiving, but all that God requires is a thankful heart.

The importance of thanksgiving and worship is emphasised by our Lord Jesus as He asked the Samaritan leper who was healed, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?” The book of Psalms in the center of the scriptures reiterates the importance of thanksgiving. Our Lord Jesus before doing any significant miracle thanked the Father.

We have to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. We have to bow down before God in worship. He deserves all the praise, glory and adoration. In Praise and wor-ship, we declare His majesty and glory. We thank Him for His goodness and faithfulness in our lives.

Worship is experiencing the pres-ence of God in a powerful man-ner. We shed a tear, bow our knees in surrender and with our hands lifted up allow His presence to fill us.

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God does something powerful and glorious during moments of wor-ship. We experience His love and embrace and His touch in our lives. We get empowered for service and receive new vision and grace from above. Our lives radiate His love and glory. The Holy Spirit takes over and we are transformed from glory to glory.

Spiritual songs and hymns play a major role here. We should be cir-cumspect that once we give our hearts to worship God, we should nev-er let the enemy a foothold. Secular songs and hard metal music is det-rimental for spiritual health. When we give praise to God with our tongue and also use it to sing songs that promote sensuality and fanta-sies, we put our spiritual lives in great danger. Music is spiritual and we should offer our hearts to make melody to the Lord.

Let not the world and media influence us. Let’s give utmost im-portance praise and worship offering ourselves as a living sacrifice to the Lord in view of His compassion and mercies.

Scripture References:

“And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”” (Isaiah 6:3 )

 

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice,” (Psalm 95:6-7)

 

“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. (Psalm 33:1-2)

 

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:16)

 

“who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:16)

 

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” (Hebrews 13:15)

 

“”To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25)

 

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:11)

 

And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)

HOLY COMMUNION

Our Lord Jesus on the night he was betrayed went with his disciples to a room prepared to have the Passover meal. The crowds were not there with him. It was just the Lord and his disciples.

Passover was celebrated in com-memoration of the deliverance the Israelites had from the bondage of Egypt. Every house had the blood of the Lamb applied so that the angel of death would not enter . Passover was an image of what the Lamb of God would accomplish for the world. Anyone applying the blood of the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God would be saved from the bondage of sin and satan.

Our Lord thus instituted the Holy Communion so that His disciples would worship the Lord with a new perspective. Our Lord Jesus as He broke the bread said, “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me”. After breaking the bread, He took the cup and said ,” This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remem-brance of me”.

There were 4 cups traditionally in the Passover meal. We believe that the Lord Jesus took the cup that signified redemption and He gave it to His disciples. This was figurative of His blood that redeems us and the new covenant God made with man. As Moses revealed the Old Testament, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hys-sop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you”.

Our Lord Jesus as He took the cup revealed the New Covenant for all who would believe. The New covenant was not sealed with the blood of calves and goats but it was sealed with the blood of the Lord Jesus. He invites us to the table, to be sprinked by His blood and to walk in the newness and bless-edness of life.

As St. Paul was given a revelation of this, he strictly commanded the Church at Corinth to understand the spiritual meaning behind the com-munion. There is clearly no transubstantiation that takes place here. The bread or the wine doesn’t change to the Lord’s body and blood. It is a spir-itual meal that brings us closer to His presence and the bread and cup nec-essarily represents the body and blood of our Lord Jesus.

When we partake of the elements we should do this in remem-brance of that great sacrifice on Calvary that sealed our redemp-tion. If we do not discern the Lord’s body, we invite judgement on ourselves. Many fall sick and even die because of the lack of discernment here.

The elements also show us that we are all members of His body and have a function to perform. We ought to love one another and live for the glory of God.

It also should be noted that the disciples and church gave the highest im-portance to the Communion. We should give the communion table the highest priority in our worship and should unite ourselves with His pur-pose to take the message of the gospel to the ends of the earth.

It’s therefore important to note here that communion is for disciples who know to discern in their heart and minds the body of the Lord Jesus and its spiritual significance.

Every time the people of God broke bread, there was a great release of His blessings and grace. Take the communion table seriously. The Lord Jesus is inviting you.

Scripture References:

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”” (John 6:51)

 

Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.” (Matthew 27:26-31)

 

“So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves be-fore they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come un-der such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-32)

 

“On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.” (Acts 20:7)