Day 27: Anointing Of The Holy Spirit

Affirmation #9

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:” (John 16:7-8)

            From a very young age, I understood death and loss. When I was around four years old I had this fear that my mom was going to die. Since I never was around my dad much, she was all that I had as a parent. I felt this so deeply I was afraid to go to sleep at night. I remember telling her that if she died, I wanted to die also. My life was filled with turmoil and the situation changed often. Her presence was the only thing I felt I could hang onto. Looking back, I can now say I was never alone. God always had His hand on me throughout all I went through. Some might blame God, I don’t. That would be like blaming God for free will. We can’t have it both ways. Decisions were made out of free will, which I had no control over. I was along for the ride. Through it all I have two great appreciations, 1) My mom chose life and I was born, 2) My Daddy in Heaven gave me life, and now I live for Him. All else was worth it. I have eternity to look forward to. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit this is proven. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit we have our guarantee of being a part of the Family of God.

            Jesus walked the earth to represent the Family of God. He was the ambassador of Heaven to a fallen world. From the very beginning the Spirit of God was with Jesus. As Jesus grew and reached the age of reason, which is 12 years old according to the custom. We are told that; “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” (Luk 2:52) When the time came for His public ministry, at His baptism we read, “And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” (Luk 3:22) From that point on Jesus walked in the fullness of His calling. The time had arrived and there was work to be done. Jesus was never alone, the Father was always with Him, “And he [God] that sent me [Jesus] is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” (Joh 8:29) God knew that for Jesus to accomplish everything on earth He was called to, He needed the Father to be with Him. Jesus knew this also and this is why Jesus says, “I always do what pleases him.” In the same manner we can do nothing on our own, we are helpless without our Lord. This is why just as the Father did for Jesus, Jesus is doing for us. “If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (Joh 14:15-18) We see the same thing play out here for us, as in Jesus’ statement.  We are not left alone, and we are to do that which pleases our Lord. Just as Jesus was not left alone, and He did what pleased the Father. “Him [Jesus] hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” (Act 5:31-32) Be encouraged, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Mat 28:20) We are never alone, “EVER!”

            We all have heard the expression “Seal of Approval.” It means that you agree with, bind too, give your word on, and testify that it is accepted as good. This is what we find happening upon Jesus’ life. God set His “Seal” upon Jesus. Now this goes deeper than a seal of approval. I believe it holds all the benefits of a seal of approval, yet even more. Think of it as sealing up a container. You find the product was good, so you mark it with a seal of approval, and then seal it up to prevent any further possible contamination. Let us read, “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” (Joh 6:26-27) Jesus was sealed and approved by the Father. Jesus, by the act of sending us the Holy Spirit as we read above, seals us also. “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” (Eph 1:12-14) Now, Jesus was perfect and sin had no part of Him. We as humans, on the other hand, have to deal with a sinful fleshy nature. So part of the work of this sealing of the Holy Spirit is to make us Holy. The word “Sanctification” means to make pure and Holy. Let’s read “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” (1Pe 1:2) We receive the Holy Spirit to make us Holy/Sanctified, so we can be like the one who sent it to us. “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1Pe 1:15-16)

            So far we have covered that Jesus was not left alone, and we are not left alone. Then we covered how God set His seal upon Jesus, and how the Holy Spirit has sealed us. Now we will cover how Jesus was anointed by God, and how Jesus anoints us. “Anointing” means to smear or smug with oil, it was a big deal during biblical times, and I might add is still today. The Kings of that day along with the Priest, especially the High priest who was the main spiritual leader for that year, all were anointed with oil. Actually, without the anointing they could not hold the office. See 1 King 1:34 and Exodus 28:41 for more information. Now we see that Jesus is anointed by God. Jesus declares “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”(Luk 4:18-19) Again we read, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” (Act 10:38) Jesus was anointed with the “Spirit/Authority” and with “Power.” In the same manner Jesus has done the same thing for us. After His resurrection Jesus appears to the disciples and gives them the Holy Spirit. “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:” (Joh 20:22) They received the “Spirit.” Then we read, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luk 24:49) Later in the book of Acts, we read how they received “Power” when the Holy Spirit was poured out fully. “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Act 2:3-4) Thus, just as Jesus was filled with the “Spirit/Authority” and with “Power,” Jesus does the exact same thing for us. We are to be filled with the “Spirit” which gives us authority and with “Power!”

            I want to share some more scripture so I can really drive this home. If you are a believer and Jesus is your Lord, you have been anointed by Him. “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.” (1Jn 2:20) Again we read, “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” (1Jn 2:26-27) Finally we read, “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”(2Co 1:19-22)

            We are exploring all the amazing things Jesus has done for us through the power and will of the Father. Now we cover a most solemn thing. To say it clearly is this, “Without the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we cannot claim to be God’s Children. We have no hope and no salvation.” The great news is, “Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.” (1Jn 4:15) With this confession we receive this assurance, “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” (1Jn 4:13) The reasons for receiving the Spirit are many, yet primarily as follows, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1Co 3:16) We become the temple when the spirit dwells within us. Without the spirit’s presence, we are bastards in a fallen world. Let’s read, “…Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (Rom 8:9b) The good news is when we receive the Spirit through our faith in Jesus; we become the children of God. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Rom 8:14-17) Then we can have fellowship with the Family of God, especially the Godhead, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”(2Co 13:14)

            The entirety of what we have talked about in this book, especially the “Affirmations,” is accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit. It all comes to reality in the Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit we have nothing! I cannot express this strongly enough. If we do not have the Spirit, if it is as some claim, no longer active; then we are all lost and will receive the destruction of Hell fire. This concept that the spirit is no longer active is a lie straight from Satan’s own mouth. Never believe it, and if you are being taught this, I encourage you to first seek God’s will. Ultimately you must flee such teachings as they are harmful to your very soul. All sins can be forgiven. Every sin but one, Jesus warns us, “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” (Mat 12:31-32) One of the reasons I stress this so severely, is we cannot fulfill the following promise without the Spirit. Jesus declares; “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” (Joh 14:12) We can do nothing without the Spirit’s help; we need the “Gifts” and the “Fruits” of the Spirit. Part of the process of receiving the Spirit is as follows, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Act 2:38-39) We are to repent from our sins, be baptized, then just as Jesus received the Holy Spirit at His baptism, we will also receive “Power”. Then as we grow strong in the Spirit just like Jesus, we can ask for more, “…how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luk 11:13b) Please also note that the promise of the Holy Spirit is for those who are “Far Off, and everyone whom the Lord calls!” That is all of us today, you, me, and our children!

            “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Rom 15:13) “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.” (Tit 3:4-8)

{For more information on the Holy Spirit, please refer to Appendix A.}

The depth, height, and breadth of the topic of the Holy Spirit cannot be done
justice in one chapter. The scope of this book is to cover how we are to be
like Jesus in the Kingdom to come and how we are like Him now. To that end,
there are many other great books on the Holy Spirit that go into great depth.
To study the Holy Spirit is a worthy endeavor and worth your time, I promise
you. I encourage you to ask your pastor or minister to direct you to these
resources.

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