PENTECOST WEEK (PART 7)
TEXT:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me ... " ( Luke 4 verse 18, King James Version).
The Spirit Himself that is gifted us and His power and anointing that is at work in us needs to be distinguished.
The other day, we mentioned that there's a marked difference between the indwelling Spirit and the outpoured Spirit as far it relates to His impact on mankind. We pointed out that while the outpoured Spirit provides power and spiritual gifts for Christian service (Acts 1 verse 8; 1st Corinthians 12 verses 7 to 11), by the indwelling Spirit on the other hand we are supplied with His Fruit or Christlike character (Galatians 5 verses 21 to 22). In other words, while the outpoured Spirit supplies us with the needed power and gifts for service, the indwelling Spirit focuses on our sanctification, ensuring that we mature and attain to the much desired Christ-likeness that God so dearly want for us (see Romans 8 verse 29, 2nd Corinthians 3 verse 18; Colossians 3 verse 10). For lack of time and space, there were matters of note that should have been mentioned in the earlier parts of this series which were not. Today, let's go through them as the Lord will help us.
Prominent among these is that the Holy Spirit that dwells in man (1st Corinthians 3 verse 16, 6 verse 19; 2nd Corinthians 6 verse 16) has a Personality, being the Person of the Holy Spirit Himself, and therefore He is in us to rule over us. He's there also to lead us (Romans 8 verse 14, Galatians 5 verse 18); bear witness with our spirits (Romans 8 verse 16); Comfort, Strengthen, Counsel, Intercede, Standby, Advocate and Help us (John 14 verse 16, The Amplified Version).
Besides, He's in us to anoint our inner man with wisdom, revelation knowledge, understanding, might, counsel, and the fear of the Lord, etc (Isaiah 11 verse 2; Ephesians 1 verses 17 and 18).
But the Holy Spirit that falls upon man following the Pentecost experience is without personality. In contradistinction to the former, He doesn't rule over us. The Lord Jesus tells us that we shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon us (Acts 1 verse 8). So, at Pentecost, it's the power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit that is ministered to us, not Himself as a Person. We need to take note of this fact!
On the one hand, whereas man is subject and should submit to the Person of the indwelling Spirit, on the other hand, the power and the gifts from the outpoured Spirit is subject to man. Actually, you are to determine the extent of use of the Spirit's anointing. That's why the Bible says that “The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” (1st Corinthians. 14 verse 32). We need to understand these things, so that we are not confused about the Spirit's operation in and with us.
Again, let's get to understand that whereas the Holy Spirit dwells only in the saved ones (John 14 verse 17), His power may fall upon the unsaved or carnal person such as Balaam, so that such a man becomes endued with supernatural ability. Remember that at a time, Samson's carnality didn't preclude the flow of the power of God through him.
Undoubtedly, the Spirit's anointing may also be upon an animal, for instance, upon an ass to do His bidding (Numbers 22 verses 21 to 33) or an inanimate objects like handkerchiefs or aprons for healing (Acts 19 verse 12). Have you witnessed in Church where the anointing of the Spirit came upon someone whose salvation is widely questioned, or someone that is often referred to as being carnal? Although the Church at Corinth was largely carnal (1st Corinthians 3 verses 1, 3 to 4), it functioned abundantly in the gifts of the Spirit of God (1st Corinthians 1 verses 4 to 7). If God could use an ass, why would you doubt prophecies or other spiritual manifestations from one that is carnal?
Another thing is that His anointing may well remain with those who were once saved but who are by their conduct out of the Way, eg, satan, who was the anointed cherub (Ezekiel 28 verse 14). Despite his fall, he remains largely anointed. This is so because the gifts and the callings of God are without repentance (Romans 11 verse 29).
That's why the Church has to be very careful with men that are gifted by the Spirit of God. It's possible for one to be completely out of God's way, yet may still be functioning in the Spirit's anointing for the simple fact that the gifts and the callings of God are without repentance (Romans 11 verse 29).
PRAYER:
Holy Father, thank you for the gift of Your Spirit to me to mature me in Christ and to empower me for service. Thank You for keeping me in the Lord till the end, in Jesus name.