Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit dozens of times in His ministry. In the latter part of the gospel of John, before His death, He sought to clarify the coming of the Holy Spirit. In those verses He also explains His role. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is Mine and make it known to you.” (John 16:13-15)
If you have studied about the role of Christ Jesus, then you know He came to reveal the words of Father. As Jesus begins to close His earthly ministry, He seems to be symbolically passing the torch to the third part of the Godhead (the Holy Spirit). Many of the roles Christ fulfilled on earth the Holy Spirit would also fulfill. However, while in the flesh, Jesus walked beside the disciples. The Holy Spirit was coming to reside inside of them. He was not coming in flesh, but to live inside our flesh. “And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.” (Romans 8:9-11)
There are many benefits to having the Holy Spirit inside of us as Christians. One benefit is the anointing of God (which we have not covered thus far in this series). Anointing is the initial act of the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit. At our baptism, when we are saved from our sins by being cleansed by the precious blood of Christ (Acts 2:38-39), we are given the seal and anointing of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30, II Corinthians 1:21-22, 5:5). What we do with that anointing is up to us! The Bible gives us several stories about the anointing of prophets, priests, and kings. In a round-about way we as Christians fulfill all of those roles as we preach, serve, and lead in the church.
Why don’t we think of our walk as an anointed walk? Maybe you’ve heard televangelists and popular religious speakers discuss their “anointing.” Maybe you viewed that with skepticism, which you should (Matthew 7:15-16, 20), but do not dismiss the biblical teaching of God’s anointing. John spoke to the church in his first epistle and stated “you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things” (I John 2:20). Remember the promise Jesus had previously given to His disciples that they could understand the will of God, and words of Christ, with the aid of the Holy Spirit. Later John added, “but the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” (I John 2:27)
I can almost hear the arguments of some who might question, “Doesn’t that apply to the first century church when they had the supernatural power Holy Spirit?” Of course. But, why wouldn’t it apply now? The Holy Spirit still convicts men of sin. The Holy Spirit still indwells the believer. The Holy Spirit still makes intercession for us. Why wouldn’t He anoint us, aid us, and inspire us to follow the will of God? In fact, He wrote the Bible (I Peter 1:19-21)! And everything in it is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16-17). With the anointing of the Holy Spirit we can see our purpose which will encourage us to plug into a ministry, bless others, and serve in the kingdom.
Let's go bear the fruit of the Spirit and have a great week!
You are loved.
Dr. Ray Reynolds
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