The Crown of Anointing
The Crown of Anointing
My apologies to Oliver Lee Ellenwood, from whom I heard, many years ago, the expression, "The Crown of Anointing."
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. (Isaiah 61:1)
It is my understanding that Jesus of Nazareth is named "Christ" (anointed with the Spirit) because He has the Spirit of God without measure. His disciples are called "Christians," perhaps meaning "little Christ."
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. (John 3:34—KJV)
If we are to understand how Jesus did the things He did and spoke the Words He did, we must recognize it was because God has given Him the Fullness of God's Spirit.
It may be true that the Christian churches do not make more of an impact on the world than they do because they often operate in terms of human abilities rather than by the Spirit of God.
Why is this, do you suppose? I think it is the natural tendency of human beings to trust in themselves rather than in God. The local church is faced with the problem of the salvation of souls; the spread of the Gospel; paying for the building; sending out missionaries; and various other responsibilities.
How are we to do all this? Since our reputation is at stake, we endeavor to gain as many members as we can—if for no other reason than to pay the bills. If we are not careful, the desire for a large church can persuade us to use human means to attract people.
Also, we may be reluctant to tell people on Sunday morning that they must deny themselves, take up their cross of deferred desires, and follow the Master diligently, obeying Him in all He requires. We may be under the impression that if we tell the congregation of the exact demands of Christ, we might not add worshipers as rapidly as we may wish.
Thus the very force, that eventually may attract people, the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, is removed from the assembling and we join the ranks of the powerless churches of believers who often become little more than a social group in the community.
All of us in America, every assembling of Christians, should pray that God will send His Spirit upon us. In addition, each Christian family, if it is to survive the coming persecution in America, must draw closer each day to the Lord Jesus until we can hear His voice and know what we are to do.
The following verse tells us how to gain more of the Spirit of God.
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him. (Acts 5:32)
To those who obey Him.
I am of the opinion that the problem with many of us today is that we are trying to do the work of Christ without Christ. It may be true that we do not believe Jesus actually will lead us step by step each day. We may claim, "Our work is God's work" and proceed to do that we think is a good idea.
How many people, including ministers, are waiting and listening to Jesus to find out what He really wants us to do. I think it may be common for ministers to tell us that the Bible informs us of all we need to know. Our task is to just do what it says.
If that sort of thing were true, the Jews, having the Scriptures, would have had no need of Prophets. Would they?
I may be incorrect here, but I believe the Bible is not so much a record of people reading the Scripture and doing what it says, as it is a record of God leading individuals to do what He desires at any given moment.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways. (Hebrews 1:1)
Is God in our day actually speaking to the American religious leaders, or are they just imagining what God is thinking and saying?
I know when I pray for God ro revive America, He says that I had better pray for myself and my loved ones that we will draw closer to Jesus, if we hope to stand and assist those in need in the coming days of Divine judgment upon the United States. The implication is that our nation has crossed the line in regards to sin!
Is this true?
We need the crown of anointing of the Spirit of God. We will have this only as we obey God strictly at all times in every circumstance.
Also, Jesus told us in the Bible, we should pray without ceasing for the Spirit.
I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. (Luke 11:8)
The Lord is telling us (above) we should persist in praying for the Holy Spirit, and if we do we will receive the answer.
In any case, we need to persist in prayer at all times until we are certain that we are where we are supposed to be, and doing what we are supposed to be doing. If we are to receive more of God's Spirit we must hear from Christ!
The Apostle Paul made an interesting statement:
But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. (Romans 8:9)
When speaking in tongues first came to be part of our worship, the idea was voiced at times that if someone did not speak in tongues they did not have the Spirit of God. The old-time "Pentecosters" used to insist that people did not have the Holy Spirit until they were baptized by the Spirit and spoke in tongues. You probably are too young to remembers those days.
I personally have been "in Pentecost" since the late 1940's. I am here to say that some believers who spoke in tongues years ago do not have the Spirit of Christ today. I know this because they do not show the fruit of the Spirit in their behavior. They are filled with hate, misery, and worry instead of love, joy, and peace.
As far as people having the Spirit of Christ who do not speak in tongues, I am sure there are many. However, I believe if they will conduct a regular prayer session with the Lord every day, they may find themselves speaking in tongues during one of their times of prayer, whether they like it or not.
It is just not that difficult. If you are prayed up, obeying Christ in everything that you know, and feel a little urge to speak in tongues, then launch out. God will not give you something of Satan if you are asking for more of His Spirit!
After all, to the early believers, as recorded in the Bible, speaking tongues was the evidence that the believer had received the Spirit of God.
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