Sometimes humans can be so arrogant when speaking against
things they don’t understand. Some people deny the power of the Holy Spirit, or
deny the anointing and manifestation of glory simply because they don’t believe
it. However, they have to actually believe first, and then they will see it. It
is backwards to what we have been trained to think; which actually makes our
thinking backwards and God’s thinking the right way. We are anointed, Jesus was
anointed, and the glory which comes as a heaviness has been around a long time.
But in order to understand it we have to look at all of these aspects together.
If we look at miracles and declare that they vanished with the apostles, we
would be correct on a personal level because for the one without faith there
are no miracles. For the one without faith there are no healings, and likewise
there is no power in the Holy Spirit. For the one who does not believe on the
Holy Spirit, there is no being clothed with power, no anointing, no glory. Yet
we see from history, that preaching the cross and salvation brought the
manifestation of miracles. The preaching of miracles did not bring the power of
the Spirit. Let’s look at some words to understand this.
Jesus was the anointed Christ. “Christ” and “Messiah”
means anointed. The Spirit of the
Lord, the Holy Spirit, does the anointing. While a human might use oil, or
baptism in water, or some other ceremonial practice to call someone anointed,
the Spirit is the one that truly anoints. In the Old Testament Daniel uses the
word Messiah to tell us of the time
period when Jesus would come to earth.
OT:4898 mashiyach (maw-shee'-akh); from OT:4886;
anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint);
specifically, the Messiah: KJV - anointed, Messiah.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
Dan 9:24-26 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people
and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of
sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting
righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint [4886] the
most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the
commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah [4898] the
Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be
built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.26 And after threescore and
two weeks shall Messiah [4898] be cut off, but not for himself: and the people
of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the
end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are
determined. KJV
“Messiah” is a derivative of mashach, which is “to anoint”. David was rubbed with oil as a
public display by the Prophet to declare David the next King. This was a
ceremonial act, but the Spirit came on David at that time, similar to Jesus’
baptism by John.
OT:4886 mashach (maw-shakh'); a primitive root; to rub
with oil, i.e. to anoint; by implication, to consecrate; also to paint: KJV -
anoint, paint. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance
with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
1 Sam 16:13-14 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and
anointed [4886] him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord
came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.14
But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord
troubled him. KJV
The Holy Spirit came on David when he was anointed and
the Holy Spirit left Saul, which made Saul literally crazy. The unsoundness of
mind that people have without the Spirit should not surprise us. Lucifer was
called the anointed cherub, but the word anointed
here is different; it does not mean “consecrate” but to “spread out” or “expand”.
Lucifer was not expanding physically as in gaining weight, but Lucifer was
growing or spreading out in regards to gaining ability, responsibility, and
rulership. In other words, Lucifer was anointed to grow in his position; that
was until iniquity was found in him.
OT:4473 mimshach (mim-shakh'); from OT:4886, in the sense
of expansion; outspread (i.e. with outstretched wings):KJV -
anointed.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with
Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc.
and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Ezek 28:13-14 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God;
every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the
beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle,
and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee
in the day that thou wast created.14 Thou art the anointed [4473]cherub that
covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou
hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire KJV
The prophecy of Jesus from Isaiah announces that the
Messiah to come would have the Holy Spirit on him and he would be anointed. It
would be a consecration, which is sanctification or a setting apart.
Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because
the Lord hath anointed [4886] me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath
sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and
the opening of the prison to them that are bound; KJV
The word Christ
also means “anointed”, it’s not a last name, but a description, “Jesus the
anointed one”. It would be similar to saying “Jesus the healer”.
NT:5547 Christos (khris-tos'); from NT:5548; anointed,
i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus: KJV - Christ.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive
Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.
Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible
Translators, Inc.)
Matt 16:16-17 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art
the Christ [5547], the Son of the living God.17 And Jesus answered and said
unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh
and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
KJV
Peter knew that Jesus was the anointed one by the Father
revealing it to him. John later says that these things are written so that
people would believe/have faith that Jesus is the anointed one, the Son of God,
and then have eternal life. Without having faith first, we will not understand
the anointing.
John 20:30-31 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the
presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:31 But these are
written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ [5547], the Son of God;
and that believing ye might have life through his name. KJV
Because of the crucifixion, believers now have the same
consecration Jesus had, it is like being rubbed with oil. The idea is that
David was rubbed with oil so that his brothers could see there was a blessing
on him, even if they could not see the Holy Spirit on him. Jesus was anointed
with oil just before his crucifixion, but truly when the Holy Spirit descended
on him he was anointed. The Spirit anointed Jesus with dunamis, miracle working power (Strong’s #1411, we will see this
shortly).
NT:5548 chrio (khree'-o); probably akin to NT:5530
through the idea of contact; to smear or rub with oil, i.e. (by implication) to
consecrate to an office or religious service: KJV - anoint.(Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
Acts 10:38 How God anointed [5548] Jesus of Nazareth with
the Holy Ghost and with power [1411]: who went about doing good, and healing
all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. KJV
This same word, chrio
is used for us as well. We are anointed and we will see that we have dunamis power as well.
2 Cor 1:21-22 Now he which stablisheth us with you in
Christ, and hath anointed [5548] us, is God;22 Who hath also sealed us, and
given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. KJV
We are sealed and given a small token, the Holy Spirit in
our hearts. Another word that describes the anointing is the word chrisma.
NT:5545 chrisma (khris'-mah); from NT:5548; an unguent or
smearing, i.e. (figuratively) the special endowment ("chrism") of the
Holy Spirit: KJV - anointing, unction. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's
Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright ©
1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
1 John 2:27 But the anointing [5545] which ye have
received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as
the same anointing [5545] teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no
lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. KJV
Chrism
means “anointing” or “holy anointing”. Usually people refer to this as “anointing
with myrrh”, but notice John is saying we have received the anointing from the
Holy Spirit that abides in us and we have the Holy Spirit to teach us.
John 14:25-26 These things have I spoken unto you, being
yet present with you.26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the
Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all
things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. KJV
The word unction
is the same word chrism.
1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction [5545] from the Holy
One, and ye know all things. KJV
Jesus is the anointed one, the one prophesied to come. Just
before Jesus left, he promised the Holy Spirit would come. Today, we are
anointed and have the Holy Spirit on the inside rather than on us
conditionally. This is the type of anointing that people have, but there is
another idea we have for anointing, which is when the Holy Spirit fills a place
with glory. This is the verbiage we use when we speak of the glory of God, we
say the anointing filled the room. Truly what we mean is that we experienced
the glory of the Holy Spirit.
The anointing that a person has for something specific is
internal and is different than the anointing that comes into a place when glory
falls. The old time preachers used to have regular experiences of glory falling
and in turn people falling under the anointing. When the manifestation of glory
occurs, it will fill the place with the obvious presence of the Holy Spirit.
2 Chron 5:13-14 It
came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound
to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their
voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the
Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the
house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord; 14 So that the
priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory
[3519] of the Lord [Aleph Tav] had filled the house of God. KJV
OT:3519 kabowd (kaw-bode'); rarely kabod (kaw-bode');
from OT:3513; properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor
or copiousness: -glorious (-ly), glory, honour (-able).(Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
Glory
is
a type of anointing that feels heavy on people. The priests could not stand,
that means they either sat down or laid down, but they could not stand. It’s
not that they didn’t want to stand, or thought it would be better to lay down;
they could not stand, something prevented them from standing. This is better
understood as the “weight of glory”. It is not actually the word anointing but people have morphed the idea
into the glory being an anointing. Ezekiel received the Holy Spirit when the
glory came.
Ezek 1:28-2:2 As the appearance of the bow that is in the
cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about.
This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory [3519] of the Lord. And
when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.2:1
And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak [Aleph
Tav] unto thee.2 And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set
me upon my feet, that I heard him [Aleph Tav] that spake unto me. KJV
Ezekiel fell on his face, he didn’t decide to lay down,
he fell down. Then the Lord said stand up. Understanding this, we now have some
clues as to what was happening 75 to 100 years ago when people ministered in
tent meetings and the like. Firstly, we have to understand that we are not
trying to find a secret formula to duplicate the miracles that happened in the
past. The Holy Spirit is perfectly capable of doing a new thing if he so
desires. But the question as to why we don’t see these miracle services today
may be understood by understanding the anointing and the glory. And for those
who believe that miracle services are strange or “of the devil”, I would
suggest they look at scripture carefully.
John 18:1-6 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went
forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the
which he entered, and his disciples.2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew
the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples.3 Judas then,
having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and
Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.4 Jesus
therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said
unto them, Whom seek ye?5 They answered him,
Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he.
And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.6 As soon then as he had
said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and
fell to the ground. KJV
Just the words of Jesus on the night he was betrayed
knocked people to the ground. Why? Jesus was praying and sweating blood. That
is intense prayer. Also, an angel came to strengthen him. Between the
strengthening of an angel and the power of the Holy Spirit, people could not
stand when he spoke. Jesus only spoke three little words and they fell
backwards. When the angel rolled back the stone from Jesus’ tomb, the men
guarding the grave became like dead men.
Matt 28:1-4 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to
dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
to see the sepulchre.2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel
of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the
door, and sat upon it.3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment
white as snow:4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead
men. KJV
Dead men don’t stand, they usually fall down when they
die. If a person appears dead, they are usually lying down not standing
upright. These men fell over because they saw the angel of the Lord sitting
upon the stone. As we studied last week,
on the mount of transfiguration, Peter, James, and John fell over when they saw
Jesus’ transformation.
Matt 17:6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on
their face, and were sore afraid. KJV
Luke 9:32 But Peter and they that were with him were
heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men
that stood with him. KJV
People don’t sleep standing up, they had to be laying
down. Also notice that they were heavy with sleep, the weight of glory probably
felt physically heavy to them. When Paul was on the road to Damascus, he fell
as well.
Acts 9:1-4And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and
slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,2 And
desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of
this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto
Jerusalem.3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there
shined round about him a light from heaven:4 And he fell to the earth, and
heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me? KJV
Now Jesus, being in His glory, was visiting Paul, and
Paul (the big, angry, Christian hater) could not stand up to Jesus, the one
Paul was truly persecuting. It is fascinating that Paul hated the new age of
the Holy Spirit, but was humbled quite quickly by the glory and by Jesus.
Many of the old time Preachers reported how people would
fall under the power of the anointing and then come up healed. Since I don’t
think this was exclusive to the 1900’s, I would say that when the right
combination of things takes place those types of miracles happen again. Understanding
the word dunamis is important.
As we studied quite a while back, dunamis, or “miracle working power”, is present when people are
getting saved. What we see is that the times people got healed and delivered
happened as a witness so that people would receive salvation. That is the
ministry of the Holy Spirit and the mission of an Evangelist. The power and glory work together.
NT:1411 dunamis (doo'-nam-is); from NT:1410; force
(literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by
implication, a miracle itself): KJV - ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily,
-y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty
(wonderful) work.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance
with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft,
Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Firstly, we are clothed with dunamis, and when the Holy Ghost indwells us we receive this power.
How do we receive the Spirit? We believe Jesus is our Lord, we have faith.
Luke 24:49 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 [1411]
from on high. KJV
Acts 1:7-8 And he said unto them, It is not for you to
know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.8 But
ye shall receive power [1411], after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and
ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. KJV
They believed Jesus’ words and did what he asked. But dunamis is given to us to be witnesses.
The old time preachers were evangelizing, not intending to be “miracle workers”
or “healers”, they were doing something different, preaching salvation, and
then they saw power, glory, and anointing. It is not inherent in only one or
two people, dunamis is inherent in
everyone who believes on Jesus as Lord; but some have exploited people and have
abused this for personal gain. Peter and John, two of the guys on the mountain
with Jesus, who saw His anointing and His glory, are great examples of an accidental
display of the anointing, glory, and the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the
people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on
us, as though by our own power [1411] or holiness we had made this man to walk?
KJV
Peter was very firm, this was not done by some lightning
bolt of power that came from Peter, nor did the man get healed because Peter
was holy. It was in Jesus’ name through the man’s faith that made the man
whole.
Acts 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath
made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath
given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.KJV
The man believed on the name of Jesus the anointed one,
which allowed the dunamis of the Holy
Spirit to heal him. Then Peter tells the people (who were all freaked out by
what had just happened) to repent. Five thousand people got saved, that is a
miracle.
Acts 3:19-21 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that
your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the
presence of the Lord;20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was
preached unto you:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of
restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets
since the world began. KJV
Peter then tells everyone that Jesus was the one that Moses and the prophets
spoke about, and that they should have believed rather than asked for a murderer
to be given to them. After a night in prison, the rulers told Peter and John not
to use the name of Jesus, but Peter and John refused this command, they would
continue talking about Jesus. Peter, John, and the other disciples prayed for
more boldness to speak about Jesus.
Acts 4:29-31 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings:
and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,30
By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done
by the name of thy holy child Jesus.31 And when they had prayed, the place was
shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the
Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. KJV
They prayed for more boldness and to continue to heal
people, and do signs and wonders by the name of Jesus. Not only was the place
shaken but all were filled with the Holy Ghost. This tells us that some people
there were not filled on Pentecost. Once all the people there were filled, they
went out with mega dunamis to
witness.
Acts 4:33 And with great power [1411] gave the apostles
witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them
all. KJV
Clearly, the man who was crippled had faith in the name
of Jesus, and the Apostles had the anointing, the Holy Spirit, and dunamis. But what did they preach? They
preached Jesus, not healing. They asked for boldness to speak His word and to
stretch out their hands to heal, and for signs and wonders to be done in the
name of Jesus. That is the key, preach salvation. When people have faith in the name of Jesus,
they can be healed. Paul, who had that glory experience, had the anointing and dunamis as well.
The gospel is the dunamis
of God for salvation; Paul demonstrated the dunamis.
The gospel is the good news, it is the message of salvation. It is not a gloom
and doom word, but when people believe it they can be healed. Faith allows dunamis to work.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power [1411] of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. KJV
That begs the question, if the gospel is the power of God
for salvation, has the power of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, left the
earth? No; it doesn’t matter how many people call the power of the Holy Ghost “strange
fire”; it doesn’t matter who has never seen the power of the Holy Ghost. This dunamis is not for the ones who don’t
believe. It doesn’t matter what someone in a suit says, it is not conditional
upon what one individual has seen, it is conditional on faith. How absolutely
arrogant for one non-believer to declare the Holy Spirit invalid because he
doesn’t believe. That is like saying God made himself conditional, as the
Creator of the Universe, to what we believe. No, God created the heavens and
the earth whether we believe it or not. Paul says we can abound in hope through
the dunamis of the Holy Ghost.
Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and
peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power [1411] of the
Holy Ghost. KJV
It is not something we are to “see” to believe, it is
something we are to believe, to see. Mighty signs and wonders are done by the
power of the Spirit of God.
Rom 15:17-19 I have therefore whereof I may glory through
Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.18 For I will not dare to
speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the
Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the
power [1411] of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto
Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. KJV
It is always the power of the Holy Spirit that works the
signs and wonders through the anointing we have. Notice the power shows up with
the Spirit, this tells us that if we are denying the power, we are denying the
Holy Spirit. Likewise, if we deny the Holy Spirit, there will be no power. The
preaching of the cross is the dunamis
of God, and this is the key that all the old time preachers who saw the glory
fall and the healings take place, simply did. They preached the cross.
1 Cor 1:17-18 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to
preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be
made of none effect.18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish
foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power [1411]of God. KJV
1 Cor 1:23-24 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the
Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;24 But unto them which
are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power [1411] of God, and the
wisdom of God. KJV
Therefore we can see that even among those who call
themselves “saved” there seem to be some who call the dunimas of God foolishness. What do we make of that? Even among
those who seem to regard themselves as “believers of Jesus”, there are those
who don’t actually believe in the Spirit or the power.
1 Cor 2:2-5 For I determined not to know any thing among
you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.3 And I was with you in weakness, and
in fear, and in much trembling.4 And my speech and my preaching was not with
enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power
[1411]:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the
power [1411] of God. KJV
Could it be that those who say they are saved, yet don’t
believe on the Spirit or the power, actually have their faith in the wisdom of
men rather than in the dunamis of
God? There seems to be a schism in the body of Christ, the body of the anointed
one. Doesn’t that phrase, “the Body of Christ”, simply explain a lot when we
understand Christ is not a last name but instead means anointed. We are the
body of the anointed, and we have the same anointing Jesus had if we have our
faith in the Spirit and not in men. Understand this: we are the body of the
anointed. We are the body of the consecrated. The body that has been rubbed
with oil and set apart, whether you like it or not; if you are of the body, you
are anointed.
1 Cor 12:27-28 Now ye are the body of Christ, and
members in particular.28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles,
secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of
healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. KJV
Eph 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;12 For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature
of the fulness of Christ: KJV
Now believers are the body of anointed, and if we are not
of the body of anointed we can be, if we believe on Jesus the anointed, and the
Spirit of the living God. Paul wants us to know that God put this power,
miraculous power, into clay jars, so that people would know that the miracle
working power is of God and not of us. That is why this anointing, power, and
Spirit, resides in all of us imperfect, crack pot, humans, to show His power.
2 Cor 4:5-7 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus
the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.6 For God, who commanded
the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the
light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.7 But we
have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power [1411] may
be of God, and not of us. KJV
God put dunamis
in oiled clay pots. That means we are nothing special of ourselves. And if we
don’t regard what God did in sending Jesus and then sending the Holy Ghost, it
won’t make sense to us because we don’t’ have our faith in God, but we
mistakenly have our faith in men. Yet the Holy Spirit is the author of the
book, we should pay attention to Him.
2 Peter 1:20-21 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of
the scripture is of any private interpretation.21 For the prophecy came not in
old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by
the Holy Ghost. KJV
Whether in arrogance or stupidity, it is not up to humans
to decide what God can and can’t do. If God wants to send his Son to rescue us,
and then send the Holy Spirit to clothe us, he can. It is not up to us to
decide when, or where, or how the Spirit of God will work. If we are of the
Body of Christ, and we preach the cross, when people believe what we preach the
glory might fall and miracles may happen. The Spirit can evangelize people
however he wants. That is why the old time preachers saw such wonderful
miracles, they had faith, they preached the cross, and the people believed.
There was nothing strange about that because those preachers were the body of
the anointed. We are the body of the anointed if we likewise believe on Jesus
as the anointed, the Messiah/Christ, and we believe what Jesus said about being
clothed with dunamis when the Spirit
comes on us. We should pray as the disciples did, for boldness to speak, heal,
and that signs and wonders would be done in the name of Jesus.
