MAINTAINING THE ANOINTING
Be Blessed as you read..
MEMORY VERSE: “I am the vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5)
TEXTS: John 15: 4-10; Col. 2: 6-7.
INTRODUCTION: In the introductory part of the first lecture titled “What is Anointing”, our General Overseer outlined the essential characteristics of anointing with regard to what is anointing and what it does; and it's hereby quoted for the purpose of this lecture.
He said:
“Our old Pentecostal fathers called anointing 'authority of ease'. That is, authority to perform with ease”.
“The anointing envelopes, it permeates, it electrifies, it empowers”.
“The anointing is the central message of the Bible”.
“The anointing opens the door that has long been shut and makes a man to succeed where others are failing”.
“One's success in the ministry depends heavily on the Holy Spirit's anointing his life”.
Now that we know what anointing is and what it does in the life and ministry of the person “being anointed” by God, how does one maintain it, so that he keeps on “performing with ease” the ministry which the Holy Spirit has entrusted to him and with resultant good results?
CONDITIONS FOR MAINTAINING THE FLOW OF ANOINTING
1. Lovefor righteousness, hatred for iniquity The Lord Jesus never ran out of anointing because He loved righteousness and hated iniquity (Jn.14:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Ps.45: 6-7). Sin places a limit on anointing. Paul, a successful Apostle was no exception (1Thess. 2:10) God commands us to “do” righteousness also (1 Jn.3:7)
2. Walking in Love. If a believer is to constantly flow in anointing, love for God, love for himself, love for the ministry, love for the church, and love for the people must be paramount. A release of fresh anointing always followed the compassionate feelings of the Lord Jesus (John 11:35, 43-44; Mark 6:34 41; Eph. 5:2)
3. Living a Life of Praise
4. A life of praise increases the flow of anointing. Murmuring and complaints keep anointing far away, so do not engage in either. For example, the journey that would have taken the anointed Israel forty days lasted forty years because of murmuring.
5. Walk in the Light(Eph. 5:8, 9)
6. Walk in the Spirit(Gal. 5: 16, 17) be led by the Spirit (Gal 5: 18) live in the Spirit (Gal 5:24) be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18)
Note other conditions:
1. Always ask for divine wisdom (James 1:5)
2. Thirst for the continual infilling of the Holy Spirit (Eph . 5:18)
3. Always abide in Christ (John 15: 5)
4. Let the word of God dwell in you richly (Col. 3:16)
5. A continuing walk with Christ (Col 2:6, 7)
6. Always wait on the Lord in fasting and for hearing from him too (Is. 40:31)
7. Maintain good relationship with God always (Jn. 5:19)
8. Forgive one another as Christ forgave you (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13). Practice unlimited grace of forgiveness by forgiving others in advance
9. Practice constant dependence on the Holy Spirit for strength, power, and wisdom (Zech. 4:6)
10. Keep hearing what the Spirit is saying to the churches (Rev. 3:22)
11. Crucify the flesh and be dead to sin (Gal. 5:24; Rom. 6:11)
12. Always spend quality time in the Word. Read the Word. Meditate on the Word. Memorize the Word. Confess the Word. Obey the Word. Listen to the Word. Thank God for the Word. Share the Word with others. Preach the Word. Keep the word in your heart (Ps. 119:11; 18). Apply the Word in your life and ministry
13. Value the anointing of God upon your life
14. Guard the anointing of God upon your life with all seriousness
15. Stay away from all known sin
16. Always live a life of humility
17. Cultivate and maintain a teachable spirit
Some Biblical Examples of Those Who Maintained the Anointing
Jesus Christ
The Apostle John
The Apostle Paul
CONCLUSION: Always bear in mind that anointing is the flow of the Holy Spirit through a sanctified vessel. So keep your vessel clean and sanctified for the flow of the anointing (2 Tim. 2:20-21). In addition, do not forget that anointing is a divine enabling grace which makes the Christian life active and full of result. May your anointing”…flow rivers of living water (John 7:38).
Be Blessed as you read..
MEMORY VERSE: “I am the vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5)
TEXTS: John 15: 4-10; Col. 2: 6-7.
INTRODUCTION: In the introductory part of the first lecture titled “What is Anointing”, our General Overseer outlined the essential characteristics of anointing with regard to what is anointing and what it does; and it's hereby quoted for the purpose of this lecture.
He said:
“Our old Pentecostal fathers called anointing 'authority of ease'. That is, authority to perform with ease”.
“The anointing envelopes, it permeates, it electrifies, it empowers”.
“The anointing is the central message of the Bible”.
“The anointing opens the door that has long been shut and makes a man to succeed where others are failing”.
“One's success in the ministry depends heavily on the Holy Spirit's anointing his life”.
Now that we know what anointing is and what it does in the life and ministry of the person “being anointed” by God, how does one maintain it, so that he keeps on “performing with ease” the ministry which the Holy Spirit has entrusted to him and with resultant good results?
CONDITIONS FOR MAINTAINING THE FLOW OF ANOINTING
1. Lovefor righteousness, hatred for iniquity The Lord Jesus never ran out of anointing because He loved righteousness and hated iniquity (Jn.14:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Ps.45: 6-7). Sin places a limit on anointing. Paul, a successful Apostle was no exception (1Thess. 2:10) God commands us to “do” righteousness also (1 Jn.3:7)
2. Walking in Love. If a believer is to constantly flow in anointing, love for God, love for himself, love for the ministry, love for the church, and love for the people must be paramount. A release of fresh anointing always followed the compassionate feelings of the Lord Jesus (John 11:35, 43-44; Mark 6:34 41; Eph. 5:2)
3. Living a Life of Praise
4. A life of praise increases the flow of anointing. Murmuring and complaints keep anointing far away, so do not engage in either. For example, the journey that would have taken the anointed Israel forty days lasted forty years because of murmuring.
5. Walk in the Light(Eph. 5:8, 9)
6. Walk in the Spirit(Gal. 5: 16, 17) be led by the Spirit (Gal 5: 18) live in the Spirit (Gal 5:24) be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18)
Note other conditions:
1. Always ask for divine wisdom (James 1:5)
2. Thirst for the continual infilling of the Holy Spirit (Eph . 5:18)
3. Always abide in Christ (John 15: 5)
4. Let the word of God dwell in you richly (Col. 3:16)
5. A continuing walk with Christ (Col 2:6, 7)
6. Always wait on the Lord in fasting and for hearing from him too (Is. 40:31)
7. Maintain good relationship with God always (Jn. 5:19)
8. Forgive one another as Christ forgave you (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13). Practice unlimited grace of forgiveness by forgiving others in advance
9. Practice constant dependence on the Holy Spirit for strength, power, and wisdom (Zech. 4:6)
10. Keep hearing what the Spirit is saying to the churches (Rev. 3:22)
11. Crucify the flesh and be dead to sin (Gal. 5:24; Rom. 6:11)
12. Always spend quality time in the Word. Read the Word. Meditate on the Word. Memorize the Word. Confess the Word. Obey the Word. Listen to the Word. Thank God for the Word. Share the Word with others. Preach the Word. Keep the word in your heart (Ps. 119:11; 18). Apply the Word in your life and ministry
13. Value the anointing of God upon your life
14. Guard the anointing of God upon your life with all seriousness
15. Stay away from all known sin
16. Always live a life of humility
17. Cultivate and maintain a teachable spirit
Some Biblical Examples of Those Who Maintained the Anointing
Jesus Christ
The Apostle John
The Apostle Paul
CONCLUSION: Always bear in mind that anointing is the flow of the Holy Spirit through a sanctified vessel. So keep your vessel clean and sanctified for the flow of the anointing (2 Tim. 2:20-21). In addition, do not forget that anointing is a divine enabling grace which makes the Christian life active and full of result. May your anointing”…flow rivers of living water (John 7:38).
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