Post by Zac Loh on Sept 11, 2005 2:50:41 GMT -5
In the days of Moses, the tabernacle and all the items with the utensils in it were anointed. The altar of the burnt offering and its utensils were anointed. The laver and its base were anointed. Aaron was anointed to minister to God as priest. Aaron's sons were also anointed to minister to God as priests. It tells us something... that the anointing is precious. God said that their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations [Exodus 40:9-15]. The anointing is never meant to be diminished because we are never meant to serve without the anointing. But we have inadvertently allowed it to happen. Why? As with any subject, there is always more that can be written. This is what I have to offer in this short article.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for THE WORK OF MINISTRY, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; [Ephesians 4:11-13; CAPITAL and italic mine]
1. NOT ACCORDING TO DESIGN
And He Himself gave
God has given specific anointing to different individuals to serve according to the areas that He Himself has designated. God is the One who assigns and governs the anointing. Sometimes, we think that we are the ones who should be doing it. Irregardless of what we have planned or deemed appropriate, an individual should be placed in an area based on what he/she has been anointed for. Otherwise, the anointing will diminish.
2. NOT A HELPFUL EQUIPPING
the equipping of the saints
There are many apparatus, which we can use to equip the people of God. And there are many training programs available out there. But we must qualify whether these will equip the people in a way that the anointing can use them more greatly. Some of the training actually counters the move of the anointing because it requires strict adherence to pure human methods based on analytical reasoning that promotes independence from the Holy Spirit.
who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. [2 Corinthians 3:6]
Which road will we follow? We have to decide right here. If we adopt a training, which hinders dependence on the Holy Spirit, and diverts us from surrendering to the Holy Spirit... the anointing will diminish.
3. NOT BODY-CENTERED
the edifying of the body of Christ
It is easy to be overly centered on our own personal ministry or own local church. It comes upon us without us realizing. There is only one Head, and there is only one body. The anointing flows from the head (Jesus Christ) to the body (the universal church).
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. [Psalms 133:1-2]
It is imperative that we arrive at true unity where love is expressed in selfless, sacrificial action together with unconditional acceptance. On the practical side, not only people who pray together will stay together, but people who fight together will stay together. The time to start being transparent and overt with one another, is now. Can we be committed to one another to the extent that we are willing to speak the truth in love? It could become necessary to take risk, and endure short term fragmentation - in order to obtain a lasting and deepening relationship. We will not be truly united unless we are united in the very essence, at the core of our being. Even when we are appearing together, we are only united in appearance unless something thorough happens. Have we settled for a superficial unity? Without true spiritual unity, the anointing will rise at certain times, and at other times, the anointing will diminish.
4. NOT UNITED IN THE FAITH
the unity of the faith
If some of us believe in one way, and others believe in another, we will differ in the faith. Consequently, we cannot flow with the anointing together, because we do not believe the same way.
Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. [Matthew 18:19]
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. [Acts 2:1-2; italic mine]
How can we get that which is of true faith, so that we can all believe together? Suffice to say, true faith comes from true knowledge. If it thus exists that we cannot agree to believe God to move in such a way to a certain degree, surely the anointing will diminish.
5. NOT TRUE KNOWLEDGE
the knowledge of the Son of God
True knowledge will be compatible to the move of the anointing. True knowledge is originated from the Son of God who is the Word of life [John 1:1-4; 1 John 1:1].
It is the spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. [John 6:63]
There will not be life and anointing without true knowledge. It will be like a cargo-carrying train without a track to run on. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, came to declare what is of Jesus to us. The more we get into what is of Jesus, the more easily the anointing come upon us. God is able to release the anointing. Conversely, the more we get away from the center of what is of Jesus, the less of the anointing that will be released. Are we becoming too acquainted with artificial, synthetic truth? Have we lost spiritual discernment of what is the real truth? By not walking in true knowledge... the anointing will diminish.
6. NOT WITH CHRIST WITHIN
to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ
Paul said that he served with his spirit [Romans 1:9]. He prayed that the Ephesians be strengthened with might through the Holy Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith [Ephesians 3:16-17].
The Holy Spirit was given in fullness upon Christ [John 3:34]. When the Spirit came at the river Jordan; Jesus was at the age of about thirty, the age of maturity. He was at full stature. The ability to handle the anointing will depend on the maturity and stature of Christ within us. God gave the anointing in fullness to Jesus Christ at the age of full maturity. The measure of anointing that God will give us is related to the measure of Christ within us. The anointing is handled by the ability and strength of the-Christ-within-us. God will not give us more than what we can handle.
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His [Romans 8:9]
We are to serve with the Spirit of Christ already dwelling within us all the time. Our inner spirit man is to be huge, strong and vibrant. If we are serving with merely outward effort and sheer performance... the anointing will diminish.
Someone stated that the majority of churches will continue as usual even when the Holy Spirit has left. Isn't it sad? It should be the opposite. The majority of churches should stop functioning, and stop living, should the Holy Spirit went away.
What is ministry?
It is the imparting of spiritual riches to men.
Watchman Nee
It is the imparting of spiritual riches to men.
Watchman Nee
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for THE WORK OF MINISTRY, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; [Ephesians 4:11-13; CAPITAL and italic mine]
1. NOT ACCORDING TO DESIGN
And He Himself gave
God has given specific anointing to different individuals to serve according to the areas that He Himself has designated. God is the One who assigns and governs the anointing. Sometimes, we think that we are the ones who should be doing it. Irregardless of what we have planned or deemed appropriate, an individual should be placed in an area based on what he/she has been anointed for. Otherwise, the anointing will diminish.
2. NOT A HELPFUL EQUIPPING
the equipping of the saints
There are many apparatus, which we can use to equip the people of God. And there are many training programs available out there. But we must qualify whether these will equip the people in a way that the anointing can use them more greatly. Some of the training actually counters the move of the anointing because it requires strict adherence to pure human methods based on analytical reasoning that promotes independence from the Holy Spirit.
who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. [2 Corinthians 3:6]
Which road will we follow? We have to decide right here. If we adopt a training, which hinders dependence on the Holy Spirit, and diverts us from surrendering to the Holy Spirit... the anointing will diminish.
3. NOT BODY-CENTERED
the edifying of the body of Christ
It is easy to be overly centered on our own personal ministry or own local church. It comes upon us without us realizing. There is only one Head, and there is only one body. The anointing flows from the head (Jesus Christ) to the body (the universal church).
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. [Psalms 133:1-2]
It is imperative that we arrive at true unity where love is expressed in selfless, sacrificial action together with unconditional acceptance. On the practical side, not only people who pray together will stay together, but people who fight together will stay together. The time to start being transparent and overt with one another, is now. Can we be committed to one another to the extent that we are willing to speak the truth in love? It could become necessary to take risk, and endure short term fragmentation - in order to obtain a lasting and deepening relationship. We will not be truly united unless we are united in the very essence, at the core of our being. Even when we are appearing together, we are only united in appearance unless something thorough happens. Have we settled for a superficial unity? Without true spiritual unity, the anointing will rise at certain times, and at other times, the anointing will diminish.
4. NOT UNITED IN THE FAITH
the unity of the faith
If some of us believe in one way, and others believe in another, we will differ in the faith. Consequently, we cannot flow with the anointing together, because we do not believe the same way.
Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. [Matthew 18:19]
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. [Acts 2:1-2; italic mine]
How can we get that which is of true faith, so that we can all believe together? Suffice to say, true faith comes from true knowledge. If it thus exists that we cannot agree to believe God to move in such a way to a certain degree, surely the anointing will diminish.
5. NOT TRUE KNOWLEDGE
the knowledge of the Son of God
True knowledge will be compatible to the move of the anointing. True knowledge is originated from the Son of God who is the Word of life [John 1:1-4; 1 John 1:1].
It is the spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. [John 6:63]
There will not be life and anointing without true knowledge. It will be like a cargo-carrying train without a track to run on. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, came to declare what is of Jesus to us. The more we get into what is of Jesus, the more easily the anointing come upon us. God is able to release the anointing. Conversely, the more we get away from the center of what is of Jesus, the less of the anointing that will be released. Are we becoming too acquainted with artificial, synthetic truth? Have we lost spiritual discernment of what is the real truth? By not walking in true knowledge... the anointing will diminish.
6. NOT WITH CHRIST WITHIN
to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ
Paul said that he served with his spirit [Romans 1:9]. He prayed that the Ephesians be strengthened with might through the Holy Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith [Ephesians 3:16-17].
The Holy Spirit was given in fullness upon Christ [John 3:34]. When the Spirit came at the river Jordan; Jesus was at the age of about thirty, the age of maturity. He was at full stature. The ability to handle the anointing will depend on the maturity and stature of Christ within us. God gave the anointing in fullness to Jesus Christ at the age of full maturity. The measure of anointing that God will give us is related to the measure of Christ within us. The anointing is handled by the ability and strength of the-Christ-within-us. God will not give us more than what we can handle.
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His [Romans 8:9]
We are to serve with the Spirit of Christ already dwelling within us all the time. Our inner spirit man is to be huge, strong and vibrant. If we are serving with merely outward effort and sheer performance... the anointing will diminish.
Someone stated that the majority of churches will continue as usual even when the Holy Spirit has left. Isn't it sad? It should be the opposite. The majority of churches should stop functioning, and stop living, should the Holy Spirit went away.