THE COMFORTER (Part 4)
Memory Verse:
“ …rejoice in the LORD your God, for He
has given you the autumn rains in righteousness. He sends you abundant showers,
both autumn and spring rains, as before.” (Joel 2:23. NIV).
LESSON FOCUS
We shall focus on
what the anointing of the Holy Spirit is and how to maintain it.
LESSON INTRODUCTION
The Scriptures refer
a number of times to people who were anointed.
Some of these include
o
King David – He slew
Goliath and expanded the boundaries of Israel from the Red Sea in the south to
River Euphrates in the north as he won one battle after another.
o
King Saul – He
prophesied, and for as long as he obeyed God, he knew victory on the
battlefront.
o
The Lord Jesus – He
went about doing good.
o
The Apostles – They
performed miracles in the Name of the Lord.
It was typical of the
anointed that went about healing the oppressed, raising the dead, setting free
those imprisoned by the devil, as well as preaching the gospel and enlarging
the Kingdom of God.
We should see ourselves as belonging to their
company, provided we also are anointed by the same Holy Spirit.
LESSON OUTLINE 1: WHAT EXACTLY IS ANOINTING?
What is anointing?
1.
It is the
outflow of the Holy Spirit through a sanctified vessel. Acts 2:1-4. Note v.4.
2.
It is enabling
grace that comes from God the Holy Spirit so we are able to do that which is
ordinarily beyond our capability as men. Acts 4:5-20.
Note vs 8,13.
What is anointing like?
1.
It can be
likened to showers of rain. It is plentiful and abundant. Zech 10:1.
2.
It can be
likened to a spring-fed water well. It never dries up. John 4:14.
3.
It can also be
likened to streams of living water, a river indeed. Jn. 7:37-38.
What is the purpose of the anointing of the Holy Spirit?
The primary purpose
of the anointing of the Holy Spirit is to give us power to serve the Lord, and
to understand His word so we may act on it. More specifically
1. See the way He works through us in Luke 4: 18-19.
2. He increases the yield from the efforts of God’s people. Acts 2:41,47.
3. He breaks every yoke. Isa. 10:24-27.
LESSON OUTLINE 2: HOW CAN WE MAINTAIN THE FLOW OF THE
ANOINTING?
How do we avoid
quenching the Spirit? I
Thess. 5:19.
1. By our continuous love for righteousness, and conversely,
hatred for sin. Psalm
45:6-7; I John 3:7-9.
2.
By living in active
love for our neighbour. Lv. 19:18; Mk. 12:31; I Jn. 4:19-21.
3. By living a
life of praise to God. It demonstrates our confidence in, and love for, Him. Psalm 150:6.
SUMMARY:
The Holy Spirit anoints us so we may have the power to serve the Lord,
understand His word and live by it.