38 You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Various facets of the Person of the Holy Spirit
It is strange - why does Peter emphasise that God anointed Christ "with the Holy Spirit", "and with power" as though the power of God is a separate entity from the Holy Spirit which is definitely not the case. For the Holy Spirit is the spirit of power and might (Isaiah 11:12 Isaiah calls Him the Spirit of counsel and might). Why does Peter then separate the two items?
Restoration of Relationships through the Holy Spirit
John the baptist was anointed with the Holy Spirit from the womb, but did no miracles. No signs and wonders followed His ministry, the Spirit of God was a spirit of conviction through preaching piercing the heart of men, to convict the people of their sins and for repentance - a prophets anointing to turn the hearts of the Children to the Fathers, and the hearts of the Fathers to the Children (Malachi 4:6, fulfilling the Elijah ministry which breaks the hold of idolatry over the heart and allows for restoration of the love of God in primary relationships) .
The Fire of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit manifested in the room with the 120 with the symbol of fire, marking the ministry of the age of the church, to be one which is with the power of the Holy Spirit, for the same purpose that it was on Christ - to do good works - which is "to heal all who were oppressed by the devil, for God works with His people and partners with them for this work."
John the baptist was anointed with the Holy Spirit from the womb, but did no miracles. No signs and wonders followed His ministry, the Spirit of God was a spirit of conviction through preaching piercing the heart of men, to convict the people of their sins and for repentance - a prophets anointing to turn the hearts of the Children to the Fathers, and the hearts of the Fathers to the Children (Malachi 4:6, fulfilling the Elijah ministry which breaks the hold of idolatry over the heart and allows for restoration of the love of God in primary relationships) .
Is there division in your life? strife and quarelling amongst brothers? Pray for the Power of the Holy Spirit to bring a unity of heart and Spirit - "for the Glory You have given Me, I have given them, that they may be one, even as We are one." The unity that comes is a unity born out of a common experience of God's love, His presence and Glory, the proximity of His person, which destroys division.
There are therefore different manifestations of the spirit. Elijah prayed for the children of Israel to return to the worship of Jehovah or Yahweh, but there is another manifestation of the Spirit which is called the Spirit of power and might. Elijah also arguably obtained the Spirit of the might of God when the tangible power of God manifested from heaven against the false prophets of Baal. (read the story for yourself in 1 Kings 18).
There are therefore different manifestations of the spirit. Elijah prayed for the children of Israel to return to the worship of Jehovah or Yahweh, but there is another manifestation of the Spirit which is called the Spirit of power and might. Elijah also arguably obtained the Spirit of the might of God when the tangible power of God manifested from heaven against the false prophets of Baal. (read the story for yourself in 1 Kings 18).
The Fire of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit manifested in the room with the 120 with the symbol of fire, marking the ministry of the age of the church, to be one which is with the power of the Holy Spirit, for the same purpose that it was on Christ - to do good works - which is "to heal all who were oppressed by the devil, for God works with His people and partners with them for this work."
1 John 3:8
the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of thedevil.
Lets further examine another aspect of the fire of God
Isaiah 64:1-5
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
As we can see from the above passage, the fire of God works to make God's name and character and goodness manifest against God's enemies - the powers of darkness in high places which cause people to be in perpetual sickness, poverty, violence, abuse and are not able to "lift themselves out" of these messes.
The fire of God also consumes and destroys the allure of idolatry as we see in Elijah's story, every false love and worship of the heart is destroyed when God manifests His own love to people in fire. The disciples when filled with fire and love proceeded to promulgate the message of the gospel to the world.
Lets pray for the fire and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives that God may be seen to be who He really is a mighty God full of compassion mercy and power to change and transform people's lives. Lets also pray that our hearts will reflect the character of Christ through the Holy Spirit also, so that we don't stumble and cause others to stumble when we do have the manifestation of power in our lives.
Notes and references
I have three reflections on Elijah's life in April 2011 here.
Been influenced profoundly by David Davis's message on Eliah here (David Davis is the late David Wilkerson's spiritual son).
Tozer explains the manifest presence comprehensively better than I ever can here.
the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of thedevil.
The fire of God destroys the hold of the enemy over lives and sets them free to grow in the Holy Spirit and be the people whom God originally intended them to be, and to walk in holiness and not sin. The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of Holiness, His influence is cleaning, cleansing, making people walk and do what is right in the sight of God.
Lets further examine another aspect of the fire of God
Isaiah 64:1-5
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
1Oh, that You would rend the heavensand come down,
That the mountains might quake at Your presence—
2 As fire kindles the brushwood, as fire causes water to boil—
To make Your name known to Your adversaries,
That the nations may tremble at Your presence!
3 When You did awesome things which we did not expect,
You came down, the mountains quaked at Your presence.
4 For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear,
Nor has the eye seen a God besides You,
Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.
5 You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness,
Who remembers You in Your ways.
Behold, You were angry, for we sinned,
We continued in them a long time;
And shall we be saved?
That the mountains might quake at Your presence—
2 As fire kindles the brushwood, as fire causes water to boil—
To make Your name known to Your adversaries,
That the nations may tremble at Your presence!
3 When You did awesome things which we did not expect,
You came down, the mountains quaked at Your presence.
4 For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear,
Nor has the eye seen a God besides You,
Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.
5 You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness,
Who remembers You in Your ways.
Behold, You were angry, for we sinned,
We continued in them a long time;
And shall we be saved?
We see from the above passage that one manifestation of the Spirt and manifested presence of God is fire. I've written a bit on manifest presence of God which Tozer, Lake and Wigglesworth teach on, here.
As we can see from the above passage, the fire of God works to make God's name and character and goodness manifest against God's enemies - the powers of darkness in high places which cause people to be in perpetual sickness, poverty, violence, abuse and are not able to "lift themselves out" of these messes.
The fire of God also consumes and destroys the allure of idolatry as we see in Elijah's story, every false love and worship of the heart is destroyed when God manifests His own love to people in fire. The disciples when filled with fire and love proceeded to promulgate the message of the gospel to the world.
Lets pray for the fire and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives that God may be seen to be who He really is a mighty God full of compassion mercy and power to change and transform people's lives. Lets also pray that our hearts will reflect the character of Christ through the Holy Spirit also, so that we don't stumble and cause others to stumble when we do have the manifestation of power in our lives.
Notes and references
I have three reflections on Elijah's life in April 2011 here.
Been influenced profoundly by David Davis's message on Eliah here (David Davis is the late David Wilkerson's spiritual son).
Tozer explains the manifest presence comprehensively better than I ever can here.
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