TOPIC: THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT [SUNDAY, 19TH NOVEMBER 2017]
OPENING PRAYER:
Father, please anoint me with the Holy Spirit and power. Help me to heal those who are oppressed by the devil.
BIBLE PASSAGE: ACTS 4:5-20
5: And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes,
6: And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.
7: And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
8: Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9: If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
10: Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11: This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
13: Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14: And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15: But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16: Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17: But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18: And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19: But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20: For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
MEMORY VERSE:
Acts 10:38: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
LESSON INTRODUCTION:
We have studied how to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the actual baptism. We also gave considerations to the Baptiser and the evidence of baptism. Today, by the special grace of God, we shall be looking at the anointing, what it is exactly and the conditions for maintaining the flow.
LESSON OUTLINE 1: WHAT EXACTLY IS THE ANOINTING?
What is Anointing?
i. Anointing is the outflow of the Holy Spirit through a sanctified vessel
ii. Anointing is likened to rain of power of God. Zech10:1; Joel2:23
iii. It is the overflowing power of God which brings about an outflow in man. Luke4:18-19
2. What is not anointing?
i. it is not the natural rain
ii. it is not well or spring of water. John4:14
iii. It is not a flowing river
3. What does the anointing do?
i. It determines the level of spiritual assignment which an individual can do at every point in time. For example, the number of souls that could be won. Acts2:41; Acts4:8-32
ii. Through the anointing, the fame of the Lord went abroad. Through the anointing the fame of a true servant of God can be advertised. Acts 10:38
iii. The anointing helps believers to produce results in the ministry
iv. The anointing enthrones the believers. John14:12; 1Pet2:9; Rev.1:6
v. The anointing breaks yokes and destroys mountains of problems. Isa10:27.
CLASS ACTIVITY 1:
Members should identify the role of the anointing in their local parish.
LESSON OUTLINE 2: CONDITIONS FOR MAINTAINING THE FLOW
1. What are the conditions for maintaining the flow?
i. Love for righteousness
ii. Hatred for iniquity/sin
iii. Love for God, love for the ministry work and the /church. John11:35, 43-44; Mark6:34-41
iv. A life of praise. Ex15:11
2. Why is righteousness essential to maintain the flow of the anointing?
i. God is righteous. Those who want His power must be righteous. Heb1:9
ii. The Lord hates sin [sin is a barrier to the anointing]. The devil did not find sin in the Lord. John14:30
iii. It is God’s commandment to be righteous. 1John3:7
3. Why should a believer avoid complain and murmur? Ex 15:11
i. Murmuring keeps the anointing from flowing in the believers
ii. Murmuring provokes God to anger and to destroy the people. 1Corin10:10; Phil2:14
CLASS ACTIVITY 2:
Mention people in the Bible who enjoyed constant flow of the anointing without fail. You may support your answers with biblical references.
SUMMARY:
The anointing can be obtained and maintained
CONCLUSION:
The lesson focused on the true meaning of the anointing and the conditions for maintaining the flow. It is hoped that students are truly prepared to abide by the conditions to retain anointing.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, do not let your anointing cease from flowing in my life.
ASSIGNMENT:
Identify 5 people in the Bible who once enjoyed the flow of the anointing but lost the flow. Mention what they did.