THE SPIRIT OF GOD ANOINTS HIS WORDS WITH AUTHORITY AND CREDIBILITY
And they went to Capernaum: and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the holy one of God. And Jesus rebuked him saying, hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, what thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. (Mark 1:21-28)
Jesus said, "all powers in heaven and on earth has been given unto me." (Matthew 28:18). He also said that "he that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38). He further said that, "verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12). By going to the Father, what does that mean for us?
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send .........." This is the Spirit that will enable us so that "the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do."
You may want to take note of something in the passage regarding Jesus and authority. Jesus wasn't just talking and talking, and preaching and preaching like the scribes. The scribes do talk and talk; they do preach and preach. But when Jesus spoke, a difference was noticed: he speaks with authority. But where does this authority come from? Even "the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, and spoke unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority do you these things? Or who is he that gave you this authority?" Is the authority of men or of God? The authority is the product of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God anoints his word with authority and credibility. The Spirit of the Living God reaches into people's heart and accomplish much more than an average speech can. The Spirit anoints his speech with power and reality. The anointing that makes the difference between empty words and speeches that carry impacts. A wonderful example can be found in the scriptures:
And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, "No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever." And his disciples heard it......... And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance said unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree which you cursed is withered away. (Mark 11:13-14,20-21)
Talking about a person with lots of power and authority in his words! Those are the same words he used to teach and bring life into the soul of many. The Lord said in the scriptures that "the time comes and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of God and they shall live." The dead shall hear the word of God, and they shall come out of the grave. It does not necessarily imply that those who are dead - in the physical sense of the word 'dead' - will burst open the graves and come out. It also connotes 'dead' - in the spiritual sense of it. The dead in the spirit. Individuals who even though they are alive in the flesh yet are dead inside. They are on their feet, they are not in the grave; yet they are dead on the inside. So when the dead hears the word of God and respond, it may symbolize the revival of the spirit. Some sort of spiritual revival.
Prior to hearing the voice of God through Jesus, people have been hearing the sermons of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Sanhendrins, the high priests & who-else-is-on-the-list-who-love-being-seen-as-custodian-of-religion-and-tradition. Yet, spiritually, the people can be likened to as being as dead as door nail. Then the time came when the word of God came through the Lord, and there was power and anointing in his word. The dead in the spirit heard his word and responded. And there was a massive revival in the days of Jesus Christ. So massive was the revival everyone including the so-called custodians of tradition and religion were amazed. This kind of revival did not just happen out of sheer eloquence or articulation on the part of Jesus Christ. Lots of people are eloquent and articulate - both then and now. Being articulate, eloquent or smart may qualify one to be seen as an intellectual; but it does not translate into the ability to carry out God's will and purpose. Being gifted or talented particularly in the area of speech will not make any demon respond or react like they did in the days of Jesus. Demons do not care whether anyone is gifted, talented, articulate, eloquent, or whatever. Diseases do not get healed because the person doing the talking is considered an intellectual. For results to happen, the anointing of the Holy Spirit has to accompany the spoken word. Then will spoken words become living words. Jesus said, "these words that I speak unto you is spirit, truth and life." The following scripture will further enhance the understanding of this concept:
In the beginning God created the heaven and earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:1-3)
When God said, "Let there be light," that was the spoken words. For those words to accomplish the purpose for which they are spoken, they have to be accompanied with power. The power came from the Spirit of God that "moved upon the face of the waters." Does this give an idea of the role of the Holy Spirit in the course of creation? Now you have an idea how spoken words are turned into living words that carry impact. Like turning ordinary water into wine, then serving it to the people. Do not take for granted the presence of the Holy Spirit; that's who generates the power that makes these wonderful things happen. Be it when God spoke in the beginning or when Jesus spoke in those days, the Spirit of the Living God supplies the power that makes it happen - the way it does not happen when others make their speeches. Separates the best from the rest, doesn't it? In that way it is not just empty words. The scriptures pointed out that when Jesus taught they noticed the difference, "for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes," and "they were all amazed insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, what things is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority commands he." The anointed words carried power and effect. The scriptures pointed out that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16). It is not just the fervency of his prayer, or the fact that he is a righteous man. As far as the heavenly Father is concerned, there is something about those words of prayer of praise or worship or teaching that are coated with meaning and effect.
Whenever we use the word of God that touch people's heart; or whenever we use the word of God to administer healing or deliverance on people, or to make things happen, or to curse fig trees to death, or to make mountains move, ......... these words are not empty words. They are not ordinary words. The words are not just memorized. These words carry authority with them, and the authority comes from the Spirit of God. And these are features that will characterize our lives and ministry as we move on in life.
The scripture states in I Peter 5:8: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour" (KJV). The devil knows that his days are numbered. The handwriting is on the wall, and it is not difficult to decipher. Satan is in the final phase of his evil reign, and he knows it. God has His calendar, and Satan is aware of that. Satan knows that his time is up, and he is working desperately as fast as he can to accomplish his evil ends. His activities in this end-time have been intensified. The good thing is that the Lord has likewise intensify His activities in this end-time. The scripture says:
And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out My Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders......... before the day of the Lord comes, the great and manifest day. (Acts 2:17-19)
I do not think that it is a coincidence that while Satan is intensifying his evil activities in the last days the Lord likewise in the last days is pouring out His Spirit. Did the scripture not state that in Isaiah 59:19: "when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of God shall lift up a standard against him" (KJV). There will be several incidences of us speaking and people will just find it hard not to realize the difference. Because even though, they hear the voice of men, what they hear is the word of the Lord.
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. (Luke 21:15)
For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say. (Luke 12:12)
You will not have to make an announcement to anyone. You will not even need to brag. The Spirit of the Living God will take care of the publicity on your behalf! Hallelujah! Ain't that great?! Makes our work easier, doesn't it? The Lord Jesus did not brag, yet, "immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about." (Mark 1:28). And to think there is no advertisement on radio, or television, or in the dailies. When the Spirit of God expresses itself through you, it takes care of the publicity. It is included in the package. In that way you can concentrate on your mission. Which is quite unlike others who allow the pursuit of fame to distract them from their objectives and end up undermining the success of their ministry and mission. The Spirit reaches out and goes right into people's heart. The river of living water flows out of you and irrigates hearts home and abroad. You do not have to strain yourself in an attempt or attempts to prove yourself. In the court of law, the onus of proof is on the prosecution. In this context, the onus of proof is on the Spirit of God. Hallelujah! Isn't that wonderful? For as long as you walk in obedience and in line with God's will. And you do not deviate from the path of integrity in your walk with the Lord, and you are fulfilling your ministry. You are not one thing in front of people while He knows you to be another person. Otherwise, you may wind up blocking the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It may be hard for the Spirit to operate and achieve to its fullest capacity in your life and ministry. The next thing you know, people will see you demonstrating religious fervour (as in prayer) quite alright, but not much in terms of effective result or effective ministry to show for it.
There are times you do not even need to lay hands to administer healing, or to get people filled with the Holy Spirit. It is not every time that Jesus lay hands. There are times he just talked. In some cases, he made seemingly casual remarks. People hear what sounds like his voice. In actual fact, it is the word of God.
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; .......... (John 14:10,11)
Even before the unclean spirit was cast out, even before the demon was rebuked, it identified Jesus right away: "He cried out, saying, let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who you are, the holy of God." (Mark 1:24) Jesus did not even have to say, "Hello. I'm here. Anybody home? Guess who is here? It's Jesus of Nazareth." He did not have to do that. He did not have to identify or introduce himself. There is something about the light of God in us that just shine. Did the Lord not say
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. (Matthew 5:14-15)
It brings to mind a testimony I once heard. Several attempts were being made to cast a demon out of a possessed person. But to no avail. Then, someone walked into the room while the futile deliverance session was taking place. Upon sensing the presence of the newcomer, the demon inside the possessed individual suddenly got agitated. Why? It perceived the presence of something, something that makes a difference and spells doom for the demon's reign of terror. The demon-possessed person began to back away. The countenance and tone of voice says it all: agitation. The demon pleaded through the vocal cord of its victim, "Keep away from me! Please, keep away from me! Go away! You are too bright! @#%&*!......." Of course, the plea fell on deaf on ears. And to think no one asked either the demon or its victim any question regarding the newly-arrived. The newcomer was "strong in the Lord and the power of His might." (Ephesians 6:10). Was not intimidated a bit by the guttural voice of the demon or the frightening body language of its victim. Anyway, before you know it, the demon was cast out in the name of Jesus.
The kind of ministry the Lord is committing into our hands is not merely characterized by being filled with the Holy Spirit; rather by being full of the Holy Spirit. Just like the Lord.
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit,........., and was led by the Spirit. (Luke 4:1)
So full of the Holy Ghost are we that it practically expresses itself in all we say or do with minimal conscious effort. As we speak, people's lives are being touched and influenced in ways that brings glory to the Lord and His kingdom. The words that we speak - even in casual conversations - have such a tremendous God-honouring impact that it makes people feel quite different in the way grace is ministered to their lives. No wonder people experience such pleasure in interacting with you. Lives are being touched. People are being reinvigorated. Revival is being spread. Life is being introduced into dead souls and redundant circumstances. Precious seeds are being sown in lives. Even as we speak, people receive healing of diverse kind as they experience the touch and filling of the Holy Spirit. And that is without organizing a special healing or deliverance session, or a special anointing service. Here is a vivid example:
While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles (Acts 10:44-45).
Demons are taking their leave due to the impact of the word of God that proceeds out of our mouth. The word of God is loaded with so much power, and saturated with so much anointing. This is the kind of ministry being committed into our hands. And its not meant for just us alone. It is meant for all that belongs to the body of Christ. Put aside the excuse 'Ah, well, only some of us are anointed anyway. So why bother?'
Did the Lord not say that "verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John 14:12 KJV) ? Where in that statement is any exemption mentioned? This is not about who anybody is, or thinks he or she is. This is not about anybody's root or ancestry. Once things are right between you and Lord, and you allow the Spirit of God to have the right of way in your life, you will see how things unfold accordingly.
God bless
Yours
Adekunle O. Majek'
H I A F E M
Of impact, quality and excellence
That's the Spirit!
P.S.: I believe that you have been greatly blessed by this piece. Why not share it with others.
To return to HIAFEM HomePage, click here.
