Part 4 (1/2)

Let's look at several New Testament examples of be being filled with the Holy Spirit or being continually anointed with fresh oil. We can see this pattern in the New Testament of an initial infilling of the Holy Spirit and numerous refillings, for example, in Acts 2:1-4 and Acts 4:23-31.

ACTS 2:1-4.

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rus.h.i.+ng mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

In this pa.s.sage we see that the 120 persons who were gathered together in Jerusalem were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit from on High in the baptism of the Holy Spirit and they spoke with other tongues.

Then in Acts 2:46,47, we read that the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. When this occurred, a number of days had pa.s.sed since the day of Pentecost.

ACTS 2:46,47.

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the

temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising G.o.d, and having favour with all the people.

And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Then we come to Acts chapter 3 where Peter and John were going into the Temple. There was a lame man at the Gate Beautiful who was healed. You remember the story. Peter spoke to the lame man and said, ”Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). The lame man was healed, and went into the Temple with them, ”... walking, and leaping, and praising G.o.d. ” (v. 8).

After the lame man was healed, Peter and John were taken into custody and questioned by the priests and the rulers of the Temple. The Jewish leaders threatened the disciples not to speak or teach in the Name of Jesus. Then they let them go (See Acts chapters 3 and 4).

ACTS 4:23-31.

23 And being let go, they [the disciples] went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to G.o.d with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art G.o.d, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: 25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

31 And WHEN THEY HAD PRAYED, the place WAS SHAKEN where they were a.s.sembled together; and they were all FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, and they spake the word of G.o.d with boldness.

In verse 31, we see that those who were gathered to pray were filled with the Holy Ghost. But we read that these Christians were already filled with the Holy Ghost in Acts 2:4. Yes, these Christians were initially filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2, but in Acts 4:31 they received a refilling of the Holy Spirit - a fresh anointing. Remember, the psalmist said, ”I will be anointed with fresh oil.”

These early Christians were anointed with fresh oil, all right! Look at verse 31: ”. .. the place WAS SHAKEN where they were a.s.sembled together....” The anointing was so strong, the place where they were gathered was shaken. That means the whole house shook!

There was such a manifestation of G.o.d's power that the very building where they were gathered together to pray was shaken, and they were all filled up to overflowing with the Holy Spirit. They got a fresh anointing!

There is one initial filling with the Holy Ghost, but many refillings. And that's where some folks have missed it. Just because you got filled with the Spirit perhaps years ago, it's not a past experience that's going to put you over in life.

D. L. Moody once said, ”People living on past experiences are living on stale manna.”

Years ago I heard a man say, ”I was saved in 1919, baptized with the Holy Ghost in 1919, and spoke with other tongues!” But that was as far as he ever went with G.o.d; he'd been as ”dead as a mackerel” ever since! We need to ask ourselves, What about now? What's my testimony now? Am I filled with the Holy Spirit now?

Let's look at another New Testament example of Christians receiving a fresh anointing.

In Acts 19 we see that the Christians in Ephesus were initially filled with the Holy Spirit under Paul's ministry.

ACTS 19:1-6.

1 ... Paul having pa.s.sed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the HOLY GHOST came on them; and THEY SPAKE WITH TONGUES, and prophesied.

When Paul initially came to Ephesus, these folks hadn't heard that Jesus had come; they had not been born again and, therefore, had not received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. All they knew about was John's baptism in water.

Paul told them about Jesus - about His death on the Cross, His burial, His resurrection, and His ascension on High.

Paul explained to these Ephesians that what they had as a promissory note through John the Baptist, they could now receive as a reality in their lives through Jesus Christ. John the Baptist had preached, ”I indeed have baptized you with water: but he [Jesus] shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost” (Mark 1:8). They received Jesus and were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:5,6).

Then in Ephesians chapter 5, Paul writes this same group of people and tells them to be filled with the Spirit.