Part 5 (1/2)
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....
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.
For one thing, notice that they were all gathered together in prayer in one accord. I sometimes think we've lost a lot in some of our big meetings where we don't have room for folks to gather around the altar and pray. Of course, not every service needs to be conducted in this fas.h.i.+on. On the other hand, I think we're missing out on some of the ”be being filled” with the Spirit by not taking time or having the facilities to pray together in one accord as a church family in some of our church services. It used to be that you'd give an altar call and people would come around the altar and kneel down and pray. With people praying together like that in one accord, everyone got anointed with fresh oil!
Here in Acts 4:31, when the people were all praying in one accord, all the people - every single Christian in that place - was filled up to overflowing in the Holy Spirit with a fresh anointing. Yes, we can all pray separately at home, and we ought to do that. But there's just something about united prayer that brings the power of G.o.d in demonstration in a greater measure.
<btt:accented>Chapter 6 Characteristics of Those With a Fresh Anointing
How many of our problems would be solved in the church today if Christians had a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit upon their lives! You see, by not maintaining a constant experience of being filled to overflowing with the Spirit, many times Christians go through problems and face trials in life they wouldn't have to face if they were filled up with the Spirit.
That doesn't mean there won't be tests and trials in life. No, the Bible doesn't teach that. Tests and trials come to us all in life. But when you stay filled with the Holy Spirit and the Word of G.o.d, there will be some tests and trials in life that you will never have to experience. Stay in the Presence of G.o.d until you get a fresh anointing!
We have seen from the Scriptures that it is G.o.d's will for His people to be filled with the Spirit. That is, Christians are to maintain a constant experience of being filled with the Spirit so they can be full reservoirs instead of empty cisterns.
Now let's look at the characteristics of those who are continually ”be being filled” with the Spirit. We need to see the results of being anointed with fresh oil and the characteristics of those who maintain a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
EPHESIANS 5:18-21.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be [being] FILLED with the Spirit; 19 SPEAKING to yourselves in psalms and hymns and
18.
spiritual songs, SINGING and MAKING MELODY in your heart to the Lord; 20 GIVING THANKS ALWAYS FOR all things unto G.o.d and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 SUBMITTING YOURSELVES one to another in the fear of G.o.d.
Supernatural Utterance
First, notice verse 19: ”Speaking to yourselves.. ..” Have you ever noticed in connection with being filled with the Spirit how many times the Bible talks about speaking? ”. . . be filled with the Spirit; SPEAKING (vv. 18,19). In other words, the result of being filled with the Spirit is speaking in a supernatural utterance. Let's look at those verses which show us this.
ACTS 2:4.
4 And they were all FILLED with the Holy Ghost, and began to SPEAK with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
ACTS 10:44-46.
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circ.u.mcision which believed were astonished ... because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them SPEAK with tongues, and magnify G.o.d....
ACTS 4:31.
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.
Characteristics of Those With a Fresh Anointing
55.
EPHESIANS 5:18,19.
18 ... be [being] FILLED with the Spirit; 19 SPEAKING to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
Speaking supernaturally is speaking by the unction of the Holy Spirit. When you get filled with the Holy Spirit, you speak with tongues. And in order to maintain the Spirit-filled life you ought to keep on speaking in tongues. You can also speak supernaturally in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs by the unction of the Spirit. We will see this as we study Ephesians 5:18 and 19. And we see here that the disciples spoke the Word of G.o.d with boldness; we will see that speaking the Word of G.o.d with boldness is a result of being filled with the Spirit. All of these are examples of supernatural speaking; that is, speaking by the unction and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Now let's look at Ephesians 5:18-21 again to see the other characteristics of one who is filled with the Spirit. Notice particularly the words: Speaking, singing, giving thanks, and submitting.
EPHESIANS 5:18-21.
18 ... be [being] FILLED with the Spirit; 19 SPEAKING to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, SINGING and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 GIVING THANKS always for all things unto G.o.d and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 SUBMITTING yourselves one to another in the fear of G.o.d.
We've seen that a characteristic of one who stays filled with the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. We can also see by Ephesians 5:19 that to maintain a fresh anointing upon your life, you can speak to yourself in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs which also come by supernatural utterance. If you are filled up to overflowing with the Spirit - if you maintain a fresh anointing of G.o.d upon your life - you will also continually be giving thanks unto G.o.d, and you will have a humble and submissive spirit or att.i.tude toward others.
Singing
When the Bible talks about psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, it's not referring to singing songs out of a songbook. It is talking about a supernatural utterance given by the spirit of prophecy. Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs are given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit at the spur of the moment; they are not learned or rehea.r.s.ed.
We remember that prophecy is inspired utterance in a known tongue, and that the simple gift of prophecy is given ”to speak to men unto edification, and exhortation, and comfort” (1 Cor. 14:3). The Bible says, ”For ye may all prophesy...” (1 Cor. 14:31). The simple gift of prophecy is not to be confused with the ministry of a prophet. We know that every Christian can be filled with the Spirit and prophesy, but not all Christians are called to stand in the office of the prophet. But because every member of the Body of Christ can prophesy, any member of the Body of Christ can speak or sing in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs because they are given by the Holy Spirit through the spirit of prophecy.