Part 8 (2/2)
Psalm 23 gives us a picture of G.o.d's anointed ones being anointed with fresh oil. Remember that Psalm 23 belongs to us. If it doesn't, let's just quit quoting it and leave it alone. If Psalm 23 doesn't belong to us, we might just as well tear that page out of the Bible and quit reading it. Too many people quote this psalm as just a beautiful something to recite. But, no, there's more to it than that.
We're living in Psalm 23 right now because the Lord is our Shepherd now; He's our present-tense Shepherd. He anoints our heads with oil. Our cup runneth over. Is your cup only half full? If it is, get a fresh anointing so your cup will run over! ”He anoints my head with oil and my cup is running over!”
When you're filled with the Spirit and your cup is running over, you've got a bold, overflowing testimony. ”My cup runneth over!”
Holy Ghost Boldness Is Recognizable
The disciples had boldness in their lives because they were so filled with the Spirit that their ”cups were running over.” In chapter 4, the disciples were taken into question because the lame man at the Gate Beautiful was healed. We've looked at these scriptures before to see the biblical pattern of numerous refillings of the Holy Spirit, but let's look at them again to see the boldness of the disciples.
ACTS 4:1-13.
1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.
4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
5 And it came to pa.s.s 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 G.o.d 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.
The disciples demonstrated boldness because they were filled with the Spirit of G.o.d. The Word of G.o.d tells us very plainly that Peter and John were ignorant and unlearned men. What was recognizable among the people was not how much theology and psychology the disciples knew, but that the disciples had knowledge of Jesus. They didn't know a thing in the world about theology, but they knew Jesus, the Word of G.o.d made flesh (John 1:14). There's nothing wrong with education, but what makes the difference is knowing Jesus! Paul, for example, was a learned and an educated man. But Paul said, ”I count all that as dung for the knowledge of Christ” (Phil. 3:8). Paul had a revelation of Jesus.
The disciples knew the Word! They had the Holy Spirit! And that makes all the difference in the world. They knew the Word and the Holy Ghost. If you get away from the Word and the Holy Ghost you've gone too far for me. But I believe that the Word will work for us and the Holy Ghost will move now just as in the days of the apostles and the Early Church.
Because the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, they had boldness: ”... when they saw the boldness of Peter and John...” (Acts 4:13). Being filled with the Holy Ghost is what gave them their bold, overflowing testimony! They maintained the spiritual glow of the Holy Spirit by being so filled up with the Spirit that a bold testimony was a lifestyle with them. If you stay filled with the Spirit, you will have a bold testimony too! ”He anoints my head with oil, and my cup is running over.”
However, a bold testimony brings persecution. We read that the disciples suffered persecution for their bold testimony. They were taken by the priests and elders of the people and taken into questioning. But persecution keeps the fire burning.
ACTS 4:23,24,29-31.
23 And being let go, they 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....
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.
Notice how the disciples prayed in verse 29: ”... grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word. ” It's good to pray for boldness. Christians need to do that. I think most of us need to pray that we would be more bold. The disciples prayed for boldness and look at the results in verse 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.”
Friends, too many times the supernatural power of G.o.d is waning among us. The Bible says that we should, ”. . . earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). We need to contend for the faith with all boldness! The supernatural should be natural with G.o.d's people. If we would contend for the faith, the supernatural would be natural with G.o.d's people.
How can we keep a bold testimony? By constantly being filled with the Spirit. Do we want to be empty cisterns or full reservoirs. Which one are you? You can receive a fresh anointing and be a full reservoir!
Being filled with the Spirit is recognizable! The people recognized the disciples had been with Jesus and were full of the Holy Ghost because they spoke the Word with boldness! If you've lost your boldness, you need a fresh anointing! A fresh anointing brings with it a bold, overflowing testimony.
Manifestations of the Supernatural
When you're filled with the Holy Ghost, there will be manifestations of the supernatural power of G.o.d in your life. Of course, we realize that manifestations of G.o.d's power operate as the Lord wills, not as we will.
Because the disciples were filled with G.o.d's power, the supernatural power of G.o.d was demonstrated in their midst.
ACTS 13:6-12.
6 And when they [Paul and Barnabas] had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of G.o.d.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, THE HAND OF THE LORD is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
Some people have erroneously said that G.o.d struck Elymas the sorcerer with blindness (v. 11). No, G.o.d didn't strike Elymas with sickness or disease. The Bible says the hand of the Lord came upon him, and he was blind for a season. But Elymas was not blind with sickness or disease. The supernatural power of G.o.d came upon him and rendered him blind for a season!
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