The
book of John is the 43rd book of the Bible. It depicts Christ as Our
Personal Savior,
The
Son of God.
John
has 21 chapters, 878 verses, and 19,099 words.
Prophetic
Scripture
John
3:34 (KJV)
For he whom
God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by
measure unto him.
When God sent Jesus into
the world as the begotten Son of God, the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him without
measure. Jesus walked in unlimited
power, but the Bible says He grew into a man of full spiritual maturity (Luke 2:52). God could and did anoint Him without limits
because Jesus learned the ways of God and was able to handle the power of God
on such a level.
For us, God wants to increase the anointing on our
life too, as we become His ambassadors in the earth. He wants to increase our measure of
power as we learn God’s ways and can handle the anointing properly. When the measure of anointing on your
life increases, you will have new
boldness, confidence, and ability to
manifest God to people in a way that is beyond human capability.
Well you might ask what
is “Increase”,
Sister Preacher?
“Increase” in the Greek is auxano, pronounced owx-an’o, which means to become progressively
greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity); to enlarge.
❖
II Corinthians 10:15 But having hope, when your faith is
increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule
abundantly.
“Measure” in the Greek is metron - pronounced met’ron, meaning a limited portion.
❖
St.John 3:34 For God giveth not the Spirit by measure
unto Him.
Not only had Christ the
Holy Spirit without “measure”, but God so gives the Spirit through Him to
others.
It is the ascended
Christ who gives the Spirit to those who receive His testimony and set their
seal to this, that God is true.
The Holy Spirit is
imparted neither by degrees nor in portions as if He were merely an influence. He is bestowed personally upon each believer at the time of
the New Birth (being born again). The
Holy Spirit is the executive (director; manager; official; administrator) power
of both Father and Son carrying out the creative plan. It’s the personality of Being/God. It is the law of God in action.
“Anointing” in Hebrew is mishchah - meesh-khaw’, which is “an unction; a consecratory gift. It
also derives from mashach - maw-shakh’,
meaning to rub with oil, as to anoint; to consecrate, to smear. The
term Mishchah’
or Mashach’ is defined
in the same sense as the Greek Chri’o, from which the word Christ is derived, which the word “Messiah”
is drawn.
Each of us have within
ourselves the Christ, just as Jesus had, and we must look within to
recognize and realize our son-ship, our divine origin, and birth,
even as He did.
❖
Romans 8:14 For
as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
❖
1 John 4:17 As he
is, so are we, in this world.
Different Levels
of Anointing
We have to learn to be sensitive to the anointing. In the anointing of the Lord Jesus Christ, we
mentioned how the anointing upon Him is without
measure. However, He gives the
anointing by measures to us.
The anointing upon our lives is increased measure upon measure,
as we prove faithful to the anointing.
The fullest potential of the anointing we can aspire to in whatever
office we stand in is the anointing without measure – the same as the
anointing upon Jesus’ life.
That means if God called you to be a
prophet, aim to reach the measureless anointing in that office. If God called you to be a teacher, aim for
that. Seek the anointing upon your life to increase until it is measureless. Now
that is your aim; your goal; to reach the point unto the degree of anointing
that Jesus had and that was “without
measure”.
Jesus made a statement in John 14:12:
Jesus made a statement in John 14:12:
Verily, verily (most
assuredly), I say unto you, he that
believeth 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.
This implies that now the Holy
Spirit is sent without measure. The Holy Spirit has been sent in Acts 2 as prophesied without measure. They were endued with power. He is now pouring out on all flesh. The
potential is there for people to reach into that measureless anointing that
Jesus had. We must move in our
respective office into that realm as The
Christ.
As we move into the anointing, we have to move exactly as God showed us - no less, no more.
Every believer must “be Continually Filled”.
Every
born-again, Spirit-filled son of God has (should have) the anointing upon their
life. However, each individual is responsible for keeping and increasing the
level of anointing. You are responsible for keeping and increasing levels of
anointing.
That is why some walk in a greater anointing than others.
The Word teaches us to be filled and continually filled with God’s
Spirit, thus ensuring a fresh outflow of the anointing. According to Ephesian 5:18 And be
not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but
be filled with the Spirit. It
should be noted that after the outpouring of the Holy Ghost recorded in Acts 2, (The Day of Pentecost), the
disciples experienced another outpouring soon afterwards.
Acts 4:31 And
when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together;
and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God
with boldness.
Let’s look at Ezekiel - The Five-Fold Levels of Ezekiel
Ezekiel’s
prophecy gives believers a clear picture of how the level of God’s presence and
power can increase in the lives of His people.
Water, streams and rivers often
refer to the presence and flow of God’s Spirit.
The highest attainable level of God’s anointing is
represented by the waters which flow from God’s throne to individuals, groups
or nations, and is often referred to as the sea.
❖
Ezekiel 47:8 Wherever
these waters go, they bring healing and life to the needy.
Spirit-filled believers have rivers of living water flowing from their innermost being. Because they are the New Testament temple of
the Holy Spirit, they are the source of God’s river.
❖
John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly
shall flow rivers of living water.
“Living water” (St.John 4:10) signifies the
inspiration of Spirit, also life. “If
thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to
drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water”.
In Revelation
22:17 And whosoever will, let him take the
water of life freely.
It’s simply up to you!!!
Ezekiel gives a clear description of a five-fold level of
the anointing upon every Spirit-filled believer. Ezekiel
47:1-10 (talking about the River flowing from the temple) & 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (stating that the “Lord” is that
Spirit).
●
Level 1 – “WATCHING”:
Here Ezekiel watched the waters flow from the
temple of God. Many believers do not
have the full understanding that they are the instrument of God’s source of
Life because they are the temple of God’s Spirit.
❖
I Corinthians 3:16 Know ye
not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
❖
I Corinthians 6:19-20
What? Know ye not that your body is the
temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not
your own?
20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore
glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
So instead of activating the life-source that resides within them, they become mere spectators of God’s power. They watch
how others flow with the anointing.
This
represents people who know the way but are unwilling to take the first step of
commitment.
●
Level 2 – “ANKLE DEEP”
Many believers only desire a shallow experience with God.
Although they are saved and Spirit-filled, they seldom go beyond that
point and live a carnal existence. They
are not in a position to affect anyone around them with the Gospel. To them, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a
once-off experience. Thereafter, they
seldom desire spiritual gifts and spiritual anointing.
●
Level 3 – “KNEE DEEP”
The knee deep level
of the anointing is not much greater than the ankle deep experience.
However, it does indicate a deeper
experience with God. The knee
represents prayer and could indicate a loyalty to the things of God,
but at the same time they dare not
wander deeper in the unknown realm of what God has for them.
●
Level 4 – “WAIST DEEP”
The
waist often refers to influence. This type of believer is active in the things of God and interacts with others around them. They may even have an active role in the
local Church. They love the Lord and are somewhat involved in the activities of
the ministry.
But
it does indicate an unwillingness to give everything. The waist measures half
of the body length, indicating a half-hearted
approach to full surrender. This
is the point where Jesus refers to those who are lukewarm (Revelation 3:16)
and also those who must make a choice to either submit everything to God or
everything to the world.
❖
Matthew 6:24 No
man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love
the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot
serve God and mammon.
- Level 5 – “FULLY IMMERSED”
This
represents the believer who lives by faith and does not make decisions
according to outward appearances but
has absolute faith in the voice of the Word and the Spirit. These believers are those who produce fruit, who
are led by the Spirit, and are not influenced by the flesh or natural
surroundings.
❖
Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
they are the sons of God.
They produce
Kingdom fruit in their Christian walk and experience and a breakthrough
relationship with the Holy Spirit.
We all start with a measure of anointing God placed on our lives. God is not going to give you the measureless anointing immediately. There must be testing; there must be proving; and there must be faithfulness shown. God will give a deposit of anointing upon our life up to a certain level.
Then as you and I are faithful to flow in it and to function
in it, then God gives us another measure.
Then at that greater measure, God will test your faithfulness. God will see whether or how you flow in
it. What happens if you are not
faithful? You remain at the measure you
have last been given.
Let me illustrate with something you can identify with.
Let me illustrate with something you can identify with.
Let’s say that you have been given the measure of the
anointing where you would be able to prophesy in public. However, every time the anointing and the
Word of God came, you resisted it. Don’t
think that when the anointing comes, it is going to force you to do
something. It does not force you. It just prompts you, and the obedience
must be yours.
As the anointing comes, the person may resist it the first
time. Later in a different service, the
same thing comes again. That person
resists the prompting of the Holy Spirit again.
That would be quenching the Spirit of God. That person can continue on out of shyness,
out of fear of publicity, or whatever reason.
You even sometimes try to justify being disobedient, but how many know
that is not acceptable to God. You could
give any kind of natural reason you want to, but God still would not accept
it. Years could pass by, and you will
still be the same; stuck right there at that same level. You see the
measure of the anointing given to you was not allowed to function. The gift of God in your life can never be
perfected. In order for that gift to be
perfected, you must move by faith at “the
unction of the Holy Spirit”. You
have to grow into the perfect operation of the gift.
To
each believer has been given gifts to minister to one another in the body of
Christ. This all comes from the manifold
grace of God. We are to minister as the
oracles (scriptures) of God. This means
every believer in Christ, and we are to minister with the ability which God
supplies to us.
❖
1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even
so minister the same one to another, as
good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (Vs
11): If any man speak, let him
speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the
ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus
Christ, to whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Each
one of us has a gift. If we are going to
walk in the anointing that’s given to us by measure, we need to know the gift
that He has given to each one of us also.
There
are the gifts of the Father that every believer can have; then there are
the gifts of the Holy Spirit that every believer should walk in - at
least one or two or even more.
Then there are the gifts of Christ, the fivefold ministry. These are
only given to a few in order to equip and lead the body of Christ in their
calling and His gifts in them.
❖
Ephesians 4:11-12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12: For the perfecting of the saints, for the work
of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Not only each one of us has a gift, but not everyone has the same measures of the certain gift.
And not everyone can walk in the same gift.
❖
Romans 12:4-7 For as we have many
members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and
every one members one of another:
6 Having then gifts differing according to the
grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to
the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on
teaching;
Then
to each one of the gifts given to each one of us, there is a measure of
grace to walk in our calling and His gifts - and not everyone has the
same measure of this kind of grace.
❖
Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to
us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith (as I stated
before).
Now we come to the measure of faith. We are given “the measure of faith” according to our calling and His gifts
in us. Not every believer has the same measure
of faith. If you want to be
successful in your faith, know His gifts that He has given to you. Then walk in that faith according to His
gifts and your calling.
❖
Romans 12:3 For I
say, through the grace given unto me,
to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the
measure of faith.
The Corinthians had the gifts of
God, but they were not operating them perfectly. This shows us that the operation and
perfection of the gift depends on us -
not on God. It is our responsibility. Paul acknowledged that they (gifts) were
from God, but he wrote that he would show them a more perfect way to
operate those gifts.
Now let us say that the same person
with the measure of anointing
to prophesy publicly began to flow in that gift allowing the Holy Ghost and the
anointing to have His way. Sooner or
later, God is going to promote him or her.
He is going to give you a greater
measure of anointing to move into something else. God tests and proves us to know whether we
are faithful or not.
Now for those in the ministry - When you stand to minister,
God may give you words of knowledge. You
resist giving them these words of knowledge since you would rather just preach
and teach. You resist giving the word. The enemy may give you the thought, “What happens if nobody responds?”
You will remain and always will be at that level with the
same thought until you obey. Then once
you obey and you are faithful in that gift, a greater measure of that anointing will develop in your life. You could flow into a greater measure.
The
anointing will grow from measure to measure, faith to faith, glory to glory. We must not
stop. We must grow until we arrive at
the perfect function of a ministry that God has for us.
❖
Ephesians 4:13 Till
we all come in the unity (oneness) of
the faith, and of the knowledge (discern/know who the Son of God is) of the Son of God, unto (the
point aimed or reached) a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature (maturity) of the fullness of Christ.
Growth in
the anointing comes with faithfully moving in the measure you already
have.
If God prompts you to give a word of knowledge to someone,
you have to faithfully give it. When it
comes, be obedient - “Apparently there is someone there who needs a word of
knowledge or encouragement; or better yet, He wants to heal.” You just have to believe and move with the
anointing.
Whether people respond or not, it is their
responsibility. Whether they respond or
not, it is your responsibility to obey God.
You have to faithfully give it.
Just watch, the more you give, the more it will come. The more it comes and the more you give out,
it gets sharper and sharper.
As you continue in the anointing, later it will begin to
operate with another side effect.
At first it operates with what you might call the side
effect of tangibility – You sense it on your
body; you begin to feel His Presence.
The anointing is tangible.
There is visible evidence when the anointing of God is present.
❖
1 Kings 8:10-11 ...the priests could not stand to minister because of
the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord. – “God’s Presence”
❖
Judges 16:14: (Samson & Delilah) The
Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away
with the pin of the beam, and with the web.
❖
Acts 3:1-8
(A certain lame man healed) Now Peter and John went up together into the
temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried,
whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to
ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3
Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4
And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5
And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter 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.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and
immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them
into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
❖
Acts 10:9-11 (Peter
the wimp became Peter the powerhouse) On the morrow, as they went on their journey,
and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the
sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while
they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon
him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the
earth:
❖
2 Corinthians 12:2-5
(Paul) And I
knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the
body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;); How he was caught up into paradise, and heard
unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for
a man to utter.
❖
Revelation
1:17
([The Revelation of Jesus
Christ) Fear not; I am the first and the last.
Later it operates together with vision. The anointing reaches a certain point where
it starts operating with vision (having
the power to discern and to judge the thoughts and heart of man).
❖
Hebrews 4:12:
For the word of God is quick, and
powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of
the heart.
When the anointing operates with vision, it reaches a greater form of
accuracy that can take place. That
comes because of faithfulness.
The anointing can be measured. The anointing enables us to do the works of Jesus. The anointing can be increased. Just as we grow from faith to faith, from glory to glory, and from grace to grace, we also can grow in the level of anointing in our life.
The anointing can be measured. The anointing enables us to do the works of Jesus. The anointing can be increased. Just as we grow from faith to faith, from glory to glory, and from grace to grace, we also can grow in the level of anointing in our life.
Talking
about Increasing the Anointing in your life.
Look, people of God!!!
In addition to knowing the Holy Spirit is received in
measures and being able to, He also measures the amount and the level of
anointing that operates in our life. But
as we grow in God the measures become “limitless” as it was in Jesus.
You should also know there are different degrees of measures
of the anointing. When we talk about
degrees, the word “degree” in Hebrew is ma’alah; mah-al-aw’, meaning,
elevation or platform; a journey to a higher place; a thought arising, a
superiority of station; a climactic (or crucial) progression.
The degrees of
measures that come with the anointing start first with dedication.
I. DEDICATION INCREASES YOUR ANOINTING
❖
2 Corinthians 1:21 Now He which
stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God,
A. If
you are “born again and filled with The Holy Spirit”, God has anointed you.
1. 1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all
things.
(27) But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye
need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all
things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall
abide in him.
So you have an anointing & the anointing will teach you!!!
● The anointing will take you from obscurity (unknown) into the
land of visibility
● The anointing will take you out of insignificance (lack of importance);
into prominence (standing out
so as to be seen easily).
B. God
will take you out of darkness and into light
❖
Colossians 1:12-13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath
made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.
DEDICATION: Is
the key to obtain the degree of anointing in your life.
II. DEDICATION PRINCIPLES (principles - an accepted or professed
rule of action or
conduct).
A.
Dedication brings increase. If you desire to
see break through unto obtaining the degree of anointing, then your
dedication must be first to God, your calling, ministry, career, marriage,
family. It must increase!!!
B. Definite Dedication: being consecrated /
set apart
1. Dedication
brings distinction. Distinction
can be described as EXCELLENCE.
2.
Jesus is an example of excellence
❖
Hebrews 8:6 But now
hath he obtained a more excellent
ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant,
which was established upon better promises.
3. Results
of Jesus’ dedication to excellence:
❖ Philippians 2:9 Therefore God also has highly
exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name.
C. Your exploits
(deeds or acts) in life & ministry are directly related to your dedication
to
your:
1. Calling, ministry, business, career, family
a. Your dedication
is the price you pay for breakthrough
/ greatness / distinction
D. Your level
of anointing will determine the degree
of God’s glory resting upon your life:
1. Two
words for Glory:
a. KABOD (Hebrew): heavenly laden with
good things, weighty, abundance, substance,
riches
b. SHEKINAH:
DWELLING, SETTLING
2. Example
of the Shekinah Glory:
❖ 1 Kings 8:10 And
it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the
cloud filled the house of the Lord,
a. the Temple was dedicated: yielded, consecrated, set apart for God: then
the
Glory rested upon
it…….dedication increases the degree of
anointing
b. 1
Corinthians 6:19
your body is the TEMPLE of the Holy Ghost which is in you.
3. Take
inventory of your dedication / commitment level as the “house/ temple of God”
a. Jesus reveals the
acceptable standard of dedication
❖
Luke 9:23: And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
b.
Paul reveals to us the biblical
standard of dedication
❖
2 Timothy 4:2: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
4. The
TEMPLE (in the Old Testament) was a picture / prophetic type &
shadow of the
Born Again
Believer
a. The Temple was made up
of three parts:
● OUTER COURT / HOLY PLACE / HOLY OF HOLIES
b. These three
segments of the temple correspond to the triune (trinity in unity) state of
man:
❖
1 Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify
you wholly; and I pray
God your
whole spirit and soul and body be
preserved blameless unto the coming
of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
● The OUTER COURT: the outward,
visible segment, represents our body
● The HOLY PLACE:
appealed to the sacred emotions, representing
our soul
● The Holy of
Holies: place of communion & presence of God, represents our spirit
5. The ARK OF THE COVENANT: type of God’s presence & glory in
our spirit man
How do we dedicate ourselves to The Lord,
bringing increase to our anointing?
a. Holiness:
Holiness is the very nature of God
❖
1 Peter 1:16
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for
I am holy.
❖ 2 Timothy 2:19 ...depart from iniquity
● Does your anointing have a foul odor due to sin? Ecclesiastes 10:1
b. Faithfulness: is
one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit we are to develop:
❖ Galatians 5:22–23
1. The Lord is unable to use us in a mighty way unless we develop
faithfulness
● 1 Timothy 1:12 He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5 Make
full proof of thy ministry.
c. Study The Word of God: You can be anointed, but without
dedication to the Word of
God, the devil can still
destroy your life (John 10:10)
❖ Hosea 4:6 My (God’s)
people are destroyed for lack of
knowledge.
❖ 2 Timothy 2:15 Study
to show thyself approved into God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.
a. The degree that you dedicate yourself to the Word of God will
determine the
level of
revelation that you will receive and walk in.
d. Develop your Prayer
Life: Luke 19:46 My
house is the house of prayer.
1. House:
a. the local church
b. The Born Again Believer who is the house/ temple of God 1 Corinthians 6:19
2. The degree of which
you develop your prayer life will determine:
a. your commitment level in your walk with God
b. and the level of your
anointing
3. Prayer is not only
petitions unto The Lord
a. Prayer is also taking time to seek the face of God
❖ Psalm 24:6 This is the generation
of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob.
b. Prayer is taking time to get into the presence of God.
4. Something
very powerful takes place when you develop a prayer life that goes
beyond petitions: “IMPARTATION”
a. An impartation of the anointing and glory of
God comes from being in God’s
Presence in prayer.
A. It
will put you into the position of authority, power and dominion through the
anointing
in your life.
1. Moses’ dedication to God determined his command over Pharaoh, Jannes & Jambres
a. the latter two were agents of witchcraft, opponents of Moses (2 Timothy 3:8).
2.
Daniel’s dedication to God
determined his command over the lions in the den (Daniel
6:7-24) & the warlocks of Persia (Daniel
10).
3. Paul’s dedication to God determined the victory over his enemies &
life’s
circumstances
❖ 2 Timothy 3:11 But out
of them all the Lord delivered me.
IV. Are there things in your life you need to take command of?
❖ Isaiah 10:27 It shall come to pass in
that day, that his burden shall be taken away from
off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be
destroyed because of the anointing.
If
we would apply these principles of Dedication to our life, there would not be a
yoke that the anointing could not destroy. If we desire to
see more of God moving in our life, we need to examine our level of dedication in our
walk with God.
So position yourself today for an increase of anointing
by growing, drawing close to God, and asking for it. When you do, I believe by
this time next year you will be amazed at how much stronger the Holy
Spirit’s Presence will be upon your life!
God is increasing your measure today!
~ Evangelist Jackie Burton
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