Even if we heard much about “the anointing of the Holy Spirit”, it does not mean that we necessarily know what it really means and what its purpose is. If you are already familiar with the subject, you may still find something new in this blog.
The purpose of the anointing of the Holy Spirit is much more than feeling the “goosebumps” and excitement. The anointing sets the captives free, helps us to understand the Word of God by making it come alive, opens our spiritual eyes to see visions and our spiritual ears to hear what God has to say to us. It also reveals the truth to us on certain matters, heals our bodies, minds and emotions, gives us the wisdom to live right and please God. In other words, the anointing is the power of God working is us.
The first step in receiving the anointing of the Holy Spirit, mentioned by Jesus in the above verses is “to thirst” and have the passion to be filled in such measure that from our “inner man” overflows “rivers of living water.” Jesus says then that we need to come to Him, so that we can drink. The Holy Spirit is the One who places the desire to repent and come to Jesus in the hearts of those who live apart from God. If the person follows the call of the Holy Spirit to come to salvation, they will thirst for more. If they repent of their sins, ask forgiveness and ask Jesus to be their Lord and Savior, they qualify for receiving the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes to fill those who thirst for Him and want Him to come. He is a perfect gentlemen and will never force His presence upon those who do not want Him, even if the person was once saved, but then chose to go back to their old sinful life style, renouncing Jesus. It is up to us to “not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Nevertheless, if the person that turned their back on Jesus, sincerely repents and returns to the Lord, they will be restored and will be able to receive again the anointing of the Holy Spirit. You may read more here: Forgiveness Is Still Available To Those Who Repent – Return To The Lord. It is important to believe that Jesus is the Son of God our true source for living water. Only after we believe this truth, the Holy Spirit will fill us until He overflows through us to touch those around us, transforming our lives and ministry. Without the anointing of the Holy Spirit, our words have no strength or impact. After following these steps, from our hearts will flow the “rivers of living water”, the anointing of the Holy Spirit will fill us with God's power and will bring the heavenly blessings to us. The spiritual atmosphere around us will change, the Holy Spirit will give us the right words and will lead us into all Truth and those to whom we share the Gospel to, will become responsive to what they hear, because the Holy Spirit will touch their hearts. Carmen Pușcaș
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Nehemiah was the Persian King Artaxerxes' cup-bearer in Sushan, when he learned of the measure of Jerusalem's devastation and how hard it was for the returning Jewish exiles coming home from Babylon. Nehemiah fasted and prayed for his nation. God heard his prayers and the king gave him all he needed to be able to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city wall and the city itself. There was a lot of opposition, including from a leader named Sanballat, who caused many problems, but in spite of it all, they finished building the walls and made new gates. The people wanted to return to God, to learn His Laws and to obey Him.
As they heard the reading of God's Word they started to regret their sins and sadness filled their hearts. They were longing to obey God and live right. Because they were sincere and repented, God called them to rejoice and He does the same with us, when we sincerely ask forgiveness for our sins. He forgives our sins and casts them “into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:19) God is a loving Father, the most loving there is and while we may face tribulation as a result of disobedience, when we realize it and repent, He will redeems us from our misery. His plan for us is not to be tormented or live in lack and sadness. On the contrary, when we admit our wrongs and repent He forgives us and wants us to be happy. The “New JPS Translation Tanakh” (Jewish Old Testament), is closer to the original Hebrew meaning and gives a better perspective of the following verse, than most translations.
The same is “God's Word Translation”:
The above verses are not talking about eating on a diet, but the contrary. God created us to enjoy what we eat, especially on a holy day when we worship Him. God wants us to praise Him for what we have on the table and to enjoy the delicious foods He blesses us with. He does not urge us to be greedy or to eat more than necessary, but He allows us to enjoy the “rich foods and sweet drinks," and also to enjoy sharing our food with others that are in need. By doing so, we may all be happy and blessed. The following phrase is very important, because it did not get translated by many as well as it could have. In the ancient Hebrew language there were no written vowels, no spaces between words or punctuation. In “The New JPS Translation Tanakh” and “God's Word Translation”, the transcribers caught the true sense of the original text from the last part of verse 10: “Do not be sad, for your rejoicing in the Lord is the source of your strength.” Most translations read like: “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” How can we get strength from God's joy? On the other hand, if we rejoice in the Lord, this rejoicing is based on who God is and what He does for us which is the true source of our strength, no matter what we are going through.
The people desired to know God's will and to learn what they needed to do to fulfill it and live in obedience to the Lord. They celebrated the Feast of tabernacles in obedience to the Law, which brought deep and lasting joy to them all. Being obedient to the Lord is always beneficial for us. The joy and happiness that follows it is far above anything else. Verse tenth speaks about this kind of joy that results in strength for the believer. This is true under the New Covenant with Jesus Christ, too. As children obey their parents and are so happy to see them smiling in approval, so we should be with our heavenly Father. Being thankful is the right attitude of the heart and is the place where we start to rejoice from. It is a constant choice that we need to make. There are always many reasons to be thankful but it is up to us to do so. The enemy always tries to get us to see the empty half of the glass and be unhappy. We should look at the full half and praise God for it. By choosing to rejoice in the Lord we will have satisfaction, fulfillment, deep joy and certainly be stronger. "Do not be sad, for your rejoicing in the Lord is the source of your strength!" - Nehemiah 8:10b Carmen Pușcaș For more on this subject, see the article Rejoice In The Lord And Again I Say Rejoice. |
AuthorsSince we became Christians, the authors of this site, over the decades, with the help of the Holy Spirit, have learned deeper biblical truths and how to have a closer walk with Christ. Through the websites that we are writing on, we try to share with the readers who might be interested, messages about living life with Jesus Christ as Lord. BLOG LIST BY DATE
(THE DATES ARE LISTED IN FORMAT DD/MM/YYYY) THE LAMP OF THE BODY IS THE EYE 19/5/2023 REIGNING IN LIFE 25/4/2023 CAN WE HAVE PEACEFUL SLEEP? 3/25/2023 GOD WANTS US WELL 28/02/2023 TRUE PROSPERITY 23/01/2023 THERE IS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE 30/12/2023 CAN YOU HEAR THE BELLS? 15/12/2022 BENEFITS OF THE BIBLE 28/11/2022 THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART 22/10/2022 THE SURRENDERED LIFE 18/9/2022 I WOULD HAVE PULLED JOSEPH OUT 13/8/2022 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 LET US PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES 16/5/2022 VICTORIOUS OR DEFEATED 18/3/2022 CHANGING WITH THE TIMES 2/22/2022 CONSIDERING THE PAST AND THE FUTURE 1/1/2022 THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR 14/12/2021 VICTORY IN SUFFERING 10/11/2021 HOW MUCH DO WE UNDERSTAND OTHERS? 8/10/2021 "LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH..." 10/9/21 CONSTANTS AND VARIABLES 19/08/2021 HOW DO WE HANDLE SUFFERING? 17/6/2021 FORGIVE US LORD, AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS 26/05/21 WHEN THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYER DOES NOT COME AS WE ASKED 06/05/21 GOD'S WORD WORKS 26/3/2021 GOD WANTS US TO SUCCEED 15/2/2021 "PEACE TO THIS HOUSE" 26/1/2021 OUR CHOICES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE 5/1/2021 "COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY-LADEN" 8/12/2020 BEING THANKFUL 22/11/2020 WHAT DEFINES OUR LIVES AND US? 31/10/2020 IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD 18/09/2020 "THE REST" WE FIND IN THE LORD 13/08/2020 HOW WE CAN FILTER OUR IN-TAKE 24/07/20 JESUS IS OUR ANCHOR IN STORMY TIMES 9/07/2020 CHOOSING TO REJOICE 23/06/2020 STRESSFUL TIMES AND OUR EMOTIONS 26/05/2020 BIRTH PAINS OF A ONE WORLD ORDER 12/5/2020 TEST ALL THINGS 22/04/2020 IN STRESSFUL TIMES 31/03/2020 STANDING FIRM IN UNCERTAIN TIMES 15/03/2020 GOD SENDS HIS ANGELS TO HELP US 28/02/2020 GOD KNOWS! 14/01/2020 OUR SAVIOR HAS MADE THE WAY 23/12/2019 FALL IS IN THE AIR 30/09/2019 WHY IS IT SO CHALLENGING TO REMAIN CONSTANTLY VICTORIOUS IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK? 18/7/2019 LITTLE THINGS 01/07/2019 IT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT TIME FOR SOMETHING TO CHANGE 17/5/2019 FULL JOY 6/3/2019 HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UNEQUALLY YOKED? 1/2/2019 LIFE AND LIFE MORE ABUNDANTLY 15/1/2019 FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT 4/12/2018 THE PRODIGAL SON 11/10/2018 WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE 9/19/2018 HOW JESUS ANSWERED TEMPTATION 26/1/2018 GOD'S LOVE IS IMMEASURABLE 6/6/2018 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 THEN THEIR EYES WERE OPENED... 26/3/2018 ENDURANCE! 15/02/2018 CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY 25/1/2018 THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12/19/2017 OUR JOY IN THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH 6/12/2017 MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN TODAY 15/11/2017 THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 18/9/2017 IS BAPTISM BY WATER A COMMAND OR NOT? 26/8/2017 THE DANGER OF UNHEALTHY FEAR 26/6/2017 HEALING IS GOD'S WILL 26/6/2017 WHAT DO WE TRUST IN? 13/6/2017 "NO ONE AND NOTHING CAN SNATCH US OUT OF THE HAND OF JESUS OR FATHER GOD!" 11/4/2017 "BE WATCHFUL AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN..." 7/3/2017 "GRACE UPON GRACE" 24/2/2017 TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, FROM HIM MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED 6/2/2017 WHAT MAY HARDEN THE HEART? 31/1/2017 WHO PAID MORE? 30/1/2017 IT IS HARD KICKING AGAINST THE GOADS 30/1/2017 JESUS SET ME FREE... AGAIN! 10/1/2017 LIVING TO PLEASE GOD! 6/12/2016 NO ONE IS ABLE TO SNATCH US OUT OF GOD'S HAND! 2/12/2016 WHY DO WE HIDE GOD'S WORD IN OUR HEARTS? 9/11/2016DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE 24/10/2016 TRULY BELIEVING - ELIMINATING DOUBT 15/10/2016 ARE THE OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES FOR US, THE GENTILES, TOO? 14/10/2016 CHOOSING FAITH INSTEAD OF DOUBT 11/10/2016 LORD GOD IS MY REFUGE! 6/10/2016 GOD'S PROVISION FOR THE AGED 17/9/2016 DOES IT MATTER HOW WE LIVE? 7/9/2016 PAUL'S THORN IN THE FLESH 26/8/2016 "WALKING ON WATER" 23/8/2016 WHATEVER IS TRUE... 5/8/2016 LIFE WITH JESUS IS WONDERFUL 29/7/2016 ANSWER TO PRAYER 23/7/2016 WHY PRAY? 22/7/2016 HAPPY OR SAD? 21/7/2016 THE IMPORTANCE OF TRULY ”KNOWING” GOD 21/7/2016 WE NEED GOD'S PRESENCE 21/7/2016 GOD WILL NEVER FORSAKE US! 21/7/2016 THE TRUE MEANING OF FOLLOWING CHRIST 21/7/2016 THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD 21/7/2016 FLESH OR SPIRIT? 21/7/2016
CATEGORIES BIBLE, THE WORD OF GOD ARE THE OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES FOR US, THE GENTILES, TOO? 14/10/2016 BENEFITS OF THE BIBLE 28/11/2022 GOD'S PROVISION FOR THE AGED 17/9/2016 GOD'S WORD IS POWERFUL 1/11/2016 THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD 21/7/2016 WHY DO WE HIDE GOD'S WORD IN OUR HEARTS? 9/11/2016 CHRISTIAN LIVING "BE WATCHFUL AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN..." 7/3/2017 BEING THANKFUL 22/11/2020 DOES IT MATTER HOW WE LIVE? 7/9/2016 DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE 24/10/2016 FLESH OR SPIRIT? 21/7/2016 FULL JOY 6/3/2019 GOD WILL NEVER FORSAKE US! 21/7/2016 HAPPY OR SAD? 21/7/2016 HOW MUCH DO WE UNDERSTAND OTHERS? 8/10/2021 HOW WE ARE MADE AND CHOOSING HOW WE RECEIVE 24/07/20 IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD 18/09/2020 IS BAPTISM BY WATER A COMMAND OR NOT? 26/8/2017 IT IS HARD KICKING AGAINST THE GOADS 30/1/2017 THE LAMP OF THE BODY IS THE EYE 19/5/2023 LIFE WITH JESUS IS WONDERFUL 29/7/2016 LITTLE THINGS 01/07/2019 LIVING TO PLEASE GOD! 6/12/2016 LORD GOD IS MY REFUGE! 6/10/2016 "LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH..." 10/9/21 "NO ONE AND NOTHING CAN SNATCH US OUT OF THE HAND OF JESUS OR FATHER GOD!" 11/4/2017 NO ONE IS ABLE TO SNATCH US OUT OF GOD'S HAND! 2/12/2016 OUR JOY IN THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH 6/12/2017 OUR CHOICES MAKE THE DIFFERENCE 5/1/2021 PAUL'S THORN IN THE FLESH 26/8/2016 THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12/19/2017 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 THE PRODIGAL SON 11/10/2018 THE SURRENDERED LIFE 18/9/2022 THE TRUE MEANING OF FOLLOWING CHRIST 21/7/2016 TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, FROM HIM MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED 6/2/2017 TRUE PROSPERITY 23/01/2023 WHATEVER IS TRUE... 5/8/2016 REIGNING IN LIFE 25/4/2023 WHAT DEFINES OUR LIVES AND US? 31/10/2020 WHAT MAY HARDEN THE HEART? 31/1/2017 FAITH & TRUST CHOOSING FAITH INSTEAD OF DOUBT 11/10/2016 CONSIDERING THE PAST AND THE FUTURE 1/1/22 CONSTANTS AND VARIABLES 19/08/2021 DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR LIFE 24/10/2016 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 TRULY BELIEVING - ELIMINATING DOUBT 15/10/2016 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 "THE REST" WE FIND IN THE LORD 13/08/2020 "WALKING ON WATER" 23/8/2016 WHAT DO WE TRUST IN? 13/6/2017 WHY IS IT SO CHALLENGING TO REMAIN CONSTANTLY VICTORIOUS IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK? 18/7/2019 FEAR THE DANGER OF UNHEALTHY FEAR 26/6/2017 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 FORGIVENESS FORGIVE US LORD, AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS 26/05/21 GOD, FATHER, SON & HOLY SPIRIT CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY 25/1/2018 "COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY-LADEN" 8/12/2020 GOD SENDS HIS ANGELS TO HELP US 28/02/2020 GOD KNOWS! 14/01/2020 HOW DID JESUS ANSWER TO TEMPTATION 26/1/2018 MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN TODAY 15/11/2017 THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 12/19/2017 THE IMPORTANCE OF TRULY ”KNOWING” GOD 21/7/2016 THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 18/9/2017 WE NEED GOD'S PRESENCE 21/7/2016 GRACE "GRACE UPON GRACE" 24/2/2017 WHO PAID MORE? 30/1/2017 WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE 9/19/2018 HEALING HEALING IS GOD'S WILL 26/6/2017 GOD WANTS US WELL 28/02/2023 JOY, HAPPINESS CHOOSING TO REJOICE 23/06/2020 FULL JOY 6/3/2019 HAPPY OR SAD? 21/7/2016 OUR JOY IN THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH 6/12/2017 MISCELLANEOUS THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART 22/10/2022 CAN YOU HEAR THE BELLS? 15/12/2022 CAN WE HAVE PEACEFUL SLEEP? 3/25/2023 PERSEVERANCE AND STRENGTH THERE IS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE 30/12/2023 "BE WATCHFUL AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS WHICH REMAIN..." 7/3/2017 CHAINS OF SMOKE 11/11/2019 CHANGING WITH THE TIMES 2/22/2022 ENDURANCE! 15/02/2018 HOW DID JESUS ANSWER TO TEMPTATION 26/1/2018 I WOULD HAVE PULLED JOSEPH OUT 13/8/2022 IN STRESSFUL TIMES 31/3/2020 STANDING FIRM IN UNCERTAIN TIMES 15/03/2020 THE DEVIL HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER CHRISTIANS 18/5/2018 THE LORD IS OUR REFUGE 27/06/2022 VICTORY IN SUFFERING 10/11/2021 VICTORIOUS OR DEFEATED 18/3/2022 PRAISE AND WORSHIP LET US PRAISE THE LORD AT ALL TIMES 16/5/2022 PRAYER ANSWER TO PRAYER 23/7/2016 WHEN THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYER DOES NOT COME AS WE ASKED 06/05/21 WHY PRAY? 22/7/2016 SALVATION THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 18/9/2017 WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE 9/19/2018 TESTIMONIES, DREAMS, ETC JESUS SET ME FREE... AGAIN! 10/1/2017 VARIOUS GOD WANTS US TO SUCCEED 15/2/2021 FALL IS IN THE AIR 30/09/2019 HAVE YOU EVER BEEN UNEQUALLY YOKED? 1/2/2019 IT MIGHT BE THE RIGHT TIME FOR SOMETHING TO CHANGE 17/5/2019 OUR SAVIOR HAS MADE THE WAY 23/12/2019 "PEACE TO THIS HOUSE" 26/1/2021 Archives
May 2023
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