The Divine Anointing #1
Brother Sparks emphasizes the profound significance of the divine anointing, or the Holy Spirit, as essential for the Christian life and ministry. He highlights that the Holy Spirit's coming was foretold throughout Scripture, beginning with God's promise to Abraham and reiterated by prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah, culminating in its fulfillment at Pentecost. The Spirit's primary role is to confirm Christ's finished work, serving as God's seal upon redemption, and to enable believers to partake in sonship—being adopted into God's divine family through the Spirit of His Son. This adoption signifies a new divine family, with Christ as the firstborn, and believers as heirs, marked by the Spirit of Sonship. Sparks stresses that the Holy Spirit imparts a moral and spiritual dignity, distinguishing believers as a superior order of beings, princes in God's kingdom, despite worldly opposition and spiritual conflict. The presence of the Holy Spirit also causes controversy and trouble in the world, as it signifies God's divine seed in creation. He urges believers to recognize that all spiritual power, service, and victory depend solely on the anointing, which is rooted in the finished work of Christ. Ultimately, the Spirit's work transforms believers from their old nature into Christlikeness, a process involving discipline and suffering, but assured by God's sovereign purpose for good.
Outline of Main Points
The Holy Spirit is the divine anointing essential for Christian life and service.
The promise of the Holy Spirit is rooted in Scripture, dating back to Abraham and emphasized by prophets.
Christ's work is completed and sealed by the Holy Spirit, which is God's confirmation of redemption.
Believers are adopted into God's family through the Spirit of Sonship, signifying a divine restart of God's family.
The Spirit imparts moral dignity and distinguishes believers as a superior, royal order.
The presence of the Holy Spirit causes controversy in the world, as it signifies God's divine seed.
All divine power and victory depend on the anointing, rooted in Christ's finished work.
The Spirit's work involves transforming believers through discipline and suffering into Christlikeness, for God's ultimate good.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
