Lesson 3 - The Increase Of The Anoiting

LESSON 3

The Increase of the Anointing he anointing can increase on your life. God’s power is a power that multiplies itself and increases, as the Scripture passages below indicate.

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“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” ( John 7:38). “When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil” ( Job 29:6). God promises rivers—not a river—of His power. “Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar. Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side. And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to his ankles. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again the measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: For the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this? Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river. Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other. Then he said unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea:, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that everything that liveth, which moveth, withersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh” (Ezekiel 47:1-9). The river of God deepens as we preach the Gospel to the lost. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

LESSON 3

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The power they received became great power. “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33). “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47). The Lord added, then He multiplied. “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration” (Acts 6:1). They multiplied greatly. “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:7). SEVEN WAYS GOD’S POWER INCREASES The anointing increases with: 1. Hunger: “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word” (Acts 10:44). 2. Unity: “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch)” (Acts 5:12). 3. Faith: “And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked” (Acts 14:8-10). 4. Worship: “But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him” (2 Kings 3:15). 5. Prayer: “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 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. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was

LESSON 3

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THE INCREASE OF THE ANOINTING

his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of the lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold” (Acts 4:29-34). 6. Association: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4.13). “And Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses” (Deuteronomy 34:9). “And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him” (Numbers 27:18). God chose Joshua, a stranger from a different tribe, over anyone in Moses’s family. Moses’s family was so familiar with him that they turned against him. God chose the man who had been ministering to Moses. Joshua was then anointed because Moses laid hands on him and influenced his life. “And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men” (1 Samuel 22:2; see also 2 Samuel 23:8, 18, 20). 7. Following the Lord (learning how to constrain Him): “And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out. For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid” (Mark 6:47-50). “And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another,

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as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight” (Luke 24:13-31). GOD WANTS TO BE FOUND The scriptures below teach us that it is God’s nature to hide. But we have the privilege of seeking Him. “Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour” (Isaiah 45:15). “By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the street, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me” (Song of Solomon 3:1-4).

LESSON 3

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THE INCREASE OF THE ANOINTING

Solomon does not show up until he is certain that she is serious. The result of searching is the death of self. The longer we search, the less of us remains. God withdraws in order for us to follow. There is a price for the power of God—prayer, dedication, surrender, and obedience.

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