Assembling Together

 "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the habit of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching." Heb: 10:24-25

In the first century Church, Christians gathered as often as they were able. It was then an important part of their lives, they understood, as maybe no other Christians have, the importance of the communion that we share with each other, all though our Lord Jesus Christ.

Those early Christians knew that when they gathered together in worship that something important was transpiring in their midst, that as they gathered it was not just with a group of persons, but with the living Lord and Savior Jesus.

Some Forsaking

 However, from the words of the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews, some Christians were choosing to be elsewhere when the Church gathered. 

"And let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the habit of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching." Heb: 10:24-25

These words show that missing the church gathering had become a habit for, “the habit of some is”. It was now a routine for them not to be there with the assembled Church.

The Holy Spirit inspires these words to encourage these "some" to guide them back into the local assembly where there is that unique bounding that takes place among Christians.

A Lone Fig

An example of our need to join in a community of worship is found in what may, at first, appears to be an unrelated event in the life of Jesus. As Jesus is on his way back into Jerusalem after his entrance on Palm Sunday, Jesus sees a lone fig tree, and being hungry Jesus approaches it and inspects it for fruit but he finds only leaves.

"Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungry. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said to it, Let no fruit grow on you henceforward forever. And presently the fig tree withered away. " Matt: 21:18-19

How does this event relate to the gathering of Christians in a local assembly? It is important to understand that fig trees cannot produce fruit by themselves; they need to be part of a stand or grove of other fig trees. Alone, fig trees produce only leaves, the tree may grow and be sustained but never really produce any fruit. There will be no fruit in the life of a lone fig tree.

As the fig tree needs others fig trees, so we need each other. Christians who decline to gather with other believers will be like that lone fig tree, when Jesus is hungry, that is Jesus desires to see fruit in our lives, he will find only leaves, there is some growth, but it seems that it is only to sustain the self. There is nether fruit produced nor does it help others bear fruit.

Assembling Gives Perspective

The Psalmist Asaph, looked out on an unfair world where goodness is repaid with suffering and evil is rewarded as virtuous. Asasph saw how those who ignore the God of Israel seemed to pass through life often without cares and concerns, yet, those who worship the Great God encounter many trails in life. They, act as if God is unaware of their actions and thoughts, this issue was hard for Psalmist Asasph as it might be for Christians today. Those who, at first glance, seemed to pass through this life with no regard for Jesus Christ often do not encounters the sufferings and challenges that Christians have.

"But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills." Ps: 73:2-5

All of this was perplexing to the Psalmist until Asasph entered the Sanctuary of God and heard the word of God read and expounded upon, Asasph then worshiped God when he gained understanding. 

"All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments. If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny." Ps: 73:16-17

When Asasph entered gatherings of worship, understanding came to him, this is true for us as well, when we gathering with fellow believers and hearing the Scriptures read  and prayer given and worship, then we see things with spiritual eyes through who Jesus is and a heavenly view is seen.

Living Stones

St. Peter calls Christians "Living Stones", a reference to the Temple of God which was assembled out of many stones to construct a whole.

"You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." 1Pet:2:5

The stones used to build the Temple in those days were taken from quarries cut into the general shape that was needed, but the process of fitting them into place took place at the construction site, as it was "fitted" into its particular place. This "fitting" process was done by placing the stone into its place and was smoothed out by grinding it together with the others until it fit. Each stone needed the others to be smoothed and fitted properly.

As those stones then needed the other stones to smooth them out, so each of us needs one another to remove the rough edges. This cannot be done on our own, we need to be brought together at the construction site of the church in fellowship and worship.

The lone Christians will be like that stone which will not be made to fit as well as it was intended. It is in the building of relationships with in the church that this smoothing away the rough edges is accomplished.

This process of fellowship within the community of the church fellowship for the purpose of building each other up in Christ and to assist in the process of maturity, without this contact it is difficult to grow into this maturity.

Within the church we should be having our minds focused upon the person of the Son of God so that we are not tantalized by things which attracted our attention yet yield no spiritual fruit, the foundational issue is who Jesus is, not everything else. Others things may entice our curiosity but leave us empty and stunted in the end.

 "That we from now on be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body to the edifying of itself in love." Eph:14-16

and prayer given and worship, then we see things with spiritual eyes through who Jesus is and a heavenly view is seen.

Living Stones

St. Peter calls Christians "Living Stones", a reference to the Temple of God which was assembled out of many stones to construct a whole.

"You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." 1Pet:2:5

The stones used to build the Temple in those days were taken from quarries cut into the general shape that was needed, but the process of fitting them into place took place at the construction site, as it was "fitted" into its particular place. This "fitting" process was done by placing the stone into its place and was smoothed out by grinding it together with the others until it fit. Each stone needed the others to be smoothed and fitted properly.

As those stones then needed the other stones to smooth them out, so each of us needs one another to remove the rough edges. This cannot be done on our own, we need to be brought together at the construction site of the church in fellowship and worship.

The lone Christians will be like that stone which will not be made to fit as well as it was intended. It is in the building of relationships with in the church that this smoothing away the rough edges is accomplished.

This process of fellowship within the community of the church fellowship for the purpose of building each other up in Christ and to assist in the process of maturity, without this contact it is difficult to grow into this maturity.

Within the church we should be having our minds focused upon the person of the Son of God so that we are not tantalized by things which attracted our attention yet yield no spiritual fruit, the foundational issue is who Jesus is, not everything else. Others things may entice our curiosity but leave us empty and stunted in the end.

 "That we from now on be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body to the edifying of itself in love." Eph:14-16

Uses of Gifts

Without a local assembly to function within, any gifts talents abilities will have no forum in to be expressed they may go unused and may never reaching full capacity. God gave these gifts to be used to contribute to others spiritual growth, when Christians do not attend a local church, these gifts given by God through the Holy Spirit are unused as God intended. These gifts are for the good of the Church, not our own benefit. The gifts are to be used in relationship.

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues.All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines" .1Cor:12:4-11

We can read the entirety of the 12 Chapter of 1 Corinthians, and see that there are no unimportant gifts all are given by the Holy Spirit for the common good of the church. Without being a part of a local church, the gifts will never be what they are given to be. The gifts require contact with other Christians or they have little to no uses. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit  are relational not functional or task oriented.

Worship

When Christians gather, we need to be focused upon the Lord Jesus Christ, it is easy, apart from gathering with others believers, to let our minds to wonder and become preoccupied with "worldly" things and our own interest. We can be like those the Prophet Isaiah describes.  

"Why the Lord said, For as much as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:" Isa:29:13

It is realized that this is a rather broad application of this verses, yet it makes the point some label themselves a Christian, yet are they there when the Church assembles?

It when the church assembles that Jesus manifest himself among us in a unique way. It is as when the disciples were gathered that Jesus comes and presents himself as  alive. This is why the Gospel accounts tell us about Jesus' post resurrection appearances, the Holy Spirit is saying that when the Church gathers Jesus is there among us showing us, even today, that he is risen and with us therefore we can be at peace.

 "On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Jhn: 20:19-23

St. Paul tells us that we should worship "lifting us holy hands" 1Tim: 2:8.

When we lift our hands, we lift our hearts as well.

Fellowship

As the Spirit led body filled with the Holy Spirit the church fellowship not just with each other, but with our Lord himself. The message of the Gospel is in the end an invitation to eternal fellowship with the Great God. This is why the Apostles traveled telling others about Jesus Christ, the God himself has visited us in the humanity of his Holy Son Jesus, that we might know Him and spend eternity with Him in fellowship.

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete." 1Jhn:1:1-4

Do Not Forsake Assembling

As the days grow darker the church will need one another more than ever before. If you are not already a part of a local church, we encourage you to find a church to be a part of, one that focuses your hearts and minds upon Jesus.

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of   ourselves together, as the habit of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching." Heb: 10:24-25......

Benediction: May we each and all never forsake the assembling of our selves together, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma

The Bread From Heaven

 "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." Jhn:6:51

When the Lord God led the people of Israel out from Egypt, the land of their bondage and enslavement, the people of Israel began their forty-year pilgrimage in the Wilderness leading toward their home in the Promised Land. At times, the way could be very difficult, and throughout their pilgrimage they became very much aware of their needs individually and collectively. The people especially became aware of great hunger, the need for food and sustenance.

Often, when the needs of the Children of Israel would not be immediately met, they would become angry and direct their anger toward the Prophet Moses and his brother Aaron whom the Lord had chosen to lead them. 

“In the Wilderness the whole Congregation of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron” Ex: 16:2

God Responds to Human Need

The hunger of the people of Israel, however, did not escape the Lord God’s notice and in spite of their complaining the Lord graciously responded by miraculously providing them food each day in a way and in the form that none had ever seen before.

As the Lord spoke to Moses “I am going to rain bread from Heaven” (Ex: 16:4a)

The Lord’s reason and ultimate goal is stated by God himself for giving this “bread from Heaven”? and resolving Israel’s hunger and need for sustenance.

 “that you will know that I am the Lord your God” (15c)

When the people of Israel found this “bread from Heaven” laying upon the ground they had never seen anything like it and they asked one another “what is it?” or Manna.

The people of Israel would be sustained on this “bread from Heaven”, this Manna, all through their trek to the land promised to them. God had met their needs and dealt with hunger which they had on their journey.

The hunger and need which Israel had is not theirs’s alone, but is the need of all humanity, each and all of us. We all need the “bread from Heaven”, the Manna, the “what is it?” which sustained Israel.

Bread From Heaven

Down through the ages it had become belief of the People of Israel that when the Messiah would appear that he would give them the very same Manna, the bread from Heaven, which their ancestors ate while in the Wilderness pilgrimage. It was this belief in the Manna giving Messiah which serves as the backdrop of Jesus’ discourse with the Jews after the feeding of the five-thousand which is found recorded by the Evangelist St. John in his Gospel account. John:6

In St. John’s account Jesus had fed a crowd of five-thousand hungry people which had come to hear him preach in a wilderness setting. This miracle of Jesus’ of the feeding of the five-thousand with only five loves and two fish caught the attention of the people and fueled their hopes that the Messiah had come, the one who would give them “the Bread from Heaven” the Wilderness Manna.

In Jesus, the Jews had found the one who could provide for their materiel needs, which met their hunger and provide sustenance. These Jews recognized, and knew, that they had needs, a hunger, and they saw in Jesus the means by which these needs could be acquired. They saw Jesus as a means to fulfill their hunger, but for them it was the hunger of the stomach for the Earthly.

The Jews then sought Jesus out but could not find in him in the area where he had fed them. They resolved to cross the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee) and return to Capernaum where they find him in the pulpit of a Synagogue.

“Therefore, when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his Disciples, they entered boats and came to Capernaum seeking for Jesus.” Jhn: 6:24

 Upon their arrival, they found Jesus and were perplexed as how he had arrived there. Jesus ignores their question and address the motivation and the true reason that the crowd had sought him out.

“the true reason that you are looking for me is not because you saw the signs which I preformed, but because you have eaten the bread and had eaten you fill” (26)

 Jesus understood that this crowd of people only sought him for the immediate benefits which they could gain from him and relieve their hunger in the eating of the bread which Jesus had miraculously given them.

They were correct that Jesus could fulfill their hunger but they only saw their hunger and needs, which was expressed in the eating of bread, from and Earth-bound point of view, to be sustained here and now.

It was the hunger of the stomach or the temporal needs which are secondary to the spiritual hunger of the heart which they, and all humanity, have deep within. This universal which all humanity is born with is hunger of the heart is to know God and know that he is God.

The Jews who sought Jesus were just like their ancestors in the Wilderness, in that they could only see their immediate need of the hunger of the stomach, and they sought out an Earth-bound through solution and complained so bitterly against Moses and Aaron.

Hunger of the Heart

This hunger for bread, that is the sustaining of this life, overshadowed their true hunger for something eternal which they had not come to see. From their Earth-bound perspective they only sought Jesus to gain from and be in the control of him for their own Earthly hunger.

Jesus however directs them to see their greater hunger, and that, this hunger surpasses the hunger of the stomach, it is rather the hunger of heart.

“do not work for the bread that spoils, but for bread that endures to eternal life, which the Son Man will give you. For on him the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (27)

The crowd answers Jesus by asking what did they need to do to obtain bread which would be given to them in a perpetually.

“What work do we have to do?” (28)

Jesus directs them to elevate their view Heavenward to the eternal things of God which are found in his very self, the one on whom “the Father has placed his seal”.  Jesus is telling them that he is the answer to their true hunger of knowing the Great God. He, is what they are truly in need of to fulfill the hunger of the heart and in him is the sources of all that they will ever need and is not obtained through their own work or merited in any way.

Jesus is making it clear to them that he is the Messiah the one whom they have awaited and the Holy Scriptures has anticipated and through him we might know our God.

“the work of God is this: believe on the one whom the Father has sent” (29)

The crowd, in a reference to the feeding of their ancestors in receiving the Manna, “the Bread from Heaven” in the Wilderness, asked Jesus for a sign that he is the Messiah the one who they believed would give them “the Bread from Heaven”. They conditioned their acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah upon what Jesus could do for them, seemingly having forgotten Jesus feeding them in the wilderness as the ancient Israelites did under Moses.

With their Earth-bound perspective they ask “what sign will you give” then, they remind Jesus of the “Bread from Heaven” which their ancestors ate in the Wilderness, their minds are still on their stomachs and not their hearts.

Jesus answers again pointing to the eternal and the hunger in all human hearts, tells them knowing even that they did grasp the whole reason for which God gave the “Bread from Heaven”, which was so that Israel would come to know that the Lord was God and not just to feed them.

“Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (32-33)

With their eyes still only upon the Earthly they asked Jesus to “always give us this bread” (34)

Jesus knowing that their focus is upon the hunger of the stomach to the point where they do not see that he is the answer to more than just their Earthly needs, but all the more he is answer to all their needs in this life here and now and on into eternity.

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (35-40)

Grumble Like Their Ancestors

Upon hearing Jesus’ words, the crowed of Jews begin to grumble at Jesus just as their ancestors did the Wilderness against Moses seeing Jesus only from an Earthly view. Jesus knew that in spite of the witness of the Holy Scripture they could not see their true need to know their God and it is through him that God is made known.

Jesus is telling them that he is the “Bread from Heaven” which fulfills not only the hunger of the stomach, but the hunger of the Heart in coming to know their God, yet this escaped them. Jesus is telling them; “I am the Messiah who you have been waiting, but more than just giving you Manna which sustains your life only here and now, I am come so that you might know God and have eternal life.”

Their response again is an Earth-bound response.

“how can he say that he came down from Heaven?” (42b)

Jesus’ answer points the crowd to the will of the Father and the reason for which Jesus has come, which is, the very same reason that the Lord gave Israel Manna, so “you will know that I am the Lord your God”, that in sending him and calling us to his Holy Son, and that through and in Jesus we come to know who God is and have eternal life for Jesus is the true “Bread from Heaven”. When we come to see this truth and accept it as such and see Jesus for who he is then the hunger of the human heart is fulfilled.

 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.” (43-46)

The Manna, “the Bread from Heaven” which was given Israel, and which the Jews believed the Messiah would give again, as miraculous as it was, still only gave life for the temporal, but Jesus the true “Bread from Heaven” gives life eternal all through the giving of himself to and for us.

“Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died” But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die

Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (47-51)

The Jews could not take it take in Jesus’ words, that is, they could not “eat his flesh”, take in that the Great God had come in the flesh in the person of Jesus, so Earth-bound was their view, seeking only the fulfilling of the hunger of the stomach, that is the temporal. They could not see who Jesus is and therefor missed the revelation of the Great God, again recall the reason for the Lord giving Manna, the “Bread from Heaven”, was “you will know that I am the Lord your God” which is the true hunger of every human heart.

The Jews not being able to take in Jesus' words left him they were unable accept that their God was there before them.

"From that time on many of His disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him"(66)

The Great God has come to us all in the person of Jesus, who is the true “Bread from Heaven”. When we come to see this, we come to know our God and have the hunger of the heart fulfilled, for God has sent the “Bread from Heaven” so “you will know that I am the Lord your God”.

Benediction: May we each and all, ever have the hunger of the heart fulfilled through Jesus the true Bread from Heaven and come to know our God, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.

Rev. Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma

The Unction of the Holy Spirit

  “we have the unction”1John: 2:20

 Some can mistake hyper emotionalism or unorthodox behavior for the Unction of the Spirit, or they may behave in a way which they have been told they are expected to behave, in ecstatically or flamboyance or apparitious ways, or that the Unction of God is only manifested in a specific way in the life of Christians.

The Greek word translated unction is Charisma it means to “smear” as anointing oil. It can view as setting a part for receive an endowment which is bestowed upon us for the fulfillment of a role. 

This same word is used latter in St. John’s 1st Epistle, but here it has been rendered as anointing.

In verse 27  the same word is translated anointing.

 “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.” (27)

 What is the unction? Do Christians today have it? Have you, had an or the “unction” of the Holy Spirit? How would know? What form(s) does the unction of the Spirit take within the lives of Christians?

 Does This Happen Today?

 While preaching, pastors or teachers might have the “unction” of the Holy Spirit, and the unction can be experienced as a sudden burst of understanding or insight in regards to a subject or a verse which they had not previously considered nor planned for in the preparation of the sermon. This unction can lead to addressing information which presses or emerges into the speaker’s stream of conciseness in such a way that it cannot be ignored and must be spoken.

The unction may be experienced as a strong prompting from within to speak on a subject or to address a particular person(s). Or it can be a persistent thought which is recurring and seems that it will not fade, or maybe, something just stays on your mind until you act or do or not do the subject of the prompting.

 We can receive the “unction” to pray for a person(s) or situation(s) or find our prayers to be very intense regrading a person.  The unction, may come upon us suddenly at unusual times, we may find ourselves awoken suddenly for no apparent reason from sleep with a person, a friend or pastor “heavy” on our heart leading us to get up and pray for the person or situation.

During Bible Study, whether alone or in a group setting, or hearing a sermon, a verse or section of Scripture will suddenly take on a “highly personal meaning” to us, that it seems, to be speaking directly to us, or understanding will surface in our minds which we had not previously known.

 How to Discern 

 How can we know if such “unction” or “prompting” and leading are of God or Satan or just the self? Is there a way for us to know?

The first thing is, that if an “unction” is coming from the Holy Spirit the "unction" will never lead us to do anything which is contrary to what we find revealed in the Holy Word of God and will always direct us to the person of Jesus Christ.

The “unction” will always be “edifying” and will build up rather than tear down, it will augment rather than diminish a person and will be for the good. It will challenge our human nature and will be opposed to the pulls of the flesh.

 St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Christians at Roman that we are led by the Holy Spirit but we are not “forced” by the Holy Spirit, that is, God will not usurp our own personal sovereignty and make us do something.

 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship” Rom: 8:14-15

 St. Paul also, even in relationship to the “gifts of the Spirit” says that they are exercised under our own control. The Holy Spirit somehow does not displace us, but rather, we are able to choose to or not to respond to the Spirit’s prompting, which in most cases is gentle even in its intensity.

 “Spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets” 1Cor: 14:32-33

 Over time, as we grow in Christian maturity and gain experiences with our Lord Jesus we will come know if it is God or not, because we know and recognize his voice. That  does not mean that we will hear an audible voice, but that is not to say that God cannot or has never spoken in such a way   with a believer. The voice of God which we come to recognize is that of a calm, gentle, patient and understanding, yet filled with a passionate love toward and for us all.

 “the Sheep know my voice” Jhn: 10:27

 This knowing the voice of our Lord is what we come to read in the Psalms when the Psalmist wrote.

 “be still and know that I am God” Ps: 46:10

 We hear God speaking to us through Bible Study and counsel with God’s ministers and fellowship through the brethren and prayer and worship in our local assemblies.

 Glorifying Jesus

  If it is the “unction” of God which is rest upon us by the Holy Spirit, the prompting will glorify God through Jesus Christ. The "unction of the Holy Spirit will set our minds and heart to always look to and trust Jesus, for the Holy Spirit will always point us to Christ and in always things seek to give us a deeper revelation of who Jesus is. If the sources of the impulse which has arisen in our hearts is anything else it will seek to glorify the self and satisfy the flesh in some form.

"However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you. Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you."Jhn:16:13-15

 The “unction” of the Holy Spirit will strengthen or reconcile a relationship with God and others, binding each closer together in Christian fellowship and or set the stage for future reconciliation, which calls upon us to grow in our own maturity as children of God.

 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Eph: 4:2-3

  Conditions for Unction

 There are times when believers may think that they are acting on an “unction” from God, but in truth, they have a personal agenda which is being undertaken. There are  times when, at the very moment the “unction” occurred, it was from the Spirit, but then the flesh wants its way and a personal agenda develops. Such a person in a moment of immaturely may look to uses the situation for their own advantage and advancement, this is something we must guard against.

We must be on our guard so as to keep the flesh from detracting from what God wants us to do. We need to keep our minds and hearts stayed ever on Jesus and all things relation to our Savior.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Col: 3:1-2

 Through a singular view upon Jesus and steady intake of the Word of God then our minds will be transformed into the mind of Christ. 

 “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete “.2Cor:10:5

We are to look ever to our Lord Jesus, the deeper of a relationship with Jesus we have, the more familiar becomes his voice and the clearer. We can perceive the “unction” of the Spirit.

 “Fix your eyes on Jesus” Heb: 12:1-2

 This will ensure that we serve our Lord and God all for the glory of Jesus.

 Benediction: May we each and all ever respond to the gentle unction of the Holy Spirit so that we might serve our Lord ever more effectively, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.

Rev. Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma

                                      "If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"