Scripture: Matthew 11:1 – 15
Title: “The Last Line Of Defense”
Subject: The Anointing of the Holy Spirit!
Introduction: I believe the True Christians of God are under an all out attack by the power of darkness as never before.
· It appears we are not winning the battle as we should and could.
Let me drop in a Scripture here, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”
Note: Since the time John began preaching, the response had been violent, whether by vicious opponents or enthusiastic supporters.
Why are we under such a tremendous assault from the enemy?
· Satan knows he has a limited amount of time to do his dirty work! Rev. 12:12
· Satan intends to deface and destroy God’s crowning Achievement > Man!
· Truly Blood-bought / Truly Born Again by the Holy Spirit people are God’s “Last Line Of Defense!”
· The True People Of God are the “Anointed of God!”
> 2 Cor. 1:21 “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed (Commissioned) us, is God;”
> 1 John 2:20 “But ye have an (Anointing) unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”
· Satan doesn’t want Christians to find out what they can do and who they are in Christ!
· In Isaiah 10:27 we are told the “Anointing” breaks the yoke of bondage!
THE ANOINTING
· To be Anointed simply means ‘consecrated’, or ‘set apart’, for service.
· When someone was anointed they had been ‘Selected’ for a position.
· Usually this anointing was to appoint kings & priests.
· The ANOINTING is an ASSIGNMENT, but in order to fulfill the ASSIGNMENT, there must be an ALIGNMENT!
· Being Born Again (John 3) of the Holy Spirit is an Assignment for Service!
IGNITING THE POWER OF GOD (Is there not a cause?) 1Sam. 17:29
· Notice what Jesus said in Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed Me . . . ” – “Because!”
· The “Anointing” of Jesus came ‘Because’ He was the Son of God – The Savior. / Because of WHO HE WAS! / The Time was Right! / He was in the Right Place!
· True Christians are Priests and Kings unto God! / Rev. 1:5-6 (On Screen)
· I think we have made the mistake of thinking that the outstanding experiences of the valiant people within the pages of the Bible are nothing more that just stories to be read. (People just like you and I!)
THE TRANSFORMING EFFECT OF THE ANOINTING!
· (1 Samuel 16 – 17) David was a ‘Shepherd’, The only socially lower class of people were lepers.
· David was a nobody that nobody noticed.
· David was even overlooked by his own family.
· But everything changed the moment David was Anointed!
· David’s life was TRANSFORMED!
· These things actually happened to real people just like you and I!
Note: Truly being ‘Born Again’ is a transforming experience!
· 2 Cor. 5:17 “What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!” NLT
· 1 Cor. 1:27 “Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful.”
· 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:”
Note: We have the Power of God in us, but we must put it to the Test!
· David stood up to Goliath!
· Peter stepped out of the Boat!
· Abraham obeyed God in offering up his son Isaac!
· Moses led the Israelites into a Red Sea that had been Prepared for them to cross!
· Every great person of God had to step out in Faith to discover the Power of the Holy Spirit!
· The Holy Spirit is Waiting on You to Move!
THE GREATEST AREAS OF NEED!
· Home / Marriage / Family / Church / Workplace / School / Our Country!
· We are no match against Satan without the Holy Spirit.
· I think all of us would have to agree that God has some people that have abilities that far exceed that of others.
· There is always the strongest point in everything! But I want us to focus our attention on the “Last Line of Defense” of Christianity today.
· If the last line of defense can be broken you are sure to defeat your opponent.
· In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit seals and indwells God’s anointed people.
