A Relationship and Not a Formula

 

There are several things that we can use to

enhance the anointing in our lives. Let me say, at the

outset of this chapter, the anointing is not a formula; it is

a relationship.

 

Many are trying to imitate other great men of

God. They want to walk their walk and talk their talk, but

not out of a relationship with Jesus. They try to use it as a

means to have God’s anointing manifest in their lives. For

example, some ministers hold a healing meeting so they

can have a crowd, not so that they can get people healed.

That’s the wrong motive for wanting to see miracles take

place.

 

I remember talking to individuals who wanted

what Smith Wigglesworth had. They studied his life and

found out that Smith Wigglesworth used to wake up at

four o’clock in the morning and have communion. Then

he would pray for three hours. So they began to do the

same. But after a little while, they would wake up late in

the morning, realizing that they had fallen asleep, instead

of praying.

 

This action was based on a formula and not a

relationship. It is important to realize that Smith

Wigglesworth did not do all of those things in order to

have miracles in his life. He had a relationship with the

Lord, and then out of his relationship, he ministered and

the miracles were the result.

 

The Bible says, “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). Can people tell that you have been with Jesus

lately? What Peter and John had was not based on a

formula, but rather a relationship with the Lord Jesus

Christ.

 

A Person, Not a Language

 

I think one of the biggest problems in many

Pentecostal and charismatic circles is that people seek a

language and not the Holy Spirit. First of all, the Holy

Spirit is not a language; He’s a person. Jesus said to the

disciples, “Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be

endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:59).

Some people think He said, “You will receive

tongues.” What good is tongues without the power? We

have many babbling believers today with very little

power.

 

When He told them to tarry for the Holy Spirit,

they didn’t know what they were waiting for. If there had

come a knock on the door and someone walked in and

said, “I am the Holy Spirit,” I am sure they would have

welcomed that person and said, “Yes, Jesus said You

were coming.”

 

But on the day of Pentecost, there came a sound

from heaven as of a rushing, mighty wind. There

appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire and it sat

upon each of them. They were all filled with the Spirit

and began to speak with other tongues. (See Acts 2:1-4.)

I want you to notice they were filled, then they

spoke. They were filled first. Power was evident in their

lives. You see, the early church had the substance and

unfortunately, the latter church has the formula. Let’s get

back to the substance, the tangibility, the heavenly

materiality of what the early church had.

 

Having an Encounter with God

 

I believe if we would be used of God, we need to

have an encounter with Him. Paul talked about how he

had seen the Lord in the way. Moses had a burning bush

experience. To be honest with you, so did everyone who

has ever been used of God.

 

Job had an encounter with God at the end of his

ordeal. God revealed Himself to Job, asking Job where he

was when God laid the foundation of the earth. “Do you

have a voice that can thunder like me?” God asked Job

(Job 40:9).

 

Job finally spoke to God. His words speak for

many people, I think. He said, “I have heard of thee by

the hearing of the ear: but now my eye seeth thee” (Job

42:5). It’s one thing to read the book; it’s another thing to

meet the author of the book.

 

The Life of Prayer

 

First of all, what is prayer? Prayer is communication

and it’s two ways. In many believers’ lives, prayer is

a one-sided conversation. They pray, “Give me, give me.”

They are always asking.

 

Prayer for the believer should not be a religious

ritual performed on a daily basis by a Christian who

wants to attain a certain level of spirituality. It should be

a daily fellowship with our heavenly Father out of love.

 

We have to realize that we are not under the Old

Covenant, but under the New. Whatever is done under the

New Covenant must be done out of faith and love. Otherwise,

it is nothing more than dead works, something that

needs to be repented of.