Brothers and sisters, many years ago, while I was a college student, I
wrote a research paper for a bible course entitled, "The eschatological
ramifications of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit." As I recall, it was a very
long paper! And if my memory serves me correctly, I believe I received a poor
grade for my work. Nevertheless, the premise of my research was SOUND. It went
basically like this;
"When the church sees the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as promised by
the Prophet Joel, we shall know for certain that Jesus is about to return, that
He is at the very DOOR."
Brothers and Sisters, in early 1993, as many of you already know, an angel of the Lord (or the Lord Himself, I DO NOT KNOW, I did not see Him, I only heard His voice) visited me on the steps of CBN. (Please see My Testimony at the end of this newsletter). And how that not many days thereafter, while laying on my bed, praying in the spirit, I had a VISION, wherein I SAW THE LORD JESUS. (I’m reminding you of this, so that you will understand my WISDOM and INSIGHT into the subject that we are about to explore).
And it was because of these revelations, that I wrote to you before in brief and first submitted it through the local church for judgment (just as the Lord had showed me to do) lest having begun this race, I would have begun, perhaps, in vain.
And as many of you also know, in the FEW SHORT YEARS that followed, (since these revelations) of HOW I SUFFERED personal loss. (Know this for certain, YOUR ENEMIES are real, and there is ALWAYS a COST associated with the PURSUIT of the things of God).
And since I now feel a FRESH ANOINTING, an GREATER ANOINTING than ever before, and since there is a sense of EXPECTATION in my spirit, (about these things) it seemed good to me to write to you once more.
Brothers and sisters, two thousand years ago, on the day of Pentecost, the Apostle Peter, having been baptized in the Holy Spirit and clothed with POWER, stood up and quieted the multitude who had gathered, and quoted the Prophet Joel, saying:
"And it shall be in the last days, God says, that I will pour forth of my Spirit UPON all mankind; and your SONS and DAUGHTERS shall PROPHESY, and your YOUNG MEN shall SEE VISIONS, and your OLD MEN shall dream DREAMS; Even UPON My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit. And they shall prophesy. AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS in the SKY ABOVE, and SIGNS on the EARTH BENEATH, BLOOD, and FIRE, and VAPOR of SMOKE. The SUN shall be TURNED INTO DARKNESS, and the MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE the great and glorious DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME. And it shall be that EVERYONE who calls upon the name of the Lord SHALL BE SAVED." Acts 2:16-21
Brothers and Sisters, "this is what..." the Spirit of the Lord is speaking to the church. He is speaking of the ANOINTING and of Jesus’ SOON RETURN.
Brothers and Sisters, it is EVIDENT to all that TWO THOUSAND years have come and gone since Peter first took his stand. And it should be obvious to all, that we are still in these LAST DAYS. So think it not strange that YOUNG MEN shall see visions or that OLD MEN would dream dreams, or that your SONS and DAUGHTERS would prophesy, for this is EXACTLY what the prophet said.
"...your SONS and DAUGHTERS shall PROPHESY, and your YOUNG MEN shall SEE VISIONS, and your OLD MEN shall dream DREAMS..."
"(And) Surely the Lord God DOES nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets." Amos 3:7
Brothers and sisters, it is my firm conviction that God is about to do something VERY WONDERFUL UPON THE FACE EARTH. And that in THESE LAST DAYS, he will fulfill the prophecy of Joel, and POUR OUT HIS SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH (MANKIND). And in so doing, He will ANOINT His people to demonstrate His POWER to all the earth., and if YOU are READY and WILLING, HE WILL USE YOU MIGHTILY!
What is the anointing? The anointing is the Spirit of God poured upon human flesh. Literally: to rub into, to smear upon.
It is the TANGIBLE LIVING ETERNAL SUBSTANCE OF GOD APPLIED TO THE FLESH OF MAN.
And what is the purpose of the anointing? Brothers and sisters, God does nothing without a PURPOSE. Very simply, the purpose of the anointing is to accomplish the will of God. It is the POWER of God that enables us to ACCOMPLISH His will.
In the Old testament, the ANOINTING was reserved only for the prophet, priest, judge or king APPOINTED by God. One of the earliest examples of the anointing can be found in Genesis. And although it is not clearly stated, it is clearly IMPLIED.
We know this, because Abraham was a prophet. And no prophet of the Lord can be a prophet without the anointing.
"Now therefore restore the man’s wife, FOR HE IS A PROPHET, and he will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours." Genesis 20:7
In this passage, we notice TWO things, one, Abraham was indeed a prophet, and therefore he must have been anointed. Two, he was holy to God. So holy, that to harm him, meant death.
And to this principle and fact, the psalmist also testifies.
"Do not touch My anointed ones, and do my prophets no harm." Psalm 105:15
Notice here that it is implied that the thing or person anointed is "so holy" to God, that a specific command is given, "DO NOT TOUCH."
Brothers and sisters, know this for certain, it is a dangerous thing to touch God’s anointed. And in THESE last days, as it was in the days of old, to challenge the ANOINTING, is to risk death. Acts 5:3-5.
I tell you the truth, God is speaking afresh to His people and to the world, "DO NOT TOUCH MINE ANOINTED ONES...and DO THEM NO HARM." For they are SET APART...they are CONSECRATED, they are HOLY to ME says the Lord your God. So put a watch upon your lips, and watch your speech, and do not act foolishly, for in THESE last days, if you touch His anointed to harm them, God will not spare you!
So as we see, Abraham was definitely anointed, for it is written that he was a prophet. What then was the purpose of Abraham’s anointing? The record is clear. God established (MADE) a covenant with him...and in his old age ENABLED him and Sarah to conceive (Genesis 17:6,7).
And what was PHYSICALLY impossible, the anointing made possible. For Sarah did conceive, even in her old age.
Notice the anointing changes things. Things that were once impossible, are now possible.
And for what PURPOSE was Abraham’s anointing...to MAKE HIS SEED (his offspring) an INNUMERABLE HOST...like the SAND of the SEA.
And as it is written (somewhere in scripture), you too are Abraham’s offspring, if indeed you KEEP the FAITH and ENDURE unto the end.
Moses was anointed too. And like Abraham, he was a prophet. Moses even said so, as he spoke of ANOTHER prophet, yet to come.
"The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet LIKE ME..." Deuteronomy 18:15
And what was the purpose of Moses’ anointing? Moses was SENT to DELIVER Gods people from Pharaoh’s hand. He was given the LAW and COMMANDMENTS to give to God’s people. And thus, he PROCAIMED the word of God to them, and inaugurated a COVENANT between them.
Like Abraham, Moses had a purpose...he was anointed for a purpose. God does nothing without a purpose.
And what about Aaron? Aaron was a prophet too. Exodus 7:1 says so. Aaron was also anointed.
"Then he (Moses) poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and ANOINTED him, to CONSECRATE him." Leviticus 8:12
Notice here again that the anointing CONSECRATES, IT SETS ONE APART for service or ministry. And thus, Aaron and his house also became priests. Aaron and the Levites were ANOINTED for SERVICE and WORSHIP in the house of God.
And what about Samuel? He was a prophet. He was anointed by God. 1Samuel 2:35 3:19,20 Samuel was also a judge. See 1 Samuel 7:6,15 And when the children of Israel rejected God as their King, and complained...1 Samuel 8:7 What did God do? He told Samuel to APPOINT them a King. 1 Samuel 8:22
Notice, the anointing is by APPOINTMENT.
It is written that God CHOSE Saul and told Samuel to anoint him as prince (King). 1 Samuel 9:16 15:1
"Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, kissed him and said, ‘Has not the LORD ANOINTED you as a RULER over His inheritance?’" 1 Samuel 10:1
Notice that God HIMSELF does the anointing, and He anoints for RULE, for LEADERSHIP.
Notice that Samuel literally anointed Saul with OIL, but also notice what Samuel said, "Has not the LORD ANOINTED you..."
Who does the anointing? THE LORD...with what? THE HOLY SPIRIT. For the prophet Samuel went on to say,
"Then the SPIRIT OF THE LORD will come upon you MIGHTILY and you shall prophesy...and be CHANGED into another man." 1 Samuel 10:6
Notice here again that the anointing CHANGES you.
Brothers and sisters, here’s a truth, when the anointing comes upon you, you cannot help but BE CHANGED. The anointing CHANGES THINGS.
David was anointed. He was a prophet and a king. Notice here again that God does the CHOOSING. Also notice, that the anointing is often for multiple OFFICES. Prophet-Judge (Samuel), Prophet-Priest (Aaron), Prophet-King (Saul, David). But through it all, God does the SELECTING. God told Samuel.
"...Fill your horn with oil, and go;...for I have SELECTED a king for myself..." 1 Samuel 16:1
"Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him (David) in the midst of his brothers; and the SPIRIT of the LORD came MIGHTILY on David FROM THAT DAY FORWARD..." 1 Samuel 16:13
And what of Elijah and Elisha and the many others...who walked with God, who prophesied of impending doom, who delivered God’s people, Enoch, Noah and Joseph. Were they all not all APPOINTED, CHOSEN, SELECTED, ANOINTED by God, to LEAD his people, to carry out His PLANS and PURPOSES, to PROCLAIM His word, to DO HIS WILL? The answer, brothers and sisters… is yes!
John the Baptist was a prophet. John was the greatest of ALL the prophets. Jesus said so. John 7:28
He was MIGHTILY ANOINTED. In fact, he came in the Spirit of Elijah. Matthew 11:14
And what was the purpose of John’s anointing? To MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD. Luke 3:4
John prepared things for Jesus’ arrival.
"...Behold I send my messenger before your face, who will PREPARE your way before you…" Luke 7:27
Notice the anointing prepares things. He makes things ready! The anointing PREPARES A WAY. And if you ALLOW Him, the anointing will MAKE A WAY FOR YOU!
And what about Jesus’ anointing? Brothers and sisters, now we have arrived at the center piece of our teaching! HALLELUJAH! For NO ONE ever walked the face of the earth with a GREATER ANOINTING than our SAVIOUR Jesus Christ!
Brothers and sisters, Jesus was anointed. And when and where did God anoint Jesus? He was anointed while in the Jordan river, after his water baptism. For John the Baptist bore witness to this fact, saying;
"...I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and HE REMAINED UPON HIM. And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He UPON WHOM you see the Spirit descending and remaining UPON HIM, this is the one who BAPTIZES in the Holy Spirit.’ And I have SEEN and borne witness that this is the Son of God." John 1:32-34
John the Baptist saw The Holy Spirit DESCEND UPON, and REMAIN UPON Jesus of Nazareth. That is how he recognized Him as the ANOINTED ONE (the MESSIAH).
Brothers and Sisters, after His baptism in the Holy Spirit, Jesus Himself testified that He was the Anointed One (Messiah), in fact He publicly proclaimed it.
For when Jesus stood up in the synagogue and the scroll of Isaiah was handed to Him, we read in Luke Chapter 4 that he opened the book, and found the place where it was written.
"The Spirit of the Lord is UPON Me, Because He (the Lord) has ANOINTED ME’ Isaiah 61:1 Luke 4:16-19.
WHERE did Jesus say the Spirit was? As we see in Luke 4:16-19, Jesus himself said, "The Spirit of the Lord is UPON Me, for He has ANOINTED me..." Notice He said, The Spirit of the Lord is "UPON me."
Now we have no doubt the Spirit of God was IN Jesus for He was and is God...the ONLY BEGOTTEN Son of God. But notice that he said that the Spirit was UPON Him...not only in Him, but ON Him. In effect, Jesus was telling them all, "I AM THE ANOINTED ONE, I AM THE MESSIAH!"
Like Moses, Jesus had a mission (a purpose). Like Moses, Jesus was commissioned to DELIVER God’s people...not from the hand of their enemies, but from their sins, just as it was written of Him, when the angel said:
"...for it is HE who will save (DELIVER) His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21
Like Moses, Jesus PROCAIMED the word of God to God’s people, thus establishing the LAW OF CHRIST (MESSIAH). And through the "veil" of His flesh, He mediated "established" a NEW COVENANT.
He did this when He went to the cross. Jesus was anointed to be your sacrifice. Isaiah 53. But on His way to the cross, what else did He do?
Luke described the purpose of Jesus’ anointing this way...
"...Jesus of Nazareth, how God ANOINTED Him with the Holy Spirit and with POWER, and how He went about DOING GOOD, and HEALING ALL who were OPPRESSED by the devil: FOR GOD WAS WITH HIM." Acts 10:38
Notice here that He was ANOINTED with the Holy Spirit, and POWER. He was anointed with POWER (dunamis). The anointing is POWER. And also notice that the anointing was for a purpose...to DO GOOD...to HEAL...to DELIVER (the oppressed). Notice something else about the anointing, the anointing is God with us....for it is written, "For God was with Him."
And Jesus Himself testified of His anointing and His PURPOSE when He read from the scroll;
"...He anointed Me to PREACH the GOSPEL to the poor. He SENT ME to PROCLAIM RELEASE to the CAPTIVES, and RECOVERY of SIGHT to the BLIND, to SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE DOWNTRODDEN, to PROCLAIM the FAVORABLE YEAR of the LORD. Luke 4:18,19
Here, according to Luke, the PURPOSE of Jesus’ Anointing was many fold.
1) Jesus was SENT to...PREACH the GOSPEL to the POOR. (The Good News of God’s eternal Kingdom.)
2) Jesus was SENT to PROCLAIM RELEASE...to the CAPTIVES... to RECOVER the SIGHT of the BLIND...to SET FREE...the DOWNTRODDEN. (He healed all who were oppressed by the devil.)
3) Jesus was SENT to PROCLAIM the FAVORABLE year of the LORD. (To proclaim the grace (favor) of God..."Today is the day of salvation.")
AND FINALLY
4) Jesus was SENT to the cross to mediate a BETTER COVENANT. To put an end to SIN, and to ANOINT the most Holy with His own PRECIOUS BLOOD. (Let the reader understand.) Daniel 9:24 Isaiah 53
And all this Jesus did! THIS WAS HIS GOSPEL!!! And the ANOINTING was His POWER to ACCOMPLISH IT!
Brothers and Sisters, this was not all that Jesus came to do. For after proclaiming and demonstrating the Kingdom of God in POWER, it says in Luke 9 verses 1 and 2 that He called the disciples together and,
"...He...gave them POWER and authority over all the demons, and to HEAL diseases. And He SENT them out to PROCLAIM the Kingdom of God, and to perform HEALING."
Brothers and sisters, KNOW FOR CERTAIN, Jesus was training His disciples. Why, because He was on His way to the cross, and He was looking forward to another day.
And when He had finished His work on the earth, and had trained His disciples, what did Jesus say about the ANOINTING…the PRECIOUS HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD? He told them,
"And I will ask the FATHER, and He will give you another HELPER, THAT HE MAY BE WITH YOU FOREVER; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not know HIM or behold HIM, because HE abides with you, and WILL BE IN YOU." John 14:16,17
Jesus told them clearly, I will not ORPHAN you. I will send you a Helper, I will send you the Holy Spirit (the Anointing). And after Jesus’ execution and resurrection, He reaffirmed His promise, saying to the disciples:
"...wait for what the Father had PROMISED, ‘Which, (Jesus said) you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you shall be BAPTIZED (anointed) with the Holy Spirit..." Acts 1:4,5
"And behold, I am sending forth the PROMISE of My Father UPON you; but you are to stay in the city until you are CLOTHED with POWER from on high." Luke 24:49
"...but you shall receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come UPON you; and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8
"Go into all the world, and PREACH the GOSPEL to all creation. ...And these signs shall accompany those who have believed: In My name they shall CAST OUT DEMONS...they will LAY HANDS on the SICK, and they will RECOVER.’ Mark 16:15, 17,18
And on the Day of Pentecost, WHAT HAPPENED? Brothers and Sisters, the record of the scripture is clear, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended UPON and remained UPON the disciples who gathered in the upper room.
..."and it rested ON each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" Acts 2:3
Jesus, the ANOINTED ONE, now the BAPTIZER of the Holy Spirit. Did exactly what He promised to do! He promised to send them a Helper. He promised to CLOTHE them with POWER. And He did!
In fact, in the SAME MANNER in which He had been EMPOWERED in the Jordan river, LIKEWISE they were EMPOWERED in the upper room. For the Holy Spirit, sent from Heaven, RESTED UPON THEM, and they RECEIVED POWER. But notice something else, not only did the Holy Spirit REST ON THEM… IT FILLED THEM! For it is written;
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" Acts 2:4
Brothers and sisters, The BAPTISM of the HOLY SPIRIT is the PROMISE of the FATHER! It is JESUS’ ANOINTING ON YOU, and IN YOU. Listen to the apostle John
"But you have an ANOINTING (a chrisma) from the Holy One" 1 John 1:20
Who is the Holy One? Jesus!
"And as for you, the ANOINTING that you received FROM HIM, abides IN YOU, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as HIS ANOINTING (chrisma) teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him."
Brothers and sisters, it is not by accident, that John used the word chrisma (meaning to smear, or rub with oil) when he described the ANOINTING in you.
Paul described the duality of our baptism in this way;
"For by ONE SPIRIT we were all BAPTIZED into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to DRINK of ONE SPIRIT." 1 Corinthians 12:13
Brothers and sisters, the Holy Spirit is both UPON us, and IN US, if indeed we have been BAPTIZED into HIM. Have you been Baptized in the Holy Spirit?
"...by one Spirit WE were ALL baptized.." "and WE were ALL made to drink of one Spirit."
Brothers and sisters, don’t you see? The Anointed One, Jesus of Nazareth, the One whom God anointed in the Jordan river, the One whom John the Baptist bore witness to, THIS SAME JESUS, IS THE VERY SAME ONE who BAPTIZES you in the Holy Spirit! And HIS ANOINTING abides in you!
You see brothers and sisters, Jesus not only came to pay for your sin (by dying on a cross), but He also came to ANOINT YOU with HIS ANOINTING. Jesus came to EMPOWER YOU!
Brothers and sisters, in early 1993, during the time of my visitation, I became acquainted with a man, a Pastor and Evangelist, who has literally preached the gospel all over the world. This man has an miracle anointing.
One evening while visiting with him in his church, he took me to an upper room, to show me some video equipment, and some videotape of one of his crusades, (he sometimes preached to tens of thousands of people). And while we were talking that evening, something happened, that would literally transform my life.
You see brothers and sisters, this man had just finished preaching the gospel in an evening service, and the Spirit of the Lord (the anointing) was still fresh upon him. And as he spoke with me, that evening, to my amazement, I began to perceive in my spirit, that something was leaking out of him! It was a golden oil like substance, and it was leaking into me!
In these last days, if you are ready and willing, that oil will get into you!
Brothers and sisters, it is a fact that we are living in the LAST DAYS, and Jesus compared these days in which we live to ten virgins, five foolish and five prudent. Listen to Jesus:
"THEN the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were foolish and five of them were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no OIL with them, but the prudent took their OIL in flasks along with their lamps. Now when the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the prudent, 'give us some of your OIL for our lamps are going out.' But the prudent answered saying, 'No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' And while they were going away to make their purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. And later the other virgins came also saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.' But he answered and said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.' MATTHEW 25:1-12.
Brothers and sisters, this parable is a picture of the church! The lamps are representative of our spirits, the oil of course is the Holy Spirit. The bridegroom is Jesus, and the wedding supper of the lamb is represented by the wedding feast. The prudent were prepared; they were ready; they had plenty of oil. Enough to see them through unto the end. The flasks represent their abundance. The dealers represent the ordained leaders who will be full of the Spirit and His power. The shout represents the sign of the coming of the Son of man (Jesus). The prudent and the foolish alike will see the sign of His coming and the foolish will know they are not ready. They will run frantically to and fro, but it will be too late.
Brothers and Sisters, remember the word of the Lord ? I tell you the truth, He is about to fulfill it. He is about to pour out His Spirit upon THIS NATION AS WELL! He is about to anoint us anew. And like the early church, we will ONCE AGAIN proclaim this Gospel BOLDLY with SIGNS, WONDERS, and MIRACLES accompanying. Are you ready? Can He use you?
Brothers and sisters, I believe that following this great outpouring, there will be a time of evangelism unparalleled in our history followed by distress upon God's people. And once the power of the "holy people" has been shattered, (see Daniel 12:1,7) THEN the sign of the Son of man will appear in the heavens (see Matthew 24:29-31) and then the end will come. And the Church will be caught up and the door will be shut, and the earth and its inhabitants will be judged.
Brothers and sisters, it is time to get holy. It is time to seek Gods face. It’s time to get out of that wheelchair and WALK! It is time to cleanse our cups, and MAKE THEM READY. It is time to receive the oil of heaven, the very thickness of His Presence…for the end of the AGE is upon us. And Jesus will surely return for His church!
Yours in Christ,
Scott Staerkel
Scripture references are taken from the New American Standard Version bible. For More Information about "THE SEED", or if you have questions or comments, please write to:
