A Christian

There are 3 verses in the New Testament that refer to believers in Jesus as Christians. These are Acts 11:26,26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16. The word means a Christ person. Some have expanded this to mean a Christ follower or follower of Christ, but that is not what the word means. In the Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament they write that "The name itself presupposes that confession of Christ constituted the characteristic feature of Jesus' adherents". They base this on Acts 26:28 where Agrippa confesses that Paul nearly persuaded him to be a Christian.

But is this all? I can't help but think that there is more to it. Although a confession of Christ is essential and primary, is this the only 'characteristic feature'?

Throughout the book of Acts there was one other characteristic feature of a Christian that was needed. That is the presence and anointing of the Holy Spirit. At Samaria Phillip was concerned that the holy Spirit had not come upon any of the new and baptized believers. The Apostles had to be called in to finish the job. At Ephesus Paul found some followers, some disciples, but noted their lack of the Holy Spirit. A situation he quickly remedied.

The word christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word for messiah. The English word is anointed. We capitalize these words because they are names and refer to Jesus. So if we translated Christian, the Greek word is Christianos, it would be anointed person. In my way of thinking a Christian is an anointed person who confesses and follows Christ Jesus.

The anointing of the Holy Spirit is the sign and seal of the New Covenant, much like circumcision and the sabbath were of the first covenant. It is the evidence that a person is a partaker of the covenant. hey were first called Christians because as confessors of Jesus they were anointed by the Holy Spirit.

The point of this is that the anointing of the Holy Spirit is not a spiritual elite, or for the more deeply dedicated, but for all who confess Jesus as their Lord. May the time come when all Christians live up to their name and are baptized in the Holy Spirit. If that phrase is a problem for you, how about saying may the time come when all Christians, ALL CHRISTIANS, are consciously anointed with the power of the Spirit to help them be a true witness of Christ's resurrection to the world. Not only with miraculous demonstrations of power, but with miraculous demonstrations of the fruit of the Spirit. O Lord, may that day come soon.

Confidence

I have been thinking about how this trip to Kamchatka, Russia, has affected me. In so doing I am reminded of all the prophetic words I have received over the years that have encouraged me to have confidence. Confidence in God and confidence in the ministry that He has given me. If there was any area that I was truly weak in this was the area.

The fear of man has from time to time restricted the flow of the Holy Spirit in me to a trickle. Yet when I am in Kamchatka, they expect me to be a prophet. They expect me to have good sermons and prophetic words. They expect me to have wisdom from the Lord. This expectation made a demand on the anointing within me and the Holy Spirit responded.

I have been amazed over and over again just how deeply the Lord has moved through what I have said. At the first Sunday service at which I spoke a young woman was leading the congregation in worshipping God through music. She was new to me and she had a wonderful spirit. Her face shown with the presence of the Lord. Afterwards, she came to me and, through a translator of course, told me that I had prophesied over her about nine years ago when she was a young girl that one day she would lead the congregation in worship. And this was the very day that that word was fulfilled. That Sunday was her first time leading the congregation, and I just happened to be there to witness it.

I was so blessed. I vaguely remembered prophesying over her yet the reality of what the Lord had done for both her and me was stunning. She knew that God has been guiding her life and that she was in his will, and I had my confidence in the Lord’s anointing elevated.

So I have determined not to fear man. I have determined not to be overly concerned what others may feel about me so that I am afraid to be me. Why? The issue is not me, but the Lord’s anointing. And the Lord’s anointing rests upon me. Me, as I am. So for the Lord’s sake I will be confident – confident in Him and His anointing in my life. He has proven to me that the anointing is real.

I am so grateful to the Lord for opening this door for me in Russia. Through it He has blessed both me and those to whom I have been sent. His is worthy of all praise. Lord, you truly amaze me with your ability to bless and help us see your love and be your love extended to others in this world.