 Hi everyone, welcome to today's class. This will be the final class, the final session that we are having, that we're going to be having for this semester, for this course. So thank you all for being part of this journey and it's been good. We've been learning a lot of things and our last class was about the gifts of the spirit and we looked at some of the things in detail about some of the gifts of the spirit and we also saw that we need to really develop the gift of the spirit, develop ourselves, right, to walk in the gifts of the spirit. So today's class will be about some proper guidelines or the foundation or something basic that we need for continually walking in and releasing the gifts of the spirit and we're going to be looking at that and also a few final topics about the anointing and and also about the symbols of the Holy Spirit, the titles of the Holy Spirit and so on, right? So we'll wrap up with that. Okay, so let's pray and we'll get started. Father, we thank you a lot for this day. We thank you for this time. We come at this session at your mighty hands. We pray that Lord may your word, Lord, continue to be written upon our hearts. Holy Spirit, we pray for revelation, understanding. Write your word upon our hearts, Lord. Maybe we, Lord, even as we are hungry to listen to the voice of the Spirit, Lord, maybe also be diligent, do us of your work and your word. We thank you. We come at this time into your mighty hands. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Amen. So we, we, well, we were studying about the gifts of the Spirit. We looked at some of the details, right? We some, we looked at some of the nuts and bolts, if you want to call it that, some of the basics of how these gifts operate. So in doing so, in trying to learn to do that, we also, you know, went into some of the basics like, okay, if this is the gift of the Spirit, if this is how God speaks, you know, what are some ways? We looked at certain scripture. Yeah, God speaks in dreams. God speaks in visions. God speaks through his word. God speaks in the Holy Spirit, you know, witnesses to our spirit, which means there is an instruction that he puts information, passing on of information in our heart and so on. So, so we, we looked at all that. So while we go into the nuts and bolts or the processes and the steps and so on, it's easy. It's, it's important for us not to forget that the way we minister these gifts, even though we talk about, okay, this is how, this is how we learn about the gifts. This is what, you know, these symbols represent and so on. We need to understand that everything is birthed or everything flows out of our relationship with the Lord. It is based on our closeness or intimate walk with the Lord. So, so that's the first thing that we need to understand that when we, when we study about the foundations for continual release of these gifts. So we see that it is based out of a relationship. Though we studied the steps and the methods, it is not about method or techniques or processes and so on. Yes, we, we learned them, but continued walking in the gifts and continued ministering in the gifts is based out of our relationship, right? Because the Lord says, without me you can do nothing, right? So if we want whatever we do and whatever we do for the kingdom to count as something that then it comes, it needs to come from a place of intimacy. Okay, the second thing is to be strong and to be strongly, you know, established in our identity, right? And as God uses us and expresses his power and presence and his will through the work of these gifts, even as we minister, it's important not to be swayed by these gifts in order to find approval from people because of the use of the gifts, right? If we are going to be doing something in order to find approval from people, if we want to do something or minister in a way that if we get our sense of worth or value or importance from them, you know, from the reactions or from the response of the people even or from, you know, you feel loved and appreciated only when you, you know, hear from God or in a certain way or you feel loved by God only when he gives you a prophetic word, you know, that's that's a wrong thinking, that's a deviation from what we should, how we should walk. You know, these are functions and we need to know the difference between value and function. We derive our value from our relationship with God and we function out of that. We don't function, you know, or minister in a certain way with in certain gifts in order to derive value. Now that would be wrong, right? So, so that's the second thing. Third thing is to always demonstrate Christ-like character. So what do we mean by that? We mean that, you know, what Paul talks about the fact that in 1 Corinthians 14 and verse 1, he says you need to pursue spiritual gifts, you know, earnestly desire the best gifts. So the word used there is a very strong word. It's to crave after intensely go after. So that is scripture. But also if you recall in verse 1, he says pursue love and desire, spiritual gifts, right? Efficiency 4 verse 15 that you see on the screen says but speaking the truth and love may grow up in all things into him who is the head Christ. So we speak the truth and love and we grow up in all things, mature in all things, come to completion in all things into him who is the head Christ Jesus. So he's talking about fruit. He's talking about the fruit of the Spirit. He's talking about the Christ-likeness that needs to come forth, you know, our character which needs to be built up. So character is like the wine skin. Character is like the container which holds what is poured in. So the Spirit of God pours in what he wants us to pour out. But then if the container is not strong enough, if there's the container is not good enough, it's cracked and it's not holding, it's not functioning the way it should be, then there will be a problem. You know, the longevity of the ministry and the effective functioning of the ministry comes because of character, right? So we need to always glorify God, not draw attention to ourselves, avoid hype and emotionalism and do not, you know, do not manipulate people because of the use of the gifts, do not get favors from people, do not misuse, you know, people, do not use people. And so let's not get into any of that strive for godly character. And the next one, fourthly, is to maintain accurate doctrine. Now history is full of people who used to, who actually walked well in the initial stages, they ministered powerfully but did not maintain accurate doctrine. Doctrine simply means teaching, right? So to receive teaching and also maintain accurate teaching while ministering to people. So 1 Timothy 4 and verse 16, Paul says, take heed to yourself and to the doctrine, continue in them, right? So he's saying, continue in them. In going forward the rest of your life, continue in them. Or in doing so, you will both save yourself and those who hear you. And again, a warning and an exhortation from Hebrews 13.9, do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. Be careful about what is it that your teaching always grow in your personal study of God's Word. Be established in sound and strong doctrine. Avoid, so that will keep us away from any delusions or getting entangled in some new age teachings and so on. Especially when we are pursuing the power of God, right? There are a lot of things that are counterfeit. There are a lot of things that are new age teaching and so on. So we need to make sure that we avoid all that, right? Then, develop self-restraint. Self-restraint is to be the self-governing ability, which is the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5 talks about the fruit of the Spirit, which is self-control or self-governing ability. So don't be presumptuous in the zeal to manifest the gifts of the Spirit, manifest the power of God. Don't allow wisdom to temper the zeal. Self-restraint, if the Spirit is moving, if the Spirit of God is flowing and ministering in a certain direction in a certain way, go for it. Otherwise, do not be presumptuous. Lastly, to grow within a good local church community. If you look at 1 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about the body. He's talking about gifts. That's 12, 13, 14. He's talking about gifts. Paul talks about the body. He's given the analogy of a human body, the members being part of the body and serving one another, not putting down one another, not elevating oneself. He's talking about the dynamics of a church community. As people who want to be used by God, we need to be part of the church community. Yes, we understand that people are not everyone is perfect. No one is perfect. All of us are works in progress. So where we might be strong in certain areas, well, the others could be weak. So we tend to sometimes put people down because we don't see the strength that we see in ourselves and the others. And so on, they make mistakes. The local church is perfect. The church is a work in progress, but God uses us despite our limitations, despite our imperfections. So be planted, be rooted in a good church community and this is what Hebrews 13 and verse 17 says, Obey those who rule over you and be submissive for they watch out for your souls as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief for that would be unprofitable for you. So as believers, it's good to be planted in a good local church and grow there, be submitted to one another and to the local church leadership and be accountable in the ministering of the gifts of the spirit. So we come to the end of that topic on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. So I just want to encourage us to continue pursuing God, continue ministering in the Holy Spirit, continue to learn more about the gifts of the spirit and minister, not to neglect, not to ignore. And as Paul exhorts Timothy, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. And we know that that context of that scripture is in the use of the gifts, is in the use of, is in ministering in the Holy Spirit. So another topic that I just want to touch upon is the whole aspect of anointing. When we say anointing, it means the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, which is working in us, like the Holy Spirit's power and presence at work in a person and through a person. So that is what we refer to as the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We say, okay, that's an anointed woman of God, that's an anointed man of God. So what does it mean? It means that there is a tangible, visible work of the Holy Spirit, empowering work of the Holy Spirit's presence of the Holy Spirit, working in that person and through that person. Many scriptures that we have seen earlier, Luke chapter 4 verse 18, where the Lord reads the scripture from Isaiah and then he says, you know, the Spirit of the Lord has anointed me. He goes on to say anointed me and then he goes on to talk about what are those things that he has anointed for, right? The Spirit of the Lord has appointed me because he has anointed me to preach, to heal, to proclaim liberty, recovery of sight, set a liberty, proclaim the excluer and so on. And then he goes on to say, this is today fulfilled. So anointing refers to ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit as empowered by the Holy Spirit. So the Lord Jesus ministered in that way and therefore we are to walk in His footsteps. So we are to walk in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We see a lot of examples from Moses and Joshua and in Judges we see that some of the judges and they were all anointed by the Holy Spirit. Maybe it was for some areas, it could be for a particular area, but they were anointed by the Holy Spirit to fulfill those things. So when we look at the anointing, what is the anointing accomplished or what is the anointing fulfilled in and through a person? So first thing that we see, it is the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit, the work of the Holy Spirit, which gives rise to the supernatural. So we know the supernatural works of God, it's not because of man. It's not because of anything that we manufacture or do or try to copy, but the anointing of the Holy Spirit that gives birth to the supernatural. So everything that we see, the supernatural work of God, the supernatural wisdom that is at work, the kind of design and architecture. So you see, look at David, he did not have any qualification in architecture or he did not study design and architecture, but the anointing of the Holy Spirit enabled him and the download that he got from the Holy Spirit. He actually shared that with Solomon and said, this is the blueprint, the design, the idea for the temple that God has given to me. So it's the anointing of that kind of a wisdom and creativity as well. It's the anointing that causes lasting works to be done, something of eternal value to be done through us. If it's a life change, if it's a life transformation, character and addictions being broken, etc., it is the anointing that causes lasting work. With the work of the flesh, maybe we can argue someone in to a particular point of view, but someone else can argue them out of that point of view. The work of the flesh can maybe impress someone, intellectual ability, speaking ability, charisma or personality. It could be pleasing, it could be funny, it can excite someone, maybe temporarily inspire, motivate people. But it is the anointing of the Holy Spirit that causes eternal work or lasting work. John 6.63, the Lord Jesus said, it is a spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life. Anointing breaks the yoke. Anointing breaks the yoke, breaks demonic bondages, breaks demonic weight or oppression upon people. Isaiah 10 verse 27, it says, it says, it will come to pass on that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder and his yoke from your neck and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil. So the oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit and the anointing oil, you know, the work of the Holy Spirit will break the yoke, will break the chain, will break the whatever bondage is there. So we need to, as ministers of God, we need to depend on the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Yes, you know, we need to learn things, we need to understand, we need to use the mind that God has given us, but it's the anointing that breaks the yoke. It's the anointing that brings lasting change. We see that, next we see that when it comes to anointing, there are various levels of anointing. The Lord, Lord God, you know, in the, in the, right there in the wilderness, he took what was on Moses, the work of the Holy Spirit on Moses and he put it on the 70 elders. And the Bible testifies that these 70 elders prophesied. And it also says, although they did not do so again, they prophesied. So what was happening there was these 70 elders were going to carry the responsibility that Moses was shouldering and a part of that responsibility. And the Holy Spirit anointed them, right, willed them, anointed them. And we see that the anointing, well, a part of it was there. And then we see that, well, when we read about Elisha, we see that Elisha had a double portion of the anointing that was on Elijah. Or that means the work of Elisha was double of that, the work that was released through Elisha was more than what was released through Elijah. So who decides that? Well, it's of course God we can desire and we can say double portion or triple portion, but it's God who gives, God who enables us. And there's of course things to be done in the natural life of consecration, a life in the word, a life aligned to the word of God and so on. So there is a price, if you want to call it that, to be paid, but well, the anointing can be increased. The way they extend to which the Holy Spirit is working in me and through me, in us and through us, can be stepped up. And yeah, we can do that, right? Through being more yielded, surrendered, submitted, consecrated, being in the word and so on, right, obedient. We need to be repeatedly anointed afresh or we can be repeatedly anointed, filled. We see in the book of Acts that they were baptized in the Spirit. We see that in Acts chapter 2, but in the chapters after that we see that they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter and John, they were filled with the Holy Spirit in the temple and when they were talking to the elders, to the leaders. And then it says, when they prayed, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and so on. So we see several times after that initial baptism in the Holy Spirit, they were continually being filled by the Holy Spirit. So we see that. So that's also available for us and we see that exhortation in the book of Ephesians, right? Where we say, do not be drunk with wine in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5 and verse 18, but be filled with the Spirit. So this is available for us so we can pray and ask and be filled with the Spirit. So the anointing can also be released, imparted, which means transmitted or transferred. For example, this anointing which was on Paul or Peter, this was transferred. In fact, they say that the people actually brought out people who were unwell and on the seat so that the shadow of the Apostle can fall on them so that they can be healed. And also, you know, pieces of clothing or handkerchiefs which were there from the body of the Apostle was taken and then there would be deliverance. Like the evil spirits would be where people be set free. So we see that all kinds of supernatural work happening because of the anointing of the Holy Spirit and because of the transference of anointing on to, you know, even inanimate objects like a handkerchief. So we see that that is possible. And so we can receive the anointing from other anointed people either through our association with them when they pray and minister and we can receive. We need to understand it's not just the people laying on our hands, but it's God who anoints. He's the one. So man can lay hands, but it is God who anoints, God who fills something, you know, which is the way in which he's working or he's using someone. He will, you know, transfer something like that on us as well. So he will do it. It is God who anoints. There's also what we see as a corporate anointing, meaning over a body of people, over a group of people, right? When the early church met, they were in one accord, unity, united. We continued in prayer, fasting, worship, and there was this anointing or outpouring of the Holy Spirit, right? We see that in the Old Testament, in the temple, during the inaugural worship or in the temple, there was such a presence and such a glory of God which filled that temple. That the priests could not continue to minister in worship. So that is what we see. So there is something which is the anointing, the corporate anointing, which is far more than what we would individually experience as well, when people are together in unity. Now when it comes to the anointing, well, yes, the anointing can be tangible to our physical senses. The anointing can definitely be tangible to our spiritual senses, what we talked about, right? And we can feel it, right? And it's tangible at times to our senses and need not be tangible also. So we need to understand that, well, the anointing. It is for the purpose, right? The anointing is for the purpose to get the job done, to minister to the people and to the needs of the people and so on. So the anointing is in line with that. So then that's the next thing that we are going to see. So we might sense something, we may not sense, does not matter, but God is faithful to anoint us when we ask Him, right? So when we look at the ministry gifts, we see that every ministry gift, there is an anointing to walk in that gift. So what are the ministry gifts? Or even the gifts of the Spirit, right? So the Holy Spirit anoints the believer, empowers the believer or works through the believer in power in order to walk in a certain way in the use of the gifts in order to fulfill. Whether it's a ministry gift of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher to help the Holy Spirit. Ministers anoints that person to fulfill the ministry of the apostle, to fulfill the ministry of the evangelist or pastor and teacher in an effective manner. So the anointing beyond the ministry gifts or on the gifts of the Spirit in order for the believer to walk in in a powerful manner. We see that I'm just moving on to the next topic which is talking about the names of the Holy Spirit. Just like we have the names of God, like the covenant names of God, like Jehovah Jairah, Jehovah Rafa. We have names like Adonai, El Eleon, different names of God. And each of these names have a read and why he's called that, why he introduces himself as that. There's an attribute which describes that name or the name. There is something that happens in most cases, there's something that happens and then the Lord says I am so and so. He provides for a particular need and then he says I am so and so. He says he heals and then he declares himself to be Jehovah Rafa, the Lord who heals. So there is an attribute, there is something that happens around that. So in similar way we see that the names of the Holy Spirit, what are some names? You can go through the notes, there are several names like the Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of the Lord, my Spirit, the Spirit of the Living God, Spirit of Jesus Christ. So Spirit of the Son, Spirit of adoption. So we see that the functioning or the ministering of the Holy Spirit is in line with that title. So when we say, when scripture talks about, for example, the usage of Spirit of God, every time the phrase Spirit of God is used, it's referring to the Holy Spirit. And every time is the phrase Spirit of God or the title Spirit of God is used to refer to the Holy Spirit. It is associated always with power, with prophecy, with guidance and so on. So which give us an insight about the kind of functioning of the Holy Spirit, the kind of ministry of the Holy Spirit. Of course we studied it in detail, what the ministry of the Holy Spirit is and in the life of the believer, what he does, when it comes to sinners, who do not know him and how he ministers and how he functions and so on. So each of these titles also refer and point to the functioning or the way in which he ministers. You know he's called the Spirit of Grace. He's called the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, which means he brings forth, he, you know, he deposits wisdom and understanding. He's called the Spirit of, especially Isaiah 11 talks about different writings, talks about Spirit of Council and Might and Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding. Spirit of Knowledge and the Fear of the Lord and so on. So he's called the Spirit of Life, the Spirit of Truth. So we know, when we say Holy Spirit, well there is no darkness in him. He's Holy. It's called the Spirit of Life, which means he brings about life. He brings about the God kind of life in a person. He's the Spirit of Truth, which means that, well, he's Holy and he brings about truth. He testifies and what he teaches is the truth. He leads us into all truth. And that's what the Lord Jesus said about the Holy Spirit. He said, you know, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit has come. He will guide you and he will lead you into all truth. He's also known as the Comforter. John 14 and verse 16 is the Comforter. He's the Comforter. He's the Paraclete. And he brings help. He's the helper. He's the teacher. So these are some titles of the Holy Spirit. And praise God that he ministers in these ways. He brings forth these attributes by his presence and by his power. And lastly, we look at some of the symbols of the Holy Spirit. The symbols. In Scripture, again, we see that there are several symbols which testify, which represent the Holy Spirit. In the book of Matthew, chapter 3 and verse 16, we see that the Holy Spirit coming upon the Lord Jesus immediately after John baptizes him in Jordan, he comes out of the waters and the Holy Spirit lights upon him like a dove. So the dove again referring to the Holy Spirit, the anointing of the Holy Spirit. So symbolic of the Holy Spirit. The dove is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. The wind is also again symbolic of the Holy Spirit. We read in the book of Acts that like a mighty, there's a sound of a rushing mighty wind which again testified to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Joel 2 talks about rain. And the rain is a symbol of God's outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He will come to us like the rain. Hosea talks about that. So like the latter rain is talking about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Then streams, John chapter 7, streams are flowing out rivers or streams flowing out of the belly of the believer. Talking again about the Holy Spirit, John chapter 7 where the Lord talked about the rivers of living water, streams of living water. Again fire, a God being a consuming fire. And Matthew chapter 3, John testifying about the ministry of Jesus, of him baptizing with the Holy Spirit. He says he will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. So the baptism of the Holy Spirit refining, burning away unnecessary things, the work of burning away, the work of refining a believer. Again talking about the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings revelation and understanding. He brings light. He dispels darkness. So light is again a symbol of the Holy Spirit. So we see all these symbols again testify to the work or the person of the Holy Spirit. Now what is interesting is when we are moving in the gifts, maybe even when it comes to some of the prophetic things like prophetic dream. When we see these symbols, these are biblical symbols of the scriptural symbols testifying to the work of the Holy Spirit or referring to the Holy Spirit. So we know that when we see these symbols or when God speaks in symbols, right? Symbols and God does speak in symbols and through his word. And so when he speaks in symbols, when we see these symbols, then we can actually interpret them in the light of scripture. I'd ask the Lord, Lord, what is it? Is it referring to your presence, referring to your power, referring to what you're working, what you're doing, like especially you see a dove lighting on someone. You see someone, you know, maybe refreshing rain falling on someone and so on. So you see that, you know, that's a season of the work or seasons of refreshing coming from the presence of the Holy Spirit. That is what we see in the book of Acts about seasons of refreshing coming from the presence of the Holy Spirit. So we can just help us to interpret rightly as well when we have an understanding of these biblical symbols of the Holy Spirit. Now in your notes, there are some extra reading about the use of the symbols and you can go through that, right? Read it for yourself. But yeah, with that we come to the end of this course and there will be one more quiz, both for online class, in-person class and also for e-learning. Just one more quiz and then we will take an average of both the quizzes. Quizzes one and two and that will be your final marks for this course, right? Okay, so thank you for being part of this Go course and just pray that we'll continue to learn more, continue to fellowship with and walk with the Holy Spirit in the coming days and pursue the gifts of the Spirit in the coming days as well. Thank you so much. God bless you and hope to see you in the next semester as well in maybe a different course. God bless. Bye-bye.