1) Jesus the Christ (Anointed One)

Acts 2:36 - Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." The word “Lord” is “kurios” (koo'-ree-os) meaning “supreme in authority” and the word “Christ” is “Christos” (khris-tos‘) which means “anointed”. The person of the Lord Jesus Christ can be difficult for us to fully understand. The Scriptures teach us that Jesus was fully human and yet fully God. God made Him to be both Lord (God) and Christ (Man). Even a light study Jesus' life shows up this mystery.

About 535 years before Jesus’ birth Daniel gave a specifically dated prophecy regarding the Anointed One or the Messiah, the Christ. The Jews looked for the Anointed Savior. The name Jesus was not a “one only” name. Other people had this name. The Israelites where not looking for a Deliverer by the name of Jesus. They were looking for the Man who had the anointing upon His life in such away as to actually bring about Israel’s freedom and usher in the restored Davidic kingdom. The point I’m making is that the proof of Jesus’ authenticity as the long awaited Messiah was His anointing.

John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah was “the voice in the wilderness calling out, in preparation of the Lord’s coming“ (Isaiah. 40:3). He was told very specifically how he would be able to recognize who the Messiah was.

John. 1: 31-34 - I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." 32 And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

To John the Baptist the proof Jesus’ authenticity was in the anointing He received while at prayer in the Jordan River. John saw the “Heavenly Dove”come down and remain upon Jesus. He had been told by his God that this is how he would know who the Messiah the Son of God was.

When things didn’t seem to be unfolding for the nation of Israel quite the way John the Baptist thought they should (he found himself imprisoned at the time) he sent a few of his followers to Jesus for a confirmation as to His identity. Jesus knew exactly what John needed to hear. He sent John’s disciples back with this message, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. (Luke. 7:22) What He was saying is “the prophetic word from Isaiah. 61:1,2 is being fulfilled. He was saying “John I am the Anointed One”. I’m sure this would have brought instant recall to the message God had given to Him regarding the Heavenly Dove coming and permanently remaining of the Christ.

One Sabbath, in His home town synagogue, Jesus stood up and read from Isaiah the prophet. The portion He read was from Isaiah. 61:1,2 which says, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,” As Jesus finished reading this he told the people that He was the fulfillment of this prophecy. He boldly declared that He was anointed by the Holy Spirit. The next three years of Jesus’ life and public ministry would prove this to be true.

In one of Peter’s sermons he draws the peoples attention to the fact that Jesus was the Christ, the Anointed One. Clearly the proof that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah lay in anointing upon Him. That anointing was evident in the results of His ministry. Acts 10:36-39 - As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.

It’s very interesting to note that Jesus was the Son of God in human flesh the moment He was conceived in Mary’s womb. (Luke.1:31-35) The point I’m wanting to make here is that for the first thirty years of Jesus’ life He was the Son of God, (God manifest in the flesh). He was the Son of God prior to the “Heavenly Dove” coming and remaining upon Him. The Holy Spirit coming upon Jesus did not make Him more God than He already was. It did however, anoint Him to be the Christ, the Anointed One who would, preach the Good News, heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead.

I feel it’s reasonable question to ask, "if God felt that Jesus (the Son of God & Son of Man) required the anointing of the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill His earthly ministry why wouldn’t we need such an anointing upon our lives as well"?

2) The Promise of God

Right from the onset of Jesus' ministry the prophetic word was given regarding the effects it would have. While John the Baptist was involved with baptizing in water he made it very clear that the Messiah would do something unique involving the Holy Spirit. While John baptized with water Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. 

Lk. 3:15,16 - Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. 16 John answered their questions by saying, "I baptize you with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I'm not even worthy to be His slave and untie the straps of His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 

Today the prophet John is inseparably identified with his water baptising ministry. He's called John the Baptist. It's interesting to note that as you follow Jesus' ministry through the Gospel records there's a real void in His "Holy Spirit baptism" ministry. Jesus healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, cleansed the lepers, cast out demons and even raised the dead to life again but what about the Holy Spirit baptism?

What a powerful and wonderfully effective life and ministry Jesus had. At this point I want to ask you to "stay with me here". Why was Jesus' public ministry so void of baptizing people with the Holy Spirit?  I'm purposing to lay a foundation here for something that will come out a bit latter on. 

The One who would baptize people with the Holy Spirit is the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Only Begotten Son of God. Let's look at Jn. 7:37-39 - On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, "Anyone who is thirsty may come to Me! 38  Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" 39  (When He said "living water," He was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in Him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into His glory.) 

The "Holy Spirit Baptism" ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ would have to wait until AFTER His death, burial, resurrection and His glorification at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. This now brings us to Jesus own prophetic words in Luke 24 and Acts 1. Jesus promised that His disciples would receive power after the Holy Spirit came upon them. They would have to wait but they would receive as a result of their obedience.

Lk. 24:49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father UPON you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

Act 1:4-8 - And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

In Acts 1:5 Jesus makes direct connection with the words spoken by John the Baptist in reference to Him being the One who would baptize people with the Holy Spirit. It's very evident that Jesus' baptizing with the Holy Spirit ministry was to occur after His ascension into Heaven. In other words the Jesus didn't start that part of His ministry until AFTER His glorification. That brings us to the question, "How does Jesus' "Holy Spirit baptism" ministry effect us today?". How does Jesus' Holy Spirit ministry effect the Church and the world today? 

The promised Holy Spirit outpouring had to wait until Jesus had offered Himself up as the God provided sacrifice for the sin of the world. It would have to wait until Jesus ministry as the lamb of God was obediently fulfilled. Jesus obeyed the Father as a result received from Him the promised Holy Spirit to pour out. Acts 2:32,33 - This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33  Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 

3) The Promise Fulfilled

The promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit came on the first Pentecost following the Jesus' resurrection and glorifcation. A fairly detailed account of that event is recorded for us in Acts chapter two.

The disciples had been praying together and waiting in obedience to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and receive power from Heaven. Act 1:4,5 - And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."  

On day ten as the disciples continued in pray and waiting there came a sudden interruption. Act 2:2-4 - And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. What a profound and amazing experience it was for all involved. It caused such a commotion it attracted the attention others in that general area. Clearly an explanation was in order. The Apostle Peter rose to the occasion and makes it absolutely clear what was happening. This was the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy concerning the out pouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel  2:28-32).

Act 2:14-21 - But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18  even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.19  And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before

 the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21  And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.' 

This outpouring of the Holy Spirit not only fulfilled Joel's prophecies it also fulfilled the promise Jesus gave to His disciples regarding being "baptized with the Holy Spirit" in Acts 1:5 and also the prophetic words given by the John the Baptist in Lk. 3:16:  "John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."  It's very interesting to note the recorded detail of the events that ocurred on that day of Pentecost. People observed tongues of fire coming down and resting on all those who had been gathered there in obedience to the Lord's instructions. 

From the record of this encounter, clearly these Believers had been baptized with the Holy Spirit. They were people who had personally experienced Jesus fulfilling His ministry. John the Baptist said Jesus was the One who would baptize people with the Holy Spirit. The point I'm wanting to emphasize here is that Jesus had to be alive to fulfil His ministry. Personally I believe that the Holy Spirit baptism is meant to be a tangable evidence of Jesus resurrection. When people are baptized in the Holy Spirit there's no need to travel to Jerusalem to look into an empty tomb that may or may not be the original to prove that Jesus is alive. 

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit proves the resurrection and glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Spirit could not be given until Jesus was glorified. Jn. 7:39 - Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. With this in mind is it any wonder that there's been so much contention among Christian about the Holy Spirit Baptism and speaking in tongues. The enemy will do everything he can to discredit Jesus' resurrection. In attacking the authtisity of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit the enemy attacts the credibility of Jesus ministry of baptizing Believers with the Holy Spirit. 

4) Anointed For Service

The authenticity of Israel's long awaited Deliverer was determined by the "anointing" that rested upon Him. He would be know as the Messiah (Hebrew) the Christ (Greek) the Anointed One. Jesus experienced the Holy Spirit baptism. There was a time in Jesus life when He received this special anointing. Prior to it Jesus had not preached the Good News nor had He healed the sick or raised the dead. Up to that point the prophetic Scriptures of Isa. 61:1,2. Receiving the Holy Spirit baptism anointed Jesus to carry out His Gospel ministry. 

The point I want to bring out and stress here is that Jesus who was the Son of Man and the Son of God received the Holy Spirit anointing. This was clearly totally ordained of the Father. This was not an option for Jesus. Without it He would not have been the Christ. Clearly, for Jesus, this was a special anointing for service. 

If Jesus who was the one and only "God Man", (God revealed as human) received the Holy Spirit baptism ( a Holy Spirit empower anointing) prior to involvement in Gospel ministry why wouldn't it also be needed for His disciples? It was and is needed that's why Jesus instructed them to wait until they received power from heaven before they went out into all the world preaching the Good News. 

Acts 1:4-8 - Once when He was eating with them, He commanded them, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift He promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking Him, "Lord, has the time come for You to free Israel and restore our kingdom?" 7 He replied, "The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

I find the opening remarks in the book of Acts so intriguing. Acts 1:1 - In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach. Here Luke is making reference to his Gospel which he addressed to his personal friend Theophilus (Lk.1:3). What's so interesting is all that we read about regarding Jesus ministry are only the things He BEGAN to do and teach. The Gospel of Luke records the BEGINNING while the book of Acts records the CONTINUATION of Jesus ministry through His "Holy Spirit anointed" followers. 

A study of the book of Acts certainly reveals that the early church ministries had the same anointing that Jesus had. They preached the Good News, healed the sick, cause the lame to walk, cast out demons and raised the dead. All this was made possible as a result of the Holy Spirit anointing.

Some have suggested that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit was simply a tool God used to "kick start" the infant church and that it's not something relevant for today. Where they get this idea from I'm not quite sure. What I am sure of is, the promises of God are for us today and the Holy Spirit anointing has been promised to us even in the 21st. century. Acts 2:39 - For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." Certainly we who are of the 21st. century church are those who were "are far off" and definitely fit into the category of "everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself". 

The Holy Spirit anointing was required in order for Jesus to fulfill His ministry and I feel that it's something we need today if we expect to hit the target in our generation. We need fresh Holy Spirit anointing.