Genuine Enthusiasm Begats Anointing
God cannot anoint an unenthused person. If you are not excited about the Lord Jesus and His presence, how can He make you His vessel for His glory? Study the history of great awakenings and Sovereign visitations from God and you will find that the Lord always used enthusiastic servants. A Godly person, full of the Holy Ghost, will simply flood forth with a contagious excitement that stirs others for the Lord. Look at Apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost and compare him with the Peter before the Holy Ghost was sent down. The timid became the bold, the discouraged became the world shaker, and the denier became the proclaimer.
You do not just receive enthusiasm when the Holy Ghost moves upon you. He actually fills you because you are enthused about the Lord Jesus in your life. You will never see the Spirit of His Pentecostal blessing move upon a bunch of dead saints sitting around with the mulligrubs. But, let them began to hunger and thirst after God and to draw near to Him in worship and adoration, and He will draw near to them (James 4:8). All I ever have to do to have a wonderful prayer time or a great worship experience is to truly get excited about my Lord and doing His will.
Hope is almost an unexplored word among the New Testament thinkers. Hope is really enthusiasm or bridled excitement. The meaning of the word in the Greek is actually “joyous expectation.” It is faith springing forth into action and obedience, expecting God to apply the supernatural to our surrender. Biblical hope is a fire of enthusiasm to which God cannot deny His presence. The Psalmist said it well when He proclaimed, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel” (Psalms 22:3). Genuine praise that bellows forth from Godly young people and adult saints will create an atmosphere that draws sinners and changes lives.
Apostle Paul had to deal with the enthusiasm of the Corinthian church and teach them how to measure their life in this exciting atmosphere. He taught them that the work of the Holy Ghost was subject to the prophets and that they must do all things “in decency and in order.” Why would He have to teach this? Because enthusiasm is so wonderful and so full of joy that the saints must be disciplined in their response. As you read the history of every great revival, the leaders had to guide the people in disciplining their emotions. Enthusiasm without discipline is the enemy of reason and will bring great confusion. In fact, many people feign enthusiasm as anointing and a multitude of people do not discern the difference.
“Joyous expectation” is so wonderful that it takes mature people to handle it. “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32). Oh, for the glory of having to handle our excitement instead of dying in gloom and discouragement. “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Hebrews 12:12). It’s time to be enthusiastic for the kingdom of God! “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12). It’s amazing how close enthusiasm is to violence. We must become radically excited about taking the kingdom for the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s ours for the taking, but it won’t be taken until we are consumed with enthusiasm and obedience.