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7 SPIRITS OF GOD
Expressions
and Anointings God's Nature
Charles Pinkney
The 7
Spirits of God are
spoken of in the Book of Revelation as going forth through all the earth
to affect God's purposes: Throughout scripture there are
various references to specific spirits sent by God to impact or anoint
people. Some writers have focused on the messianic text of Isaiah 11as
the key to the 7 Spirits taken from a single location:
(Isaiah 11:2) The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The
Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The
Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
Although it is
convenient to assume this single text answers the identity of the seven
spirits. I am not thoroughly persuaded that these comprise the seven
Spirits. There remain so many other references throughout the Bible that
seem to contend for spiritual anointings of God. So, I will offer
my own list while maintaining an open mind toward this mystery until the
day comes that the Lord gives me perfect clarity about this question. In
the mean time, I do not think we should be dogmatic about an official
list of the seven spirits but share the wisdom and insights as they are
revealed by the Spirit of God.
The
Spirit of Compassion:
The Spirit of Adoption
(The Tender Mercies of God the Father)
For
the Lord is Good and His Mercies endure forever!
The Goodness of God is the source of all grace and blessing. The Father's
heart of forgiveness and compassion are revealed again and again throughout
scripture and are at the center of all Jesus' ministry. Mercy, compassion,
forgiveness; Mercy, compassion, healing; Mercy, compassion, restoration;
Mercy, compassion, deliverance. The mercies of God directed to weak
and fallible souls is the greatest wonder of the universe!
The simplicity of the phrase "tender mercies"
reflects so powerfully the kindness of God, the Good Shepherd who cares
for and nurtures his flock. The same father who receives the prodigal
and clothes him with a fine robe and prepares the fatted calf for feasting,
fills our own cup to overflowing!
The kindness of God is expressed in the ministering
hand a friend and comforter.
Agape love is the love which expresses itself in gestures of kindness,
in actions of giving compassion. It is the heart of Jesus' ministry
when He declares, "the Son of Man came not to be ministered to by to
minister." Ministry in the Greek word source means simply to serve.
"How
excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children
of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings."
(-- Psalms 36:7)
"Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness
in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer
unto the God of my life." ( -- Psalms 42:8)
"To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when
Nathan the prophet came unto him, after He had gone in to Bathsheba.
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according
unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions."
( -- Psalms 51:1)
"Because thy lovingkindness is better than
life, my lips shall praise thee." (-- Psalms 63:3)
"Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from
me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve
me." -- Psalms 40:11
"Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;"
( -- Psalms 103:4)
"Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that
I may live: for thy law is my delight." ( -- Psalms 119:77)
"The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies
are over all his works." (-- Psalms 145:9)
"But though he cause grief, yet will he have
compassion according to the multitude of his mercies."
(-- Lamentations 3:32)
"He will turn again, he will have compassion upon
us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins
into the depths of the sea." ( -- Micah 7:19)
"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved
with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered
abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." ( -- Matthew 9:36)
"And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude,
and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their
sick." (-- Matthew 14:14)
"Shouldest not thou also have had compassion
on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?" (-- Matthew
18:33)
"So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched
their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed
him." (-- Matthew 20:34)
"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed,
came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him," (
-- Luke 10:33)
"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion
one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:" (--
1 Peter 3:8)
"For if our heart condemn us, God is greater
than our heart, and knoweth all things." (-- 1 John 3:20)
"And there came a leper to him, beseeching
him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou
canst make me clean." "And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his
hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean."
( -- Mark 1:40,41)
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