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The Spirit Of The LORD
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In our study of, "The Menorah", we learned that it symbolized the anointing of the seven Spirits of GOD, which the Messiah would receive.
In our study of, "The Anointing of the Seven Spirits of GOD", we learned that Jesus received this anointing of the Holy Spirit just after He was baptized by John the Baptist, thus fulfilling Isaiah 11:2.
Jesus declared, "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised", Luke 4:18. This was prophesied in Isaiah 61:1-2.
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Jesus' declaration that, "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me...", confirms that He did receive the anointing which fulfilled Isaiah 11:2.
However, in the O.T. the Spirit of the LORD was bestowed upon whomever the Holy Spirit would use to lead Israel: king, judge, deliverer, savior. These are shadows of Jesus Christ. Examples with scripture references follow:
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1. Moses(Numbers 11:25)
2. the seventy elders(Numbers 11:25 & 29)
3. Eldad(Numbers 11:26&29)
4. Medad(Numbers 11:26&29)
5. Samson(Judges 14:6&19)
5a. the last of the 12 Judges of Israel
6. Othniel(Judges 3:10)
6a. a Judge of Israel
6b. his name means 'lion of GOD"
6c. deliverer/savior.
7. Saul(1Samuel 10:1&6)
7a. first king of Israel
8. David(1Samuel 16:13)
8a. second king of Israel
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However, it is interesting to note that in the case of the elders and Saul that when the Spirit of the LORD rested on them they prophesied, which is one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit(1Cor.12:10&14:4-5). The reference in the account of Numbers 11:29 led me to 1Corinthians 14:5, which shows that the greatest of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Prophecy.
"...but rather that ye prophesied; for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues...", 1Corinthians 14:5.
Revelation also giving us more information on the Spirit of Prophecy:
"And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of the brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy", Revelation 19:10.
Jesus returned to His Father, that He might send us His Holy Spirit. See: John 16:7
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"For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence", Acts 1:5.
"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance", Acts 2:2-4.
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire", Matthew 3:11.
"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straight way out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased", Matthew 3:16-17.
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It is also interesting to note that in the account in Numbers 11:25 the Word declares,
"And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease."
In this account we see that the LORD took of the same spirit that was upon Moses and anointed the elders with it in much the same way that believers are anointed with the same Spirit that Jesus was anointed with.
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The seven Spirits of GOD are a 'sevenfold Spirit'. Jesus was to be anointed with all seven and therefore has passed on all of them to the body of Christ. However, to explain the 'sevenfold Spirit' is like trying to explain the Trinity.
GOD is three persons in One: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. They are three distinct persons, but they operate as One. The will of the Father, the Word of the Son, and the move of the Holy Spirit. They operate in perfect harmony and always in that order. Nothing happens until the Father expresses His will, which is brought into being as it is spoken by the Word & by the move of the Holy Spirit.
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The seven Spirits of GOD are the same, a 'sevenfold Spirit', but each Spirit is distinct. "...there are diversity of gifts, but the same Spirit", ICorinthians 12:4.
There is no doubt that Jesus has received gifts for men(Psalm 68:18) and that they are manifested in His believers in the will of GOD for the edification of the body of Christ. The fact that the Holy Spirit is Omnipresent means that we may all be anointed with and operate in the Holy Spirit at the same time.
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We continue:
And the description of the Menorah in Exodus declares:
"And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side", Exodus 25:31-32.
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All the trappings of the Tabernacle are shadows of who Jesus Christ is and what Jesus would fulfill. The Menorah, which was placed in the Holy Place, represents the anointing with which Jesus was to be anointed with. It plainly says, "...six branches that proceed out of the candlestick", Exodus 25:35. "And thou shalt make the seven lamps thereof: and they shall light the lamps thereof, that they may give light over against it", Exodus 25:37.
There are 6 branches which come from the candlestick, but there are "seven lamps of fire"(Revelation 4:5): the candlestick being the main branch and one of the seven.
So too in Isaiah 11:2. There are six branches which come from the main branch. None of the six can exist without the main candlestick, the Spirit of the LORD.
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The Word declares that Moses should make the Tabernalcle and all the instruments in it after their pattern which was shown to him in the mount(Exodus 25:40). Therefore, the Tabernacle and all its vessels replicate & symbolize what Moses saw in heaven.
As we see the Menorah and its seven lamps of fire in the innermost innner sanctum of the Tabernacle, the Holy Place, which was separated from the Holy of Holies by the veil which contained the Ark of the Covenant with its lid the Mercy Seat, which represents the throne of GOD, we also see the seven lamps of fire burning before the throne of GOD which are the seven Spirits of GOD(Rev.4:5).
Therefore the Menorah symbolizes the seven lamps of fire which burn before the throne of GOD which are the seven Spirits of GOD.
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Even as the elders were anointed with the same Spirit as Moses, believers are anointed with the same Spirit as Jesus Christ, by Jesus Christ: the Spirit of the LORD, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen!
For a continuation of this study please click on the link, "In Spirit", below.
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