Unction! Might I be so bold to say that it is proof of the Lords Presence? The scriptures just flood in;Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Joh 17:25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Psa 27:7,8 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. The "O's" were unintentional, interesting how often that expression breaks the sound wall, sentiment from the nether regions, the longing and breaking heart cracking the heavenlies.Ravenhill is dead on; "Unction cannot be learned, only earned--by prayer". Sorry for straying from the path of the set questions here, they all seem to run together. "Unction is like dynamite." "Unction will pierce and percolate; it will sweeten and soften. When the hammer of logic and the fire of human zeal fail to open the stony heart, unction will succeed." It's as if you can trace it in what it leaves behind as much as what it 'blows up' if you follow Ravenhill's definition. Case in point; Jesse, "Lazarus1719" our open air friend of God. In his recent update he was talking about the gang of unruly youngsters with their verbalized rebellion not only on their lips but printed on their shirts... Threatening to pound him into oblivion and yet hear this response;"You guys could beat me up or punch me or do whatever you want to do. But I want you to know that I care about you. The bible says you need a new heart. Your heart is sinful, and God wants to give you a new one. A lot of people don't care about you. Like cigarette companies who only want your money, they don't care if you get cancer. But I do care about you, and so I'll tell you the truth, that if you don't become born again, you won't see the Kingdom. So punch me or kick me or do whatever you want. But I still love you guys."Seems quite easy to glide over things when they don't happen... Ever notice that? How short lived and short shift is given to accounts of "I almost died", "I just barely escaped"... Think of how much your own salvation means in light of almost.... But what stopped them, mere words? Too extreme of an example? Would it have more emphasis if he had said "Am writing from the hospital room with a swollen eye and a broken jaw..."?Within a minute they changed from wanting to punch me, to asking if they could shake my hand. The whole group of them walked up to me and the group of Christians I was with, and said, "I appreciate what you’re doing. Can I shake your hand?"More evidence and traces of this unction litter this here, Savations in the Streets!Been sitting on this and musing for quite some time now... Just what it was that transpired and ushered in so many into the kingdom on that day of Pentecost? Many things surely, but what was it that delivered the deciding blow? Signs and wonders, bemusement, the reactions, some were 'confounded', others mocked, the whole 'group think' that can spread like a plague, men fearing mere men, confusion, amusement. And then Peter gets up and ... what was he filled with besides the Holy Spirit? What a 'message'!, more than a sermon, more than an exposition of, and a explanation for what was happening in their midst, correct theology, polish, charisma?Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Maybe the best definition in all of scripture of what unction is.Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? I can almost guarantee those kids will remember Jesse, at least pray that his words of love for their souls gets seared into their conscience and haunts them until they wake up one day.Forgive my going on here, this is just such an important issue, it just cuts through everything that we may be hoping to do. It's seen here throughout this market place of shared thought and experience. My own tendencies are often to see things broadly expressed, the carry over and overlapping of posts and replies. Something back in the preface of this book that expresses a shadow perhaps;"I estimate that in the English edition alone, a million people read each issue of the "Hearld of His Coming". Some of the chapters in this book are articles in old Heralds and have been read by millions. (I am neither ashamed nor proud of this.) ...There is humility and false humility and I just loved how well he expressed this in those embolden words. What I am getting at is this same unction can be expressed here in these shared sentiments of mere words. The times when the saints here 'prick the heart', perhaps even unknown to them and here is also where Len's words fit into place; "What is unction? I hardly know. But I know what it is not (or at least I know when it is not upon my own soul)."Ever been surprised by your own words? To happen upon them days later and think "Goodness, where did that come from?" (This can be both a wonderful surprise as well as a case of ... "Lord, put a guard upon my lips!" Or at least a lock on my keyboard) :-o One last story. Recall a message from quite some time ago, wish I knew who it was, but seem to recall it was a high profile preacher and he was expounding upon a particular Psalm with great eloquence, am thinking Psalm 51 for some reason... But all the expectations one might have, proper theology, the whole nine yards, yet it left the congregation unmoved. Then for whatever reason that I forget now, an elderly gentleman got up to read a benediction I think and he read the same Psalm again straight through without any additions...And the people were in tears.
