...the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon [Jesus].    — Matt. 3:16b

Here we see Jesus being baptized by John in the river Jordan.  This is when Jesus was baptized with the Holy Spirit, and the anointing came upon Him.  The anointing is the ability or the enablement to operate in the supernatural or in the Kingdom of God.  Up until this time Jesus had not healed, delivered, or cast out the devil in anyone’s life.  But once He was empowered, He immediately started to cooperate with the Spirit in His life.  He became a co-laborer with God in the advancement of the Kingdom of God.  He went about teaching and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people (Matt. 4:23).  Once He received God’s ability through the Holy Ghost, He put that power to work to set free the captives who had been bound for years.  Notice, it wasn’t until the Spirit came upon him and abode with Him that supernatural works began to be displayed.  The Church has had the enablement now for over 2,000 years.  We do not need more power or more Holy Ghost-–we need to learn how to cooperate with the power and Holy Ghost we already have.  Start to listen to His voice and follow His promptings, and you, too, will start to advance the Kingdom of God!

They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.  Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned:  but what sayest thou?   -- John 8:4, 5

"She should be stoned!"  It takes more than one person to stone someone.  The scribes and Pharisees demanded the stoning of the woman.  Why so many in agreement?  Because the "stone-throwing spirit" had been transferred from one to another.  It is no fun to gossip, criticize, and grumble alone!  It must spread to others before you can enjoy and get satisfaction from it!  Many relationships, many workplaces, many churches have been destroyed because of the "stone-throwing spirit" spreading from one to another.  The Bible says a root of bitterness "defiles the many."  Do not jump on board with stone-throwing and accusation.  It will cripple your faith and short-circuit your anointing.  Be on guard against corrupt communication and become a pray-er rather than a wrong say-er.

...Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard
them not.  So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them,
He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.   --John 8:6, 7

"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone."  I am sure that this is not the response they wanted or expected from Jesus.  If they knew He was going to turn it back around and focus on their walk with God, they would never have brought this woman to Him.  Many times putting others down is done just to bring you up.  This is because, really deep inside, you are ashamed of your performance in the things of God, but you feel better if someone else is doing worse than you.  Christianity is not a race or a competition.  It is your personal relationship with the Father by the Holy Spirit.  Focus on your relationship with God.  Allow Him to finish the work He began in you.  Out of that relationship you will be able to build others up rather than tear them down.  The closer you get to Him, the farther away from stone-throwing you will get.

...according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. --  Romans 12:3b

For God to command you to live by faith and then to not give you faith would be an injustice.  But God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.  God has given to every one who is born again the measure of faith.  He has given you what you need to live by, what you need to please Him, and what you need to live in victory.  He has given you “the measure.”  That measure which He freely gave you can be increased and used, or ignored and left dormant.  Many Christians are fooled into thinking that they do not have faith, so they spend countless hours praying and asking God for faith.  “Lord, give me faith; please, God, give me faith.”  They do not realize that He has given them the measure of faith.  Until you know that you already have faith, you will never attempt to use faith.  You will not use something you do not believe you have!  You have been given the measure of faith.  When you use that measure, it will grow and increase.  You can have little faith, great faith, common faith, shipwrecked faith.  You can be full of faith or full of fear.  All will depend on what you do with the measure that you have been given.  Use your faith in every situation. Talk God’s Word, not the problem–-believe God’s Word in every circumstance.  Sit under the teaching of the Word, listen to teachings on CD’s, MP3's, and podcasts, and your measure of faith will change to become great faith.