08 - The Anointing (Metamorphosis)

Text: “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie [falsehood] is of the truth...These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him” (1 Jn 2:18–21, 26-27).

Theme: The anointing is a precious and costly gift given to every authentic believer in Jesus.

Intro: Over the years, there’s been much strange and weird teaching about the anointing. It’s often a word sober-minded Christians don’t want to use because it’s associated with misuse and abuse. Some circles of Christians have taught that only a select few in the church are anointed; the rest need to submit to these anointed men and women. Others have mixed the anointing with what they prefer. For example, someone active in a certain kind of ministry is anointed, while others are not anointed. Another error is that people confuse the anointing with personality. If someone is loud and bold – and preaching the things you like – they are anointed. And one of the worst misconceptions is that the anointing is equivalent to your feelings. If you feel something, that’s anointed; but if you don’t feel something, it’s not anointed.

It’s time that we reclaim what God’s Word teaches about the anointing. So what is the anointing? And as the apostle John taught, how does the anointing keep you from deception?

1) You have an anointing from the Holy One (1 John 2:20).

If you have received Jesus’ free gift of salvation, you are anointed.

The anointing is not something you work hard for or earn.

The anointing is not earned through prayer and sacrifice.

You may flow more in his anointing through prayer, but you don’t earn it.

The anointing of the Holy Spirit is a free gift given through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

The fact the anointing is free does not mean it’s not costly. It costs Jesus everything on the cross.

In the Old Testament, we discover that the making of the anointing oil was very costly.

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Cor. 1:21-22).

At salvation, God anoints us––marking us and claiming us as his own.

This anointing sets us apart from the people in this world.

The anointing makes us different; it makes us holy.

God’s anointing means that his Spirit now lives within you.

2) The anointing within you teaches you, guiding you away from those who try to mislead you (1 John 2:18-27).

It’s the anointing––the Spirit of God within––that is your own personal teacher and security guard.

He is your guide and shepherd.

The anointing is God within you by his Holy Spirit.

Those trying to deceive and mislead you will usually try to strip you of your authority and power.

They want to persuade you that you are unanointed and that you are missing something.

When in actuality, everything is in Christ. If you are in Christ, you have everything.

There’s no secret teaching or isolated cult group that you need.

Realising you are anointed is the first step in being guided into the truth.

Deceivers work through lack and need. When you lack, you become desperate. For example, take loneliness––it makes people become friends with the wrong people, or they may even try to buy love.

Think about those Nigerian Prince scams. Someone is broke; they need a miracle. Then, an email comes saying that a prince is giving their three million dollar inheritance to them. And because they are in need, they fall into the trap.

Having a mindset of lack and poverty opens you to looking to the wrong people and things to make up for that lack and poverty.

But you have been given the greatest and most costly treasure: the anointing.

When the Holy One anointed you and put his anointing within you, he gave you the best. The same anointing that was on Jesus is on you and within you.

Jesus put his own knowledge, wisdom and truth in you.

You know the truth. You know that every answer is found in Jesus.

The critical thing is you need to listen to the truth within, the Teacher and Shepherd within.

“O people in Zion, inhabitant in Jerusalem, you will weep no longer. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when He hears it, He will answer you. Although the Lord has given you bread of privation and water of oppression, He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left” (Isa. 30:19-21).

What is the one thing the Holy Spirit is trying to teach you now?

It’s usually one word, like forgive or trust. Or he may be saying, “Keep away from that temptation.”

3) The anointing has a purpose (Isa. 61:1-3).

The first place the anointing appears in Scripture has to do with Jacob’s experience of God’s presence (Gen. 28:10-22; 31:13).

Jacob anoints a pillar, signifying that it is God’s house.

When God anoints you, it means that you are his house, the place where he dwells.

The anointing means he is with you and within you.

If you walk through all the verses about the anointing, anoint means making something holy for God (Exo. 25:6; 28:41; 29:7; 29:21; 29:29, 29:36; 30:25-31; 40:15; Lev. 8:10, 10:7, etc.)

The anointing sets you apart for God.

It marks you as his.

God takes seriously all who have been anointed.

It means God honours you.

It means the Lord empowers you.

The means Jesus has qualified you and enabled you to be his minister.

The anointing consecrates you, makes you holy.

It means you are God’s house and part of his priesthood.

It means you are royal and prophetic.

Ultimately, the anointing is a sign and symbol that God’s Holy Spirit––his very own breath and presence––lives within you.

Those who are anointed are specially cared for by God.

It’s by the anointing that you preach the good news.

Authentic teachers and pastors work in unison with the anointing.

They honour you as an anointed one and teach you how to walk in the anointing you have received from God.

You have been anointed to proclaim the good news, set captives free and bring healing (Isa. 61:1-3).

4) Yahweh is your Shepherd, you won’t go without (Psalm 23).

Recently, I’ve been investing a lot of time in writing a poetic translation of Psalm 23.

I did it for myself so that I could meditate more on Psalm 23.

But after doing it, I sensed the Holy Spirit wanted me to share it with others and make an infographic of it (find it at www.brisbanefire.com/infographics)

It reads a little differently than what you may be used to. The idea is to translate the Hebrew poetry and not just the words.

It’s meant to get you to slow down and think afresh about Psalm 23.

And it’s structured poetically, so you kind of need to see it on the page. But I’ll read it to you.

Yahweh is my Shepherd;

I won't be without.

In pastures green

He settles me,

Beside waters gentle

He guides me.

My soul he restores.

He leads me

In paths

Trusted and right –

Yes, that's who He is.

Even if I walk

In a valley fogged,

thick and dark,

I fear no evil.

For you are with me,

Your rod and Your support

They comfort me.

You set before me a table,

Across from those

Attacking me.

You anoint

Robustly

My head,

My cup

Abundantly flows.

Yes!

Goodness and love kind

Pursue me

All the days of my life –

And I will be refreshed

In Yahweh's house

Continually,

Days without end.

Conclusion: Through the anointing, your Shepherd and Teacher have come to live within you. Can you think of anything better? Listen to what the Holy Spirit is speaking to you and teaching you.

Related Media

Related Sermons