The Anointing Of God
Notes
Transcript
THE
ANOINTING
Copyright 1985,1993,2001,2007
Crossroads Full Gospel
International Ministries
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in
any form or by any means, mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without the prior
permission of the publisher. Short extracts may be used for review purposes.
Except otherwise stated, Bible quotes come from the King James Version. 1611 Elizabethan
English is updated in some cases to reflect present terminology, without changing the true
meaning of the word.
Extracts from “The Expositor's Study Bible” are identified as E.S.B. Copyright © 2005
Published by, and the sole property of, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, Baton Rouge, LA, and
extracts from the Swaggart Bible Commentary series are identified as S.B.C. Copyright ©
World Evangelism Press®
Extracts from the Amplified Bible are identified as Amp. Old Testament Copyright © 1962,
1964 by Zondervan Corporation. New Testament Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1987 by The
Lockman Foundation.
Extracts from the New International Version are identified as N.I.V. Copyright 1973,1978,1984
by The International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Also used: The New Testament: An Expanded Translation (Wuest) translated by Kenneth S.
Wuest. Copyright © 1961 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Bracketed comments following some scriptures assist the reader in understanding the intended
meaning of these verses
We acknowledge the additional works of the various Scholars and Bible Commentaries used in
conjunction with the College material. This is not to say that we agree with all their theology,
but we certainly value their contribution to the Body of Christ.
Published by:
Crossroads Publications
10681 Princes Highway
Warrnambool
Victoria 3280
Australia
CONTENTS
JESUS THE ANOINTED ONE............................................5
THE ANOINTING AND THE BELIEVER.......................10
RELATIONSHIP OF THE SPIRIT BAPTISM TO THE
ANOINTING......................................................................12
THE ANOINTING - SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 17
1. At corporate and private levels........................................17
2. What does the Anointing accomplish?............................19
3. What the Anointing is not................................................19
4. How does the Anointing flow?........................................20
5. The Holy Spirit is God - therefore we need to reverence
His presence........................................................................20
6. How does the Anointing relate to the Fire of Pentecost? 21
AN OMNIPRESENT GOD AND HIS ANOINTING........22
WHAT IS NEEDED TO OBTAIN THE ANOINTING FOR
SERVICE ?..........................................................................24
BEING DENAILED FROM OUR SIN..............................25
WHAT THE ANOINTING CAN ACCOMPLISH.............26
THE ANOINTING
In this booklet we are going to teach on how vital and important
the anointing of God is. It is by His Anointing that the Lord brings
conviction to the sinner and the Saint, draws souls into the Kingdom,
heals, delivers and teaches. The Anointing and the Holy Spirit are
inseparable, for where the Anointing is present, so too is the Holy
Spirit. Without the Anointing, no true spiritual work can be done.
The concept of unction or Anointing has its roots in the Old
Testament where it denotes the presence of the Holy Spirit (Exodus
29:7; Isaiah 61:1-3). It is used the same way in the New Testament.
Scripturally let us say that there is no such thing as an anointing only
the Anointing.
In the Old Testament, the oil poured on those chosen represented
the Anointing of the Holy Spirit or even the Holy Spirit Himself.
Kings, priests, prophets etc. were anointed to do God’s will. This
Anointing gave them Divine authority - which was the Divine
signature that showed forth God’s choice.
In Old Testament times, the Spirit came upon or rested upon
certain people, so that they ministered in the Lord. It was then that
those whom the Lord anointed prophesied, healed in His Name, did
miracles, saw into the spirit realm, heard the voice of God, were
given knowledge and wisdom, triumphed in battle, possessed the
land, called fire from heaven, became exceptionally physically
strong, became mighty men of war, were strengthened, became bold,
became kings and priests and saw the devil flee, etc. Some examples
from the Old Testament are as follows (Genesis 41:14-16; Exodus
14:26-31; Joshua Ch.6; Judges 6:12-16; 1 Kings 17:17-24; 1 Kings
18:17-40; 2 Kings 6:15-18; 1 Samuel 16:13; Jeremiah 29:10; Daniel
Ch.3).
In the New Testament era, which includes today, and as God
sees fit, all this and so much more is possible for those who have the
Anointing of God in and on their lives, both personally and
ministerially. The Anointing flows from Christ’s fullness within, and
as we are in Him and receive from Him, we can walk experientially
in the power of the Spirit, the power contained in the Anointing.
“. . .The Anointing flows from Christ’s
fullness within, as we are in Him and
receive from Him. . .”
This Anointing comes to us in two different ways:
1. A Personal Anointing - from within (internally).
1 JOHN 2:27 But the Anointing which you have
received of Him (the Holy Spirit) abides in you, and you
need not that any (ungodly - see 1 John 2:18-26) man
teach you: but as the same Anointing teaches you of all
things, and is truth, and is no lie (the Holy Spirit will
lead us into all truth), and even as it (the Anointing) has
taught you, you shall abide in Him (what the Holy Spirit
teaches us will help us abide in Christ).
This means that the Anointing, in the context of 1 John 2:27,
is a person, the Holy Spirit Himself - for in this New Testament
age, He dwells within. It is God through the ministry of the Holy
Spirit Who thus anoints or causes one to be anointed.
Whether Baptized in the Holy Spirit or not, the Believer has this
Anointing - for this Anointing is the Holy Spirit. Where He is, His
Anointing is. But for us to take advantage of this Anointing, we must
be open to it. When Baptized in the Holy Spirit, however, we are
positioned to be able to take the greatest advantage of this Anointing.
Through the Baptism in the Holy Spirit we gain the Anointing which
is His presence from an “in to out” way. At this point, however, the
Anointing is still only potential power - to reveal (teach) and
empower for service. The Anointing is also for the purpose of
sanctification, for it is this Anointing that will, if allowed, lead us
into all righteousness. Of course for the Anointing of the Holy Spirit
to affect us, we must still seek, find and embrace God’s truths. This
means that having proper focus and the right object of our faith is
still important and indeed necessary.
Note: The Anointing referred to in 1 John 2:27 flows when the
foundation of correct doctrine (Divine truth) is there in the
Christian’s heart. This means that once a Christian is grounded in
the true and full teachings of Calvary, if someone teaches erroneous
doctrine, then that Christian, because of the Anointing of the Holy
Spirit, will be able to perceive the check in their spirit which is the
conviction of error. The condition for the Anointing to be effective
in this instance is that one must already be grounded in the Word - so
that the Holy Spirit can bring to remembrance that which is right and
expose that which is wrong (Hebrews 5:13-14).
2. A Corporate Anointing - from without (externally).
The Anointing can also come directly from heaven to effect
change in sinners or Saints. Here the Anointing is the Divine
atmosphere of the Holy Spirit present in a special way. The
Anointing in this case can come to prepare those present in public
meetings to receive the word being preached or taught. This Word,
when opened up to or digested, can thereby produce transformation in character and belief.
Being Anointed for service by the Holy Spirit will give the
Saint an authority to do ministry work that has been ordained of God,
for with this Anointing will come, on a potential basis, a quality and
level of power which will enable them to do God’s work. Without it
man, even knowing what work he has to do, will fail miserably.
Divine authority encompasses power from heaven to do the work
which has been commissioned.
Note: In a ministerial situation, men and women can be
commissioned by the Lord for service and so anointed in a general
sense for such. However, on a day to day basis, these people need to
position themselves and believe for the Anointing to flow in each
ministry situation. Also, whether the Holy Spirit works His
Anointing from the outside, or from inside to the outside to touch
people, it is the same Spirit working through or with people of faith.
“. . .Divine authority encompasses power
from heaven to do the work which has
been commissioned. . .”
God needs men and women of faith to legally work through on
this cursed planet called earth. This is the way He has ordained it
and these soldiers of the Cross need to be anointed for this service.
To be anointed means that, in some special way, the presence of the
Holy Spirit must be with that person - giving power so that they can
be of service to God.
The Anointing on a sermon or teaching etc. can strip and lay bare
the heart of the sinner or Saint. All excuses are exposed for what
they are in the light of His Anointing. This is the work of the Divine
power that is within the Divine atmosphere we call the Anointing.
The Anointing of God can cause man to see that which he could
not see without it:
REVELATION 3:18 I counsel you to buy of Me gold
tried in the fire, that you may be rich (what they needed
to “buy” could not be purchased with money, but only
with the precious Blood of Christ: E.S.B.); and white
raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of
your nakedness does not appear; and anoint your eyes
with eyesalve, that you may see.
Without the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, we cannot see the
truth of His Word or perceive or understand the wisdom of God.
Thus the Laodicean Church, which mirrors many modern churches,
was rich materially but did not realize it was spiritually poor - indeed
“wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”
(Revelation 3:17). The Laodiceans equated worldly riches with
spirituality, and were not receiving from God that which was needed
to reveal the seriousness of their plight. They were self-righteous and
so lacked the humility required for Him to bring His Anointing to
them.
“. . .The Anointing on a sermon or
teaching etc., can strip and lay bare the
heart of the sinner or Saint. . .”
Furthermore, without His Anointing, we are not dressed to do
His will or serve Him. Only the Holy Spirit can bring us this
Anointing that contains the Divine power we need for service and
personal sanctification. The Anointing plays a role in sanctification
because it brings the power needed to convict us of sin and reveal the
truths of God’s Word to us i.e. its boundaries.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:12 Now we have received, not the
spirit of the world (darkness which is of Satan), but the
Spirit which is of God (the Holy Spirit); that we might
know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:13 Which things also we speak,
not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches
(corrupted wisdom), but which the Holy Spirit teaches
(which is an understanding of the Word of God);
comparing
spiritual
things
with
spiritual
(communicating spiritual Truths to spiritual men by the
Spirit). (E.S.B.)
JESUS THE ANOINTED ONE
Jesus, in the synagogue at Nazareth, opened the scriptures and
read from Isaiah that which had been prophesied concerning Him.
Jesus said:
LUKE 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
because He has anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the
poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to
preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of
sight to the blind, to set at liberty them who are bruised
(Isaiah 61:1).”
One writer comments on this verse in regard to Holy Spirit
Anointing within the Five Fold callings (Ephesians 4:11). The same
principles apply equally to ordinary Christians. He writes: “
‘Because He has Anointed Me,’ concerns a spiritual Anointing and
not a physical anointing, as was common in the Old Testament. It
refers to a special appointment or commission by God that sets the
person apart (Acts 4:27; 10:38; II Corinthians 1:21; Hebrews 1:9).
Jesus is here identified as the ultimate Anointed One, the One
Who will ultimately rule as King over a restored Davidic Kingdom.
This conviction is expressed in Jesus’ Title, “Christ.” This is not a
name, but a Title that means “The Anointed.”
Consequently, the Anointing of the Holy Spirit actually belongs
to Christ . . .
VARIOUS CALLINGS
Paul said, “And He gave some, Apostles; and some, Prophets;
and some, Evangelists; and some, Pastors and Teachers” (Ephesians
4:11).
With these Callings of various Ministries, an Anointing of the
Holy Spirit automatically follows . . .
THE DEGREE OF ANOINTING
Even though the Anointing of the Holy Spirit is automatic
respecting these Callings. . . still, the degree of the Anointing is
predicated on one’s consecration, dedication, and relationship with
the Lord. Many individuals are truly called of God for various
Ministries, but have little Anointing, simply because there is little
consecration (or they have not been readied). The Anointing flows
more or less through the Believer, according to his relationship with
Christ. So, even though the Anointing automatically follows the
Calling . . . still, its operation depends much on one’s daily walk
before God. It is not that such is earned, for these things are all
Gifts of God, but it is simply that the vessel be prepared for use.
WITH THE ANOINTING
Only with the Anointing of the Holy Spirit can these attributes of
Ministry listed by Christ (i.e. Luke 4:18) be carried out. If these
things do not occur, it means the Anointing is not present, and
because the Holy Spirit is either absent or given little latitude to
work. If the Holy Spirit has the required latitude and the degree of
consecration is as it ought to be, these tremendous attributes of
Ministry will follow. It is impossible to be otherwise.” 1
(underlines, phrase and scripture added)
“. . .The degree of the Anointing is
predicated on one’s consecration,
dedication, and relationship
with the Lord. . .”
ACTS 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with
the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing
good, and healing all who were oppressed of the devil;
for God was with Him.
“The phrase, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the
Holy Ghost,” speaks of Jesus as a Man needing the Anointing of the
Holy Spirit, in order that these works may be done.
As God, no Anointing was needed in any capacity. However,
when God became Man, it was absolutely imperative that He have
the Holy Spirit Who would Anoint Him to carry out His Mighty
Works.
The word “Anointed” as used here in the Greek Text is “chrio,”
and means “to designate or consecrate to an Office or Ministry.” It
also means “to smear or rub with oil,” which speaks of the great
help given by the Holy Spirit to carry out the functions of a
particular Office or Ministry, in this case, Preaching the Gospel,
Healing the sick, performing Miracles, and casting out Devils.” 2
(underlines added)
“THE ANOINTING
The phrase, “But the anointing which you have received of Him
abides in you,” (1 John 2:27) refers to that which is constant, and
thereby permanent.
There are two words, “aleipho” and “chrio,” used in the New
Testament, translated by the one English word “anoint.” The two words
refer to the act of applying something to a person for a certain purpose,
and to meet a certain condition.
We w i l l look at Peter ’s words, “God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power” (Acts 10:38). The
subject here is “God,” Who does the acting. He is the One Who anoints
Christ with the Holy Spirit and with Power.
This means that the Holy Spirit did not do the anointing. He is that
with which Jesus was anointed. We saw that both Greek words meaning,
“to anoint,” refer to the application of something to a person. Thus,
the act of God in anointing Jesus with the Holy Spirit, referred to His
act of sending the Holy Spirit to rest upon Him for the Ministry which
He as the Man Christ Jesus was to accomplish on Earth. So let us say it
again:
THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES NOT ANOINT. HE IS THE
ANOINTING HIMSELF. Thus, in the case of our Lord, the
anointing with the Spirit refers to the Person of the Holy Spirit coming
upon Him, this position of the Holy Spirit providing the potential
equipment for Ministry of which our Lord was to avail Himself. The
anointing with the Holy Spirit would only become a factor in our
Lord’s life resulting in the impartation of power for service as He
depended upon the Spirit for His Ministry to and through Him.” 3
(underlines and scripture added)
“ . . .Thus, the act of God in anointing
Jesus with the Holy Spirit, referred to His
act of sending the Holy Spirit to rest upon
Him for the Ministry which He as the
Man Christ Jesus was to accomplish on
Earth. . .”
As we have seen, it was God Who anointed Jesus. The Holy
Spirit is that with Whom Jesus was anointed. Through this
Anointing, the Holy Spirit provided Jesus with the graces and
energies needed (and of which He was to avail Himself) for ministry.
As Jesus availed Himself of the Spirit’s counsel and became one with
Him in thought and intent, the power of God was manifested in His
ministry. It was the Anointing that contained and brought forth the
power of God. God anointed, but it was the Holy Spirit’s ministry to
do the anointing. This Anointing gave Christ the power to heal the
sick, make the lame to walk and even raise the dead. And even
before Jesus’ public ministry, the Anointing within, i.e. the Holy
Spirit, taught Jesus the Word and will of God and so readied Him to
move in the power of God, by faith, at the appointed time.
Note that “The phrase, “For God was with Him” (Acts 10:38)
presents a given, for the Holy Spirit will not Anoint error nor sin.
In other words, for the person who is truly Anointed to Preach
the Gospel, etc., and such “Anointing” be obvious, resulting in
“much fruit,” this automatically says to all, that this Believer is not
functioning in error, nor does he (or she) have unconfessed sin
within their lives. There is no higher sanction than the Holy Spirit.
But unfortunately, the Holy Spirit is not the criteria in most Church
circles, but rather silly rules made up by men.
Conversely, many claim the Holy Spirit and heavy Anointing, but
without any evidence. Or else much evidence is claimed, but with no
substance.
The Church must recognize those who are called of God! If not,
they will soon find themselves totally controlled by man, even as the
Jewish Sanhedrin of old!” 4
(underlines and scripture added)
JOHN 3:34 For He Whom God has sent speaks the
Words of God (refers to Christ Who always spoke the
Mind of God, and thereby the Word of God): for God
gives not the Spirit by measure unto Him (refers to the
fact that all others, whomever they may have been and
even the very greatest, while having the Holy Spirit, did
so by “measure,” which was not so with Jesus; He had
the Spirit in totality, hence the constant healings and
miracles). (E.S.B)
“As we spoke of such without measure concerning Jesus, Isaiah
tells us what that means. It speaks of the Sevenfold Spirit of the Lord
resting upon Jesus: A. The Spirit of the Lord; B. Of Wisdom; C. Of
Understanding; D. Of Counsel; E. Of Might; F. Of Knowledge; and, G.
Of the Fear of the Lord (Isaiah 61:1-2).
This corresponds with that which John saw, “Seven Lamps of Fire
burning before the Throne, which are the Seven Spirits of God” (Revelation
4:5).
No, this does not mean there are seven Holy Spirits, but that
“Seven” denotes totality, completeness, absoluteness, infinity, all in
all, the beginning and the end, and perfection.”5
(underlines added)
“. . .Conversely, many claim the Holy
Spirit and heavy Anointing, but without
any evidence. Or else much evidence is
claimed, but with no substance. . .”
THE ANOINTING AND THE BELIEVER
At salvation the Saint is anointed with the presence of the Holy
Spirit Who brings with His essence the presence of God. It is only
through the person and agency of the Holy Spirit that this is done.
The Holy Spirit abides with us and in us after salvation (1
John 2:27) as a constant presence. Therefore by reason of this
Anointing in us, and when we position ourselves to take advantage of
it, then by the ministry of the Holy Spirit we will know the truth and
the truth will set us free (John 8:32). However, the Spirit Baptism is
essential if the Spirit is to be allowed the latitude to minister truth in
power to truly empower and transform us. Indeed without the Spirit
Baptism, there is very little the Holy Spirit can do to teach us or
empower us. However we must, as Jesus did, surrender to Him in all
things if He is to be given permission and scope to move in us and
through us. Only through the ministry of the Holy Spirit can we
digest God’s Word - which causes transformation to take place.
“THE ANOINTING OF THE BELIEVER WITH THE SPIRIT
We come now to the anointing of the Believer with the Holy Spirit
and this Age of Grace. Paul says in II Corinthians 1:21-22, “Now
He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God,
Who has also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our
hearts.” In I John 2:27 . . we have the words “But the anointing which
you have received of Him abideth in you, and you need not that any
man teach you: but as His anointing teaches you of all things, and is
truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in
Him.” John also said in Verse 20, “But you have an unction from the
Holy One, and you all know.”
The ministry of the Holy Spirit to the Believer today is not only for
service as was the case in Old Testament times, but also for
Sanctification. But His indwelling is only potential so far as His ministry
is concerned. His indwelling does not at all mean that His ministry is
performed in its fullest manifestation and in an automatic way. And this
confuses most Christians, and especially, Spirit-filled Believers. For
most in this category think that being baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts
2:4) automatically means that the Spirit is automatically helping.
While He definitely does help all He can, we know from Romans 8:2
that He requires of us that we evidence Faith at all times in Christ, and
more particularly, what Christ did at the Cross. With our Faith properly
placed, the Holy Spirit will then do great and mighty things, even to the full
potential of His Ministry on our behalf.” 6
(underlines added)
“. . .The ministry of the Holy Spirit to the
Believer today is not only for service as was
the case in Old Testament times, but also
for Sanctification. . .”
Within the potential of the Spirit Baptism is found all the
graces afforded through the Cross to do all that God has preordained
for the Saint, His child, to accomplish. This may include sharing the
Gospel with strangers, our next door neighbour or our loved ones. If
so, Anointing is needed on our words. If one is called to preach,
Anointing is also needed. But for both, we must be readied by the
Holy Spirit to receive His graces and His Anointing - so that a Divine
power accompanies the words we share or preach. What does this
Anointing that contains Divine power do? Very simply it can convict
the sinner in a powerful way of his sin and his state - when the
Gospel is shared or preached, and he opens up to it.
Thus this Holy Spirit Anointing can help bring the sinner, when
the Gospel is read, shared or preached, to the reality of their position
- that they need to be saved from their sin. The Anointing of God will
help the open hearted, saved or unsaved, to begin to believe that the
Word of the Lord is true. Then the question comes from the Creator,
“Will you repent of your sins, will you accept My salvation, will you
embrace My Word and My Spirit, and follow after Me?”
God will not force Himself or His Anointing into the mind and
heart of anyone - for love will not force. However if people will
only open their minds and hearts a little to the Word of the Lord, then
He will come to the rescue. He will paralyze Satan and their flesh
and unbelief, and cause them to know the path of righteousness as
they seek it (or at least open up to it) as well as the Creator of it - the
One who also gives the power to walk on it. This is what God’s
Anointing can do, shut hell out and bring heaven into our lives, if we
want it! This is what the Cross has afforded us.
“. . .We must be readied by the Holy
Spirit to receive His graces and His
Anointing - so that a Divine power
accompanies the words we share or
preach. . .”
RELATIONSHIP OF THE SPIRIT BAPTISM TO THE
ANOINTING
Jesus is the Source of all spiritual life and He is the One Who
baptizes in the Holy Spirit. We need, in this corrupt, dead, dark
world, the Anointing that not only brings life but also the power to
convict us of sin and cause us to walk in righteousness. Without this
promise, the gift of the Holy Spirit, very little Anointing to perform
God’s will can become available to the Saint.
ACTS 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with
the Holy Ghost and with Power (as a Man, Christ
needed the Holy Spirit, as we certainly do as well! in fact,
everything He did was by the Power of the Spirit): Who
went about doing good (everything He did was good),
and healing all who were oppressed of the devil (only
Christ could do this, and Believers can do such only as
Christ empowers them by the Spirit); for God was with
Him (God is with us only as we are “with Him”). (E.S.B.)
“On the Day of Pentecost due to what Jesus did at Calvary and the
Resurrection, the Holy Spirit came in a completely new dimension, in fact taking
up abode in Believers, just as He had done with Jesus. As a result, Believers are to
continue to Preach the Gospel exactly as Jesus, and to Heal the sick and cast out
demons exactly as Jesus! It is the same Holy Spirit in both cases, and, consequently,
the same Anointing.
However, there is a difference in that “God giveth not the Spirit by measure
unto Him,” whereas no Believer can say such (John 3:34).
Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit is so powerful, being God Himself, that
astounding Miracles can be performed by all Believers, if they
consecrate totally to God’s Ways (Mark 16:16-18).
The “Anointing” which is so graphically described here (Acts 10:38),
is known and understood only by Spirit-filled Believers. Even then, the
Holy Spirit must be allowed to have His Total Way within one’s life, in
order that the “Anointing” may be present and prevalent. To be frank,
the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, which alone can bring about Souls
Saved and Lives Changed, as well as Healings and Miracles, is rare. Such
is not the fault of the Spirit, but of the individual!
Also, those who do not believe, preach, or proclaim the Baptism in
the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:4, little understand the Anointing, or
even believe that it exists. Consequently, almost all things done in that
capacity, as religious as they may be, constitute works of man only, and
are of no benefit to God. Only that which is done through the Person,
Leading, Agency, Office, and Ministry of the Holy Spirit, is truly of God.
The phrase, “And with Power,” does not refer to something in
addition to, but rather a result of the Holy Spirit.
The Greek word for “Power” is “Dunamis,” and means “ability,
abundance, and might.” It also carries the idea of a reproducing
dynamo, meaning that the Source of this Power was in the Holy Spirit
Who was in Jesus. It is the same for all Believers!
The “Anointing with Power” is the great need of the Modern
Church!” 7
(highlight, underlines and scripture added)
“. . .We need, in this corrupt, dead, dark
world, the Anointing that not only brings
life but also the power to convict us of sin
and cause us to walk inrighteousness. . .”
Concerning the Spirit Baptism, God can bring the potential of
a Saint to a higher level when they receive this second great grace of
the Cross. One doesn’t need it to become more saved because one is
either saved or unsaved. However we do need the mighty Spirit
Baptism to increase our potential in Christ in relation to two areas:
1. Sanctification
2. Service.
Some are running around trying to pass their so-called
“anointing” on to others. However it does not work this way, for it is
only out of our emptiness of self and Christ’s fullness in us that the
Anointing of God can well up from within and move in a Saint’s life
according to their calling and God-given faith.
We are upon salvation anointed with His saving presence.
We are upon the Spirit Baptism anointed for service with His
grace at a positional and therefore a potential level.
Without the Spirit Baptism, we have no clothing of power
(Anointing) from on high (Luke 24:49), and therefore no ability (no
authority) to do God’s will with and by His power at work in us and
through us.
Jesus told the Disciples to wait until they were clothed with
power (ability) from on high. Without this second great grace the
Cross has afforded us, the Christian will experience little
effectiveness in the Kingdom of God, and more to the point, they
will not walk in God’s will. The Biblical way is to wait until you be
endued with power from on high before you go out to save souls!
Again, at salvation the Christian has the Anointing of God
because they have the presence of the Holy Spirit from an “out to in”
way. However, once the Christian is Spirit-baptized, they are
spiritually positioned to take greater advantage of God’s graces for
the purpose of knowledge, understanding, wisdom and love. This
makes the Spirit-baptized Christian potentially, at least, better
equipped for service if these potentials are realized in the way God
would want them to be. In other words, it becomes God in us and
not us in God. The latter describes the Saint at salvation, and the
former describes the Spirit-filled Saint.
The Spirit Baptism gives the Saint a greater potential to be
more effective for God in their personal life and service. This takes
place because they are better able, by His graces, to live in agape
love. Rather than just knowing about this love, the Saint can live in
the holy love that the Cross of Jesus Christ has afforded us - through
the Spirit of Grace causing them to be at one with God and His Word
in a real way. If you have never let the Holy Spirit take residence in
the centre of your heart, this, the highest level of love, can never
flow.
Many Christians are trying, with all their might and willpower, to
live the life that God wants them to live - yet they consistently fall
far short of God’s holy standard. Having a humanitarian (by intent),
religious (equates to works) approach to the saving of souls is an
example. With this approach, the Christian counts the numbers and
looks for a pat on the back and maybe a word from God to make
them feel warm on the inside! This is not the way to live in God’s
will, for at its very foundation is “self” not God.
Saving people because you feel for them is to have a
humanitarian focus with human love operating. However the vertical
should be first, for everything must stem from our relationship with
God, first and last. And you will never work at a high level of agape
love without the Spirit Baptism.
Without the Spirit Baptism our relationship will always be
self-centred (i.e. us and the Holy Spirit) according to our “out to in”
relationship. But with this mighty grace, God shifts the relationship
to become that of “in to out” so that we can potentially include others
in our life in a real lifegiving way. Therefore one can in one’s life
become, as one grows in the Lord, more “soul centred,” as is the
Lord. In short, the Spirit Baptism potentially can convey the
Christian to a place where they are more at one with the Holy Spirit
in thought. Then the steps of these righteous Spirit-baptized
Christians will be ordered of the Lord. In this whole process, the
mind and heart of this Christian will become more Christ-like and
therefore at one with Him in a truly experiential way.
“. . .In other words, it becomes God in us
and not us in God. The latter describes
the Saint at salvation, and the former
describes the Spirit-filled Saint. . .”
In this way, the Christian can become one with the Lord as a
soul-seeker, desiring to bring people into the Kingdom and working
towards this goal through the leading and empowerment of the Spirit.
This involves the Lord’s plan, not our own - His way of doing things,
not those of the flesh with inadequate human love. Rather, we will
be motivated by God’s love at work in us. This is how the Anointing
works in the area of corporate ministry as well as that of private
ministry. Not to do it this way is to do it in our own strength, by our
own good intentions and human love.
Without the Spirit Baptism, one’s Christian life will be very
limited in terms of truth and power. For the most part this involves
being led by what one knows to be good and right, to be led by one’s
own good intentions and plans. The works that follow are then done
in the power of self and human compassion or love.
With the Spirit Baptism, the potential is far greater, for it is
possible to not just know about agape love but to experience it and
walk in it on a daily basis. Christians can walk in agape love without
the Spirit Baptism, but this grace is needed if they are to walk in this
love at a high level. This is the potential of the Spirit-led Christian
life, i.e. to be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit to do what He
has asked us to do. This is to experience the truth that Jesus said
would set us free, and to be at one with God, having His mind on
situations and expressing His love daily. This is of course a
relational experience as one moves in unity with the Holy Spirit.
Then growth as a person also takes place. Unfortunately, many
Pentecostals lack the consecration and the doctrine needed to flow in
this oneness with the Holy Spirit. Doctrine gives the proper focus
and the proper object (foundation) for one’s faith.
As the Spirit-baptized Christian lives in this expression of the
Father’s love on an ongoing basis, the Anointing flows out to impact
upon those who are ministered to, whether this be in a corporate
setting or in private encounters (i.e. sharing Jesus).
Saints who are not Spirit-baptized are fully saved but not fully
yielded, and can never, in a spiritual sense, be properly yielded. The
Holy Spirit is very limited in this instance because such Christians
block Him from positioning Himself in the very centre of their being.
When a Believer is Spirit-baptized, the Holy Spirit is better
positioned to teach the Believer so that he might better receive,
believe and trust (as of course the Saint truly seeks to embrace God’s
will and His truths). Oddly enough, most Christians in Pentecostal
churches, while Spirit-baptized, never walk to any great degree in the
graces offered by this blessing. Many may speak in tongues but
Jesus said, “by their fruits you shall know them” (Matthew 7:20),
those who are being transformed, and used of God.
“. . .Unfortunately, many Pentecostals
lack the consecration and the doctrine
needed to flow in this oneness with the
Holy Spirit. . .”
THE ANOINTING - SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED
1. At corporate and private levels.
Without God’s Anointing on a ministry, service, sermon or
teaching, all will be intellectual, emotional, empty and dead, having
no power and no life. The Anointing gives life, Divine energy and
purpose, and it helps cause transformation. The Anointing gives an
authority to speak on behalf of God - to those He has sent to
minister. Remember, however, that God will not anoint that which is
error, and even a minister called of God and used of God mightily in
the past will not have the guarantee that their next sermon will be
anointed. This is because the Anointing belongs to the Lord, and is
His alone. No man can claim ownership or control of the Anointing,
or even the certainty of its possession, day by day or moment by
moment.
Can one be chosen to be anointed in a ministry sense but not be
anointed? Yes, for if Anointing is only at a potential level then it is
not experiential. Anointing at an experiential level means that the
power of God will be evident. Thus one can be chosen to be
anointed (in the sense of calling), one can even be standing in a Five
Fold Office and yet not be anointed for service. This can be because
the vessel is ill prepared or lacking consecration. So much depends
on our daily faith-walk and yieldedness to the Spirit.
Another question one could ask is as follows: If someone is
anointed to do a work for the Lord, can they lose that Anointing?
That is, if someone is standing in a Five Fold Ministry office,
ministering with God’s Anointing in the power of the Holy Spirit,
then is this Anointing forever guaranteed? To answer this in a
conclusive manner, all that we have to do is look at the story of King
Saul in 1 Samuel chapter 15. He was anointed to be king of Israel,
but through his actions, lost the privilege and grace of the Anointing.
At a personal level, to have God’s Anointing in an experiential sense,
one must be:
1. Chosen of God:
(a) as a Christian to do or support a work of the Lord. This
includes the ministry of reconciliation, therefore all Christians
are chosen,
(b) as a minister, or,
(c) both of the above.
2. Readied to receive the Anointing of the Holy Spirit for service
(i.e. be accounted worthy to walk in the Anointing: 2 Timothy 2:2021). This comes through embracing His will - with the help of the
Holy Spirit.
3. Continually allowing the Holy Spirit to sanctify our mind in
the light of His truth, wisdom and power. This will enable God, as
He wills, to increase His Anointing in our life and ministry to
whatever level is required.
Note: “A work of the Lord” is all encompassing, involving, for
example, the personal sharing of the Gospel to the preaching and
teaching of the Word. We need the leading of the Holy Spirit to do
all these things. A ministry is sanctioned as such in a general sense,
then the undertakings are specifically sanctioned (e.g. one is
commissioned to be a minister, then one is sanctioned or anointed to
preach - given specific leading etc.).
“. . .The Anointing gives an authority to
speak on behalf of God - to those He has
sent to minister. . .”
2. What does the Anointing accomplish?
Divine Anointing gives a Divine authority to do something that
one cannot do without it. This is an authority that releases God’s
Divine power for a special purpose. Therefore:
(a) The Anointing gives or contains a power to do that which
God ordains,
(b) The Anointing is the work of the Holy Spirit,
(c) The Anointing manifests according to God-given faith
(Hebrews 11:6), exercised through those whom God chooses those called and readied.
The Anointing is like a cloud from heaven that contains God’s
power and therefore rains down heaven’s graces upon dry souls who
then become thirsty for God. This same cloud can also rain down the
graces (power) to heal the sick and brokenhearted, and cause hope to
spring up in the heart of the seeker or hearer of God’s truth.
The Anointing works on the heart of man, the focused mind
being the tool by which the Words of God are transported to the
heart. Therefore the Anointing can result in, and indeed it instigates,
a personal interaction between God and man as man allows it to
touch and affect him.
Without the Anointing in our life, we will come short of
obtaining the graces needed to run the race set before us (by God) in
an effective way. The Anointing brings life to words, life to
preaching and teaching. When man accepts such words, they
assimilate into his very being. In this way he becomes one with God
and His Word. It is the Anointing which brings a Divine power to
these Words (of truth) because they have a Divine origin.
3. What the Anointing is not.
The Anointing is not the Divine Nature of which we are
partakers in Christ (2 Peter 1:4). The Holy Spirit infuses the graces
and energies of the Divine Nature into our human nature to empower
us at a Divine level, even transforming us so that our character is
changed to be more Christ-like (2 Corinthians 3:18). The Anointing,
on the other hand, is generally given for service, for teaching and for
ministry. We need God’s Anointing, but it is His Divine Nature that
causes personal transformation and the development of our character.
The Anointing contains the power that reveals truth to us, giving us
revelation and illumination. It also helps us come under conviction,
and understand the boundaries of God’s Word. It is in this way that
the Anointing plays a vital role in daily sanctification.
“. . .Therefore the Anointing can result
in, and indeed it instigates, a personal
interaction between God and man as
man allows it to touch and affect him. . .”
4. How does the Anointing flow?
The power of God may flow directly from heaven to the one in
need or it may flow out from within a Saint. Whatever way it is
released, it is all and only of God, and is all and only the ministry of
the Holy Spirit.
On a personal level the Saint can have the Anointing of God flow
out from them in an “in to out” way that touches those who are in
need and are, in some measure, open to God. However, whether the
Anointing flows out from the Saint to touch and heal, or whether it
comes directly from heaven to do so, it is purely a work of God,
directed by God and therefore controlled by Him. He is the Source,
the only foundation of Divine power to transform, deliver and heal.
In regard to the Saint, again the more they are consecrated to God
and are maturing in the faith, the greater the potential for the
Anointing of God to flow in their life (according to their calling) for personal sanctification and the advancement of the Kingdom.
5. The Holy Spirit is God - therefore we need to reverence
His presence.
The Anointing of God that many have experienced or been
touched by is the Divine atmosphere in which His power resides.
This Divine atmosphere is created by God’s special presence - not
just His omnipresence, His presence in a special way.
If we allow God’s Anointing to touch us through being open to
God, it will affect us, prepare us for spiritual surgery and give greater
potential for the Holy Spirit’s power to work in us, e.g. to reveal
truth to us, to deliver us etc (1 John 2:27).
The Anointing is the presence of God, present in a special way a way that enables a human being, saved or unsaved, to be touched
by God and yet not die. Many in a service ask for a heavier or
greater presence of God in the form of Anointing. If the prayer is
answered, the Holy Spirit must be present for it is His ministry to
bring the presence of God in this special way, He being part of the
triune government of God - the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
With this type of prayer we are asking for God’s presence that
contains His power to effect a change in the physical or spiritual, or
even in the heart of man. The more we are sanctified, the greater
will be the potential for God’s Anointing to work in our lives, both
personally and also for ministry purposes, e.g. in sharing Jesus with
the lost.
The Anointing is presence with power. This presence is the Holy
Spirit’s presence, and therefore God’s presence that contains God’s
power to cause a change (potentially speaking). In other words, this
power is surrounded by the cloud of God’s presence called the
Anointing of God. The Holy Spirit, present in this way, is God - and
this means we should acknowledge and reverence Him where the
Anointing is flowing. Remember that where the Anointing is, there
too is the Holy Spirit - for He and the Anointing are inseparable.
6. How does the Anointing relate to the Fire of Pentecost?
MATTHEW 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto
repentance: but He Who comes after me is mightier
than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall
baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire
The fire of Pentecost (Matthew 3:11) is a promise given to
Spirit-baptized Believers, those who would allow the Spirit to
prepare their hearts to carry this flame. Indeed this holy flame
causes the spiritual temperature to rise within the heart of the Saint,
bringing a holy, fiery passion to their heart. Because of this, God is
able to trust the Saint to a greater degree with His power (that would
cause change) and so give them, when needed, greater Anointing to
do His will in regard to service. It is when God’s truth is ignited in
the heart of a Believer that the Believer has the greatest potential for
the Anointing to flow through them. Of course, the level of this
potential will be in direct proportion to the amount of truth the Saint
has digested - for to please God, we must, in all things, have faith,
God-given faith. And unless there is fuel to burn, the flame of
Pentecost cannot dwell in our hearts.
“. . .It is when God’s truth is ignited in
the heart of a Believer that the Believer
has the greatest potential for the
Anointing to flow through them. . .”
Our hearts are not meant to function as woodboxes that store up
logs of truth. Our hearts are meant to be fireplaces in which we have
allowed the Holy Spirit to place logs of truth as fuel to be ignited so
that a holy flame would result. When this happens, the atmosphere is
transformed so that the Divine Nature can operate at its highest level,
even transforming us to be more Christ-like. Amen. In this, great
Anointing will be available for the things we do for God and in Him.
It is only through the Spirit Baptism that the fire of Pentecost
is available. And the fire of Pentecost residing in the heart of the
Believer gives the greatest potential for the Anointing to flow with
and through that Believer’s life and ministry. (Remember that this
excludes no-one, for as Christians we have all been given the
ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18).
AN OMNIPRESENT GOD AND HIS ANOINTING
Many would say, “Isn’t God everywhere?” Yes, His presence
is everywhere, but His Anointing is not. The Anointing is therefore
the presence of God present in a personal way and at a higher, more
intensive level. There are also varying degrees of His Anointing.
God’s presence (His normal omnipresence) won’t touch, heal or
transform, but the presence of His Anointing brings the power of
God to do so. The Anointing is the atmosphere around God that can
touch man so as to influence him. God controls this atmosphere that
is peculiar to Him. Inside the atmosphere is the power of God to
touch, heal and transform. Thus the Anointing is not power, but
power comes as a result of the Anointing - which bestows the graces
to enable man to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit. Few there
are however who are anointed to any great extent because God is
careful whom He anoints and through whom His power is made
available. Otherwise such power could cause men and women to
become puffed up with pride and to stumble, e.g. 1 Timothy 3:6.
Note: The Anointing can be a reference to God’s atmosphere
that can influence in the ways we have described, or it can be a
reference to God Himself, the owner and possessor of this
atmosphere.
“. . .God’s presence (His normal
omnipresence) won’t touch, heal or
transform, but the presence of His
Anointing brings the power of God to do
so. . .”
God’s Anointing can anaesthetize the darkness impacting on the
mind of a man, bathing that mind in Divine light. God can then
communicate to that person through the preaching or teaching of His
Word. God’s Anointing promotes change when the Word is preached
or taught because it allows the Spirit to reveal the Word of truth by
which man can be transformed. Again, the Word tells us that you
shall then know the truth and God’s truth shall set you free (John
8:32).
It is the Anointing within (i.e. the Holy Spirit) that gives life to
the Words of God (spoken by man), and power to prayers of faith.
Jesus heals through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy
Spirit brings the power to heal through His Anointing. This power
can touch and heal a man or woman, open to God, who is sick in
mind or body. Some who are sick, physically or mentally, even
though open to God, may still need to be prayed for by Saints who
are anointed to pray through faith (James 5:13-16).
When a man takes his eyes off his sickness and places them on
the Saviour in loving trust, then he will, as Peter did, walk on water.
In other words, he will receive the graces needed to be or do what he
couldn’t be or do without the Anointing.
God is present as far as His spiritual Light extends. And
while God will not force this Light into people’s lives, saved or
unsaved, it is God Who chooses at what level, and in what capacity
and way He will reveal Himself to man. The prescribed order by
which one can come to feel, see or understand God in any way
always takes one through the Cross. Jesus, as our KinsmanRedeemer, is the only way to heaven and the only One through
Whom the Father communicates with us (John 14:6). Jesus desires
to reveal to us, by the ministry of the Holy Spirit, every detail of the
Father’s will for our life. Jesus, wanting us to grow and mature in
the faith, desires to baptize us in the Holy Spirit. Once we are
baptized in the Holy Spirit, the Anointing of the Holy Spirit is
present in a greater way, potentially at least, and we are positioned in
Christ to be readied to minister, as He sees fit, under the Anointing
afforded to us by the Holy Spirit. We are then not more saved but
rather more readied, in a potential sense, to be used of God.
“. . .God’s Anointing can anaesthetize the
darkness impacting on the mind of a
man, bathing that mind in Divine
light. . .”
Note: We have seen from scripture that it was God Who
anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit. So we can say that God anoints,
or the Holy Spirit anoints as God, or alternatively that the Holy Spirit
anoints on behalf of the Trinity.
WHAT IS NEEDED TO OBTAIN THE ANOINTING
FOR SERVICE ?
If we truly serve God, we will be anointed for service, whether
this involves “the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18), a
ministry within the Five Fold (Ephesians 4:11), or a support ministry
for the Five Fold. All require us to share and promote the Gospel in
the power of the Spirit, and all who do this need to be anointed of
God if they are to be effective. But if we want His Anointing for
service, something else must first take place in our life.
The question then is are we willing to become emptied of selfdesire, self-wants, vested interests and ambitions - for only then do
we begin our apprenticeship of servitude in the Gospel. In other
words, do not expect to be anointed (at an experiential level) unless
you are ready to be emptied of self! Man was created to be filled
with, and never to be empty of, God’s graces. For this to take place,
however, he must allow God to be his Lord, provider and strength. It
is sad that it is this very thing that people fear, basically for the
reason that they would lose control, having to let go of the steering
wheel of their own lives!
Only an empty vessel can be filled, for a full vessel gives no
opportunity for God to enter. If we allow the Lord to fill us, we
begin to become who we are supposed to be in Him. Any other way
is of the flesh, and He wants no part of it. If we choose self-rule, we
will live our life without the graces that come with God’s Anointing,
this wonderful grace that brings with it the power of God to cause
change. People, indeed most Christians, love self-rule. This was, in
fact, the first sin of man in the Garden, and that which caused his
rebellion against God. Much is still the same today for even though
the Saint is saved, by their own choosing the sin nature is very often
enthroned to give power to their every wish, e.g. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3.
For the carnal Christian, self-control is at the centre of every thought,
desire and action. God’s Anointing cannot enter a vessel filled with
self, for self pushes away the Anointing of God for the very reason
that the person concerned is already “full.”
BEING DENAILED FROM OUR SIN
Sin in our life must be dealt with. Only as we repent can the
Blood of the Saviour cause us to be released from sin’s stain and
grip. If we are to have power over sin and the sin nature at an
experiential level, we must embrace not only the truth but also the
Giver of that truth. Unconfessed sin will keep us, in those areas of
sin, nailed to the cross, with our hands stretched out, unable to
embrace the Saviour in order to walk with Him on the road of
righteousness. We will remain with our hands nailed to the Cross
while we do not acknowledge our sin and repent of it. All sin has
already been dealt with by Christ, but we need to take hold of the
victory He has won for us. Only by true repentance can we avoid the
misery, the pain and the suffering that sin will cause, sooner or later.
Only as we ask forgiveness can our sins be washed away.
In regard to salvation we are only meant to identify once with
Christ on the Cross so that we can positionally be identified with
Him in His Resurrection, having “newness of life.”
“. . .Unconfessed sin will keep us, in
those areas of sin, nailed to the cross,
with our hands stretched out, unable to
embrace the Saviour in order to walk
with Him on the road of
righteousness. . .”
As Christians we are also to walk experientially with the risen
Christ. This means, when we sin, to identify with Christ on the
Cross. However we are not to stay on the Cross in our identification.
If we allow sin into our lives as Christians, we identify with the
“nailed to the Cross” Jesus in that area of sin. Sin forgiven causes
the sin nature to lose all its power, and as Jesus was denailed and
taken from the cross, we are also denailed from our sin. Then we are
identifying positionally and conditionally with the resurrected Christ,
and we are liberated to seek, find and embrace God and His Word
and will! When this happens in our life, darkness departs because
we are walking “in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7). In
this we enter into the Anointing of God in Christ Jesus which He has
made available to us.
WHAT THE ANOINTING CAN ACCOMPLISH
Words that are shared, taught and preached can convey the
power of truth the moment they are declared, but can also do so
when they are heard or read again (i.e., via tapes, C.D.’s, videos and
books). Whatever form this expression or declaration takes, God’s
Anointing can accompany these words of life. In this God anoints
the teachings of a ministry in the absence of the teacher, but just as if
the teacher was present personally.
ACTS 19:11 And God wrought (performed) special
miracles by the hands of Paul (His servant)
ACTS 19:12 So that from his body were brought unto
the sick handkerchiefs or aprons (that he had touched),
and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits
went out of them (it was not the pieces of cloth which did
this, but rather the Power of God using these cloths as a
point of contact regarding Faith: E.S.B.).
From these scriptures we see that some took handkerchiefs or
aprons that Paul had touched and people were healed when these
were placed on the sick, in response to faith, even though Paul was
not there. It is a similar thing to words which are heard or read
again, in the absence of the teacher. From scripture we can see that
the Anointing, if God chooses, can even be on clothing which has
touched an anointed person, even in the absence of the one who was
anointed.
“. . .Words that are shared, taught and
preached can convey the power of truth
the moment they are declared, but can
also do so when they are heard or read
again. . .”
The Anointing of the Holy Spirit on the words we speak on
behalf of God has the potential to paralyze the negative effect of
spiritual darkness, even the darkness of a mind dominated by the sin
nature. Divine Anointing within has the ability (because of the holy
graces contained within it) to illuminate a particular truth so that we
might see and understand, or feel with our heart that whatever is
being said is God speaking to us as the hearers of that Divine truth.
The Anointing of the Holy Spirit can turn the Words of the Bible into
personal communication between God and those who listen to what
the Spirit is saying. In this way the logos (written) Word becomes
the rhema (revealed) Word of God - that which is illuminated to our
hearts.
HEBREWS 4:12 For the Word of God is quick (living),
and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart (exposing, judging and
analyzing our thoughts and motives).
Only the Holy Spirit can bring His Anointing to us. He can
come upon us or flow out from us - but His Anointing is His alone to
give, as He sees fit.
The Holy Spirit can anoint words, and there is an atmosphere
around each inspired Word of God in the scriptures. The Word has a
constant Anointing on it to the measure of revelation the Spirit wills.
The Spirit regulates the power to give revelation of the Word, day by
day. However to take advantage of the level of Anointing on the
Word, for self and service, our focus must be right. Our focus must
be on the Cross (the Atonement), us yielding daily, and His power at
work in us to minister the Word to others. Focus of this kind relates
to ordered teaching, for precept must be upon precept, line upon line
(Isaiah 28:10).
God can anoint ministries or ministers. If they are delivering
His Word and will to the people, He will anoint via the ministry of
the Holy Spirit. God’s presence will bathe ministries in His
Anointing, concerning that which they do which is led by the Spirit.
Ministers will also be anointed so that the Spirit can minister to
people through them. From where the Spirit resides shall flow the
Anointing, as the Spirit wills and the minister flows with Him in
faith.
“. . .The Anointing of the Holy Spirit can
turn the Words of the Bible into personal
communication between God and those
who listen to what the Spirit is saying. . .”
In conclusion, we can say that the Anointing is the atmosphere
created by God’s presence, present in a special way. It contains the
power of God to heal, transform and illuminate. This holy Divine
atmosphere can freeze hell’s influence because it can anaesthetize the
darkness that impacts on man’s mind. It creates an atmosphere that
can cause us to better receive from God the graces of Biblical truth
and the knowledge of His will for our life.
This atmosphere can be called the Anointing. It can highlight
one word, or a whole sermon. It can rest on a person or a thing (e.g.
Paul’s handkerchief). It is an extension of God’s influence, wherever
and on whomever He chooses. It can remain at rest, or be revealed
in power - for that which affects and transforms (i.e. the Anointing)
is indeed full of power. If so then this atmosphere that causes
extraordinary things to take place belongs to God and must therefore
be Divine. So not only is it an extension of God’s influence, we can
reason that it is also an extension of Himself - His love, His graces.
We could therefore say that this Divine Anointing is God influencing
man as He wills and as man responds. By the Holy Spirit’s ministry
He anoints certain individuals or ministries with Himself, to deliver
His Word, perform His will and reveal His purposes.
With all this in mind we ask “Can the Church do without the
Anointing of the Holy Spirit?” No, of course not. Indeed we need,
for service and sanctification, as much of the presence and power of
God as we can handle. Without the mighty Spirit Baptism, churches
are like parked cars in parking lots, exposed without Divine
protection to the elements of life, spiritual and natural - and going
nowhere! We need in this, the last days before the Lord returns for
His Body of Believers, more than ever before, the Anointing of the
Holy Spirit that contains the power of God. Without the Spirit
Baptism, we cannot be “empowered” for service or “transformed,” as
God would want, into greater degrees of Christlikeness.
We are, in these last days, living in a Sodom and Gomorrah
society that does not want to change. The Anointing of God on
ministries and lives is what is needed to make an impact in the dark,
dead world in which we live but of which we are not a part. Amen.
May you have the victory in Christ. Amen!
For further information or teaching material to help you grow in
the Christian faith, please visit:
CROSSROADS INTERNATIONAL
FULL GOSPEL MINISTRIES
crossroadsministries.org.au
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
S.B.C., Vol.9, Luke, pg.113.
S.B.C., Vol.11, Acts, pg.248,
S.B.C., Vol.23, 1 John 2, pg.70.
S.B.C., Vol.11, Acts, pg.250.
S.B.C., Vol.11, Acts, pg.249.
S.B.C., Vol.23, 1 John 2, pg.70.
S.B.C., Vol. 11, Acts, pgs.248, 249.