11/3/14
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10
The anointing is the supernatural presence of God upon us, so that we are aware of his presence with us. Oftentimes, one experiences the warm presence and the glow of God within and upon one’s self. The anointing came upon Jesus in Matt. 3:16-17
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matt. 3 He was able to say that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him because he was anointed:
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; Isaiah 61:1
We of course are called to do these same things as we are led by the Spirit and are anointed to do what he has called us to do. We can however, quench the anointing through our unbelief. But with knowing the anointing and becoming experienced in it, the operation of the gifts of the Spirit become evident in our lives. Then these various gifts become operational in our lives: The word of wisdom, gift of prophecy, word of knowledge, discerning of spirits, gift of faith, kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues, and the working of miracles are seen.
In the Old Testament there is a clear pattern that is seen in the anointing of priests prophets, and kings. In the New Testament the Greek words for “anoint” are “chrio” which means “to smear or rub with oil,” to consecrate for office or religious service,” and “aleipho,” which means “to anoint.”
The anointing is seen also as it sets apart some for certain offices of service---Apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor/teacher. Without this anointing they would not be able to perform the tasks that they were called to do. Anointing is not to be confused with a magic potion. The oil itself doesn’t have any power and the oil is only a symbol of what God is doing.
It is interesting to note that in the Old Testament the anointing was “upon” certain individuals to perform various tasks. Now through the Holy Spirit the anointing is “in us.” It is like the living water that Jesus said would be given when he spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well. We all now have access to this living water, which bubbles up from inside us, through the anointing of God.
13 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4
We see that Jesus was never able to perform any miracles until the dove descended upon him as he was being baptized by John the Baptist. (Matt. 3:16)
And as we know that we now along with the disciples were to wait until the promise of the Holy Spirit was to be given to them.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts. 1
We need to know that no one can manufacture the anointing. One can't become anointed through speaking eloquently, nor through great scholarly understanding, or through any human effort. The anointing comes from God. It comes flowing like a river. It comes like fresh oil that falls. Without the anointing, the words of the preacher fall to the ground without any impact. Without the anointing one's words are just words; they lack the power or the wisdom that only God can give.
“The anointing breaks the yoke. And with the anointing one is set free to serve Me more completely. For without the anointing one is left to their own human efforts. Who are you, oh man that you think that your efforts will heal, will speak my words, and will capture the hearts of the lost? My anointing will fall upon many; if you would but humble yourselves and seek Me only. I poured forth my oil upon David. I poured forth my oil upon Samuel. Many were given certain tasks to do. My prophets could never have spoken my words to the people. Samson and Gideon could have never delivered many. These all were given a “portion” at that time. But now in these last days, my anointing will fall like fine liquid. It will ignite you to perform miracles. It will cause you to prophesy of what is to come. And you will lay hands upon the sick and they will be healed.
My anointing cannot be held within a jar. It is not made with human hands. It is given to those who would follow after Me. And in the coming days, my anointing will fall upon you at unexpected times. It will be the fresh oil from heaven. And it will sustain you in the days ahead. “
Stephen Hanson