THE ANOINTING - THE HOLY SPIRIT

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1 THE ANOINTING - THE HOLY SPIRIT Perhaps no article of faith concerning the Holy Spirit has been more misunderstood than that of the Anointing of the Spirit. This code of belief has often been associated with the fulness of the Spirit, however, there is a difference between the two. Note, there were three different types of anointing in the Old Testament. First was the anointing of the priests. Leviticus 8:12, "And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him." It is noteworthy that this anointing took place only one time for each priest. Second, there was the anointing of the kings. I Samuel 16:13, "Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah." Likewise, this anointing was a one-time ritual. And third, there was the anointing of the prophets. I Kings 19:16, "Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place." Again, it only took place only one time for each prophet. Since our Lord Jesus was a priest, king and prophet, He was anointed for all three offices. 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 that are bruised." Acts 4:27, For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together. Acts 10:38, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil; for God was with Him."

2 Notice in Luke 4:18 the words, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He HAS anointed Me." It had already been done. Now compare this onetime anointing to Ephesians 5:18, "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." The words, "be filled," here imply be, being filled" or "be filled and be filled and be filled and be filled." Therefore, the fulness of the Holy Spirit is an on-going action, whereas the doctrine of the anointing is a one-time occurrence. That is, one time for each task, each assignment or each responsibility. Observe the words in Acts 4:27, "has anointed." This is past tense Then in Acts 10:38 we have the word "anointed." Once again, this is the past tense. Therefore, the anointing of the Holy Spirit was, and is, like the anointing of a king or a priest or a prophet. When one was chosen to be a priest, he was anointed with oil, symbolic of the Holy Spirit coming upon him and giving him power, wisdom and ability for the task set before him. The same was true when a king was anointed, and when a prophet was anointed. Therefore, we can safely come to the following conclusions: 1. The anointing was done upon the acceptance of a new assignment, mission or responsibility. When a Christian accepts a new responsibility, he/she should be anointed by the Holy Spirit for that specific task. When a pastor is called to plant a new church; or when someone is chosen to teach the children, or be part of the worship team, or an usher, or any other activity that carries a responsibility in the church; he/she should be anointed by the Holy Spirit. In fact, for any new task to which a child of God is chosen, and for any new assignment that God has given to him/her, it is so important that the Holy Spirit anoint that person - upon the acceptance of that new responsibility. This includes market-place ministry and the mission field. Observe, as you continue to fulfil the work to which God has called you, you should constantly be, being filled with the Spirit.

3 2. This anointing was appropriation; it equipped a person for a specific task. When God calls, He qualifies, He equips and He prepares. When your are called to a new responsibility, you need to be fully equipped. Hence, you need to be anointed by the Holy Spirit as God allocates to you exactly what you need to fulfil your assignment, and hence, He always equips you for that new task. 3. The person chosen by God simply yields himself to the Spirit for this anointing. Upon being given a new mission, you need to go along with God; yielding yourself and surrendering your will. And you need to separate yourself for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Have you been called to a new task? Is there a new charge given you? Then put aside several hours. Get alone with God. Plead with Him to equip you and anoint you for the task to which God has called you. This can be done by a new parent, a new bride, a new groom, a new pastor, a new song director, a new worship team member, a new children s church teacher, a new usher, a new deacon, a new evangelist or a new business person. But remember, this initial anointing will not replace the fulness of the Spirit. After the king or the priest or the prophet was anointed by God, he still (from time to time) was filled with the Holy Spirit - as we are admonished by the apostle to be, being filled" with the Spirit. 4. This anointing is, in a sense, God giving His stamp of approval to the task. It is a private ordination service; it is a private inauguration; it is a private installation service; it is a private equipping service; it is a private coaching service. When God calls He equips, but He also remains on the scene to ensure that the assignment is fulfilled to His satisfaction. We are co-workers with the source of all anointing, all power and all authority. So even the mission impossible is suddenly possible.

4 The nation of Israel faced an impossible task. Three million people with no food, no water, no homes and no jobs had to march across a dangerous wilderness toward a land they had never seen. God told them to sanctify themselves. Exodus 19:10, "And the Lord said unto Moses, Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. This anointing involved a "sanctifying" or "being set apart for a task. When this little nation stood before the Jordan River facing the land of heathen nations, each to become their enemy and each nation larger than theirs; again God told His people to sanctify themselves. Joshua 3:5, "And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: For tomorrow the lord will do wonders among you. So what am I trying to get across to you? You cannot operate under the anointing without first being set apart for a Holy purpose. The Greek word agiosmos is literally being set apart or separated to God. 2 Chronicles 29:5, "And said to them, Hear me, you Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. If you want to experience the anointing you must sanctify yourself - separate yourself and serve God with all your heart Every calling is holy because it comes from God Aren't you weary of labouring in the energy of the flesh? Aren't you tired of going through the motions of serving God without having been anointed for the very task that is yours? Find time to spend quality time with God the Father. Tell Him that the task is bigger than you and the responsibility is far too great for your own abilities. Ask Him to anoint you, to sanctify you, to equip you, to inaugurate you for the task ahead. Ask Him for His approval as you wholeheartedly serve Him.

5 Ask Him to appropriate to you everything that you need - equipping you for every task. Ask Him to be your co-worker Ask the Lord to lay His hands upon you and to anoint you for the assignment ahead. Then day by day, plead for His power, plead for His fulness and walk boldly in the Spirit. And continue to be, being filled Remember that the anointing of the priest took place at the beginning of his ministry, the anointing of the king took place at the beginning of his reign and the anointing of the prophet took place at the beginning of his work. Perhaps no human hands will place olive oil on your brow (though this is certainly not out of order), but at a time of complete surrender the hand of God, by His Holy Spirit, will equip you for every task for which you are not naturally equipped. Therefore, sanctify yourself; set yourself apart; yield yourself to the Holy Spirit for His anointing. The rest is up to Him. Believe that He will do it, and no doubt, He will Perhaps we do not know all that the anointing is, but far too many of us know "what it isn t." Lord, give us a fresh anointing and allow us to continually be, being filled - after we have accepted each new task, assignment or mission We accept your calling today and invite your Holy Spirit to anoint us. And after He has anointed us we will remain ablaze with zeal for your service.