Understanding the anointing
Very few Christians - have true understanding of anointing. What they have been taught may not be exactly right. They probably know that the anointing involves power, that it has something to do with Holy Spirit, and that's about it.
There is an old saying "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing ". I will attempt to impart as much knowledge regarding the anointing by means of God's Word as well as revelation knowledge.
The anointing is the manifest presence of God. The word "anointing" means "to rub with oil, especially in order to consecrate something (holy object) or someone (holy person)." The anointing is tangible and when God's presence manifests, something supernatural happens.
The anointing is supernatural equipping to perform supernatural things. God's anointed vessels are clothed with a mantle of God's supernatural power. The Word teaches us that it is not our might, or our power but it is the power of God's Holy Spirit that enables us to perform mighty deeds.
Many ministers and Christians try to live their lives without the anointing, or they try and minister in the flesh. That places a tremendous burden upon them and that is why their ministry or Christian walk is an uphill struggle. However, that should not be the case, because Jesus tells us to take His burden and to put on His yoke, because it is easy, it is light.
There are therefore two ways of doing things - the hard way or the easy way. The easy way is to ensure that God's power and presence is upon you at all times.
NATURAL AND SUPERNATURAL LAWS
From the day you were born again, you were adopted into the Kingdom of God. From that day, a different set of rules applied to your day to day life on earth. In the past, natural laws applied and it was those laws that determined your success or failure. But now, a new set of rules apply which enables you to function on a greater level of ability, success and power.
These rules are called supernatural laws, which are not understood by ordinary people. Unfortunately, they are also mis-understood by Christians, who are the very people whose lives they are intended for. They are labeled as "foolish" by the world, because they are so different from other natural laws.
For example, the principal of tithing entails living more successfully and victoriously on 90 % of your income that on 100 % of your income. Try and explain that to a carnal person and you will probably be scoffed at. However, by simply applying that supernatural principle by faith on the grounds of God's unfailing Word, prosperity, health, favour and many other blessings are imparted to you from God's kingdom. Many Christians fail miserably because they are not prepared to live by these supernatural laws.
THE ANOINTING UPON JESUS
Not only does God want you to live in prosperity and blessing, but He also wants you to live victoriously as an overcomer. That is possible by an impartation of God's anointing upon your life.
Not even Jesus could function supernaturally whilst on earth, without the anointing. Before He could heal the sick, raise the dead or perform any miracle, he had to be anointed for the task. How much more is that applicable to you and I!
Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (Jesus) because He has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor, he has sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.
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.
I believe the power of God's Spirit if the missing ingredient in the lives of God's people.
From the above verses, it is clear that Jesus has given you and I authority over:
• Sin
• Poverty
• Sickness
• All the power of the devil
However, this power and authority has one prerequisite - the anointing of the Holy Spirit. This is what enables believers to function supernaturally. Jesus tells us that we are to do greater works than He did. The question is - what are we doing?
THE OLD TESTAMENT ANOINTING
The anointing is God's mandate for you to function in the supernatural. In the Old testament, there were only three type of people who were anointed. They were:
• prophets
• priests
• kings
If you were not one of these three, you were excluded from the manifest power and presence and anointing of God.
However, on the Day of Pentecost, all that changed. The Holy Spirit was poured out on all flesh - men and women, Jews and gentiles, rich and poor, free and slave.
THE PROMISE
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He promised that He would send the Holy Spirit to empower all believers.
Acts 1:8 - But you shall receive power when the Holy Ghost comes upon you and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.
Just as God authorised His own Son, He authorises you and I to perform His will by anointing us with the Holy Spirit.
THE ANOINTING DESTROYS THE YOKE
Isaiah 10:27
It shall come to pass in that day that his burden shall be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck. The yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing.
We live and function under God's supernatural spiritual laws. Therefore, as God's chosen people, we should not suffer from stress, burnout, depression and oppression because of the anointing which destroys the yoke of the enemy.
If it is not easy - it is not God
The anointing destroys the yoke, which means that the yoke is destroyed ie the yoke of poverty, yoke of sickness, yoke of sadness, yoke of depression, yoke of oppression
THE FIVE-FOLD ANOINTINGS
There were many priests, prophets and kings which were anointed for their specific function in the Old Testament. I believe we need to function in five types of anointings.
1. The Anointing of David
David was anointed as King over Israel. He was a man "after God's own heart". We need to walk in the David-type of anointing, because God "has made us kings and priests to our God and we shall reign on the earth" (Revelation 5:10.)
We have been adopted into the royal family of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
1 Peter 2:9- But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, his own special people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
What does a king do? He rules and reigns over his kingdom. God has anointed you and I to rule and reign. When? Not in the future, but now, here on earth.
1 John 4:17 - As He is so are we in this world.
2. The Anointing of Samson
Judges 14:5 – 6 - And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.
Samson was anointed to overcome the enemy. The Philistines had mighty armies which continually waged war against Israel. The Spirit of God anointed Samson to supernatural defeat the enemy.
We need to operate in the anointing of Samson. We have been empowered to defeat every work of the devil.
3. The Anointing of Gideon
Judges 6:4 & 6 - And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.
Judges 6:34 - But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi-ezer was gathered after him.
God anointed Gideon to release the Israelites from poverty and bondage. The Mideanites systematically destroyed their crops and livestock, causing poverty and hunger.
I believe God anoints us with His Spirit so that we are able to overcome the curse of poverty and to set those who are bound free from bondage.
4. The Anointing of Elisha
Study 1 Kings 19:6 - 2 Kings 13:20
Elisha received a double portion of God's anointing. When you read about his mighty exploits, it is clear that he operated supernaturally in signs and wonders. God has anointed each one of us to perform similar exploits in the mighty name of Jesus, by means of the gifts of the Holy Spirit..
5. The Anointing of Elijah
Study 1 Kings 17:1 - 2 Kings 13:20
Elijah was anointed by the Holy Spirit to preach repentance. When God raised up John the Baptist, who preached repentance, Jesus referred to him as Elijah.
Malachi 4:5 - 6
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
According to Acts 1:8, we are empowered by the Holy Ghost to be witnesses for Jesus.
Foundational Keys to experience the Power of God's Anointing
• submit under the covering of anointed ministry
• develop an honest prayer life
• get a fresh infilling of the Spirit every day
• learn to yield to the Holy Spirit
• fellowship with the Holy Spirit
• be consistent
CLOSING SCRIPTURE REFERENCES TO THE ANOINTING
1 John 2:20 - You have an anointing from the Holy One and you know all things
1 John 2:27 - But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in Him.
