INTRODUCTION
The Bible emphatically reveals that there is one eternal God who is not some universal mind or consciousness that fills space and matter. He has always existed in eternity past and into eternity future in three persons in what is known as the Trinity – God, the Father, God, the Son, Jesus Christ, and God, the Holy Spirit, who each have their own personal spirit-body, mind, and spirit. They are unique and separate individuals with their personalities and are not the essential parts of one Being. There are hundreds of Bible verses that verify that.
God can be clearly seen as "being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20 KJV - also Deuteronomy 33:27; Isaiah 44:6; 57:15; 1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chronicles 2:6; Psalm 147:5; Jeremiah 23:24; Acts 17:24-28).
God is both omnipotent and omnipresent and is not confined to three dimensions of space and one dimension of time. He can be in more than one place simultaneously. He has been seen physically by human eyes many times (Genesis 18:1-33; 19:24; 32:24-30; Exodus 24:11; 33:11-33; Joshua 5:13-15; Judges 6:11-23; 13:3-25; 1 Chronicles 21:16-17; Job 42:5; Isaiah 6; Ezekiel 1:26-28; 10:1,20; 40:3; Daniel 7:9-14; 10:5-10; Acts 7:56-59; Revelation 4:2-5; 5:1,5-7,11-14; 6:16; 7:9-17; 19:4; 21:3-5; 22:4).
Jesus, God, the Son, had no beginning and no end. He was given all authority in Heaven and Earth. He willingly came to Earth as 100% fully human and 100% fully God from a reality eternally separate from Earth, which gave Him the essential power to save anyone who receives Him as Lord and Savior from the penalty of sin through His shed blood on the Cross (Matthew 1:18; 4:2; Luke 2:40;4:34; John 1:1;4:6; 8:23-24,40; 11:35; 19:28; Hebrews 2:16-18; Colossians 1:15-19; 1 John 5:7-8).
When a person becomes “Born-Again” (See John 3) by repenting of their sin and receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior, their spirit, mind, and body become the “Temple” (Gk: ‘naos’ - refers to the Holy of Holies) of the Holy Spirit, who immediately baptizes them with power to serve, and promised never to leave or forsake them, no matter what.
The Anointing of God
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.’ (Matthew 22:37-38 KJV)
“But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.” (1 John 2:27 ESV)
When Jesus ‘breathed’ (Gk: ‘emphusaó’ – to breathe on or in just as with Adam) on 10 of Disciples prior to the day of Pentecost, they received the Holy Spirit and became Born-Again (John 20:22). Everyone who becomes Born-Again cannot ‘receive’ any more of Him than they already have. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon every Believer in Jesus who was present and anointed them with power to fulfill the Great Commission.
The Anointing is the Holy Spirit, and just as with the Disciples on the day of Pentecost, God releases His favor and power through vessels of honor for empowerment for service. Walking in the Anointing means a person is empowered daily, which is not a subjective supernatural experience or an intuitive ‘revelation’ separate from the objective Word of God, the Bible. Those who carry the presence of God as vessels of glory recognize that everything they do in life is an act of worship.
Love energizes the Anointing, which is God's spiritual endowment. God wants people to begin to love Him with everything they have. Love never fails. It is the first fruit that empowers all the rest (See Galatians 5:22). Christians must possess and understand what that fruit is so they can be transformed into the image of Jesus and have that image empower all the gifts that God gives them.
The word ‘Anointing’ in Greek means charisma or a smearing - rubbing down or endowment. It is an endowment of the inherent characteristics, qualities, and virtues of the Holy Spirit, who gives us the power to carry out the call and to move the provision of the Bible into a reality. It provides us with the power to go from produced to prevailing faith. The Anointing is God in us, the hope of glory, and the power and fire in us to get results in our lives. The purpose of the Anointing is to produce victory in our lives so God may be glorified.
The New Testament uses the term ‘Anointing’ only of Jesus and all His people (those who become Born-Again (See Matthew 6:17; Mark 14:8; James 5:14). There is no reference to any church leader being more anointed than anyone else (See Luke 4:18; Acts 4:27; 10:38; 2 Corinthians 1:21; Hebrews 1:9; 1 John 2:20, 27.
Supernatural Gifts
The Anointing allows a person to operate today in the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit because Jesus “is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8 NIV). God is not a cessationist. Every Christian is to “eagerly desire” the “gifts of the Spirit” because they have never ended and are available for His Bride to carry out the Great Commission (See 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 14:1-18 NIV).
One of those gifts is ‘Tongues,’ which the Bible gives clear instructions on how it is to be used. It has two purposes; the first is the ability to pray in the language of Heaven. No one else but God hears or understands them because it is simply about prayer/talking with Him - spirit to Spirit, and praising Him for who He is. It has nothing to do with proclaiming anything that the mind does not have the capacity to understand in the natural so that hidden wisdom and revelation of God can be released in the Spirit. When a person speaks to and worships God in the language of Heaven, they are strengthened and edified both spiritually and physically. They are not hindered or limited in the time they can spend in worship and prayer because they cannot run out or have to think of more known words to say.
The second purpose is the ability to speak in the language of others about the things and purposes of God for evangelism that the speaker does not know.
Divine Favor
God gives special Anointing and favor for serving others and doing His will. There are unmistakable signs that a person is genuinely walking naturally in the Anointing and divine favor of God's presence because of who they allow God to be within them today. The cares of the world have little effect because “the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” (Helen Howarth Lemmel (1864-1961).
The word ‘favor” comes from two Greek words, ‘charis,’ which is translated as ‘favor’ and is a noun that denotes grace in a person, graciousness, grace on the part of a giver, favor, kindness, and ‘charitoó,’ which is defined as to bestow grace, to favor, to endow with grace. Both words imply a divine action where God imparts His grace upon an individual, making them the recipient of His favor and blessings. These terms are often associated with the transformative power of God's grace in the life of a Christian (Luke 1:28,30; 2:52; Acts 2:47; 7:10,46; 24:27; 25:3,9; Ephesians 1:16).
Jesus opened the book of Isaiah and read,
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19; also Isaiah 58:6,61:1)
God sent the Angel Gabriel to Mary, a virgin, to tell her that she had “found favor with God: “and that He was “with” her” (See Luke 1:26-33). Favor doesn't mean life will be easy, but God's provision and guidance will be evident even in difficult times.
“…the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor…” (Genesis 39:30 NIV)
Favor is not just about blessings; it is also about responsibility. God gives favor so a person can fulfill His purposes. He doesn't bless a person to build a worldly kingdom but to advance His. Favor is often accompanied by assignments that require courage, trust, and obedience. Favor can also stir up jealousy. People may look at their life and wonder why they seem to have a divine advantage. They may face opposition because their favor reminds others of what they lack, yet this is an opportunity to reflect God's goodness, showing grace even to those who oppose them.
“Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” (Psalm 5:12 NIV)
The gift of divine favor is an outpouring of God's love and grace that sets a person apart for His purposes. Favor is like a heavenly endorsement that opens doors no one can shut, brings opportunities never imagined, and shields from harm that others may face.
15 Signs of God's Anointing and Favor
Intimately walking with Jesus transforms every aspect of a person’s life, from the way they impact others to the favor, discernment, and protection they experience. They are living vessels of God’s glory and are called to reflect His light in a dark and broken world.
Some people are drawn to those who walk in the Anointing because they are carrying something that can't be explained. They move, think, and live differently. Many people around them will feel irritated and troubled, not knowing why. The signs are impossible to hide because they shine a beam of brilliant light that people cannot ignore. It is not just a personal experience but a public display of His power. The Bible is clear that a person does not learn and gain knowledge of God nor that He can be explained by or through personal experience, which is the classic heresy of Gnosticism.
“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35 NIV)
The signs aren't about earning God's favor or proving anything to others. They are evidence of His work in their life as they surrender, obey, and live passionately for Him. God is the source of every blessing, every protection, and every gift. With Jesus, they have everything.
“The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.” (Psalm 145:8-9)
1. They Carry God's Presence
The unmistakable sign a person carries the presence of God is a passion to live for Him. They have a burning desire to actively seek His face through prayer, worship, and the study of His Word and to serve, obey, and honor Him in every area of their life, which transforms their priorities and drives them forward with purpose as they let go. This passion often requires sacrifice to live for God out of love and devotion, which means letting go of anything that hinders their walk with Him.
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8 ESV)
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 NIV)
2. They Abide in the Knowledge that God is the Omnipotent Creator of All Things, and His Goodness Continues Forever
“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the adversary.” (Psalm 107:1-2 ESV, see also Psalm 119:68; 1 Chronicles 16:34; Jeremiah 31:12)
The words used in the Bible for “good” are ‘towb’ in Hebrew and ‘talos’ in Greek. They are translated into English as good, better, well, goodness, best, merry, fair, prosperity, precious, fine, wealth, beautiful, favor, honest and gladness.
God is infinitely and perfectly good, kindhearted, rich in loving kindness and tender mercies, gracious, good-natured, and benevolent in intention, which is clearly revealed in the Bible. He is the source and perfection of all good (2 Thessalonians 1:11; see (Psalm 23:6; 68:10; 73:1; 119:65; 145:9; Lamentations 3:25; Luke 6:35; Romans 2:4; 11:22; Ephesians 2:7; Titus 3:4). His goodness is the foundation of Scripture and is praised for it (Psalms 25:8; 34:8; 86:5; 100:5; 118:1; 136:1; 145:9).
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” (1 Chronicles 16:34 KJV)
God works for the good and is not the author of evil. He knows everyone personally and everything about them, yet He still loves them anyway! His goodness leads them to repentance and restoration. His acts toward them are always good actions to help and bless them. He takes no delight in wrath and only desires to lead people to repentance. Even when God must chasten a person, He uses His hand from a heart filled with goodness and love because He is kind and our loving heavenly Father.
Because of Jesus's death on the Cross, He forgave all our sins—past, present, and future! He is immutable. He never varies. There is no shadow of turning with Him—He does not change (Malachi 3:6). That means He will always be good because His character will never change! God is good because His gifts are good.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)
Historically, this verse has been used to teach that every situation, no matter how terrible, will turn out “good” if a person loves God. The verse says, in the full meaning of the Greek text, that God enters into every life circumstance to come alongside us and work it out for our best, no matter what has happened. That doesn’t mean or remotely insinuate that He will supernaturally change the circumstances or the outcome the way we want it to be.
The context of the verse is the fallen world and that the world as a whole is subject to the bondage of corruption (Romans 8:21). This bondage is so widespread the whole world is groaning in pain, the Born-Again Christian groans in pain, and even the Holy Spirit groans in pain (Romans 8:22-23,26). The groaning in this context is worldwide and appears to cover all of creation itself.
Both the Bible and life show us that everything does not always work for good for those who love God. God wants everyone to come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved. He wants people to obey and love Him, but not all people will. All things do not work together for the good of God either.
God cannot make everything that happens good, but in every situation, He works for the good of those who love Him by His sovereign power, just as He chose to enter into the world as human flesh in the person of Jesus. God’s great promise is that He will enter into every life circumstance and put forth His sovereign power on behalf of every Born-Again Christian and work together with them to produce what He knows to be the very best possible for them because He is a good God and only wants the best for them.
God does not create horrible circumstances so that He can provide ‘opportunities’ to prove He is faithful or so that people can prove they trust Him during hard or trying times or to grow spiritually! Nor does He use or allow suffering as ‘loving’ correction of His children. He does not ‘cause’ or ‘allow’ bad things to happen so that He can test or try one's faith to make them a ‘better’ or ‘stronger’ person or to discipline or punish them.
The word “allow” is defined as “to forbear or neglect to restrain or prevent.” God desires only the best for His people, whom He calls His Bride because He is head over heels in love with her (Rev 21:9)! He desires to pour out (not restrain!) blessing upon blessing to those who trust Him with their entire being. He will never neglect His Bride or prevent her from experiencing deep intimacy when she cries out in desperate longing for more of Him. He has blessed her with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). He only gives her gifts that are good and perfect (James 1:17). Pain, suffering, sickness, disease, accidents, and tragedy are opposed to good and perfect.
The gift of salvation found only in Jesus is the ultimate expression and highest example of God’s goodness (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). When a person hears the Gospel message and places their trust in Jesus, He places them into a new life! He has shown His goodness by putting them into His eternal family and promised never to leave or forsake (i.e., divorce) them (Hebrews 13:5). God’s goodness toward us is more than we can comprehend!
A.W. Tozer said, “God is kindhearted, gracious, good-natured and benevolent in intention. God is not only infinitely good, He is perfectly good. The goodness of God is the only valid reason for existence, the only reason underlying all things. If a man does not take God’s goodness, then he must have God’s severity toward all who continue in moral revolt against the throne of God and in rebellion against God’s identity is rooted in Him being able to be the ultimate expression of good, to create good things and to show that goodness to those He has created” (See Exodus 34:6-7, Deuteronomy 6:25, Psalm 52:1, 100:5, Philippians 2:13, 2 Thessalonians 1:11).
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” (Psalm 34:8-10 NIV)
3. They Continuously Cultivate Gratitude and Thanksgiving Through Praise and Worship
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Psalm 100:4 NIV)
The word translated as “praise” refers to hymns or a psalm directed toward God and emphasizes the act of glorifying Him for His attributes, deeds, and character. They understand that this is what truly matters, which makes them feel alive and fulfilled, guides their decisions, influences their actions, and ultimately shapes their lives.
In Solomon’s Temple, the outer wall surrounded it with numerous gates. The people were implored to enter them with ‘thanksgiving’ (Heb: “howdah), which denotes an expression of thanks or gratitude in the context of praise, signifying a heartfelt acknowledgment of God's goodness and mercy. It can also imply a confession of faith or a declaration of God's mighty acts.
The ‘courts’ were inside the outer wall and included the court of women and Gentiles and the Nicanor Gate which led into the Halls of the Priests, where the Brazen Alter of Sacrifice was located, and led into the Holy Place and Alter of Incense, which were outside of the Holy of Holies (aka “the Way”). A ceiling-to-floor veil (curtain) separated the Holy Place and the most Holy of Holies, which was entered with the threat of death once a year by the Chief Priest and entered in a state of humility and worship.
The word ‘worship’ (Heb: ‘shachah’) is used numerous times in the Bible. It means to bow down or prostrate oneself and throw kisses, often in the context of worship or showing deep respect and submission. It is used to describe both physical acts of bowing and the internal attitude of reverence and humility before God and is an acknowledgment of His sovereignty and majesty. The difference between ‘praise’ and ‘worship’ is ‘praise’ is thanking God for what He has done, and worship is thanking Him for who He in the Holy of Holies.
4. They have Laid Down Their Life in Complete Surrender
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13-14 NIV)
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” (1 John 3:16 NIV)
They have made the divine exchange for the Anointing and have emptied their lives like pouring something into a pitcher of water. They cannot pour something into it when it is already full. When they make this exchange, they are pouring out some of themselves so Jesus can begin to pour in a greater measure of Himself. They pour out through rightly dividing the Word and giving of themselves and their time so they can begin to receive what God has. The more they give, the more they get.
Surrender is about aligning desires with God's purpose by releasing one's need to control outcomes and trusting in God's timing and wisdom.
True strength is found in the willingness to yield to God's higher plan. Recognizing that God knows what's better, even when they can't see the way forward in this surrender, they find peace.
Surrender is not a loss but a way to allow God to lead, finding rest in His perfect wisdom. This path begins by understanding that their identity in Jesus is not tied to accomplishments or social standing but to letting go of self, with all its longings, wants, desires, and aspirations, and letting God be their identity. They allow the refining fire of God to strip away their masks and self-made images, unveil them, and mold them for His purpose once they let go and let God define them as vessels ready for divine purpose.
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” (Psalm 139:23 NIV)
When they arrive at this point, they truly understand their purpose and recognize who they are in God's eyes. It is the culmination of every past, present, and future struggle. It brings a sense of vision that changes everything because they begin to understand their identity in Jesus and realize they are not only loved but set apart for a Divine Mission. They see their lives not as random occurrences but as paths carefully guided, leading them closer to God and allowing them to have a fuller understanding of themselves.
They recognize that every challenge, every moment of pain, serves a greater purpose. They see past struggles as tools God used to shape them, and they now prepare to walk confidently in the purpose He has laid out for them. They understand that trials are steps leading them to freedom, joy, and purpose beyond themselves.
5. They Have an Insatiable Hunger and Thirst for God and His Word
When the Holy Spirit anoints a person, their desire for God’s truth becomes insatiable. The Scriptures start to feel alive, and they realize God’s Word holds the answers to life’s biggest questions. They move, think, and live differently because of who God is within them today.”
“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4 NIV)
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” (Isaiah 55:1 NIV)
Those who get thirsty come to the waters to purchase the Anointing with their lives. They give time to studying God’s Word, fasting, and daily prayer to commune with the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit because they are desperate to know them more.
6. They Have a Strong Level of Discernment
God's favor sharpens their spiritual senses, giving them the ability to discern truth from deception. Discernment is not about intuition or gut feelings; it is a gift of the Holy Spirit that enables them to see beyond the surface, perceive spiritual realities, and navigate life with wisdom.
“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 2:4 NIV)
Discernment allows them to recognize what is of God and what is not, and it is essential in a world filled with spiritual confusion. It helps to test the spirits behind people's words, actions, and motives. When Jesus encountered the Pharisees, He discerned their hypocrisy before they even spoke.
“But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?” (Matthew 22:18 NIV)
Discernment empowers them to navigate spiritual battles today and also protects them from spiritual traps. The enemy often disguises himself as an angel of light, using subtle lies and half-truths to lead Christians astray (See 2 Corinthians 11:14).
Discernment is the safeguard that enables the recognition of false teachings, unhealthy relationships, and distractions designed to pull them away from God's will.
Discernment grows as they walk closely with God. The more time they spend in prayer and studying Scripture, the more their spiritual sensitivity develops. When they carry God's presence, discernment becomes a vital tool for living in alignment with His will. It equips them to move confidently, knowing that the Holy Spirit guides them.
7. They Live a lifestyle of Prayer and Fasting
Two things give the daily Anointing great power: prayer and fasting. Although they are difficult, when combined, they are powerful tools and weapons against the enemy.
Prayer and fasting are not designed to move or change God but to move and change the Christian, to bring them to a place where they begin to hear what God is saying so they can receive with great power what God wants to give to move and change them.
“But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14 NIV)
Fasting is going without food and only consuming liquids. Some people will just fast a meal, but if they are in a desperate situation, praying about a serious matter in someone's life, or breaking a stronghold, they need to get serious, and just skipping a meal is not serious fasting.
Fasting releases spiritual power. Before beginning His ministry, Jesus was driven by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, where He didn't eat for 40 days. Although Jesus lacked food, He was strengthened and nourished through His direct and intimate communion with the Father.
This is why fasting is so important to the Christian. It causes them to focus directly on their Creator and Lord. This is where their true strength comes from. In fact, some believe that the time Jesus spent fasting brought Him so close to the Father that the devil’s temptation was needed in order to get Him refocused on His earthly mission and get started on the path set before Him. His holiness and the increased spiritual power released as a direct result of His fasting helped Him face the enemy -- and emerge victorious. (See Matthew 4)
See PART 2
