The Anointing

With such a strong desire for the truth, we need to take a Scriptural look at this very important subject. There are many books written in the Christian realm concerning this anointing, and there is much wrong teaching. I can not pretend to know it all, but for the most part since I have received the gift of the Holy Spirit, and since I have been called by the Holy Spirit into ministry, I do have some knowledge on this subject. I will attempt to report what I know and where it is found in the Scriptures.

Let's begin with our Example, the Lord Yashua, and see the anointing of the Holy Spirit in His life. Acts 10:38 How God anointed <5548> 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. Jesus was anointed by God Himself, and He walked this earth in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was used in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, all nine gifts that are found in 1 Corinthians 12. What many of us fail to realize nor accept is that Jesus was fully walking in the flesh, a tabernacle like you and me walk in, yet He had no flesh from Mary, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and placed in the womb of Mary to be born like all men (Matthew 1). Jesus had God blood and a sinless body that didn't have the ravages of sin in it. Thus He had ears to hear perfectly what the Spirit would tell Him. He learned and knew who He was, yet He walked fully man. He would have defeated the purpose of nailing His flesh to Calvary's tree, if He had walked this earth in God power that was unattainable, and God attributes that would not and can not be contained in an earthly tabernacle. Yashua haMashiach was certainly God, yet He did not walk this earth displaying His deity as no flesh could have stood in His holy presence. Jesus walked in the Spirit, the same admonition that the apostle Paul gives the Galatians. Jesus walked in the Spirit and as such in the Spirit, He fought off and defeated the devil's temptations knowing exactly how we feel and the level of intensity we must live in to defeat temptation. Jesus had no unfair advantage, and when He says He knows how we feel, He truly does know and undertand how we feel. You see, Jesus has been there, and He has done that! He did all this without sin. I have maintained for years that we don't have to sin, and Jesus is our Example.

Let's take a look at the word used here, and some related words. I think we'll be surprised at what we actually find out.

From Online Bible's Theological Dictionary of the NT (an anti-Holy Spirit dictionary)

5548 criw chrio khree'-o

probably akin to 5530 through the idea of contact; TDNT-9:493,1322; v

AV-anoint 5; 5

1) to anoint

1a) consecrating Jesus to the Messianic office, and furnishing him with the necessary powers for its administration
1b) enduing Christians with the gifts of the Holy Spirit

There's a very famous noun that comes from this word, one that most of you know! :)

5547 CristoV Christos khris-tos'

from 5548; TDNT-9:493,1322; adj

AV-Christ 569; 569

Christ =" anointed"

1) Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God
2) anointed

Notice that this word is an adjective, it is descriptive and the writers of the NT used it by placing a definite article in front of it, and it is translated into English as Christ. This is the title of Jesus, and it is the literal meaning of the word in the OT, Messiah. To change the meaning of this word, to debase this word by making it something that it is not, is false, and the concluding doctrines from such a thing, are heresy, and probably blasphemous because they would deny the Holy Spirit. Yashua is our Example of walking in the Anointing of God! This word does not mean exclusively, oil poured on a king's head, yet that is part of it. This word is not exclusively used for a king, although they are anointed of God for the office they are in. God does set kings up, and he also removes kings.

Let's go further and see another word that is related, and we will come back and tie some more details together. Keep in mind that Jesus is our EXAMPLE!!

5546 CristianoV Christianos khris-tee-an-os'

from 5547; TDNT-9:493,1322; n pr m

AV-Christian 3; 3

1) Christian, a follower of Christ

The anointing of the Holy Spirit will be seen as two fold. Here we see with the word CristianoV that we are to be followers of Christ, examples of Christ, how He walked, we are to walk. He walked in the Spirit and Paul told the Galatians that we are to walk in the Spirit. Jesus was anointed of the Holy Spirit to the office of Messiah, and He walked in the anointing of the Holy Spirit and power to fulfill that call. Jesus is King and as such anointed as King, and He walks in the anointing that is additional to the office of King. As Christians we are to walk in the call or anointing of Christ as a follower of Him, and we are to be anointed by the Holy Spirit to fulfill the call of Christ in each of our lives. This is an awesome responsibility because the call is awesome.

Remember what the call or anointing of God is all about, to be about the Father's business. remember specifically what that anointing is about. Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world , and preach the gospel to every creature. Every follower of Christ has been anointed by Him to operate in this anointing or call. Paul tells us to ambassadorize the world! 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. The Corinthians had a difficult time because they lived in and area surrounded by idolatry, paganism, Stoics, Epicureans, unbelief, and when you mix into that group normal human problems in the flesh, it was truly a sad state, yet Paul did call them washed in the blood, he called them Christians, and he did know what he was talking about. he now tells them to realize they are called to ambassadorize the world, so they need to be reconciled to each other and to God above all else. The Corinthian anointing was to abbassadorize the world.

Go back and take another look at Acts 10:38! How God anointed <5548> 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. We are to be just like Jesus, walk in the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Holy Spirit. We are Christians and followers of Christ, so if we don't walk in the anointing of the Holy Spirit, then can we truly say that we are following His Example?? There are some 486,000,000 people in the world who are in many different denominations, but they have one thing in common, they have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Many of these people are not fully following Christ, they allow doubt and unbelief drive them, they stay hidden in the bushes, they feel intimidated because much of the world, the church world has denied and laughed at them for centuries. Howbeit, there are also many, many people who have stepped out in faith, stepped out in prayer and fasting and have allowed the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the next level of this word criw, and crisma to come to pass in their lives.

5545 crisma chrisma khris'-mah

from 5548; TDNT-9:493,1322; n n

AV-anointing 2, unction 1; 3

1) anything smeared on, unguent, ointment, usually prepared by the Hebrews from oil and aromatic herbs. Anointing was the inaugural ceremony for priests

Christians are to walk in the Spirit, and they are to walk in the anointing of the Holy Spirit to bring the plan of God into fruition. We are to walk in the smearing of the Holy Spirit, not a light dab, not some toucf on the finger, not something that someone else has, and certainly not what others had in the past and we just talk about it as past tense. We are to be immersed in the Hoply Spirit which is why it is called baptism of the Holy Spirit in places, as well as the Promise of the Father. God never intended His creation to doubt. He never intended His creation to have endless questions about anything. God intends His creation to KNOW about the things of God. To do so, He ordained a plan, He sent the Spirit of Truth after Jesus went into the heavenlies on the Day of Pentecost to guide us into all truth. He sent the Spirit of Adoption by which we cry Father. He sent the Spirit of Grace by which we KNOW Him. He sent the Spirit of Life by which we call Him Lord. He sent the Spirit of Christ by which we KNOW He is Messiah, the Anointed One. He sent the Spirit of God by which we KNOW He is God. He sent the Spirit of the Lord by which we KNOW The Lord of Lords.

What do we know about this precious anointing? The Scriptures give us plenty of information, and those who have matured and grown in the Lord and have been used in the gifts of the Spirit walking in this anointing can attest to the veracity of the Scriptures. Like Paul said in Acts, this anointing is NOT given in secret or hidden in some corner, it is in the Word and Jesus and the Father desire so much to anoint Their creation with the thrid Member of the Godhead, the One that most people have done away with.

Let's take another look, a closer look at the commission which can be found in Matthew 28, Mark 16, and Luke 24. However, the part that we overlook far too often is the important part. Sure we know that we are to be going into the world, preaching and teaching what the Lord gave to His disciples. Sure we know that people need to commit their lives to Jesus as we preach repentance for the remission or forgiveness of sins, and sure we teach water baptism as a public profession and total identity with the Godhead, but we leave an important part out. What part is that? Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. The word for power is very important here. The word has been integrated into the English language performing many duties. We have the words dynamo, dynamic, dynamite from this Greek word.

1411 dunamiV dunamis doo'-nam-is

from 1410; TDNT-2:284,186; n f

AV-power 77, mighty work 11, strength 7, miracle 7, might 4, virtue 3, mighty 2, misc 9; 120

1) strength power, ability

God knew the problems of man, He provided the solutions for those problems, and He sent His Spirit to empower the church to meet those problems. Sadly, those who have experienced the anointing of the Holy Spirit are the ones who are mocked and ridiculed. We are even told that the miracles that have happened are from the devil. Crediting the miracles of the Holy Spirit to the devil is blasphemy and that attitude will not allow the persons who hold it to enter the kingdom of God. Matthew 12:22-32 ś Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

The church has been intimidated by the unbelieving part of the church for too long. The anointing is for the purpose of empowering the church to do what God's plan is for it. The anointing will do things that are miracles to all who believe, thus following the preaching of the Word, we have the confirmation of the Word with signs and wonders. The anointing will break the yoke of the devil in people's lives. However, if we run in fear, if we cower because we are intimidated by those who say the Holy Spirit isn't for today, then what is going to become of the church? Can we truly be what we are to be if we neglect the gift of the Holy Spirit? Those that don't believe will never be anointed by the Holy Spirit, but those who do believe, they will do greater works than Jesus did (John 14). Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me... That dynamite power, the anointing to accomplish the call that we have been anointed into, we must desire to have it through prayer and fasting, but most importantly through belief. We can never have something if we don't believe it is for us, and the Holy Spirit will not force people who are unbelieving to have such an important aspect of the relationship with God as is the Promise of the Father. Jesus said to ask for Him in Luke 11, but to ask we must first believe Acts 2:39 that He is for today.

The first century church knew that the gift of the Holy Spirit was for all believers. They didn't question, they didn't doubt, they didn't need to intellectualize away the Spirit, yet the apostle John began to face the early stages of gnosticism and his first Epistle addresses this issue as it infiltrated the church. Let me define gnosticism. It is the gathering of knowledge making intellect more important and applying it with endless questions that defeat the simple child like faith that the Scriptures and our relationship with Jesus is all about. It is the development of false doctrines that included the emlimination of Jesus in the flesh, His first advent being a spiritual one because He would never put on sinful flesh. Gnosticism was the evolution of knowledge so much so that only certain intellectuals could actually attain to the born again experience, it even developed into its doctrine the deeds in the flesh mattered not, just what you did in the spirit so once you were born again, then you could actually sin and nothing could remove your salvation.

John answered these foolish doctrines with his first Epistle and it matters greatly to know this when we read His words. Look at the verse that so many take out of context and then twist for their own benefit. 1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction <5545> from the Holy One, and ye know all things. Now I have heard people reduce this passage to just about anything else but what John writes. The Holy Spirit guides us into the truth and we know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. John says that we know all things from the unction, the anointing, we are able to actually have God's perspective. Look at the word, 1492 eidw eido, it is mostly used as a metaphor. Literally it means to see, but used metaph0rically it means to perceive, to fully understand, so the English tranlsates this word, know. Part of the power of the Spirit happens to deal with the anointing that gives some perception, to be able to know as is seen in the passage above when Jesus knew the hearts of the Pharisees. Jesus was used in either a word of knowledge which is one of the gifts of the Spirit or He is used in the gift of discerning of spirits. The anointing reveals hearts.

This is no wonder at all. This is why gnosticism is so dangerous. This is why we have verses that deal with God's wisdom that can only come one way, by His Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:11-14 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Paul told the Corinthians in another passage that knowledge puffs up, it causes pride and arrogance, knowledge destroys the need to rest on the Holy Spirit and to allow Him the privilege of guiding us. Man always wants to guide themselves to be their own boss, and their intellectual endeavors are mere foolishness with the Lord. Man's wisdom doesn't amount to a hill of beans, but the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the ability to garner through the Spirit the perception of truth He guides so sweetly His own into, this anointing is what teaches us.

The man or woman of God has available the next level of growth and maturity in the Holy Spirit. To not see the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a subsequent act different from regeneration that comes when we repent and commit our lives to Him, is to deny and be blind to the anointing of God, and the purpose of the Holy Spirit in the plan of God. John makes clear to his church, he is the father of the church, the last apostle of the original 12, the others have been martyred, the Holy Spirit is a must to guide into the truth. We can't live without the Holy Spirit's activity in the plan of God. 1 John 2:27 But the anointing <5545> which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing <5545> teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Now some Pentecostals have gone wacko and use this verse to rebel against God and they end up wandering away from the Lord in rebellion. This verse does NOT tell us that we don't need teachers. What this verse says is we need anointed teachers and anointed pew sitters and when a man of God is preaching or teaching, the Holy Spirit will confirm or challenge whether it is the truth. The Holy Spirit will tell you is something is true when you hear it. If it is truth, He will allow you to drink in that truth as it settles into your innermost being through what I have called in the past supernatural learning. The anointing will burn the Word of God into your heart and spirit. This is what happens in the wilderness. It happened with John the Baptist. It happened with Paul. It happens today with those called by God into the ministry. And it can happen with you.

Look at the One who walked in the anointing, our Example, Jesus Christ. Isaiah 61:1-3 ś The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Look at what Jesus quoted when He went into a synagogue beginning His public ministry. Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath 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, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. No wonder Jesus thought it necessary to make this statement! Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

We are to have power, the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the dynamite to go forth preaching and teaching the Word of God, signs and wonders following the Word, miracles, and we must NOT be intimidated by unbelievers and slanders and charismatic witchcraft. We must go forth in the anointing, fasting and praying for the Holy Spirit anointing to break the enemy's yoke of bondage. To preach a deliverance message, to set captives free, we must have the anointing. If we are not using the Spirit's anointing we are doing it in the flesh, and that is why we have such a messed up church world because we have been doing it in the flesh.