Over the last month to six weeks, I have felt whisperings from the Holy Spirit about anointing. More specifically, I have felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to examine, study and share about anointing: what it is and what it means. With that, I set out to learn all that I can about anointing. What is anointing? What does it mean to be anointed? What does it mean to be anointed for a something as it relates to a specific purpose of and from God? I leaned in to discover all that I can about anointing and what it means in connection with carrying out one’s God-given purpose and calling.
To begin, I researched the word anoint. Anoint comes from the Greek word “chrio” which means to consecrate (to set apart). In addition, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, anoint means:
1) To smear or rub with oil or an oily substance.
2) To apply oil as part of a religious ceremony.
3) To choose by or as if by divine election. Also, to designate as if by a ritual anointment.
In the Old Testament, we see the ritual of anointment that kings, priests and prophets underwent as a symbolic act in order to be set apart for a particular role. I was reminded of David when the Lord told Samuel that he was to anoint David to be the next King after the Lord rejected Saul as King over Israel. As the Bible states:
“The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I’m sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.’”
~ 1 Samuel 16:1-3 NIV
Samuel would do as the Lord said and Jesse would go on to present seven of his sons, one by one, to Samuel. But none of them would be chosen by the Lord. The youngest, David, would then be summoned from the field where he was tending to sheep and presented before Samuel. David would then be chosen, as scripture reveals:
“Then the Lord said, ‘Rise and anoint him; this is the one.’ So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.”
~ Samuel 16:12:13 NIV
As I further studied what it means to be anointed, the Holy Spirit unveiled to me that to be anointed is to be set apart, consecrated (to be made or declared sacred) for a specific Divine purpose of God. The anointing is an equipping by God to be able to carry out God’s work. God is a God of intention. Each of us was divinely created by God with a specific intention in mind. Every detail – the sound of one’s voice, one’s height, one’s unique gifts and talents, are all with purpose and intentionality by God. Therefore, each of us has been set apart for a specific purpose of God. As the Bible states:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…”
~Jeremiah 1:5 NIV
In my study of the meaning of anointing, the Holy Spirit unveiled six insights related to anointing. In this blog post, I will share three of those insights.
God’s Purpose and One’s Alignment/Agreement Activates the Anointing
God enables anointing power in order for us to do His work and His will. We are anointed to be God’s representatives on earth, chosen through God’s grace as a function of our faith. When one is anointed for a particular purpose or calling, the anointing is God’s enablement through the Holy Spirit for us to be empowered and equipped to carry out what God has called us to do. Through alignment with God’s purpose and by coming into agreement with the calling that God has over our lives, the anointing is activated. The following scriptures speak to the anointing that comes with alignment and agreement with God’s will:
“Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.”
~ Proverbs 16:3 NASB
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
~ 1 John 5:14 NKJV
Where there is no alignment the anointing cannot flow freely and God’s ability to work supernaturally is hindered.
The Mark of the Anointing Facilitates Supernatural Empowerment, Enablement and Protection
Through the anointing, an undeniable mark of God is placed on our lives. God puts his seal on us, supernaturally equipping us to do myriad kinds of work for God. We are empowered, enabled and protected as we pursue what God has called us to do. It is the anointing that makes the difference. The anointing is like God’s “secret sauce” that unlocks within us an ability to do more than we can do on our own as we accomplish our God-given purpose.
Through the following scripture, we see evidence that God empowers us in the service to which each of us is called based on our unique gifts:
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
~ 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 ESV
When God calls, He equips. When God called Moses to approach Pharaoh to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses responded with fear and doubt in his ability. Moses asked God how he should respond if the Israelites question who sent him. Moses also questioned God about what he should do if the Israelites did not believe or listen to him. Moses would then go on to let God know that he was lacking in his ability to speak eloquently. We see Moses’ concern and God’s response through the following scripture:
“Then Moses said to the Lord, ‘O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.’ So the Lord said to him, ‘Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be your mouth and teach you what you shall say.'”
~ Exodus 4:10-12 NKJV
Moses’ fears and concerns did not stop God from using him and it would be Moses who would ultimately lead the Israelites to the edge of the Promised Land.
We see God’s protection over the Israelites, God’s “chosen people,” as they journeyed to the Promised Land, through the following scripture:
“He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings: Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”
~ Psalm 105:14-15 NIV
The Anointing is Activated Where the Holy Spirit Leads
Jesus promised the disciples that when he returned to be with his Father, the Holy Spirit would be with them, reminding them of everything he had been teaching them. The following scripture speaks to this:
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
~ John 14:26 NIV
When we are saved by grace through faith, we too receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is our yielding to the influence of the Holy Spirit that unleashes the anointing of God as the Holy Spirit leads us in carrying out our purpose as a function of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within our hearts. We are anointed by and through both the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. It is the presence and power of the Holy Spirit that directs us as we perform what God has called us to do. The following scripture speaks to the power and presence Holy Spirit dwelling within us:
“You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
Acts 10:37-38 NLT
Christian writer Cornelia “Corrie” ten Boon best articulated the presence and power of Holy Spirit at work within us as we carry out God’s work through this quote: “Trying to do the Lord’s work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.”
In my next blog post, I will share the remaining insights that the Holy Spirit unveiled concerning anointing. How about for you? How has the anointing of God showed up for you as you carry out God’s will and walk in your purpose? Please share. I’d love to hear!