Bible Question:  Do you have anything on the anointing? I would love to have something on that subject.   Bible Answer:  The word anointing is used in a variety of ways. It was common to "anoint with oil," to "anoint with perfume," and to anoint a person in the process of becoming a king. Sometimes the word is used for "anointing of the Holy Spirit." It occurs in both the Old and New Testament.     Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward . . . (NASB) 1 Samuel 16:13   The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives, And freedom to prisoners . . . (NASB) Isaiah 61:1   THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE DOWNTRODDEN . . (NASB) Luke 4:18   You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him. (NASB) Acts 10:38   But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. (NASB) 1 John 2:20   And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. (NASB) 1 John 2:27   Oil was associated with the Holy Spirit as shown in 1 Sam. 16:13. This expression was then used to refer to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of an individual. In Acts 10:38 the anointing is the ministry of the Holy Spirit and in 1 John 2:27 the anointing is the Holy Spirit since 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 tells us the Holy Spirit is the One who teaches believers. In every case, the Holy Spirit enables the person to proclaim a message. In only two passages does the Holy Spirit impart the ability to heal (Luke 4:18 and Acts 10:48). Some folks assume the "anointing always results in healing or speaking in tongues, for example. The biblical pattern we see is miraculous. The Holy Spirit empowers one to preach, teach, and witness.      In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came "upon" a person. In the New Testament the Holy Spirit's normal ministry is to "fill" a believer. Only after Jesus' departure did the Holy Spirit start to fill Christians. In Ephesians we are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The normal ministry of the Spirit in the life of the believer is "the filling of the Holy Spirit" or as some refer to it "the anointing." The word "filled" means to be controlled. That is, the normal Christian life is to be controlled by the Spirit,     And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit. Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; (NASB ) Eph. 5:18-20   The result of being filled is speaking in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. You may desire to see two previous questions dealing with the filling of the Holy Spirit. The second one is discussed in the Study of the Holy Spirit.   Conclusion: God's will for the normal Christian life is to be constantly, continually filled with the Holy Spirit. This is the power for the Christian life. The filling of the Spirit occurs when we continually, willingly submit ourselves to the control of His Spirit. We should ask the Holy Spirit to fill us every day if not more often. The Holy Spirit will 1) not fill us if we are grieving Him by sinning (Eph. 4:302), 2) not confessing or admitting our sins and 3) not spending time in the Word (compare Eph. 5:18-20 with Col. 3:16-17). What is the result? We will be filled by His Spirit. This "anointing" gives us victory over sin (Gal. 5:16-22) and causes us to respond with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, making melody with your heart to the Lord and always giving thanks for all things (Eph. 5:22-6:1). Now that is a miracle!         < Back
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