Reveration Blog
12/15/2004 Anointinga·nointtr.v.a·noint·ed,a·noint·ing,a·noints.1.To apply oil, ointment, or a similar substance to.2.To put oil on during a religious ceremony as a sign of sanctification or consecration.3.To choose by or as if by divine intervention. (American Heritage Dictionary) Meditation 2 Corinthians 1:21, 22--Now it is God who strengthens us, with you, in Christ and has anointed us. He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment in our hearts. The Hebrew word, “mashach” means to anoint, smear or consecrate. Thousands of years ago, there were three types of people God consecrated or specially set apart for an office or function—priests, kings and prophets. Priests were anointed because they served before the presence of a holy God. “‘You must not go outside the entrance to the tent of meeting or you will die, for the Lord’s anointing oil is on you.’ So they did as Moses said” (Leviticus 10:7). Kings were anointed for their office of leadership. “Samuel told Saul, ‘The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over His people Israel. Now, listen to the words of the Lord’” (1 Samuel 15:1). Prophets were anointed because they served as God’s mouthpieces to proclaim His Word. “You are to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel and Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel-meholah as prophet in your place” (1 Kings 19:16). The Hebrew word, “Mashiach” or Messiah, means “anointed one.” Profoundly, Jesus came as God’s final High Priest, King and Prophet. Christ means “anointed.” In Acts 10:38 we are taught by Luke that God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power and that He did amazing things because God was with Him. Jesus’ divinity lived in His humanity. As the perfect Son of Man, His sacrificial death upon the cross paid for our sins thereby making it possible for all who put their trust in Him to receive the Holy Spirit. We have His anointing and purified hearts when He has our faith and obedience (Acts 5:32, 15:9). It is essential that we understand the distinction between anointing and infilling. In the NT the word anoint is only used in two ways: to pour oil over someone for healing or consecration and to describe God’s consecration of Jesus or us. God can specially fill us at certain times for His service through the heightened extension of the Holy Spirit’s power but this should not be confused with our anointing. The former is given at the time of salvation and is a permanent deposit. The latter is a special gift provided at God’s discretion to supernaturally accomplish His will. For example in Acts we read the statement “filled with the Holy Spirit” (See Acts 4:8,31, 7:55). Peter, Stephen and the other believers mentioned, already possessed the Holy Spirit He just took on a more active role. Beware of those who tell the Holy Spirit what to do. Our anointing is not accomplished by the orders of men or because we give a certain amount of money. We are already anointed. Furthermore, God’s anointing is no longer tied to an office or religious function. “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge. . . The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you don’t need anyone to teach you. Instead, His anointing teaches you about all things and is true and is not a lie; just as He has taught you, remain in Him” (1 John 2:20, 27). Remain in Jesus. Your anointing is secure in Him and you are on His team. He will not exclude you nor does He want you to follow those who would suggest that your anointing is up to them. The only anointing we do is the pouring of oil accomplished with prayer under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Inspiration The Holy Spirit must anoint me for the work, fire me, and so vividly convince me that such and such a way is mine to aim at, or I shall not go, I will not, I dare not; I shall just be content to earn my living—but, no, that cannot be.—Oswald Chamber’s Diary, 26 April 1896 ©2004 Daniel York ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause. If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the "Click here to receive weekly devotionals" box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth. (Holman CSB) Comments are closed.
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Photo from Rachel Maxey Miles