What Is The Anointing?

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him (1 John 2:27).

Some Christians think of the anointing as something that comes and goes, but that’s not your reality as a new creation in Christ. The anointing of God abides in you permanently. It’s the presence and power of the Holy Spirit that equips you to function in the divine life.

The Holy Spirit, the one who gives the anointing, lives in you in His fullness. What we need is the recognition and acknowledgement of the greater One that lives in us. He’s as much in you and with you when you “feel” the anointing, as He is when you don’t “feel” anything. Don’t bring God to the realm of the senses; He doesn’t deal in that realm. Don’t base your Christianity on feelings. Sadly, that’s the only way some know to relate with God; they rely more on “feeling” the anointing to know that God is present. When they don’t “feel” it, they think something is wrong, and they start praying and crying, “O Lord, let the anointing fall on me; I want to feel your presence!” Some even start fasting for the anointing to come. What a misconception!

The anointing is the effect of the workings of the Holy Spirit. It’s also the impact or impartation of the Holy Spirit’s power. For example, when the anointing comes on a clothing material, like the handkerchiefs and aprons that were taken from Paul and laid on the sick (Acts 19:12), that’s an impartation of His power on that material. The question then is, the person of the Holy Spirit, compared to His effect and impartation, which is greater? The person of course! It’s like a man and his shadow. Begging and crying for the anointing, when the Holy Spirit lives in you, is ignoring the real thing, and pursuing the shadow; that’s not going to work. Stop trying to receive more anointing. Stop wishing for more anointing from heaven. Look inside you. Get to know Christ who lives in you; He’s the anointed One and owner of the anointing. Since He lives in you, it means you can have all the power you could ever need, right inside you. Learn to stir up this gift of God that’s in you (2 Timothy 1:6).

As a child of God, there’s an anointing on your life; it’s a divine enablement. Many mistake the anointing for the Spirit, but the anointing isn’t the Spirit. The Spirit gives the anointing: the anointing is a divine power.

It’s that power of God that heals, delivers, removes burdens, and causes you to prosper. It brings you victory. It opens doors for you. It uplifts you, and causes you to fulfil the will of the Father. It accomplishes works beyond your human ability. Another beautiful thing is that the anointing on your life can increase. Sometimes, people want to do more; they want to make more impact with the Gospel by reaching more people. Yes; that’s possible and commendable, but you need increased grace.

God will have to increase the authority given to you; but first, you must be faithful with what you already have. If you’re faithful in using what you currently have, then He’ll cause a new anointing to come on you.

If you’re a leader in the house of God, for instance, and the Lord has committed fifty members to you to lead, be committed in praying and interceding for those fifty as you would for fifty thousand. If you’re not faithful with the fifty, even if you fast and pray for increase in membership, it may never happen, because the anointing can’t be increased without faithfulness.

Jesus said in Luke 16:10, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” It’s a spiritual principle. Choose to be faithful with whatever the Lord has committed to your hands. Don’t despise little beginnings, because your faithfulness with, and to that which may seem “little” today is what will take you to the next level.

In Acts 4: 24-30, They asked for boldness to speak the word….with signs and wonders. God responded in Verse 31, they were filled with the Holy Ghost.

Remember, these folks have received the spirit already in Acts chapter 2. It means we can be filled again and again. (Eph 5:18) In verse 19-21 of the same chapter, he shows us how to be filled. We don’t have to wait for a place to be shaken, We can be filled of the Holy Ghost at any time. Gods spirit is God’s answer.

What is the anointing? Some people use it to express the power of God, others may use it to express the presence of God. There is one anointing, it’s the anointing of the Christ. Christ is the anointed one. The anointing is God’s choice and empowerment for a particular purpose. When you received the Holy Spirit, you received the anointing. The anointing doesn’t get greater or increased or reduced because it’s the anointing of Christ that has been given to you. You never receive part of the Holy Ghost. Rather than ask for more anointing, receive grace, increased grace.

Rom 12:3. Paul talked about the grace that has been given unto him, not anointing. Faith can be increased based on use and exercise. James 4:6.

As God increases your responsibilities, he increases your grace. Grace is distributed through the word. Never in your life look for more power, the Holy Spirit is inside you already, He’s all the power you need.

In the Old Testament, the kings and priests were anointed with oil as a symbol of consecration. But in the New Testament, it’s different. When you received the Holy Spirit, you received a person into your life. You received the fullness of the Spirit without measure, not in parts or degrees. You have the totality of God’s Spirit resident in you, with power.

You don’t need to ask for more anointing or more power from God. What you need is a greater consciousness of the One who lives in you. The more you’re aware of His presence, the more His graces and power function through you. Stop “waiting” for the anointing to come; it’s already in you. That anointing teaches, guides, strengthens, and empowers you for success and impact, as read in our opening scripture. Walk in this consciousness every day.

-GSW-