The Anointing
John Hoole – October 4 & 11, 2009
(Click on charts, graphs and maps for larger version)
Last week we examined what the Bible has to say about the Tabernacle of David. This is a tabernacle – a tent – that David erected to house the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem. We learned that there were monumental changes between the worship conducted at the Tabernacle of Moses and this one.
Two major changes were:
1. There was immediate access to the Ark in David’s tabernacle. This means direct access to the presence of God, allowing greater intimacy.
2. The worship was more focused on sacrifices of praise and joy than of animals.
Some have likened the Tabernacle of David to the Church beginning in the New Testament. And in a spiritual sense, there are some correlations. On the Day of Pentecost, when the Church was born, we were given immediate access to God. As Christ said, He (the Holy Spirit) will not only be WITH you but IN you (John 14:17). But there is more pictured by the Tabernacle of David than found in the Church.
Let’s look quickly at Acts 2 – the Day of Pentecost. Think for a moment about what transpired that day. From Acts 1, we know that 120 people were gathered in the Upper Room. They are there because Jesus had told them to remain in Jerusalem.
Let’s read the first four verses of chapter 2.
Acts 2:1-4 NIV
2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
In these four verses we learn the sights and sounds of what happened that day to the 120 in this upper room. But, beginning in verse 5, we are made aware some other people.
WHO WERE THESE PEOPLE?
WHERE WERE THEY FROM?
16 different nationalities are mentioned in verses 9 through 11.
WHAT WERE THEIR REACTIONS TO WHAT THEY SAW AND HEARD?
In the NIV, verses 6 & 7 say they were “bewildered” and “utterly amazed.” In the NKJV, they were “confused” and “amazed” and “marveled.” These words – bewildered, utterly amazed and confused – are used to indicate and describe something not unexplainable by human reason or logic.
These people gathered because what they saw and heard were unexplainable. The first thing that is mentioned is that they were amazed how these unlearned Galileans were all speaking in all their various languages. They wanted to know how this could be. It didn’t add up. Something was happening that was greater than the sum of all the human parts.
At its very inception, the church was an enigma – something unexplainable. I would like to set forth that this should be normal for the church. The Christian church and its meetings should be something greater than the sum of their parts. When the Holy Spirit is added to a meeting of Christ followers, there should be things seen and heard that are unexplainable by the natural mind.
Our services should be greater than the sum of the parts. In other words, if a church can be fully described by its methodology and organization techniques and clever advertising, then it has probably departed from what God planned it to be. There should always be the element of supernatural assistance that is unexplainable to the natural mind.
The church in the Book of Acts “didn’t add up.” Natural thought would say that Peter and the others should not have been able to achieve what they achieved. As the priests and Sadducees noted, these “were unschooled, ordinary men” (Acts 4:13). But they were effective nonetheless because God the Holy Spirit was working through them.
Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 3:16,……
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives within you?”
WHAT DO WE SOMETIMES CALL THIS EXTRA INGREDIENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?
“Extra ingredient” is probably the wrong phrase for it. I probably should call it the “essential ingredient.” Sometimes it is called a move of the Holy Spirit. Often it is referred to as “The Anointing.”
When Peter stood and preached on the Day of Pentecost, his audience was as diverse as could be in every way possible. Yet, one anointed sermon brought thousands to salvation in Christ, not because it was good human oratory, but Spirit anointed words driven into the hearts of the listeners.
Today I want to discuss that extra Holy Spirit ingredient that we sometimes call The Anointing.” If one is to study the anointing in some reasonable level of scrutiny, there are a number of questions that must be addressed.
Some of the questions are:
Let’s tackle that last question first.
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE “THE ANOINTING”?
It probably would help to see how the words are used in their original language, and examine the context in which we find the words used. There are three different English words that we need to look at in the original languages. They are: Anoint, Anointed, and Anointing. In Hebrew, there are three words to consider. In Greek, there are four.
jv^m* mashach (maw-shakh') ANOINT xri/w chrio (khree'-o)
hj*v=m! mishchah (meesh-khaw') ANOINTING xri/sma chrisma (khris'-mah)
j^yv!m* mashiyach (maw-shee'-akh) ANOINTED Xristo/$ christos (khris-tos’)
Before going further, I believe you can recognize the last pair of words from Hebrew and Greek are those we know as most often referring to our Savior. The words Christos and Mashiyach both mean the “ANOINTED ONE.” In the Septuagint – the Greek translation of the Old Testament – Christos is always used in the place of Mashiyach.
The three English words – Anoint, Anointing and Anointed – translated from the 3 Hebrew and 3 Greek words, are found in our Bible 163 times. That does not include the 529 times “Christos” is translated “Christ.”
Beginning with the Old Testament use of these three words, the basic meaning is, “to pour on, smear all over or rub into.” When a person was anointed by God for a special task or service to God, they had oil poured or smeared on them. The word, “anointing” had various usages, from giving relief from the sun (Psalm 104:15), to the care of newborn infants (Ezekiel 16:9).
The first record in Scripture of anointing was by Jacob when he took his pillow of stone, using it to erect a pillar and poured oil upon the top. (Compare Gen. 28:18 with Gen. 31:13). Jacob renamed the place from Luz to Bethel, meaning the “House of God.”
ANOINTING OF THREE GROUPS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
In Exodus 30:22-25, we find God giving Moses instruction on how to mix 5 ingredients into the anointing oil. Before reading that Passage, let’s address one the questions I raised earlier in our lesson.
IS THE ANOINTING ONLY APPLICABLE TO PEOPLE?
In the Old Testament, some object were also to be anointed, according to the instructions Moses received from God.
WHY DO YOU THINK SPECIFIC OBJECTS WERE ALSO TO BE ANOINTED?
Whether it is a person or an object that is being anointed, they are being anointed to set them apart, or consecrated holy to the Lord. You will see this as we now read God’s prescription for the anointing oil.
Exodus 30:22-30 NKJV
22 Moreover the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
23 "Also take for yourself quality spices — five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane,
24 five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil.
25 And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil.
26 With it you shall anoint the tabernacle of meeting and the ark of the Testimony;
27 the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense;
28 the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base.
29 You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them must be holy.
30 And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister to Me as priests.
The anointing that is mentioned in this Passage is a ceremonial act indicating an individual or object is being set apart for a special function. That’s what the word, “holy” or “sacred” means – Set Apart. In this case, they are being set apart for service to God. And Moses did as the Lord had commanded him. God considered this a serious matter.
Aaron and his sons were anointed with oil. And Psalm 133:2, in describing Aaron’s anointing, says they poured it on his head and it ran down his beard and down to the edge of his garment.
God told Moses to have all of the priests anointed with oil. This action sanctified them, separating them from the unclean. The priests were commissioned to serve a special role of intercession between God and Man. That is one group of individuals that were anointed.
WHAT OTHER GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS WERE ALSO ANOINTED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT?
• Prophets
• Kings
Let’s take the prophets first. There is only one reference where a prophet was to be anointed. In 1 Kings 19:16 NKJV, we find Elijah being told to anoint his successor.
16 …. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.
In the biblical account, it is not recorded when Elijah actually anointed Elisha. And also in the historical passages of the Bible, no other prophets is said to have been anointed by another person. And yet, from Psalm 105, we find this statement:
Psalms 105:15 NIV
15 "Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm."
Prophets were never appointed to be prophets, as if it were an office like priest or king. Both kings and priests followed family lineage. Prophets were independent men of God, not socially appointed. God chose and gave them their anointing with the Holy Spirit.
It was the habit or custom to call the Spirit of God by the name of a prophet, such as the spirit of Moses or the spirit of Elijah (2 Kings 2:15), as a personal distinction. The spirit of Moses was to be put upon the elders of Israel (Numbers 11:25), and Elisha wanted a double portion of the spirit of Elijah (2 Kings 2:9). The Spirit was indentified with the prophet.
It is through the prophet that God makes His will known, as in……
Amos 3:7 NIV
7 Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.
And Hosea 12:10 NIV
10 I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them."
Now let’s look at the Kings. There is no indication that the prophets were anointed with oil. But the prophets anointed the kings with oil. Samuel anointed both King Saul and King David forty years apart. Not only were they anointed with oil, the Scriptures indicated also that the Spirit of God came upon them, enabling them to perform his tasks as a ruler.
It appears that the Spirit of God came upon the king for the duration of their reign. Even when Paul strayed from doing right, like when he was jealous of David and sought his life, there was a time when David could have killed King Saul, but David tells his servant, in 1 Samuel 24:10, “I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.” David considered King Saul as God’s anointed king. In fact, the phrase, “the Lord’s anointed” almost becomes synonymous for “king.”
You can easily see the anointing of the king being supplemented with the Holy Spirits power.
1 Samuel 16:13 NKJV
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
The administration of the Holy Spirit becomes very important when you slip from the Old Testament to the New Testament. In the New Testament, one’s anointing is always by the Holy Spirit. Remember that “oil” is a symbol of the Holy Spirit in both Old and New Testaments. Also, the practices instituted by God in the Old Testament, were patterns for what He would do in the New Testament.
ANOINTING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
In the Old Testament, all who served God had to be anointed. This is replaced in the New Testament by the Holy Spirit abiding in all believers. To be anointed by God is not only to be picked, but also to be empowered by Him for the task or position to which he calls you.
So what is the anointing experienced by the New Testament church? Disciples and apostles were never anointed with oil. In the New Testament, Christians received the holy Spirit for their work of service. We have no record of oil being poured on Jesus, except by a woman for His burial, as He said (Matthew 26:12, John 12:7).
Before the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, priests were anointed, and carried the fragrance with them. After Pentecost, believers have carried the aura of Jesus. When others recognize “they had been with Jesus,” (Acts 4:13), then the real anointing had come.
JESUS, THE ANOINTED ONE
Psalms 45:6-7 NKJV
6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
If you were to read this entire Psalm, you would quickly recognize that it is describing the coming Messiah – the Anointed One. There can be no doubt about that statement, because it is quoted in Hebrews 1, which directly states it as referring to Christ, the Son of God.
Hebrews 1:8-9 NKJV
8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions."
Now go back to Psalm 45 and read the verse following what we read a moment ago.
Psalms 45:8 NKJV
8 All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad.
Cassia came from the distant far east. Israel probably obtained it in the wilderness from passing traders. It provided a distinctive fragrance associated only with the dwelling place of God, as it also did the priests
The Scriptures call Jesus the Anointed One. “Peter answered and said, You are the Christ [Anointed One], the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:16).
Also, everything denoted by the anointing of the tabernacle and priests and kings is fulfilled in Jesus. Christ is our priest, king and prophet. Let’s look further at the anointing of Jesus.
After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, Luke 4:1 tells us He was directed by the Holy Spirit into the Judean wilderness, where for 40 days He was tested by the Devil. In verse 14 of that chapter, it says that immediately after these 40 days, “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee.”
Two verses later, we find Jesus in the synagogue in Nazareth, where He is asked to read from the Tanach – the Old Testament – from Isaiah 61. Verse 18 begins His reading from Isaiah 61:1.
Luke 4:18-21 NIV
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,
21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Jesus said that what Isaiah wrote was about Him. And Christ links His own anointing to the Holy Spirit. In fact, as we will see in a moment, everything Christ did was accomplished by the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
In this Passage we find:
1. The anointing is given to preach the gospel to the poor.
2. The anointing is given to heal and restore people.
3. The anointing is given to proclaim freedom to the captives.
4. The anointing is given to open blind eyes.
5. The anointing is given to set people free.
6. The anointing flows in God’s timing.
When you discuss the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, some people immediately respond, “Well, yes, but He was the Son of God.” And, of course, He was.
But wasn’t He just as much the Son of God when He was 20 years old, or 25, as when He was baptized at around age 30? If He did all His miracles because He was the Son of God, why did he no miracles prior to the Holy Spirit coming on Him at the Jordan River? No, Jesus did His preaching and healing by the power of the same Holy Spirit that has been given to us for our ministry. This is corroborated in Acts 10.
Acts 10:38 NKJV
38 …God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Everything that Christ did as recorded in the Bible was done by the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit.
DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTIONS OF ANOINTING
Last week, I asked you how you would define “the anointing.” Let’s come back to that question and give a more complete definition and description of the anointing.
I read somewhere in the last couple of weeks that the anointing is like jumping into a deep pool of water. When you come out, everywhere you go gets wet. The anointing is like being covered with perfumed oil, and wherever you go the aroma of the anointing follows.
Let me give a few comments that might define what the anointing is – at least in part. The anointing of the Holy Spirit enables you to do what you cannot do in your own strength. Anointing, as described in the Bible, can be defined as: “God on flesh doing those things that flesh cannot do.”
The anointing of the Spirit is not the same as the gifts of the Spirit. The anointing will make one’s gifts operate more fluently or effectively. God has given every believer one or more gifts for service, as well as the anointing to allow those gifts to function with greater ease.
Another things we need to understand about the anointing is that it is holy. God’s anointing on you and me must be treated with respect. Jesus paid the ultimate price just so that we could continue His work and ministry in the earth. And the anointing is available 24-hours, 7-days each week. When the anointing is in operation, it manifests with a divine purpose.
OUR ANOINTING
TODAY, WHO IS ANOINTED?
1 John 2:20 NKJV
20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One,….
I will have more to say about our anointing in our next lesson, but let me say that all believers are anointed by God.