is it utilized if it even exists at
all? In the New Testament the
first mention of anointing is
found in Matthew where Jesus
commands us to anoint our
head with oil and to not do as
the hypocrites do when fasting.
The next ment ion is found in
both Mark and Luke when a
woman brings a precious oil
called spikenard and breaks the
box to pour the oil upon Jesus’
feet. The oil was so valuable
that there were those present
that thought it mighty wasteful
for her to pour it on the feet of
Jesus. On a side note there are
those that believe that God’s
anointing is wasted on certain
individuals, look closely at how
Jesus approached those that
criticized what God had ordained
to happen. The fact is this, the
woman gave what was precious
to her to God while those around
were too blind to see that Christ
needed to be anointed for what
He was about to undergo.
We also see in Mark 6 that oil
was used to anoint the sick so
that they may be healed. This
type of anointing still takes place
in many churches today and it
is a sign as well as following the
example of Christ when he healed
the blind man in John 9. This is
also in obedient to James 5:14
calling for the elders to anoint
the sick as they pray for them
while doing so in the name of the
Lord. So here we see a different
appointment for anointing but it
is definitely commanded of God
for us to participate in this way of
anointing the sick, quite possibly
as a sign to set them apart and
sanctify them for the healing
work that God can do in their
lives.
We see a different type of
anointing spoken by Jesus in
the book of Luke where He
states that He has been given
a specific anointing to preach.
Jesus separates this form other
reasons as to why he was sent.
An interesting point here is that
Jesus felt He was anointed to
preach to the poor while he was
sent to do other operations for
God. If we are Disciples of Christ
and we are to follow Him as an
example then it could be said that
God still anoints the Disciples of
Christ to preach as well as to
anoint the sick and pray for them.
Evidence of this can be seen in
II Corinthians 1:21 where it talks
about the anointing that Paul has
being directly from God.
If the anointing is still in existence
in today’s church, what does it
look like and how is it to be both
used as well as recognized. The
answer can be found in both Acts
10:38 as well as Hebrews 1:9
dealing with what the anointing
brings to the individual who is
anointed. In Acts it says that
Jesus was anointed and that He
was anointed with the Holy Ghost
and also He was anointed with
power. This interpretation can
be found when you are listening
to an individual talk about the
gospel, rather it be a one-onone situation or it be in a pulpit
speaking to a congregation the
power of the spoken word can
not only be felt but it can also be
revealed with introspect into our
own lives. Being anointed with
the Holy Ghost can be evident
when we take a look at the fruits of
the Spirit, if the fruits are evident
(some would say if the evidence
has occurred), then the person is
more than likely being influenced
by the anointing of the Holy
Spirit. In II Corinthians it talks
about the anointing being in the
form of gladness above others
in an individual’s life. This is the
type of gladness that cannot be
explained by circumstances but
rather a gladness that comes
upon an individual who should
not be glad and yet the anointing
is upon them to respond this
way. There are other examples
of the anointing in scripture but
for time’s sake I will narrow it
down to the two.
The question about the
anointing seems complicated
but in the light of scripture is
actually can be answered quite
simply. An individual is anointed
if they exhibit the features of
what that anointing brings. If
you are listening to an individual
speak and they begin to say
things to you that speak to your
life specifically or to a specific
situation in your life, that can be
seen as an individual anointed
with power, power to speak the
Word of God in such a way that
it becomes alive and effective
in your life. These are a few
examples but I hope that you
can see a glimpse into the view
of the anointing and what it may
look like in your everyday life. It
is real, it is effective, and it does
exist today in a very recognizable
fashion.
Pastor Josh Moss
Senior
Pastor
@
Community Church
Levant