a·noint tr.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 makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
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. “‘Do not leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting or you will die, because 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 said to Saul, ‘I am the one the Lord sent to anoint you king over His people Israel; so listen now to the message from the Lord’” (1 Samuel 15:1). Prophets were anointed because they served as God’s mouthpieces to proclaim His Word. “ . . . Anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet” (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 know the truth . . . As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it 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.
