The word “anointing” is one of the most misunderstood and misused words in the church. It is often taught as if the anointing is something that people can “feel” when the “anointing” is in the room. People go to “spiritual” teachers who have declared they have a special “anointing” and, therefore, have earned the exclusive right to become a kind of mediator between God and man in order to impart “power” and “fresh revelation” to others.
The Purpose of the Anointing
Jesus did not start His earthly ministry until He was 30 years old. He entered a local synagogue, read a passage from the Book of Isaiah, and proclaimed;
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19 NIV)
The passage He read embodied the very essence of His ministry and defines the purpose of the anointing. By reading Isaiah, He was announcing that He was the Christ, the “Anointed One” sent by the Father to earth as 100% fully God and 100% fully human at His birth. However, He did not start His earthly ministry as the “Anointed One” until after His Baptism. Jesus is the Head of the body. He is the High Priest, and the anointing flows from His head over the body that is under His leadership, and that is dressed in Him because of His blood (Rom 13:11).
At one point during His ministry on Earth, Jesus was approached by the Disciples about the end of the world. They asked:
“when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.” (Matt 24:3-6 NIV)
Jesus told them that the primary sign that signified the end of the world was that many would come in His name claiming they were “anointed.”
The Anointing Defined
There are two words in the Bible that are translated “anointing.” The first is the Hebrew word “mashach,” which means to actively rub or smear with oil, to paint, to cover over and make it a part of you, to set apart or consecrate.
The second is the Greek word “chiro,” which means to anoint, to cover over, to rub with oil. It is always used of rubbing or sprinkling with oil in a religious sense. Both words for anointing used in Scripture pertain to the sacred or divine and to things (or persons) consecrated or devoted to God.
Consecrate Them
In the Old Testament, two primary elements were present in times of worship. They were blood and oil. The blood was for cleansing, and the oil was used for anointing.
The first instance of the use of oil was the anointing of the stone by Jacob (Gen 28:18; 35:14). This was designed to be a formal consecration of the stone for a sacred purpose. Under the Mosaic Law, persons and things set apart for sacred purposes were anointed with the "holy anointing oil" (Ex 30:23-25, 30-33).
In the Old Testament, the principle of anointing was revealed in the bestowal of supernatural ability on people through various methods and symbols. When a new High Priest or King was anointed in Israel, the prophet would take a horn full of oil and pour it over his head. The anointing oil flowed down the hair and beard then onto his garments, but it did not touch the flesh. The symbolism was that this person was "set apart" or consecrated to be God’s vessel or instrument. They were now considered “holy” by God, spiritually qualified, divinely empowered for service, and separated for His use (See Ex 30:29-30; 1 Sam 10:1,6; 16:13-14). Each of these “set apart” people were given specific roles in ministry.
God gave explicit instructions that all the furniture, the wood, the metal, the clay, and the stones used in the Tabernacle had to be anointed for service as well before they could be used. When the Anointing Oil was applied, those ordinary items used as furniture were no longer “ordinary;” they were “set apart” to God.
The anointing is the symbolic expression of God’s goodness and love, and the transmittal of His power to be used for His glory. King David wrote,
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Ps 23:5-6 NIV)
The anointing is how God shows His favor. David accredited everything He did for his people to the Spirit of God. He trusted God like no other before Him. He knew that He could not rely upon his own abilities, strengths, experience, and talents to unite the kingdom, conquer his enemies, and rule with justice in peace. He had to walk in the anointing of God, which gave him the power to perform the task. David went on to become Israel’s greatest king not because of his abilities, but because of God’s favor freely bestowed upon him as he humbly cooperated with the Holy Spirit. (See 1 Sam 16:1-11)
The anointing was also used figuratively throughout the Scripture. To be "anointed with oil" meant that a person would be successful and joyous (Ps 92:10; Eccl 9:8). "Anointing with the oil of gladness" (Ps 45:7; Heb 1:9) expresses spiritual joy, such as Jesus feels as He sees the blessed fruit of His sufferings (Isa 61:3). Jesus offered the church at Laodicea, “Anointing the eyes with eye salve,” which expressed an impartation of spiritual perception to those who needed to understand their condition (Rev. 3:18).
The expression, "anoint the shield" (Isa 21:5) refers to the custom of rubbing oil on the leather of the shield so as to make it pliable and fit for use in war. It speaks of the “shield of faith” that must constantly have the anointing of the Holy Spirit applied each time we trust the Lord so that it can be used to “extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” (Eph 6:16 NIV).
Anointing was also an act of hospitality. It was often a mark of respect and a special honor to a guest (Luke 7:38,46; John 11:2; Ps 23:5), and was used in preparation for social occasions (Deut 28:40; Ruth 3:3; 2 Sam 14:2; Isa 61:3; Ps 104:15).
In the New Testament, anointing was frequently used for healing. Jesus practiced this Himself (John 9:6,11), and committed this practice to the disciples to continue laying on of hands as a token of the highest faculty of medicine in the church. It was applied to the sick and also to wounds (Ps 109:18; Isa 1:6; Mark 6:13; James 5:14-15).
The bodies of the dead were also anointed with oil. This ceremony was performed after the washing of the body and was the ancient Jewish form of preparing a body for burial (Mark 14:8 and Luke 23:56).
The Anointing Breaks the Yoke
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” (Isa 10:27 KJV)
A yoke was a sort of harness by which two animals were joined at the neck or head to work together, pulling a wagon, a cart, or a plow. The harness was curved and pressed against the shoulders and held in position by leather thongs, or "bonds," fastened around the animal’s throat.
Having a “yoke’ signified any kind of bond or obligation to do a specific thing, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright” (Lev.26:13 NIV). In most instances the yoke was used as a figurative description of severe oppression. The “yoke” and “bands” refer to the slavery in Egypt from which God freed Israel. He took them out from bondage and set them free, so they could serve Him.
God told Israel after they were set free from Egypt that if they disobeyed Him, they would be punished and brought back into bondage.
“Because you did not serve the LORD your God joyfully and gladly in the time of prosperity, therefore in hunger and thirst, in nakedness and dire poverty, you will serve the enemies the LORD sends against you. He will put an iron yoke on your neck until he has destroyed you. The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle swooping down, a nation whose language you will not understand, a fierce-looking nation without respect for the old or pity for the young. (Deut 28:47-51 NIV)
Yet, in spite of God’s warning, all through the wilderness, Israel disobeyed the Lord and served other gods. They were put into the yoke of bondage because they had broken their yoke, their covenant (allegiance) to God, and had to serve their enemies in hunger, and thirst, and nakedness, wearing an “iron yoke” (See also Jeremiah 2:20; 5:1-6, 27:2).
The Blessings of the Anointing
“I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him. No enemy will subject him to tribute; no wicked man will oppress him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries. My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted. I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers. He will call out to me, 'You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.' I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.” (Ps 89:20 29 NIV)
Psalm 89 outlines some of the benefits of the anointing; Supernatural power and strength (v21), discerning of spirits (v22), protection (v22), victory over enemies (v23), God promises to bless (v24), given a position of authority over nations and ministries (v25), intimate relationship with the Father and security in His love and protection (v26), walk in the anointing of kings (v27), given an eternal covenant of grace (v28), given the promise that our children and grandchildren will walk in Christ and be saved also.
“You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured upon me. My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes. The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, "The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” (Ps 92:10-15 NIV)
Psalm 92 shows us additional benefits of the anointing; Fresh revelation by the Holy Spirit (v10), vision from God and able to hear God's voice (v11), grow deep roots in God (v12), have a long and stable life and have good relationships in the body of Christ (v13), have great and continuous fruitfulness (v14), and be able to walk in holiness before the Lord (v15).
The anointing of God also releases to minister (Lev 7:35), sanctifies (Lev 8:10), breaks bondage’s and frees the sinner from the generational chain of sin (Isa 10:27), heals the sick (James 5:14), teaches truth (1 John 2:23), gives the ability to preach the Gospel (Luke 4:18), gives discernment (1 John 2:20), imparts spiritual perception (Rev 3:18), gives a teachable spirit and an open and cultivated heart (1 John 2:27 NIV),
God wants every Born-Again Christian to experience the benefits of His Anointing. The degree to which you are willing to pay the price to receive from God will be the measure of fruitfulness you can expect to attain.
The Recipe for the Anointing
“Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 24500 shekels of cassia--all according to the sanctuary shekel--and a hin of olive oil. Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil. Then use it to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony, the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy. "Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests. Say to the Israelites, 'This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come. Do not pour it on men's bodies and do not make any oil with the same formula. It is sacred, and you are to consider it sacred. Whoever makes perfume like it and whoever puts it on anyone other than a priest must be cut off from his people.'" (Ex 30:22-33 NIV – Note: A Shekel is .025 of a pound)
As stated previously, in the Old Testament, the Tabernacle and all the furniture and utensils used for worship had to be anointed before they could be used. God required that the Priests use a special oil for anointing that He considered sacred. Israel was prohibited from making this oil for use in anything else but what it was intended for. The oil could not be used for any other purpose. Nor were they to put it on the flesh of someone they did not know because it was sacred and separate for those in service and ministry. Anyone who abused its use would be put to death. He prescribed the ingredients that were to be used and gave them the recipe for how they were to be combined.
The recipe for this oil gives a picture of what is needed in your life in order to truly walk naturally in God’s anointing. God instructed Moses to combine four different ingredients. By studying those ingredients, we will see God’s purpose for the anointing.
Myrrh
The first ingredient mentioned was Myrrh, which is a sweet, gummy spice that was often used medicinally as a painkiller and to prepare bodies for burial. To get its beautiful sweetness, you had to crush it. At Jesus’ birth, the wise men presented Him with “with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh” (Matt 2:11 NIV).
While Jesus was on the cross, He was offered “wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it” (Mark 15:23 NIV). The common practice was for the prisoner to take the Myrrh to deaden the pain because crucifixion was one of the most excruciating and horrible forms of execution. But Jesus wouldn’t take it. He wanted to be fully alert and aware of what was going on and to feel every ounce of pain. He didn’t want to deaden the agony and suffering because He wanted to carry your sin, your pain, your sickness, and disease so that He could present Himself as the perfect sacrifice and make supernatural provision for the healing of your spirit, mind, and body.
Just after the death of Jesus, Nicodemus, the man who once had visited Jesus at night, “brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs” (John 19:39-40 NIV). Myrrh was rubbed all over the body because of its strong fragrance. It would help to block out the odor caused by decay.
Myrrh speaks of death. The first ingredient was Myrrh because there is no anointing without death. The sweet fragrance is only released after it is crushed. The anointing only comes after there is the “crushing” of self and your self-made plans and agendas.
The choice to walk daily in the anointing is fully yours to make. If you desire to live a life that has the sweet fragrance of Jesus to attract the lost and hurting, then it must first be built on “the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone” (Eph 2:19-20 NIV). You must be willing to be crushed if you want to be fully used by God. Jesus said, “Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed" (Luke 20:18 NIV).
If you want to walk daily in God’s anointing, you must die to self. There isn’t any other choice to be made. If you do not come to a place of brokenness by falling on “that stone,” then God will not keep "crushing" circumstances from coming into your life to bring you to that place where you will die to self. The word “crushed” means to be pulverized into a fine powder. When you die to self, God will take that powder, form, and shape it into His image and likeness and breathe His Life into it for His glory.
Yet even in those times of crushing, God will anoint you to help ease the pain. Unless there is a breaking in your life, the fragrance of Christ will never be released. Sometimes we see our own lives as if they were a precious treasure like a priceless Chinese vase. But in truth, we only hold the treasure of the Glory of God “in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us” (2 Cor 4:7 NIV). The anointing is all about His glory, not ours.
Cinnamon
The second spice used was cinnamon oil. It came from the cinnamon fruit. Cinnamon was used for flavoring, and it gave off a very sweet and pleasant aroma. The use of Cinnamon oil tells us that the anointing is not just to remove or deaden pain but to cover you with the sweetness of Jesus.
It was also very flammable and could be used to ignite fires. Jesus said that He came to “bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49 NIV) Cinnamon speaks of the burning zeal in the fire of the anointing that comes through the Holy Spirit.
“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” (Matt 3:11 KJV)
The fire of God that comes through the anointing is what caused a bunch of inexperienced, uneducated, inadequate, and fearful disciples to be turned into fearless warriors of the King who turned the world upside down as they went into all the corners of the Earth to boldly proclaim salvation and deliverance found only in the name of Jesus. The anointing will energize you with a burning zeal to serve God consistently with greater passion. It will lift you out of your natural abilities and give you supernatural boldness to witness and move in signs and wonders, healing the sick, and raising the dead
Calamus
The third spice was Calamus. It is a branch or reed-like plant that grows in marshy soil. It grew among the lilies that lined the rivers and streams in Israel. When it blossomed, the flowery pedals would be pulled off, cut, then dried and pulverized into a powder so that the ginger-flavored fragrance could be extracted. The more they beat it and bruised it, the better the fragrance.
It represents a living and abiding relationship with Jesus as a branch attached to the vine, a channel through which the Holy Spirit can flow in order to bear much fruit, and the oil of His love can accomplish all His good pleasure (John 15:1 7). The crushing of the Calamus plant shows that as you walk in the anointing, there will be times that you will be bruised by others in the way they treat you, or talk about you, or hurt you. One of the requirements of having the anointing is that you must be sweet when you are bruised. Jesus was “wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities” (Isa 53:5 KJV). He showed us how the sweetness can come in time of attack when He was on the cross. He cried out; "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:33-34 NIV).
Even is the midst of the greatest pain imaginable, He was able to forgive. It is through the sweet fragrance of forgiveness that the anointing is clearly and undeniably seen. The anointing gives the supernatural ability to endure the bruising of others and to forgive the unforgivable.
Cassia
The forth spice was Cassia that was made from the bark of the Cassia tree that grows at high elevations. It has an aroma similar to cinnamon. Cassia means to split, to scrape off, to purge. The bark, when ground into a powder, was used as a medicinal colon cleanser. It would rid a person of toxins and waste that were lingering in their body. It symbolizes the purifying effect the anointing can have upon your life. The Holy Spirit will reveal and convict you of those things that need to be purged from you.
The root word for Cassia means "bowing down or bending over." This indicates a total surrender to the Lordship of Christ, humbling oneself in worship. But this spice isn’t easily reached. It requires holiness in order to climb the mountain of God to get it. There is no shortcut, no easy path to the anointing.
Olive Oil
All of these spices were mixed together with a “hin” of Olive Oil, which produced the anointing compound that was called “holy” (NOTE: A ‘hin’ is about 8 quarts). Olive Oil binds all of the other spices together, which speaks of unity. Becoming a unified church requires the anointing of God. Gethsemane means "oil press." Olives are crushed and squeezed, and the pure oil filtered out, which could be ignited to provide light in the Holy Place of the tabernacle. In order for there to be unity among churches, we must allow God to crush our self-life and squeeze us in His Gethsemane press by praying, “Not my will but yours be done.”
The Oil of God
Over and over again throughout the Bible, oil symbolizes the Person of the Holy Spirit. Oil indicates light, healing, and anointing for service. All of these are given to a Born-Again Christian through the Holy Spirit. He is the one who combines all the easy and difficult things of your life and mixes them into a perfect blend of ingredients for the powerful anointing that will be as sweet incense to God. He will spread everywhere the “fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?” (2 Cor 2:14-16 NIV).
If you are willing to pay the price, the anointing will give you the fragrant aroma of Jesus that will attract the spiritual seeker. Its fragrance reflects the beauty of Jesus and is the aroma of Heaven. Take just one deep breath of it, and you will never be the same again.
Do Not Touch My Anointed Ones
“When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. He allowed no man to oppress them; for their sake, he rebuked kings: "Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm." (1 Chron 16:19-22 NIV)
The word “anointed” in the New Testament is from the Greek word “chiro” where we get the word “Christ,” which means Messiah, the anointed one. Jesus is the “Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31 NIV). The word “Christian” is also derived from “chiro.” The followers of Jesus were first called Christians in Antioch as a form of mockery (Acts 11:26). The word ‘actual’ means “little anointed one.” When you became a Born-Again Christian, you also became a “little anointed one.” You were initially anointed and set apart, chosen by God to become holy as He is Holy (1 Pet 1:16, 2:9).
God promised His people through the prophet Isaiah that the oppression they were facing would be taken away and destroyed because of the anointing that was upon His chosen nation, its prophets, priests, kings, and holy place.
The kings of this world include both man and the “principalities and powers” (Eph 6:12). God will not allow the enemy to “touch” or lay a hand on a Born-Again Christian. He will rebuke them for you as you walk humbly in the anointing. Those among us who call themselves “Christian” but aren’t willing to live a life of holiness will fall by the wayside as things get tough, and won’t be willing to endure to the end. Those who leave the faith “did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us” (1 John 2:18-19 NIV).
The anointing of God is not for a select few of the so-called “spiritual elite.” It is for the whole body of Christ. Every Born-Again Christian has full access to the anointing of God. You are numbered among God’s chosen people.
Releasing the Anointing
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased." (Matt 3:16-17 NIV)
At His baptism, a dove “descended” upon Jesus, symbolizing the Holy Spirit in a unique way and the presence of the Trinity. The Dove represents holiness, purity, innocence, meekness, graciousness, and favor. A Dove’s unique ability is to focus its vision. Although a Dove has two eyes, it sees only one thing at a time. As shown at Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit abides and remains on those who are focused on doing the Father's will.
Prior to the Spirit descending at His baptism, Jesus had not performed a single miracle. He had no disciples, no followers, no one asking Him to teach. He was just a carpenter, working a daily job like any other man. After His baptism, He knew He must fully rely on the Father and the Holy Spirit to complete His human ministry on earth. The Holy Spirit led Him "into the desert to be tempted by the devil” as He prepared for His ministry and fasted for “forty days and forty nights” (Matt 4:1-3 NIV).
If you truly want to be empowered and anointed for service to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, the brokenhearted and set the captive free, it will require those times in the wilderness where you must pray and fast in order to overcome the enemy. It didn’t come easily for Jesus. Don’t think that it will ever come easy for you. You can’t do it in your own strength. You must depend on God. “It’s not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord” (Zech 4:6 NIV). You must minister in holiness with the power of God under His "anointing."
In the Old Testament, the anointing would come and go. The Holy Spirit would “come on” a person and anoint them for a specific task, such as Samson, for a moment or even a season. But the anointing would always leave. This was a mystery that was “kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints” (Col 1:26 NIV). The “glorious riches” of the anointing don’t come from without. They come from within, for it is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27 NIV). Jesus is the source of the anointing! The anointing doesn’t pour down from heaven, it pours out from the Kingdom of God that is within you (Luke 17:21).
The Holy Spirit, “who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you” and gives “life to your mortal bodies” (Rom 8:11 NIV). The anointing has already been formed and flows in you. Jesus said, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38-39 KJV). Jesus also said that “the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him” (1 John 2:27 NIV).
The anointing that was once reserved only for kings, priests, and the prophets of Israel, is now available to everyone who receives Jesus. It is not for special people or an exclusive group of leaders. The anointing doesn’t come and go as it did with Samson, or the high priests, or prophets. He is continually with you from the moment you received Him. You don’t have to have “special’ qualities and or qualifications to be a “good” Christian or to carry out any task that the Lord gives you. Your disqualification is what actually qualifies you for service because it is not about abilities or education or talent; it’s about His power working through you.
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” (Zech 4:6 NIV)
The anointing remains and does not change. The anointing doesn’t go stale. It’s not like the Manna that fell in the wilderness and needed to be gathered fresh each day, or it would become moldy and unusable. The anointing is empowerment for service. He gives you the ability to do what He has called you to do.
Breaking the Yoke of the Law
The anointing of God breaks the yoke of the law, which was the mandatory obedience all the rites, ceremonies, and commands of the Mosaic covenant. It was a hard yoke. When Jesus died, His blood took the yoke of the law off the people and replaced it with another, His yoke. The blood of Jesus cleanses, and the Holy Spirit indwells every Born-Again Christian to give them the power to break the bondage of sin and works.
Jesus asks the Born-Again Christian to take up His yoke.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30 NIV)
“Take my Yoke” is a Jewish metaphor for discipline and instruction for discipleship. Jesus is the Teacher who will instruct you in the things of God and will bring you to the place of rest because His “burden is light.” This place of rest involves the removal of sin's guilt and gives assurance that you possess eternal life.
“Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”(Ps. 55:22 NKJ)
The anointing yokes the Born-Again Christian to Jesus after they have their hearts purified by faith in His blood. Salvation is by faith and not by obedience to the law or works that is a yoke of bondage.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.” (Gal 5:1-2 NIV)
What was on the outside as a physical symbol in the Old Testament is now a reality on the inside because of the New Covenant. The anointing is the seal that you are now “in Christ” (Eph 1:13). He makes you anointed. The Bible says God will give the daily filling of power from the Holy Spirit to those who want to do His will and be in service to Him. The Apostle Paul was just as anointed in prison as he was when he wasn’t bound. Jesus was just as anointed suffering on the cross as when He walked in the signs and wonders of His ministry.
What really breaks the yoke of any kind of bondage or habit of sin in our lives is to simply obey and walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh and one will find freedom and have a non-guilty conscience (Gal 5:16). This is something you need to do on your own. You can’t receive it from anyone else.
In order for the anointing of God to move powerfully through your life and upon every life you touch, it must be released. Before the anointing was released at the start of Jesus' ministry, He was first baptized (Luke 3:21).
Baptism symbolizes death. Remember, the spices in the anointing oil were used to prepare bodies for burial. The fragrance of God is only released once it is crushed. The baptism of John was a “Baptism of Repentance” (Luke 3:30). You must die to the old nature, putting the old man to death every day if you want a greater and ever increasing release of power that the anointing of God first gave you at the moment of salvation.
The life of Jesus is the perfect model to pattern your life in order to walk daily in the anointing so that God's perfect destiny for your life will be accomplished. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty to grow into the fullness of the measure which belongs to Jesus Christ (2 Cor 3:17). Living a life of holiness will make you “a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Tim 2:21 NKJV). You can’t substitute the anointing by doing good deeds or using your talents or gifts because;
“It is the Spirit who gives life and the flesh profits nothing” (John 6:63 NIV).
God will show you favor and release the anointing as you humble yourself daily before Him (James 4:5).
“But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Rom 6:17-18 NIV)
