You Are Anointed
When Jesus stood up in the synagogue of Nazareth and read from Isaiah 61, He personally applied this Messianic Scripture to Himself. The passage begins this way: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me…” After reading this portion of Isaiah, Jesus sat down and said: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:18-21) The word “anointed” literally means, chosen one. In Bible times, people were anointed with oil to signify God’s blessing or calling on that person’s life. For example, Samuel anointed David as king of Israel, many years before he was crowned king. Through this anointing, David knew his destiny.
The anointing is not an end in itself. The anointing gives purpose and direction. The Messianic anointing was: “to preach the Gospel to the poor, proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed and to proclaim the favorably year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19) Can you imagine what it would have been like if Jesus received the anointing of the Holy Spirit and then did nothing with it? Praise God that was not the case! The Scriptures say this about Jesus: “… how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil.” (Acts 10:38) God’s anointing is given so that the one anointed will be supernaturally called and enabled to do His will.
Jesus prepared His disciples to receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He said that as He had received the anointing, they would too. (John 14:12, 16-17, 25-26) The anointing was not just for a selected few but has been given to all who are in Christ Jesus. Paul writes to the Corinthians that God has established us in Christ and anointed us by giving us the Spirit. (II Cor. 1:21-22) We are all chosen for a specific purpose in furthering the Kingdom of God. God has anointed us to heal the sick, but we must extend our hands and pray the prayer of faith. God has anointed us to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth, but we must open our mouths and speak. The anointing does not make us respond in obedience; it is our obedience that ignites the anointing’s power through us.
I have seen some people seek the anointing rather than God Himself. The anointing is not given for the vessel it flows through but is given for the one it flows to. Sure, there is joy in being anointed, and maybe even some “goose-bumps” along the way, because it is an experience of God’s presence. This joy and thrill are the result of being a channel of blessing to others and not the goal. In many ways, the effect of the anointing through a person’s life is determined by the openness and hunger of those receiving it. There were times in which the people sought to just touch Jesus and they were all healed. (Luke 6:19-20) These multitudes recognized the anointing and sought after it. There were other times in which Jesus was not received and no miracles occurred. (Mat. 13:57-58) Honor releases the anointing.
Before you get a big head about being anointed and used by God, just remember it is a gift. You did nothing to earn it and the anointing doesn’t make you more special than anyone else. God has chosen us to bear fruit. He desires to use each one of us to minster His love to others. You have been anointed, called and sealed by the Holy Spirit for this purpose.
Scriptures to meditate on:
Is. 61:1-3; Acts 10:38; I John 2:20, 27; II Cor. 1.21-22; James 5:14