Anointing
 

Anointing. What is it really? How does one recognize it when it is present? What does it mean when one says that someone is anointed?

I have often heard some state that a certain preacher was "anointed", or that the singer was "anointed". But what was the telltale sign that they were "anointed"? Was it because the hearer "felt" goosebumps, or that their emotions were stirred?

splain it to me!

In the New Testament John and Paul use the word as reference to the Holy Spirit baptism.

My impression is that in the olden days of yore (early 20th century) the tag of "anointed" was pinned on Spirit filled preachers to differentiate them from the "other" preachers that one might be likely to hear.

So, in agreement with Michael the Disciple (I can't believe I just said that!) I think it means "Spirit filled" or "baptized in the Holy Ghost." Out of habit we have continued to use the tag as a compliment for "good Spirit filled preaching."

I'd like to say Spirit filled is anointed but I don't think that is true. There are Holy Ghost filled preachers who do not have the anointing of God that moves souls to conviction and repentance. But I have listened other preachers who are not 'apostolic'whose preaching has moved me to want to be closer to God.

Hard to explain but easily recognized. :bliss:bliss

I was over a friend's house Thursday and she was watching TBN. There was a minister named Brown on with a British (?Aussie) accent preaching in Kentucky who was anointed of God. I felt the presence of God more than once while he was preaching. I think he is Trinitarian Pentacostal.

Was it Rodney Howard-Browne? He was born in South Africa. He lives in Tampa near Gary Reckart. Browne was the guy who got the Toronto "laughing" revival started.

Yep, I think that's who it was. There was a one woman laughing through most of the service which I found annoying esp when he wasn't making jokes. He said he was from Africa but I thought he meant as a missionary.

He had some hard things to say about the churches in America and sin.

Good 'planation. Ive heard "the anointing" described as "zeal", "unction" and so on. The anointing (and you'll probably get a dozen different answers, at least of one which will be be disagreed with and lead to a fuss) but to me, the annointing is simply being inspired of the Holy Ghost. Inspiration. Kind of like that God has something He wants said and, by the anointing, He is putting some exclamation points on it. To be anointed is to be inspired by the Holy Ghost to say something or do something. Not real scholarly, but its all I could come up with.

RHB came from Africa as a "missionary" to America. He was the main teacher in the "laughing revival". He traveled as an evangelist for a long time, but then settled in Tampa, FL and pastors a church there.


It does seem we have a time explaining what the anointing is, and how we can recognize when it is present. That is surprising, and also alarming, as if we cannot describe the characteristics of the anointing, then how do we know that it is there?

Yes, that's a good way to put it. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think we see as many annointed singers or preachers as in the "olden" days.

Well stated. I concur.

Bro Kenneth Reeves taught an interesting lesson 30+ years on the songs we sing in church. He had them in 3 categories: Body, Soul, and Spirit.
In a nutshell, Body songs were those we enjoyed and were often contemporary but they didn't really minister, he said it was just something nice.
Soul songs were better, and they did minister. He felt that many hymns were in this category.
The Spirit songs were those that were anointed. He felt that singing scripture was in this category. I recall in the late 70's and 80's there were a lot of choruses being sung from Psalms that I don't hear any more.

I personally think a song can be anointed, regardless of the singer. And of course some singers are anointed no matter the song.

Bro Nelson from OK wrote a song many years ago ...I think the title was It's Real. It has several verses. Every time I've heard it sung it has been blessed.:hanky

Anointing should be that one has been endued with the power of the Holy Ghost.

Often I think talent and ability are mistaken for anointing. Nothing wrong with talent and ability mind you.

Where would we find the apostle Paul on a list of preachers with the most talent and ability?

Way above and pages and pages before me on the list that's for certain. :nod

And I'd have to think he'd be in the top twelve for Holy Ghost power.

As for talent and ability...Paul didn't speak well and his bodily appearance was weak. 2 Cor 10:10

As for anointing...Paul came in the full blessing of the gospel. Rom 15:29

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 1 Cor 2:4

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 1 Cor 4:19-20

Good post!

So would you agree that ability is not a pre-requisite to anointing?

Yes. God is able to use anyone who believes Him. Ability can be a hinderance if the preacher relies on his own ability and doesn't seek God.

Anointing
 

Jesus told his disciples one time that when they were brought before

kings, etc., not to think what they would say, for it would be given

them of the Holy Ghost at that time.

Jesus said that he only SAID the things his Father told him to say

and only DID the things the Father told him to do. Now that is being

Spirit led.

In I John 2:27, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth

in you, and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anoint-

ing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it

hath taught you, ye shall abide (live,dwell) in him".

To me the anointing is the power of the Holy Ghost resting upon us.

In other words when our flesh is under the influence of the Holy Ghost.

We are not operating in our flesh but as the Holy Ghost is doing the

leading. We used to hear the expression "in the Spirit". John speaks of

being "in the Spirit" on the Lord's day. When the Spirit (Holy Ghost) is

doing the operating in and through us, and not within ourselves.

In the OT and in the NT, we are told, "all thy children shall be taught

of the LORD". How!!!! By the Holy Ghost. (ICor. 2: 11-16)

Blessings,

Falla39

Check out who God used in the Old Testament.

What can be said about an anointing --
 

Regarding what an anointing is, you might want to see this thread:
http://www.apostolicfriendsforum.com...read.php?t=366

Is the presence of the anointing in a persons life a stamp of approval on their doctrine?

Absolutely not, as you well know. ;)

Anointing is something God gives, an empowerment that enables us to do something in the Kingdom. It is a spiritual thing, but affects us emotionally.

Elijah was instructed by God to anoint three men:

Jehu, Hazael, and Elisha.

All three were anointed, but two of them were very likely lost.

The anointing is functionary, an empowerment enabling us to advance God's purpose.

God will anoint even the unsaved it is suits His purpose.

He anointed Nebuchadnezzar, but didn't approve his doctrine or lifestyle.

Interesting...

And this is exactly where many people get tripped up, especially emotionally driven people. They see someone highly anointed and cannot seperate it from anything else including biblical absolutes.

My Question is, can a person have all truth but no anointing, no spirit, no Fruit of the spirit, no genuine love for souls, just biblical truth and obedience to rules and laws and still be righteous ?. I'm talking about the other extreme end of the spectrum.

I do believe this 110%. Many people aren't spiritually balanced enough to understand that, either.

Many 'gifted' people (musicians, singers, theatrics, artist types - among others) are emotionally driven and make a connection with the 'feeling' without considering biblical absolutes.

NOTE: Thad just posted real substance today. His critics must be confused right now. :spirit

My feelings are hurt :ursofunny:ursofunny

Hey I know the Thadeous gradious that was born in sin and shapen in iniquity :bubble most emotional types wont admit it but neither will the ones that are all word no feeling, no spirit, no heart.

That, too, is the truth.:donuts

You make some interesting points but I'm not convinced, yet. Can you relate this more to the NT. The high priest, Caiphas spoke a word of prophecy how one man should die for the nation that the nation should be saved. Was that what you would call an anointing?

Do you think men and women not baptized in the Holy Spirit can preach or teach with an anointing? How would you compare that anointing to someone who is baptized with the Spirit?

What about this verse?

1Jo 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

It sounds like John believes the anointing is the gift of the Holy Spirit IN us. I'm a little confused. Are there different anointings?

The key to interpreting any verse or passage is made up of three things:

1.Context

2.Context

3.Context

The Holy Spirit is a river; there are different tributaries. The Gifts of the Spirit are an example.

As to whether there are different anointings or not, we could dilly-dally all day about that.

Suffice to say that there are certainly different expressions of the anointing.

In my opinion, you cannot ignore the Old Testament when seeking to understand the anointing.

As to the accurate prophecy of Caiphas, God is sovereign, and the works of the Holy Ghost can never be reduced to equations and methodology, or even logic as we know it, because just about the time you think you get it all figured out, God will exercise His sovereignty and mess up your theories.

Furthermore, you don't formulate entire doctrinal conclusions from exceptional events.

Several exceptional events happened when the Lawgiver walked the earth.

The thief on the cross, the mini resurrection of saints, and the sudden eclipse are examples.

This is a good post!


It takes BOTH Spirit and Truth to truly worship the Father. Those that have all the rules down, yet do not have the the fruit of the Spirit do not have the breath that makes the Word living.

So it is possible that one could follow one with the "anointing" rather than one with true doctrine, be deceived into believing a lie, and becoming damned?

YES to believing a lie. God only knows regarding the "becoming damned."

This is an extremely common scenario.

In regard to anointing....

I think when you've been around and experienced the "authentic" you pick up on what isn't pretty quickly.

Any understanding of what is and isn't "anointing" has to also be measured by and based upon the Word of God -- all of it.

I think that many are duped because of what they "see". Because someone has a certain style or manner that some connect with "anointing" it isn't necessarily. It can look like the authentic but not necessarily be. It can sound like the authentic but not necessarily be.

• Spiritual discernment
  
  
• A solid understanding and knowledge of Scripture
  
  
• Having known and experienced, seen and heard the genuine anointing of the Holy Ghost
  
  
• Time spent in the presence of God ... getting to know HIM and going deep into the things of God

.... will pretty much guarantee immediate recognition of what is and isn't true "anointing".

The word "CHRIST" means : "the anointed one." In the OT, many examples of people having oil poured on their heads. Aaron, Saul, David, etc. Those officially anointed were usually either a prophet, a priest or a king. The HG would occasionally come upon them for a special purpose but did not abide on them all the time. This oil was a type of the HG anointing to come later. (Elizabeth, John Baptist, Mary, Jesus' mother, and others.)

Jesus was the first one to have the HG come upon Him and stay. At His baptism (John 1:32-33) Jesus was anointed of the HG and that anointing never left Him. When He went to Nazareth He read Isaiah 61:1, and told them that He had fulfilled it in their ears. (Lk 4:21). Every Jew knew that "the anointed one" was the Messiah. That's why they tried to kill Him.

Today, if you have received the HG, you have the same anointing abiding in you (1 Jn 2:27). The "unction from the Holy One" in vs. 20, also refers the anointing. It is not always in maifestation, but it is always in you.

Anointing
 

Good scriptural answer, Big Larry!

Falla39