Greetings in the Lord, To Everyone
What is the Anointing?
What is the Anointing from God supposed to do?
Who has God’s Anointing, yoke destroying, burden removing power of God?
How can a person really know if they have received an Anointing from God?
What happens when the Anointing of God shows up?
These are foundational questions about the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. Here is what the Bible teaches regarding the anointing:
1 What is the Anointing? In the Old Testament, oil was poured over priests, kings, and prophets to consecrate (set apart) them for God’s service (e.g., 1 Samuel 16:13). In the New Testament, the physical oil points to a spiritual reality: the Holy Spirit Himself. The term Christ (Greek) and Messiah (Hebrew) both literally mean ‘The Anointed One.’ The anointing is the presence, power, and authorization of the Holy Spirit resting upon a person to fulfill God’s will. This is why we can be called “Christian” or “Anointed ones through the Anointed One,” Jesus.
2 What is the Anointing from God supposed to do? Jesus clearly defined the purpose of the anointing in Luke 4:18–19 (quoting Isaiah 61):
To preach the Gospel to the poor and brokenhearted. To bring freedom to captives and spiritual sight to the blind. To destroy yokes and remove burdens—symbolically referred to in Isaiah 10:27, where God breaks the heavy yoke of bondage off His people. To grant understanding of God’s truth and guard believers against error. 1 John 2:20, 27.
In short, the anointing empowers us to witness for Christ, serve others, live holy lives, and break free from the bondage of sin through the power of the Spirit. Never of our own spirit.
3 Who has God’s Anointing? While the Old Testament reserved special anointings for specific roles (kings, priests, prophets), the New Testament reveals that every born-again believer in Jesus Christ has received the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.” 1 John 2:20
“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 1:20–22
If you belong to Christ, you have His Spirit, and therefore you have His anointing. It is not an elite badge reserved for a few ‘super-Christians’ on a stage; it is the inheritance of the whole body of Christ.
4 How can a person really know if they have received an Anointing? You know you have the anointing by its fruit and alignment with God’s Word, not merely emotional feelings. Faith in Jesus: You recognize Jesus as Lord and Savior. 1 Corinthians 12:3.
Spiritual fruit: The Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in your life. Galatians 5:22–23.
Desire for Truth. The Holy Spirit guides you into truth and gives you a hunger for Scripture. 1 John 2:27; John 16:13.
Power to witness: You experience boldness to share Christ and serve others in His strength. Acts 1:8.
5 What happens when the Anointing of God shows up? When the Holy Spirit works powerfully in a room or a life, Christ is exalted. The true anointing never draws attention to the human minister; it always magnifies Jesus. John 16:14.
Lives are transformed. Conviction of sin occurs, hearts repent, chains of bondage/addiction break, and freedom takes place. 2 Corinthians 3:17.
Order and peace. God is not the author of confusion or disorder, but of peace. 1 Corinthians 14:33. The presence of the Spirit brings self-control, spiritual clarity, and deep unity among believers.
Hope this may help answer your questions.
Peter