Declaring the whole counsel of God Bulletin - Article 8 - July 15, 2024 by Paul Galligan
THE ANOINTING
“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things” 1John 2:20
Let us find out some things about the anointing.
In the New testament
The Greek word for ‘anointing’ is chrisma, and means: unguent [ointment], smearing. It is used metaphorically in the New Testament for a chrism [endowment] of the Holy Spirit. It comes from the Greek verb, chrio, meaning to smear or rub [with oil implied]; it means to consecrate.
Christ is the Anointed of God; He is the anointed One. The Son of God is anointed with the oil of gladness (Heb.1:9). The anointing that we have received from Him, renders [makes] us holy, separated to God. The anointing that we have received enables us to possess the truth and to do many other things by the anointing, which comes from the Holy Spirit.
In the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew is shemen, and interestingly this word comes from the primary root, meaning, ‘to shine’. Shemen is mainly translated as ‘oil’ and sometimes as ‘ointment’. It is used in important ways such as Jacob anointing the stone as a memorial to the revelation he had received of the house of God (Gen.28:18); it was used in the appointment of office bearers, such as priests (Ex.29:7), and kings (2Ki.9:6).
The anointing was referred to as the “oil of gladness”; as the “oil of joy” to replace mourning (Isa.61:3). There was also an anointing with “fresh oil” (Ps.92:10), and Zechariah refers to the “sons of fresh oil” or “the two anointed ones” (Zech.4:14).
The shemen was used as a preservative on leather; it was used in cooking, in medication and burned for light. It also referred to a special kind of perfume.
The anointing oil that was prepared for use in the Tabernacle of Testimony was prepared in a very special way and was made up of five components: liquid myrrh, sweet smelling cinnamon, sweet smelling cane, cassia and olive oil. It was used to anoint the furnishings of the Tabernacle and Aaron and his sons. The anointing oil was holy (Ex.30:22 -31).
The anointing comes from God via the Holy Spirit
“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who has also sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (2Cor.1:21-22). Jesus said, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me” (Lu.4:18a). The brethren praying in Acts 4:27, said “for truly against your Holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed.” Jesus was anointed by God.
Peter preaching in the house of Cornelius testified, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). The anointing of the Spirit gave Jesus the power to do the works of the ministry.
The anointing empowers to witness
Jesus told the disciples “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me” Acts 1:8. Jesus said something similar in Luke 24:48-49, “And you are witnesses of these things. Behold I send the promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” The anointing of the Spirit enables us to witness, that is, to speak of Jesus; to preach His word.
The anointing releases signs of power, which are to accompany the preaching of the word: Mark 16:17-18 “And these signs shall follow those who believe: in My name
they will cast out demons;
they will speak with new tongues;
they will take up serpents;
if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them;
they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.
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