To be anointed means set apart for the Lord for a special purpose. God instructed Moses to anoint Aaron thus in Exodus 29: 7, take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring on his head. Anointing by this process confirms that a person has been chosen or called or appointed by God for a specific assignment.
For their specific assignments, the Lord said to Elijah in 1 Kings 19: 15-17, Go back the way you came… When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. In those days, God anointed kings and prophets he had chosen for his mission.
What anointing symbolize
It symbolizes that the choosing is by divine authority; set apart; empowered by God; and ordained to have God’s favour, presence and authority for that assigned divine duty. God said to Samuel in 1Samuel 9: 16, “about this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked on my people, for their cry has reached me.”
The oil symbolizes divine power of protection against invasion of sin which stands for spiritual sickness from the head, the seat of thought through to the sole of the feet. James 5: 14 says, is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. Anointing thus releases us from the bondage of sin which is often the basis of sickness, and by that release, we get healed.
Anointing symbolizes that one’s entire being comprising body, soul and spirit has been consecrated unto the Lord. God said to Moses in Exodus 28: 41… anoint and ordain them (Aaron and his sons). Consecrate them so they may serve me as priests. This calls for obedience to God’s will and purpose for the anointing. Samuel said in 1Samuel 15: 1, “I am the one the Lord sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the Lord. Exodus 40: 15 says… Their anointing will be a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations.
What accompanies anointing
God’s anointing is accompanied with blessings. Psalm 23: 5 says, you anoint my head with oil; my cap overflows. An overflowing cup means the abundance of the Lord’s goodness in every necessary measure that will be to God’s glorification. In other words, the anointed will prosper, certainly spiritually but sometimes materially. David therefore said of this fact in Psalm 23: 6, surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
How God anoints his chosen
God has not capped his ways of anointing his people. He can choose his mode of anointing. Isaiah 55: 8 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. However, the bible shows two main types of anointing; by oil, and by the Holy Spirit.
Anointing with oil
Anointing with oil is by the pouring of oil on the head of the chosen one. Exodus 29: 7 says, take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head. Leviticus 8: 12 says, he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him. David was anointed similarly in 1Samuel 16: 13.
Anointing by the Holy Spirit
Acts 10: 38 says, God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. We read the words of the prophet Isaiah about Jesus in Luke 4: 19, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor… freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
Paul wrote in 2Corinthians 1: 21-22… He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Although Paul did not elaborate on the nature of anointing and by which process the anointing was done, it is believed that it was by the Holy Spirit as applied in the New Testament age. Even so, anointing with oil continued in practice in the church.
Anointing by fire
Although not expressly stated, Acts 2: 1-4 say, when the day of Pentecost came… Suddenly a sound like the blowing of violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
While some argue that the holy fire signified baptism of the Holy Spirit, as John the Baptist said in Mark 1: 8; Matthew 3: 11; Luke 3: 16, I baptize you with water, but he (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit, others opine that the fire rather signified the gift of speaking in tongues. However, both opinions differ from anointing and its process.
Reflection
What is important is whether or not we have been set apart for the Lord? The types of his assignments are many and differ in many respects. For those be called, Luke 9: 1 says, when Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure disease, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
God himself will choose his way of anointing us for his task anywhere at any time if we avail ourselves to him to use. Jesus said in Matthew 9: 37; Luke 10: 2, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. May the Lord give us the grace to avail ourselves to be chosen and anointed with power for each assignment he has given us to his glory and honour in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we avail ourselves to you. Anoint us for your purpose, your kingdom and your glory to fulfil your mission on earth for your children. We pray in your blessed Holy name, Amen!!
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