Anointing

Acts 10:37-38 (NIV) “You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how 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.”

Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

1 John 2:27 (NIV) “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.”

Anointing: What is it? Who is anointed? Why?

I. Jesus was anointed.  The first thing we need to understand is that God anoints his people for a reason.  God anointed Jesus and he anoints people today.

II. Why did God anoint Jesus? In Acts 10 we read that Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power to do good and heal those who were under the power of the devil. 

     A.      Foundational information about Christ.

1.       He was fully human as he walked on the earth.  Acts 10:37-38 says “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth (the man) with the Holy Spirit and power.”  Even though Jesus was the only begotten Son of God - He left all of His power and glory in Heaven and came to earth in the same form as every other man.

Philippians 2:8 (NIV) “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” 

Hebrews 2:17 (NIV) “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”

2.       He was born a man. Luke 2:6-7 “ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”  Mary had to deliver Jesus just like all women who have ever lived has to.  Like all mothers, Mary endured pain and also experienced the joy of seeing her long awaited child for the first time.  Joseph, like many dads, assisted her in the delivery process and witnessed first-hand the miracle of new life.

3.       He lived on earth as a man.  Matthew 4:4 (NIV) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”  If Jesus was walking as God, rather than as man, he could have vanquished the enemy with a look, word, flick of his finger, etc.  But as a man, he used the same tool we use when faced with temptations, THE WORD!! 

4.       As a man He had no more power than you or I. John 12:49 “I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it.” Like us, Jesus was dependent upon his father to direct his words and actions.  He did not try to minister on his own but sought his father’s will for every word and action. 

5.       He hungered and thirsted as a man. Mark 11:12 “The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.”  John 4:7 “When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Will you give me a drink?’ (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)”  We read in the Word about numerous occasions when Jesus was at a dinner or special meal.  I love that he liked eating like I do!

6.       He suffered as a man. John 19:1-3 “Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ And they slapped him in the face.”   While some would like to downplay the price Christ paid for our redemption, the reality is that Jesus felt every blow of the scourge and every strike of the hammer as it pounded the nails into his wrists and feet.  He felt the weight of his body hanging from those nail pierced arms and felt his weight pressing on his nail pierced feet.  He struggled to take each breath.  On top of all of this, he also bore all of our sins upon himself as he hung suspended between heaven and earth.  If the physical pain wasn't enough, imagine, feeling all the guilt, shame, anguish, etc. of everyone who has ever lived and who will live.   What a wonderful Savior!!!

7.       He died as a man. Philippians 2:8 (NIV) “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”  As Jesus hung on the cross there were no angels ministering to his needs.  He hung there naked and alone like the thieves who were crucified with him.  Most of his followers had run away as well.  Only a handful of women and John were there to witness his shame and abuse. 

8.       He never did one miracle until he was anointed by the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:16 “After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened  and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.” (In the Greek this literally means the Spirit absorbed into Jesus.)

     B.      Why does God anoint people today?

1.       The anointing brings power.  Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (“Comes upon you”  in Greek means to overtake you )  WOW!!!! The Holy Spirit overtakes us in the same manner he absorbed into Jesus at his baptism. 

a.       To witness (Acts. 1:4-5, “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”) The disciples were commanded to wait in Jerusalem until they had received the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts. 1:8). They were not to begin ministering until they had received the Power.  If the men who walked with     the Savior needed the anointing before they could minister, how much more do we need it to witness?

b.      To overcome the world (1 John 4:4 (NIV) “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”)

The level of power we have to overcome is directly proportionate to the level at which we rely on the Spirit.  Total reliance and dependence = a full spiritual tank, partial reliance and dependence = an almost empty spiritual tank.

Ephesians 5:18 “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  In the Greek the literal translation of this is: "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be being continually filled with the Spirit;"

We must be continually filled.  It seems to me that if we are commanded to be continually filled then our tanks can drain as we move and flow in the anointing (John 7:38 “Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”)  Being filled once is not enough.  There is no spiritual energizer battery we can possess.  We need to be continually in the Word, in prayer, and in the presence of the Lord to maintain our full anointing (coming to Jesus to drink).