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Discipling 12
Lesson 31
Anointing
As we focus on Jesus’ ministry in the very beginning, we note two very interesting happenings. The first is at His water baptism when the Holy Spirit is pictured as a dove who came down from heaven and remained on Him. (John 1:32) The second was in Luke 4:18 when Jesus stood up and proclaimed that He had the Spirit of the Lord upon Him. This is amazing since in Colossians 1:19 the word states that God was pleased to have all the fullness of the Spirit dwell in Jesus. Jesus certainly did not need more of the Spirit to accomplish His task. However, Jesus is setting an important pattern for us to follow.
In Luke 4:18, Jesus explains why the Spirit of the Lord came on Him. Jesus declared that He was anointed. Anointed means that He was rubbed with oil, He was the Messiah, He was the one elected by God to fulfill the Father’s purpose and it was the time for all of this to take place. The Holy Spirit’s touch manifested in what we call the anointing. Isaiah 10:27 states that the purpose of the anointing is so that people’s burdens can be broken off and any yoke of bondage may be loosed. We could say that freedom is the result of the anointing. That is really what Jesus was saying. He was free to enter into what the Father had for His life. The next phase of His life was now open. The Father made it clear that the ministry Jesus was to move into was of Him and confirmed it with corresponding signs.
The anointing was not to prove to people that He was the Son of God. Jesus did not need to prove that because he was. However, Jesus did want to reflect the heart of His Father so everyone would begin to understand how great the Love of God is for His people. Jesus was quick to point out that sin caused brokenness but He was anointed to repair and show how to stay out of more brokenness. John 15:22-24 explains that miracles confront people with the reality that God is alive and is compassionate toward His hurting people. When we see or experience a miracle, it causes us either to believe or reject the love that is extended. I choose to believe, of course, that God is continuing to confirm Jesus’ word through all of His disciples that are doing His word and confirming His signs.
The action of anointing was first shown in the Old Testament. It was used to set into office the Priests, Prophets and Kings. They were rubbed with oil and asked to live a life style that represented their offices, wear clothes that reflected their calling and leave what they were doing at the time and begin to do what the Lord desired. It caused a lot of changes to say the least. In the New Testament, the same picture is shown with the exception that we are all anointed (II Corinthians 1:21). We are all asked to change our life styles, put on the new name and press into our destiny. The anointing will cause many changes to take place in my life as the Lord rubs me with oil.
I like to picture the anointing as the Lord opens a door and allows me to walk through that door. As we enter, a change takes place that allows me to operate in a more Christ-like way. I Samuel 10:6,7 gives a great picture of the touch of God on our lives. We will be changed and released. The Lord desires to change our hearts and release us to move out as ambassadors for Him so people’s lives may be blessed. When Jesus was anointed, a doorway of ministry was opened and He was allowed to walk through and move in a God-like way. Isaiah 11:1-5 prophetically declares what would be the manifestation of this touch of love and power on Jesus’ life. The word said that Jesus would be released to move in a Spirit of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, power, fear of God, discernment, righteous actions and justice. I believe that Jesus was full of knowledge before the Holy Sprit came in a bodily form. At twelve, we see Him amazing the teachers of the law with His knowledge and understanding of the word. On that day of water baptism, He was free to show everyone what was on the inside of Him. The confirming signs that the Father did through Jesus verified the word and reinforced that that word is full of transforming power.
At baptism, the Father opened up the heavens so Jesus was able to discern the time table of the Father. Jesus always waited until the Father showed Him what to do and then He moved.
Imitating the Father is what allows the anointing to break yokes of oppression and release areas of depression (Isaiah 10:27). In Acts 10:38 Peter describes what Jesus did while He walked the earth in an anointed way. He said that God anointed (flowed through) Jesus to set people free from the grip of the devil. Jesus was always very quick to remind those around Him that it was not Him, but the Father in Heaven that was doing the work (John 5:19).
All through scripture we see individuals touched and equipped by the Holy Spirit and then released into areas that the Lord wanted to impact with His love. He rubs His chosen with His oil and they become His ambassadors going in His name and power to accomplish His purpose. That is the anointing. Our place is to dedicate ourselves to the Lord and allow Him to use us for His glory. II Timothy 2:20,21 states that we can be vessels of honor useful for the Master. What does a vessel do? It simply carries whatever is placed inside of it by its owner. The Lord desires to pour Himself into us and allow us to carry Him throughout this earth. We need to be on the shelf available to be chosen and wait with expectancy for His touch. When His oil is poured in us, we are ready for service. People will then enjoy what is on the inside of us giving little notice to the vessel itself, but will simply focus on what is on the inside. When the focus is on the oil on the inside and not the vessel, we are truly anointed.
When the Master rubs us with His oil, it draws out the Lord’s ability causing His results to happen. His results will last and show his goodness which leads men to repentance. As we look at the scriptures on anointing, we are going to be ready to ask the Lord to rub away in our life, because we will want that release to walk into the Jordan River and watch it split.
Definitions:
Hebrew: Anointed: Mashach. To rub with oil, especially in order to consecrate someone, to paint. The anointed one who is the Messiah.
Greek: Anointed: Chrio: To smear or rub with oil, to consecrate for an office or religious service. Christos – Jesus Christ.
Biblical Picture:
1. Exodus 3:14
2. Judges 6:33-40
3. Judges 14:6,7,19
4. Judges 15:13-17
5. Numbers 24:2
6. Numbers 11:25
7. I Samuel 10:10
8. I Samuel 15:1-3
9. Joel 2:28
10. Esther 9:4
11. Esther 10:3
Kings Anointed:
1. I Samuel 10:6-13
2. I Samuel 16:3,12
3. II Samuel 2:4-7
4. I Kings 1:34,39,45
5. II Kings 11:12
6. I Chronicles 11:3
7. II Chronicles 23:11
Priests Anointed:
1. Exodus 29:21
2. Leviticus 4:3,5,16
3. Leviticus 8:12
4. Leviticus 22:22-24
5. Zechariah 4:14
Prophets Anointed:
1. I Samuel 3:19-21
2. I Kings 19:15-21
3. I Chronicles 16:22
4. Isaiah 6:6,7
5. Jeremiah 1:9,10
6. Ezekiel 8:1
7. Daniel 6:3-5
8. Joel 1:1,2
Jesus Christ:
1. Luke 4:17-21
2. Acts 4:27
3. Acts 10:38
4. Hebrews 1:9
Office Anointing:
1. Acts 13:2,3
2. Romans 1:5
3. II Corinthians 1:21,22
4. Ephesians 3:7
5. II Timothy 1:11
6. I Peter 4:10,11
Word Anointing:
1. Genesis 1:3
2. Isaiah 10:27
3. Isaiah 55:11
4. Jeremiah 1:12
5. Mark 16:20
6. John 6:63
7. Acts 14:6-10
8. Romans 1:16
9. I Corinthians 15:4
10. Hebrews 1:3
11. Hebrews 4:12
Corporate Anointing:
1. II Chronicles 5:11-14
2. II Chronicles 7:1-6
3. Psalms 22:3
4. I Corinthians 3:16
5. Acts 2:1-4
6. Acts 4:23-27
7. Acts 13:1,2
Individual Anointing:
1. Ezekiel 8:1,2
2. Ezekiel 33:22
3. Ezekiel 37:1
4. Ezekiel 40:1,2
5. John 7:38
6. Acts 1:8
7. Acts 5:12-16
8. Acts 6:8-15
9. Acts 19:11,12
10. II Corinthians 5:17
11. I John 2:20
12. I John 2:27
General Scriptures:
1. Genesis 31:13
2. Exodus 29:7,26,29
3. Exodus 30:30
4. Exodus 40:9-15
5. Leviticus 4:16-18
6. Leviticus 8:11,12,30
7. Leviticus 10:6,7
8. Leviticus 21:10-12
9. I Samuel 2:34-36
10. I Samuel 9:16
11. I Samuel 10:1
12. I Samuel 15:17
13. I Samuel 16:6,7,12
14. I Samuel 16:13
15. I Samuel 24:5-7
16. I Samuel 26:6-17
17. II Samuel 5:3-5
18. II Samuel 5:17
19. I Kings 1:34,39,40
20. II Kings 19:15-18
21. II Kings 9:3-6
22. II Kings 23:30
23. I Chronicles 16:22-25
24. II Chronicles 22:7
25. Psalms 2:2
26. Psalms 20:6
27. Psalms 23:5
28. Psalms 45:7
29. Psalms 89:20
30. Isaiah 45:1,2
31. Isaiah 61:1
32. Ezekiel 28:14
33. Daniel 9:24-26
34. Habakkuk 3:13
35. Mark 6:7-13
36. Hebrews 1:9
37. James 5:14
Summary
What an exciting thing to begin to understand that the Lord wants to use us to work His purpose out in this world. People are always looking for jobs and asking people to hire them. The Creator of the universe has selected you and will give you His power to get the job done. Whatever your gift is, the Lord has anointed you to walk in a complete way. We have all that we need to accomplish what the Lord wants us to do. He reminds us that we are not alone and we will lack no spiritual gift unto the day of His coming (I Corinthians 1:7). We are so full that our cup will run over and spill on everyone around us. They will be blessed because of the anointing and we will be able to bring glory to our Father. What a great job the Lord has selected for us to do. We are anointed and useful for the Lord. He selected us and put His power in us. He desires to use us to bless His people and see His people free of the snares of the devil. Now is the time of salvation and today is the day of His favor on us. (II Corinthians 6:1,2)
Action:
Memorize II Corinthians 1:21,22 and begin to speak that every morning while you are washing and getting ready for a new day. Expect the miracle power of God to move in your life. Keep a diary for a month and write down how the Lord used you to be a blessing to others. You will see that anointing for blessing increase as you become more and more aware of the Lord’s touch.
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