THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

God's Gift of Discernment to Every Believer.

The impression left by some televangelists is that they possess an exceptional anointing above and beyond that commonly possessed by the Christian masses. They give the impression that an anointing is available from God through them. In a sense, these well-known ministers have appointed themselves as distributors of the Holy Spirit's anointing. Either by a touch of their hand to an individual's forehead or by a forceful exhaling of air from their lungs (thereby simulating Spirit and wind), these anointed ones slay individuals or entire audiences in the Spirit. On stage in crowded auditoriums, these "anointed" evangelists also heal persons by a touch of the hand as they command demons to take flight. They are "the anointed," God's power brokers, channels by and through whom the power of the Holy Spirit is released into the lives of thousands. Of course, all of this raises the question, What is this anointing is all about?

The noun "anointing" (Greek chrisma), occurs three times in the New Testament, in one instance having been translated "unction" (KJV, 1 John 2:18, 27-28). The root verb "anoint" (Greek chrio) occurs sparsely in the New Testament. In one occurrence Paul wrote, "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge" (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

Within the "anointing" family of words, we should note that Christ is "The Anointed One." One dictionary informs us that, "The designation 'Christian' connotes a member of the community of the 'Anointed One'."[1] Christ is "the Anointed One" and the anointing possessed by all believers identifies them with Christ.

In much of the Bible, anointing possess a symbolic or figurative sense. This is not the case regarding the anointing communicated by the Apostle John in his letters. The "anointing" he speaks of is literal, experiential, and universally given to and subsequently possessed by all believers, not by an exceptional few. Thus as Christ is "The Anointed One," so Christians are "The Anointed Ones."

As a pastor, John the Apostle wrote to a community of faith devastated by individuals he variously labeled as "antichrists" or "false prophets" (1 John 2:18; 4:1). Like some of today's Charismatics, these religionists made claims to special knowledge by which they claimed to possess privilege and position in the local church. They viewed themselves to be a cut above the ordinary (3 John 9). Sound familiar?

John therefore assured common believers, Christians, that they too possessed "an anointing from the Holy One" (1 John 2:20). This reassurance negated the claim of the false teachers that they alone possessed exclusive knowledge and position in the local congregation. To those average believers within the community of faith, John wrote, "you have an anointing . . . and you all know" (1 John 2:20). How comforting it must have been to those believers under John's pastoral care to know that they possessed "the anointing." Question: How could these common believers be assured that the false teachers were not superior to them? Answer: They possessed "the anointing"!

Of the Spirit's ministry in this age, Jesus predicted, "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me" (John 15:26). All true believers possess that gracious ministry in them whereby the Holy Spirit witnesses to Christ and endows them with the divine capacity to know the truth and discern the lies that false prophets fabricate about the person of Jesus Christ (See 1 John 2:20, 27; 4:1-6; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22.). Regarding the anointing, W. E. Vine observed that the anointing "is an all- efficient means of enabling believers to possess a knowledge of the truth."[2] Additionally, a Pentecostal dictionary notes that a New Testament anointing "enables the Christian to discern spirits (1 John 4:1-7)."[3] The "anointing" is therefore a spiritual capacity that God endows all believers with to discern truth from error. Dr. Larry Pettegrew characterizes the anointing as that abiding presence of the Holy Spirit by which he "imparts to the believer a power of spiritual discernment."[4]

"And as for you," wrote John the Apostle, "the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him" (1 John 2:27).

So beloved believer, don't be duped into thinking that some flamboyant TV personality possesses some "anointing" that you do not. The anointing abides in, is common to, and therefore belongs to all true believers. This anointing enables the Christian believer to discern truth from error, and this anointing abides in us, don't you know?

Pastor Larry DeBruyn

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[1] "ANOINTING WITH OIL," The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, Stanley M. Burgess, Editor (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002, 318.

[2] "CHRISMA," W.E. Vine, The Expanded Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, John R. Kohlenberger III, Editor (Minneapolis: Bethany House Publishers, 1984) 51.

[3] Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements, 318.

[4] Larry D. Pettegrew, The New Covenant Ministry of the Holy Spirit, Second Edition (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2001) 190.