After teaching a workshop last Saturday, someone approached me and said, “Wow, that message was really anointed.” As I walked away, I wondered, How many people truly understand what anointing means—or its significance? Just last week, I was discussing the different ways the Holy Spirit speaks to us, and I was thrilled to hear that the message felt anointed. You see, anointing is yet another way the Holy Spirit communicates with us. For me, anointing is the cornerstone of my entire ministry. If something isn’t anointed, I don’t want any part of it. You might be wondering, How do you know when something is anointed? Well, that’s like asking, How do you know if Bluebell ice cream is good? The only real answer is —you have to taste it. Once you’ve tasted Bluebell, nothing else compares. Anointing is the same way, but even more powerful. Once you’ve been in the presence of the Holy Spirit’s anointing, it’s something you crave deeply.
The anointing is the Holy Spirit’s way of saying, “I’m here. I’m in your midst. I approve.” After experiencing that, you find yourself praying for it, longing for it, and you’re never truly satisfied until you’re walking in it. Without it, the Christian life is boring and empty. I’ve been ruined by the taste of His anointing, and it comes in many flavors, each satisfying to the spirit. Anointed sermons, songs, stories, and services feed our spirits, which can only be nourished by spiritual food—and anointing is that food.
The Connection Between the Holy Spirit and Anointing
The concepts of the Holy Spirit and anointing are deeply connected throughout Scripture. The Holy Spirit is the source of divine anointing, empowering believers to fulfill God’s purposes. Let’s look at a few key scriptures that reveal how the Holy Spirit and anointing work together.
Jesus’ Ministry and the Anointing.
In Luke 4:18-19 (quoting Isaiah 61:1), Jesus proclaims: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Jesus reveals that His ministry was empowered by the Holy Spirit, which anointed Him for His mission. The connection between the Holy Spirit (“the Spirit of the Lord”) and anointing is clear. The Spirit equipped Jesus to preach, heal, and set captives free.
Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him.”
Peter makes it clear that Jesus’ anointing came through the Holy Spirit, granting Him the power to heal and deliver. This demonstrates that divine anointing results from the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Believers Anointed by the Holy Spirit
Anointing isn’t just for Jesus. Believers too are called to walk in this anointing, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
1 John 2:20, 27 “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth… The anointing you received from Him remains in you.”
This passage affirms that believers have an anointing from the Holy Spirit (“the Holy One”). The Spirit’s anointing gives believers spiritual insight and guidance, enabling them to walk in the truth.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. 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.”
Paul connects the anointing of believers to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is both a seal of God’s ownership and a guarantee of our salvation. This anointing marks us as belonging to God and empowers us to live out His calling.
Anointing in the Early Church
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the anointing that followed were essential to the growth and power of the early church.
Acts 2:1-4 (Pentecost) “When the day of Pentecost came… All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the early church, anointing the disciples to preach the gospel. This event marked the beginning of a powerful movement of anointed ministry that spread the message of Jesus far and wide.
Growing in the Anointing Today
Receiving and growing in anointing through the Holy Spirit is an ongoing process for every believer. In Galatians 5:22-25, Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, and so on —as evidence of living by the Spirit. This fruit is a sign of a life empowered by the Holy Spirit’s anointing.
In Ephesians 5:18, Paul encourages believers to be “filled with the Spirit,” showing that anointing is not a one-time event but an ongoing experience. We must continually seek the Holy Spirit’s presence in our lives.
Conclusion
The connection between the Holy Spirit and anointing is foundational to how God empowers His people. Throughout Scripture:
• Jesus is anointed by the Holy Spirit for His ministry.
• Believers are anointed to walk in truth and fulfill their callings.
• The early church received the Holy Spirit’s anointing, empowering them to spread the gospel.
Today, the Holy Spirit’s anointing continues to flow, nourishing and empowering believers for the work of ministry. As we seek to live by the Spirit, the anointing of God will manifest in our lives, enabling us to walk in His power and fulfill His purpose.
