“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared onto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4
Is the anointing in shouting, dancing and being slain in the spirit? Is there a higher connotation to its expressive power? Different people hold different views to what they claim the anointing is. The reality is that one cannot really argue with another’s definition since God can choose to reveal himself in different ways. The power of God has been expressed in diverse forms prior to the coming of Jesus. No single doing of God could claim superiority over the other. The promise to release the Holy Spirit became the final edict on the power of God.
That which was reserved for God and His chosen prophets was released into the lives of one hundred and twenty ordinary people ranging from fishermen, ex-prostitutes to tax collectors. Nevertheless all of them were filled with energy to make the devil think otherwise. With this same authority, the book of Acts represents the single most powerful experience where one could not underestimate the power in the presence of God. People were being healed because they believed whilst others died because they lied to the Holy Spirit. Interestingly, it is the only book that was not finished because the Holy Spirit is still at work.
The prophecy of Joel was witnessed in the days of the disciples and its being enjoyed in our times. The city of Antioch could not but notice that the anointing on Jesus had been transferred to His disciples so much so that they had to call them “Christians”. Their sustenance and continuous flow in the anointing was linked to their relationship to Christ.
The anointing is what enables believers to do and continue in the works of Christ. The anointing therefore is not in a song, a dress or a sermon but in the expression of the power of the Holy Spirit. Anyone is eligible for the anointing to work out the purpose of by God for their lives. The anointing is what makes the difference between the mighty, strong, bold, weak and fearful. This is what characterises the average human being from the one that does extraordinary things for God.
There was no way a shepherd could use a stone to kill a nine feet giant except he possessed the anointing and neither could the sound from a trumpet and a blazing torch instil so much fear in the Midianites except the anointing was at work. Many crave the anointing but lack the discipline and patience to nurture it. When I started in ministry, I thought it was only through praying “hard” as we use to term it in those days that could cause me to receive the anointing. Experiences over the years have taught me that it takes maturity to move and operate in the anointing. The viability and the performance of the anointing are also relative to the preparedness of the recipient to work hard to protect, preserve and also to increase the wisdom attached to it.
I wonder why many won’t patiently wait on God for Him to prove them worthy of His power but will rather use whatever means to force that which they are not ready for into being. The anointing is here to stay and its part of the package of the promise Jesus made to us. The coming of the Holy Spirit opened our eyes to the possibilities of the strength God truly promised. This is being realised in these days that the Holy Spirit is with us.
Who Can Be Anointed
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” Joel 2:28
Who can be anointed? Anyone, willing to do mighty things for the greater glory of God will be the answer. The soldier, businessman, homemaker or kids in college are all eligible. Infact anyone that will give their lives to Jesus can have the anointing. The anointing in itself is generic but works effectively when it is applied in areas such as gifts, talents, abilities and skills. We were chosen for a purpose before birth. However most will die without even touching the call, talent, skill and ability deposited in them.
God has a book written on us with our life’s occurrences already designed. He has left the choice of acceptance with each person. Unfortunately He will never force anyone to accept the challenge but provides glimpses and opportunities for anyone to fall into their calling. He knows the very thing that will bring fulfilment to our lives but has left the onus to search it out with us. Only a few great individuals exist out of the billions on earth because they are audacious enough to question the status quo and follow through to search their destiny out. With most who won’t dare to find and fulfil their destiny, it has never been the lack of ideas or vision but the spirit of sacrifice. Almost everyone talks about the great things they would want to do and infact their plan seems so achievable until you ask them a few years or months later. They come up with excuses like the lack of the right connections, people and opportunities.
We are quick to relinquish our pursuit when faced with opposition and choose the path of least resistance as the easy way out. Easily we align with things that have no connection with lasting legacy. The most difficult time in our walk will be to wait on God. Often times it seems no one cares and the tendency to seek powers from other gods who seem to work faster is tempting. Nothing is heart-wrenching than to hear a contemporary making it whilst you are still crawling. Oh lets be real! I now really understand why Peter will boldly confront Jesus about what’s in for him after becoming a disciple.
The ugly face of failure is real, the disgracing aura of poverty is debilitating, the nauseating smell of diseases and sickness is weakening, the pangs of rejection and dejection is dehumanizing, the notion of loneliness in the quest for self- discovery is tasking yet it doesn’t hurt when you win. Waiting on God produces within one the rich oil of strength unfathomable to our detractors.
How could David rule for over forty years and never be defeated in any war; except that he had the patience to wait on God. How could Abraham, despite the receipt of the promise of a son wait for twenty- five years; except his experiences with God had produced in him patience? The anointing is not reserved for the servants of God who display it on T.Vs’ and other media but anyone who desire it.
The experience that began in the upper room has not stopped. Barring theological differences and interpretations which are normally based on our limited mind-sets and prejudices, the power is still flowing through the nook and crannies of any life and the only currency needed is availability. Infact I dare not say you don’t have the anointing- you have it but the responsibility of bringing significance to it is what might be lacking.
Samson disclosed the secret of his strength which was irresponsible on his part. He expected to remain the same when he was faced with his enemies but the anointing was gone. Regardless, his hair grew back and so did his strength. If through circumstances you have lost your strength, dream, ability or purpose, know that it will surely grow back. Keep believing for if God gives strength to the weak and increase those who don’t have it, he will hear your cry one of these days.
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