Recognizing the Anointing

So many people have so much to say about ‘the anointing.’ I really very rarely even speak about this because there are too many folks who just want to say what they have to say, and aren't interested in anyone else’s input anyway. But just for the record, God's anointing is what it is, and it manifests in many ways. Friends, the anointing is simply the Spirit of God, and it flows and moves in many ways, through many people, to many degrees and levels; and it is very important that you and I are able to recognize it for what it is, when it is, and with whom it is (I Jn. 2:27; Jn. 14:26). If we are not able, then we are not able to recognize what calls itself the anointing, but is NOT the anointing. Both of these predicaments can cause us a whole lot of problems. Jesus warned us that "there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Mat. 24:24). In fact, our salvation comes down to us knowing the difference between God's Spirit and every other spirit that masquerades as God's Spirit (Rom. 8:14). And believe me, there are plenty of those kinds of spirits around. The beloved apostle gave us this admonition: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (I Jn. 4:1). So how do we accomplish this all important task? It all comes back to "keeping our hearts [pure] with all diligence" (Prov. 4:23). As long as we keep everything out of our hearts that is not of God's love, holiness, and peace, we will have that "unction from the Holy One," which alone gives us the needed discernment to ‘try the spirits’ (I Jn. 2:20). The discernment we must have is a spiritual ability to feel what is of God, as well as understand it. If we have the anointing of God’s Spirit packaged up nice and neat the way we think it has to be, we will certainly miss the mark often.

A lot of people have ‘the anointing’ all figured out, because they associate certain characteristics of men with it. Things like getting all pumped up preaching, or really loud singing, or shouting all over the place. Don't get me wrong now, I am well aware of how the holy Ghost can and does move that way. In fact I don't know anybody who loves all of that more than I do. But I've been around all kinds of things like that which the Spirit of God was not involved with as well. God is a lover of variety and works in more ways than anyone even realizes. His anointing is the same way. I've learned to not decide how God is going to manifest his Spirit, or through whom, or where, when or how. I've been involved with and seen the holy Ghost move in such a way that if you aren't really tuned in to it continuously, you would totally overlook it. I've seen God's Spirit move in a very settled and stilled way that is every bit as powerful as someone being moved like a tornado. When someone knows they are operating by the power of God's Spirit, they don't have to try to do anything. It's just there, and the confidence of it being there is an unassuming thing. Whether the people around that anointing recognize it or not is determined by where they have been keeping themselves with God, or not keeping themselves. "Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things" (Prov. 28:5). If it's God we're seeking, then it will be God that we find; and it's certain that we won't find him apart from his Spirit (Mat. 7:7; I Cor. 2:11; II Cor. 3:17). Whatever or whoever the Spirit is present with, constitutes ‘the anointing.’ "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all" (I Cor. 12:4-6). It comes down to what is being said or done, and how it's being said or done. The Spirit of God is never apart from holiness, and it will never speak anything but the truth. Neither does it have a feel to it that is not edifying to the honest believer. It can surely convict and reprove, and that may sometimes hurt, but it will not deal proudly, and it will "not behave itself unseemly" (I Cor. 13:5). Amen.