The Anointing: The Mojo of God On Earth

Christians are caught up with this concept called "the anointing." There have been famous preachers who have taught that "the anointing" is what the Christians need and what they (the preachers) already have: that is why they are famous of course. "The anointing," they claim is the cure for what ails us. It is like super-juice: we can run faster, be smarter, have bigger muscles, get more money, and the like. Be cautious: "Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain" (Proverbs 25:14). Let us look at many of the supposed titles of the anointing there are: the anointing of increase; the money anointing; the anointing of quantum leap; the anointing of manifestation; the anointing of breaking generational curses; anointing of breakthrough; the anointing to get results; just to name a few. And we are are not making these up. It is like the concept of "mojo" from the film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me [Directed by Jay Roach, (Los Angeles, New Line Cinema, 1999)]. In this movie, the bad guy traveled in the past and found a way to steal the essence of Austin Power's strength and adroit capabilities. Somewhat like Ambrosia (the so called food or drink of the gods of Greek mythology), having his mojo made him unstoppable but without it he was powerless to defeat evil. It is the essence of God (or as one preacher spoke of it, "the substance of the Holy Ghost"). Seems like a pastor went right up to heaven took a sample of God and brought it back for us so we can have our own little piece of God to use for our own purposes.

We know all of these descriptions seem a little far-fetched but they are appropriate, why? We as Christians have lost sight of the central message of the Gospel, Jesus and him crucified. We have placed the spotlight on ourselves: God works for us: He came to give us life, money, cars, and land. There are preachers on television making statements that encapsulate this point, one famous preacher said, "Jesus said he came so you can have your life and enjoy it" this is a heretical interpretation of John 10:10. But, it is the result of the attitude that the church has taken on, and "the anointing" is part and parcel of this formula. Popular teachers, preachers, pastors, etc. all tout "the anointing" as the great equalizer to God; it has allowed them to be able to be the men and women they are. Well, most would respond that they in no way are attempting to be God; but if we were to look at their doctrines and practices we would have to beg to differ. For example (anyone can find this on the Internet) there is very popular mega-church preacher who explained to a packed audience the notion that Jesus did not come as God. He even gave supporting scriptures to back up his claim. He said:

If Jesus came as God, then why did God have to anoint him? If Jesus – See God's already anointed ... Jesus came as a man, that's why it was legal to anoint Him. God doesn't need anointing. He is anointing. Jesus came as a man and at age thirty, God is now getting ready to demonstrate to us and give us an example of what a man with the anointing can do ... Jesus didn't come as God, He came as a man, and He did not come perfect.⁶⁶

Here is something else this preacher said to validate his point:

But Jesus didn't show up perfect. He grew into His perfection. You know Jesus – one scripture in the bible – he went on a journey, he was tired. You better hope God don't get tired. Isaiah 50 says, 50, 60, somewheres says where we have a God who fainteth not, neither is wearied? But Jesus did. If He came as God and he got tired; He says he sat down by the well because he was tired. Boy we're in trouble.⁶⁶

Hmmm, "we're in trouble?" This is the kind of foolishness Christians around the world are hearing all of the time by preachers attempting to diminish Christ to exalt themselves. For we see, if Jesus was JUST a man WITH "the anointing," then what is it that any of these preachers cannot do. In essence, they are equal with the Lord Jesus Christ. They make themselves equal with God, and we know this is the case because there are so many people who worship these "anointed" men and women. The people believe that these men and women have the power to release "the anointing" on them to heal them, make them free, give them money, whatever they need. Focusing on men for these things is idolatrous, for God said himself that he would supply all of our need (Philippians 4:19). All of this is a ploy instituted by the devil to get us to separate God from himself so that we may worship the things and not the Creator (Romans 1:25). Furthermore, if Jesus was JUST a man with "the anointing," then we truly are in trouble because anyone of us could do as he did or worse he could not have done what we know he did, live without sin, etc. How is this separating God's power from himself? Scripture is clear where the power of God belongs: "God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God" (Psalm 62:11). And we know from 1 Corinthians 1:24 who the power of God is, "But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." So if the "anointing" is power, and we need them to release power on us, then we need them to release Christ on us, such a doctrine is heretical and idolatrous.

What is "the anointing?" First, let us look at what a secular dictionary has to say about this term, Merriam-Webster defines anoint as "to choose by or as if by divine election." Therefore, the word anointing must be the noun form of this word denoting the concept or seal of God's divine election. A scriptural definition would go as follows: wherever the Word of God is, there the anointing OF the Holy Ghost rests. The anointing is simply the seal of God signifying where his WORD is (Matthew 3:16-17; Acts 10:38). "The anointing" is the Holy Ghost in one sense and in another sense it is not. The Holy Ghost is anointing and yet anointing is not The Holy Ghost. God is not a thing or a concept God is a person. Jesus is described as a rock but a rock is not Jesus Christ. These are simply metaphorical ways to referring to God. In other words, anointing is like the seal of God (the Holy Ghost) upon us his people. Examine the scriptures below:

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest [evidence or proof] of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; (2 Corinthians 1:21)

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:27)

When we put all of these scriptures together we get this picture: God sent Jesus and anointed him with the Spirit. As the Word (Jesus) abides in us, as he commanded (John 15:7), at salvation and in our daily walk, God anoints us with his Spirit as well. And the Spirit will teach us all things about God as we study, believe and obey his Word. And as a side note: if anyone threatens with Psalm 105:15 "Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm," have them read the scriptures above and verses 13 and 14 of Psalm Chapter 105: "When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm" (Psalm 105:13-15). It is clear that this text is talking about the people of Israel and not a special class of the people of Israel. As the New Israel, we who are the chosen of God are indeed anointed by God for the express purpose of knowing him and working HIS works in the world.

Back to the primary subject, in the Old Testament, the primary signifier of anointing was oil. One of the many purposes of anointing oil according to Exodus 30:22-33 was to anoint the temple/tabernacle and its contents (this includes the priests). They did this because this was the place where God had chosen to dwell. It is the same with us today. He has chosen to live in us: he has designated us as a dwelling place. This is why Paul says in Romans 8:9, "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" and in 1 Corinthians 6:19, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" So then, "the anointing" is not just for pastors, teachers, prophets, or people with titles. It is for any person who names the name of Christ whom the Lord himself has sealed. It is for the purpose of identifying us as his seed in the earth. Jesus said, "rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). Our power, our focus, our anointing, all belongs to God through Christ Jesus, and not his essence, or a piece of him. What we should want is him and that is it. "And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing" (Isaiah 10:27).

DRAFT V2010-06-28T4:47:26 PM