Isa 11:1-3 (NIV) A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him--the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord--and he will delight in the fear of the Lord...This is a prophecy about "Messiah", which in Hebrew means "the anointed one". "Christ" in Greek also (as it turns out) means "the anointed one". These words have become so familiar as titles for Jesus in English that we often neglect the very meaning of the title used. Let us not forget that Jesus is the Christ, or said another way, Jesus is "the Anointed One".Just what is the nature of the anointing of Jesus?
Luke 4:18-19 (Wey) [Jesus:] "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 announce release to the prisoners of war and recovery of sight to the blind: to send away free those whom tyranny has crushed, to proclaim the year of acceptance with the Lord."If we are "in Christ" or "in the anointed one", then we share in his anointing.But what has come to be known as "the anointing" in pop-Christianity has little to do with the "anointed one", or Christ. It is more like a de-personalized "force" that we control. Believe it or not, arrogant and boastful men ordering the Holy Spirit (Sovereign God) around is described as "the anointing". This is so far off from the Spirit of Christ (the anointed one) that it might be best described as anti-christ--the very opposite of "the anointed one".
You might find it interesting to note that the place in scripture that most talks about "the anointing" is in the context of warning those who come in a spirit opposite of Christ, or anti-Christ. It is listed below.
The real anointing warns against false "ministers" who are the antithesis of Jesus and his Spirit as described in Isaiah 11. They are ignorant of God and his counsel, arrogant, boastful, self-serving, and haughty; they treat God as common; they have no fear of God. Nor do they achieve the fruit of Messiah as described in Luke 4. The books of Jude and 2 Peter give a clear description of such.
Or, you could just turn on your TV.
1 Jn 2:18-28 (NIV) Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come... But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth... See that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us--even eternal life. I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in him. And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.Note that the above text about the reality of an anointing on all believers assumes there is a bogus, or false anointing. The true anointing is "real, not counterfeit". Ever seen a counterfeit anointing? This is exactly what his true anointing will teach you. The true anointing will keep us in Christ, not chasing after the latest religious fads and self-promoting buffoons.
There is only one Anointed One. If we are truly given that anointing--it is more than a feeling, it is an imitation of Christ in our very members: his mind, his heart, his deeds.
2 Jn 1:7-11 (NIV) Many deceivers... have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.
1 Tim 6:11 (NIV) But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
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