Three Anointings You Need in the Ministry

1 John 2:20 – But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

2 Timothy 3:5 – Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

It is impossible to turn people away from worldliness without a powerful anointing at work in your life. Today, more than ever before, people are consumed with their own pleasure. It is our job to turn them around and get them to follow Jesus. However, Satan opposes those who would seek to gain access to this heavenly endowment. Therefore, as we begin our study in the anointing it might be best that you immediately put on the whole armor of God and prepare yourself for the battle of a lifetime.

Every force that opposes us can be reversed and its effect made to work for us. The best example of this can be found in the Old Testament when Jehu was anointed. His anointing was specifically designed to turn things around.

In the New King James Version, 2 Kings 9:18 reveals exactly what effect his anointing had on the opposing forces. Then he sent out a second horseman who came to them, and said, Thus says the king: Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What have you to do with peace? Turn around and follow me.

It is Time for us to Develop the Turnaround Anointing

We must evangelize our world with the only message that can save. Before your ministry can be used by God to reap the end- time harvest of souls, you must learn how to recognize the anointing. You must discover your “unction.”

The word “unction,” actually means, “ointment that is rubbed in.” This New Testament anointing is much different than the Old Testament one. In the Old Testament the anointing was poured out –  in the New Testament the anointing was rubbed in. Your effectiveness will never be determined by what is poured out in a single moment. It will be determined by how much you linger and by how much you soak in the glory.

Jehu received his anointing so he could cast down the spirit of Jezebel that had crippled Israel with her wicked cruelty.

Three Things That had to Happen to Jehu Before he Could be Anointed

Read 2 Kings 19

He received the messenger as from God. Even though the messenger wasn’t the prophet, he was still considered to be from God and the anointing just as valid. Too many people don’t want anybody telling them what to do. You need a preacher that can instruct you in the ways of anointing. You must submit to a unique set of orders that may not make sense all the time, but will reap great spiritual dividends if carefully followed.

Jehu allowed himself to be taken to an upper room where the messenger poured out the anointing. He separated himself from the crowd and got alone with God. If you haven’t discovered your unction, maybe it’s because you blend with the crowd too much.

Maybe you are more interested in a party than in a prayer meeting. Perhaps if you denied yourself some pleasures and got a little more serious about seeking God for His favor, you too would be powerfully anointed to help win the lost today.

Jehu made no attempt to hide the change that the anointing brought him.  He didn’t try to clean it up. He let it stick. He was literally soaked in the anointing, which was equal to about 21/2 gallons and probably cost around $2000. Expensive and messy – that describes exactly what an anointed ministry is. It will cost you and sometimes it gets messy. But it’s worth it.

A Look at the Book Acts

The beginning of the book of Acts states its purpose and reveals what Jesus began both to do and to teach. The apostles’ ministry was simply a continuation of what they saw Jesus say and do. So must yours. When it ended, it ended with Paul preaching the kingdom and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

There is no doxology, no benediction, not even a good ole AMEN. The only appropriate ending would be three words: TO BE CONTINUED. I trust that through this mentoring process you have be inspired to continue the revival that was started many years ago on the Day of Pentecost.  We must not let revival fires die. Shall we begin in the spirit and end up in the flesh?  The book of Acts teaches us to save ourselves from this untoward generation. The word “untoward” means, “without direction.” God is asking us to set the direction. The Holy Ghost is giving us four prime directives for this generation. Does your preaching set direction or do you just ramble?

• We need an awesome sense of God’s presence and glory in our midst.
• We need to respond to God’s call to prayer and repentance.
• We need to respond to God’s call to unity – the word, “accord,” is actually a compound word which means, “like passion.”  We must be a people who carry the same passionate longing.
• We must hear the voice of Jesus before we can receive the power of God (Acts 1:4-8).

. . . but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me (Acts 1:4).

If we are to continue the turnaround anointing we need to understand the three anointings that are available to us. The anointing is always given for a specific purpose –  not just to feel good. It’s not for personal use.  If the anointing came in a bottle its label would read — For Divine Use Only.

The Three Anointings

A Leper’s Anointing – anointing for atonement given to a cleansed leper. And the rest of the

oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD (Leviticus 14:29).

The anointing was reserved only to anoint a priest or a king – except for the cleansing of a leper. Strange, isn’t it? To find an anointing on a leper. Atonement carries its own anointing.

The new birth experience of water and spirit is in and of itself an anointing that every believer possesses. It produces a freshness and creates an attitude of power and thanksgiving. God has anointed us to create atonement in peoples’ lives, but there are hindrances to this atonement. We must possess wine and corn to help deliver people from their sins. Hence the expression – “He has corn in the crib.”  That simply means things happen when he preaches. People are saved, healed and delivered. He’s done something!

Lamentations 2:12 says the children swooned as the wounded in the streets pouring their souls out to Mama saying, Where is the corn and the wine?  Do you have any corn and wine? If not, it’s time you get it.

The generation we are preaching to is a wounded generation –  and they are coming to Mama saying, “Where is the corn and the wine?” In verse 13 there was a breach created because there was a gap between the way they lived and what they preached. Ask yourself the question, Is there a gap between what you preach and the way you live? Close that gap and immediately your corn and wine will increase.

Mama didn’t have any corn or wine because (in verse 14) the preacher never discovered her iniquity. She wouldn’t let the vision correct her sin. The preaching of their prophets never revealed the real reason why they were in captivity. If we can’t find out the real reason why we are not having revival, we will flounder and wander without ever hitting the mark. Our reserve of corn and wine becomes depleted when we miss our goals. If Pentecost is to be continued we must preach against sin.

David prayed concerning Solomon in 1 Kings 2:4, That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

We must not fail this generation –  we need anointed men of God to preach the gospel. The word of promise can only continue when the right man is in the right place at the right time. We need to make sure we are in the will of God. We can not afford to be traumatized by every battle, we must learn to rise above the crisis. We shouldn’t need therapy every time we come to church.

We should release the power of our anointing to minister the word of God in the Holy Ghost.  God is wanting His church to awaken to her spiritual authority in Jesus Christ. God wants His word to be continued.

A Priestly Anointing – the anointing of relationship. This anointing comes so that we can minister to the Lord. And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office (Exodus 40:13).

If you do not know how to minister to the Lord, all the preaching against sin is useless. We don’t convert people to ourselves; we convert people to Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must internalize our desire to serve the Lord. We cannot always depend on external stimuli to motivate us in the pulpit. What is happening in the congregation should not affect what we preach, because we have heard from God and know exactly what we need to say to the people. The only way to deepen your relationship with God is learn how to minister to the Lord – learn how to bless him. Say along with David, “Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me. Bless his Holy Name.” When you learn to be a blessing to the Lord he will in turn give you an anointing that will turn the meanest devil around and have him follow you as you follow Christ.

A King’s Anointing – Notice the question mark in 1 Samuel 10:1. This is the first example of a King being anointed in scripture. The law of first use teaches us to pay very close attention to things that happen for the first time in the Bible. The question mark definitely captures my attention.

It’s as if Samuel was asking Saul, What will you do with your anointing? What is your anointing really for? Samuel didn’t answer the question for him. He let Saul determine for himself what his anointing would do. Will you hurt others or heal them?

Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance (I Samuel 10:1)?

This anointing also comes with a kiss. The Bible says, Kiss the son lest he be angry with you (Psalm 2:12).

The whole second chapter of Psalms speaks of the rulership of the Son and this verse refers to our acceptance of His authority – where we acknowledge our submission with joy to His rulership. That’s the only way our anointing can be used properly. We must be totally submitted to Jesus Christ. Then our anointing will turn people around. The only instance in scripture where Jesus was said to dance was when his disciples began to use their authority to take their cities back for God.

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.  Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.   In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight (Luke 10:17-21).

In Luke 10:21 when the disciples returned with a victory report of how they had gained power over all the power of the enemy, Jesus rejoiced in the spirit, which actually means to leap or jump for joy. It was at this time that Jesus saw Satan falling out of heaven like lightning.  Jesus saw this vision at this time because the disciples had realized who they were in Christ and:

Began to exercise their authority over the enemy.

Took the gospel of the kingdom to the cities. (These were the seventy, not the twelve.)

They had to receive power over all the power of the enemy.

Jesus gave them power to tread upon serpents and scorpions. When they began to exercise this authority coupled with the knowledge that they had their names written in the Lamb’s book of Life, Jesus began to dance or jump for joy.

Here we see the new birth is the real cause for celebration. Not just the work we do for him, but the work he has already done in us. Once we connect our passion to our new birth experience, the work of the Spirit flows freely and naturally from the life of a believer. Is Jesus dancing over your ministry? If he is it’s because you just realized you are anointed. Let’s take our cities back for Jesus.

Here is a poem found in a Catholic Hymnal at a funeral home in Shreveport, LA. I have used this many times in various services across our fellowship. When you read it you will know why.

Lord of the Dance

I danced in the morning when the world was begun, And I danced in the moon and the stars, and the sun.  And I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth;  At Bethlehem I had my birth.

I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee, But they would not dance and they wouldn’t follow me; I danced for the fishermen, for James and John; They came with me and the dance went on;

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame; The holy people said it was shame.  They whipped and they stripped and they hung me on high, And they left me there on a cross to die;

I danced on a Friday when the Sky turned black; It’s hard to dance with the devil on your back. They buried my body and they thought I’d gone; But I am the dance and I still go on;

They cut me down and I leap up high; I am the life that’ll never die; I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me; I am the Lord of Dance, said he.

Dance, then wherever you may be; I am the Lord of the Dance, said he, And I’ll lead you all, wherever you may be, And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.  Dance said he.