THREE ANOINTINGS
Scripture teaches us of three anointings of the Holy Spirit. Knowledge of them will hep bring your potential as a Christian even into more focus. The first of the three is known as "The Leper's anointing."
Leviticus 14 teaches that the leper remained outside the camp and that the priest was to go out to him and apply the blood of the sacrifice, bring him into the camp, apply the blood once again, and then apply oil, making "atonement for him before the Lord."
Every born again believer has experienced the "leper's anointing", which deals with salvation. Leprosy in this case is a type of sin, incurable in the natural, but curable only by God. Sin is the same; man can do nothing to remove it and its effects.
The ceremonial cleansing of the Old Testament, the blood of the sacrificial animals was applied. In the New Testament, we find that the only cure for sin, then and today, is the blood of Jesus Christ. The animal sacrifices of Leviticus merely looked forward to the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God. They were a shadow; Jesus was the substance.
In John 1:29, John the Baptist sees Jesus approaching and declares, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" Thos those who came to know Him, Jesus was that Lamb of God. Jesus was the only sacrifice that would atone for the sin of the world.
In the ceremonial cleansing of Leviticus, the blood was applied, then the oil. The application of the sacrificial blood is symbolic of the blood of Christ, while the application of the oil is symbolic of the touch and influence of the Holy Spirit upon a life.
Just as the blood of Jesus flows out to all who call upon His name, so the leper's anointing crosses all national and denominational barriers. For when anyone experiences the grace of Jesus Christ, it is the Holy Spirit who convicts him of sin and assures him of God's forgiveness.
Thus it is that at salvation you experience the first anointing-the leper's anointing-which reveals the power of the blood through the oil of anointing that pours over you.
The second anointing we want to discuss is known as "The Priestly Anointing."
As a believer, cleansed through the precious blood of Christ, born again and sealed by the Spirit, you can and should move to the second anointing: the priestly anointing. A significant number of believers have no knowledge of this level of the Holy Spirit's activity in their lives, and they certainly have no idea how to receive it. If you're among them, having no indication of such a blessing, read on, and you will discover and enter into God's additional anointing of power.
All believers are called to full time ministry. You may not be called to be a pastor, evangelist, prophet, teacher, or apostle, but nonetheless, you are in full time ministry. This anointing (the priestly anointing) is for ministry unto the Lord, including leading souls to Him, but not service of Him in battles against the devil and disease, but ministry to Him as priests of God, although not ordained to stand behind a pulpit such as in the offices previously mentioned.
If we, therefore, are minister to God, (and we are), we must have the power of the Spirit to do so. That means we are to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, which is the priestly anointing of the Holy Spirit upon us. Without it, we will accomplish little.
Also, and this is an important thing, the priestly anointing is evidenced through unity in the Body of Christ as life in the Kingdom of God
When the genuine priestly anointing has been experienced, there will be unity and harmony. Psalm 133 says, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments."
There is no such thing as a private priestly anointing, it comes in oneness, in unity, as the church functions as one body.
On the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts, one hundred twenty people were gathered together-in once accord-in the Upper room, and the Holy Spirit came upon them with fire and power. They went from that room and ministered unto the Lord, bearing witness to the crowds that were gathered. Three thousand were saved. God was clearly present and so was the anointing!
This priestly anointing is not a one-time anointing, which the leper's anointing is. Under the old covenant, the priests were anointed with oil every day. The same with you under the new covenant. You need a daily anointing.
The priestly anointing brings the presence, the communion, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Revelation knowledge comes, for the leper's anointing, we are introduced to God in a extraordinary way and we see our total need for Christ. But we really don't understand too much.
It is a sad thing that so many Christians stay at the leper's anointing level, by choice. They don't seek more. They simply do not surrender. Their ears are dull; they don't hear God's voice.
Your Bible clearly says, "My sheep hear my voice." If you are truly one of His sheep and have received the priestly anointing, you will know His presence and hear the gently voice of God regularly. It is not a one-time experience though, it must be renewed.
Sometimes God will reveal great truths to you; at other times, He will just let you sense how much HE loves you. Perhaps He will correct or instruct you on a matter; perhaps He will cause a certain scripture to stand out while you're reading the Word.
Even though you may seldom or never hear an audible voice, He has many avenues through which to speak to you. God's regular communication does not depend on how loudly He speaks but upon how well you listen. Matthew 11:15 says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" You must take time each day to be quiet before the Lord so His still, small voce can be heard. As you read your Bible, fellowship with the Holy Spirit, and listen, you will experience that daily refreshing that keeps your hear on fire with love for the Master.
The leper's anointing (salvation) is a one-time experience and cannot be lost unless you willfully walk away from it. God will never let you go unless you let Him go. This requires a decision that you would rather perish than be saved.
The priestly anointing (the presence), on the other hand, can be lost, for if sin comes into your heart it lifts. That is why it is important to be renewed daily; it will bring you into the presence of God-so near, so real that the tears will run down your cheeks.
The third and final anointing we are discussing today is called "The Kingly Anointing."
Once you have experienced the leper's anointing and gone on to the priestly anointing, do not stop. As wonderful as those two anointings are, there is more!
Nothing can compare to the kingly anointing, the powerful of all. This lifts a person to a place of high authority in God, giving him authority over devils, the power to rout demons with one word. Only this will give you the power to send the enemies of God flying as the apostle Paul did.
The kingly anointing is the most difficult to receive. Whereas the leper's anointing comes by accepting Jesus and the priestly anointing comes by fellowship with Jesus, the kingly anointing comes by obeying Jesus.
It is when you hear the rhema word of the Lord spoken just for that moment-which says, "Thus says the Lord"-you receive the kingly anointing. The logos, the written word-God's Bible does not give you the anointing, although it is important, because His Word is forever settled in heaven. The kingly anointing is only through obedience of what the Word has told you to do!
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