Receive Free Monthly TeachingWhat the Anointing is Not (Part 1)
Rev. Tony Cooke
Duke Ellington, the late jazz musician, composer and renowned band leader, was once asked to provide a definition of rhythm. “If you got it,” he replied, “you don’t need no definition. And if you don’t have it, ain’t no definition gonna help.” I think that same statement could apply to the anointing as well!
Sometimes, though, it’s helpful to use the process of elimination in defining something. In other words, to define what it is not. For example, one individual had carved an elephant out of a block of wood. Someone asked him how he had done it. He said: “I simply carved off everything that didn’t look like an elephant.” Maybe we can “carve off” a few things—misconceptions—regarding what the anointing is not.
1. The Anointing is not a Substitute for Preparation.
Some preachers have relied upon Psalm 81:10 when it comes to ministry: “I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.” In doing so, they neglected 2 Timothy 2:15, where Paul told his young protégé: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Spontaneity can certainly have its place, but so does study.
Ministers must not only prepare messages, they must prepare themselves to minister the Word of God. I believe that the anointing (the presence and working of God’s Spirit) can be just as much a part of the preparation process as He is a part of the delivery process.
One minister noted that information and inspiration do not need to be in competition with each other. Donald S. Whitney said, “Why do we seem to think we must choose between the two? Why do so many Christians live as though they’ve been told, ‘choose you this day whom you will serve: scholarship or devotion’? I maintain that a biblically balanced Christian has both a full head and a full heart, radiating both spiritual light and heat.”
To be negligent in preparation, while expecting the anointing to bail you out at the last minute, is presumptuous. It will be evidenced by shallow preaching and results that are less than optimal. On the other hand, we shouldn’t be so confident in what we have prepared that we are not trusting in the Holy Spirit or yielding to His influence when we do minister.
2. The Anointing is not a SHORT-CUT TO SUCCESS.
Some ministers (especially young ones) think: “If I could just get this great anointing, then I’d have it made. The anointing would propel me into great success.” However, without other parts of their life and ministry being developed and matured properly, too much success could be ultimately detrimental. Countless ministers have experienced a sudden burst of (seeming) success due to a unique or strong anointing, only to have their ministry shipwrecked because of a lack of development in other areas.
Someone wisely said, “Your charisma can take you where your character can’t keep you.”
There are no short-cuts (or substitutes) in ministry. Having an “anointing” doesn’t take the place of endurance, character development, growth in the fruit of the Spirit, honesty, humility, and possessing a servant’s heart. It would seem that some ministers have had the idea that because they have a certain type of “anointing” that they are somehow exempt from such biblical mandates as walking in kindness, holiness, integrity, etc.
3. The Anointing is not a Stamp of Approval.
A minister being anointed (or seeming to be anointed) is not a blanket endorsement of that person by God. It doesn’t mean they are accurate or correct in everything they do or say. Nor does it mean that they are necessarily even living right.
You may recall the story of the uneducated minister who preached about Paul and his wife, Silas, in jail, while their poor son, Timothy was walking up and down the streets crying because his Mom and Dad were in jail. People were saved in that service, not because his sermon was 100% accurate, but because there was enough truth about Jesus presented. The anointing of the Holy Spirit convicted people and drew people to Jesus that night, not because of his doctrinal accuracy, but in spite of it.
Some ministers have lived in great sin, yet all the while their messages were anointed and people were getting saved and healed. Eventually, though, that sin will catch up with them. Jesus one time referred to giving an erroneous minister “space to repent” (Revelation 3:21). Some, in their deception and pride, have made the mistake of assuming that God is making some type of exception for them because their ministry is so important. They misconstrue His mercy as an endorsement, and then judgment comes.
4. The Anointing is not EXCLUSIVELY synonymous with a SPECIFIC STYLE.
1 Peter 4:10 refers to, “…the manifold grace of God.” It’s important to realize that there are different expressions of God’s Spirit. People naturally have preferences. Some people love nothing but systematic teaching, while others would much rather hear inspirational preaching. Still others would like nothing but prophesying and other “spiritual” demonstrations. Some are blessed by soft, quiet music, while others are inspired by loud, energetic music.
Even though we may all have our personal preferences, it’s important not to become closed-minded, assuming that God can only work or move through the type or style of ministry (specifically, the one we enjoy and benefit from). We limit God by thinking He can only move through one style or one method. What is not “anointed” to you is exactly what God will use to reach certain people, and what is “anointed” to you may not be effective in reaching others.
I love the story of Elijah on Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:11-13). There were four different manifestations that took place: a powerful wind, an earthquake, a fire, and a still small voice. There have been times when God was in a powerful wind (such as on the day of Pentecost), but He wasn’t in this wind. There have been times when God was in an earthquake (such as when Paul and Silas were in jail), but God wasn’t in this earthquake. There have been times when God was in the fire (such as when Moses stood before the burning bush), but God wasn’t in this fire. This time, God was in the still small voice.
We’ve got to be careful about making automatic associations with the external—with stylistic issues or even with certain types of manifestations (especially those that can be imitated in the flesh)—and truly be sensitive to Him!
When we are sensitive to Him and His leadership, we won’t get locked into a rigid form that we just automatically repeat all the time. It’s interesting to me that the next-to-last verse of Psalm 46 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” While the very first verse of Psalm 47 says, “Shout unto God with a voice of triumph.” God can be in both the shout and the silence!
Many people have assumed that if someone is saying, “Yea,” “Thus saith the Lord,” “My little children,” etc., that there must be a prophecy taking place. Maybe there is. But nowhere does the Bible say that such phrases have to be used in order to qualify an utterance as prophetic. Those phrases can be nothing more than “wrapping paper” that we, in our minds, associate with the gift. Someone could be using all those religious-sounding phrases, and yet what is being said has been totally conjured up from the person’s own mind. On the other hand, someone could be truly speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit without using any of those catch phrases.
WHAT THE ANOINTING IS…
Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “John’s words ‘unction’ and ‘anointing’ are just a very graphic way of describing the influence and the effect of the Holy Spirit upon the believer.”
Jesus was anointed (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38) and He even said, “I can of Myself do nothing” and “…the Father who dwells in Me does the works” (John 5:30; 14:10). Paul understood the anointing also, and said that he conducted his work in ministry by, “…striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me.”
(Colossians 1:29, AMP).
Next month we’ll share four other principles about “What the Anointing Is Not.” But in the meantime, we pray that you are strengthened by Him, knowing that He has not only called you, but has also anointed you for the work you are doing.
