“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
— 2 Corinthians 1:21–22 (NKJV)

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things… the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true…”
— 1 John 2:20, 27 (NKJV)

“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
— Acts 10:38 (NKJV)

The Need for the Anointing #

We live in a time when many believers and leaders are reaching out to influence others for Christ. But we must settle one crucial truth: no eternal fruit can be borne apart from the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

We can be earnest, passionate, and diligent. But without the anointing, our ministry is limited to time and flesh. This is why God has shut everything in the New Covenant into the work of the Spirit.

“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD of hosts.
— Zechariah 4:6 (KJV)

Ministry with and without the Anointing #

What Is the Anointing? #

The Greek word for anointing is chrisma (χρῖσμα, G5545), related to chrio (χρίω), which means “to smear or rub with oil.” It speaks of a sacred consecration.

In Hebrew, the word is mashach (מָשַׁח, H4886), meaning:

• To anoint for divine purpose
• To dedicate to holy service

Mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ) comes from the same root, meaning “Anointed One”, pointing to Jesus the Messiah. Anointing means empowered assignment. It is the Spirit’s empowerment for a specific task or calling. The Holy Spirit is not given just to be present, but to be active.

The Difference Between Having the Spirit and the Anointing #

All born-again believers have the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9), but not all walk in the active expression of the Spirit—that is, the anointing.

The Holy Spirit can be present but latent. Many believers carry His presence but not His power. They are indwelt but not activated. The difference is not in the Spirit, but in our alignment with His purpose.

Indwelling vs. Anointing #

The anointing is not a second Spirit, but the Spirit in action. He is the Spirit of purpose. He anoints kings to rule, priests to intercede, and prophets to proclaim.

The Anointing Awakened Through Obedience #

Many believers wait passively for the Spirit to move. But the truth is often this: the Spirit is waiting for us.

“Gird up the loins of your mind…”
— 1 Peter 1:13

We do not activate the Spirit through striving, but through yielding and stepping out in trust. It is when we speak, serve, and act in obedience that the anointing rises in us.

A testimony was once shared of a believer who, for years, lived a passive Christian life. He loved the Lord, but his experience was dry. But when he finally began to witness, preach, and serve, something broke open. The Spirit he already had began to work through him.

We must take that first obedient step. The anointing flows when the vessel moves in faith.

The Basis of the Anointing: Inward Separation #

Before power comes purity. The anointing is built on inward separation. We cannot carry the oil of God while harbouring the elements of Satan’s kingdom.

“Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed…”
— Acts 10:38

“Nazareth” represents humility and hiddenness. Christ was anointed not as a king in pomp, but as the lowly Servant.

The anointing comes to the meek, the broken, the dependent. “I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29) was Jesus’ confession.

Three Foundations of Anointing #

1. Humility — No pride, no entitlement.
2. Holiness — Separation from sin and Satan’s nature.
3. Dependency — Total reliance on the Father’s voice.

Quenching the Spirit: How We Lose the Anointing #

“Do not quench the Spirit.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:19

You cannot quench a dormant flame. To quench means there is activity. The Spirit is a burning fire, but we can suppress Him.

Ways We Quench the Spirit: #

The Spirit is grieved by both extremes. He is the Spirit of balance. He brings both joy and soberness, freedom and fear of the Lord. To maintain the anointing, we must remain sensitive, watchful of what we say, how we move, and when we speak. The inward prayer of dependence must never cease.

“Leaning not on your own understanding…” (Proverbs 3:5)

Jesus: The Anointed Pattern #

Christ walked as the perfectly anointed One. Yet he lived with joy, with holy laughter, with tenderness. He was never artificial. He was always natural, yet always spiritual. He walked in full sensitivity to the Father and the Spirit.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel…”
— Luke 4:18

The same Spirit now anoints us.
— 2 Corinthians 1:21–22

Activate What You Already Have #

Do not wait for a new experience. The Spirit is already in you. What remains is not more impatience, but more obedience.

The Spirit is waiting to work through you.

“For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
— Philippians 2:13

May the Lord give you grace to move from passivity into purpose. Let the anointing arise.

In Christ,
Shaliach.