What Does It Mean to Be Anointed by God?
April 20, 2022
9 Comments
What Does It Mean to Be Anointed by God?
By Brooke Holt
“You yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him” (Acts 10:37–38).
What a sight it must have been to see Jesus baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist. John had done hundreds of baptisms in the Jordan River, but none like Jesus. Luke describes the day: “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased’” (Luke 3:21–22). Take a moment to imagine yourself standing by and watching. The heavens opened, the Spirit descended, and a voice spoke from heaven. No one had ever seen or heard this kind of thing before the baptism of Jesus.
Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit, and he lived faithfully by that Spirit. What does it mean to be anointed by God? It means that Jesus was given everything he needed for life and godliness. Through that Holy Spirit, he had the strength to overcome temptation. He had spiritual wisdom that surpassed those who studied the Law and the Prophets. And he had power in his teaching, preaching, and healing of illness, demon possession, and infirmity. Jesus was no ordinary man; he was the Son of God who lived in the leading and power of the Holy Spirit. Because Jesus embraced the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit, he lived a perfect, sinless life—while still experiencing all the temptations that we encounter.
If you are in Christ, you have been filled with the Holy Spirit. The Lord has a calling on your life that can only be fulfilled if you live in the anointing of that Spirit. That means daily surrender, daily filling, and daily obedience to his plans and purpose. Not one time, but every day, all day. To be anointed by God is to be filled with all the fullness of God so that you can faithfully do his work in this world. “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3).
Reflection:
Are you living as one who has been anointed by God? There is joy and purpose in embracing your calling and purpose in Christ. Are you tapping into the power of the Holy Spirit within you and asking to be filled anew each day? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Related Resource:
Jesus calls the Holy Spirit a "gift" who will guide us, lead us, and empower us. Yet many believers don't experience the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This unique Christian small group Bible study provides a space in which we can explore what it truly means to "walk in the Spirit" on a daily basis. The Spirit-Filled Life small group curriculum centers on a 6-part video teaching series examining the life-giving and creative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Begin to experience the gift today!
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Millie
November 01, 2023
I feel the Lord has led me to read the Bible for the Bible is truth. I feel I can be bold about who I am in Christ.