“The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the ” (Psalm 92:12–15, ESV)
· Notice that the righteous are compared to trees that find the right soil
· Every tree starts as a seed, which contains all of the genetic material and mapping for its entire lifespan
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
(Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)
· We develop strong roots when we intentionally put our lives in a place where the Spirit of God is at work
· Life in the Body helps us connect more completely to the Lord Jesus Christ
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
(Ephesians 4:15–16, ESV)
“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.” (1 John 2:20, ESV)
Most of the time, when we think about the anointing, we associate it with a special touch from heaven on something or someone
· Whether a sermon, a preacher, or a special service
· This view is too localized and not broad enough
The anointing has a bigger, more corporate component that is seldom referred to or understood

The Bible connects the idea of anointing with oil (olive oil, specifically)
· The OT word used for anoint or anointed means “to smear or pour over with oil”
· It is the base word from where we get Messiah, meaning “the Anointed One”
· Oil is a physical expression of the transference of spiritual power or authority
“Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. And he sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them. And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.” (Leviticus 8:10–12, ESV)
“You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water. Then you shall take the garments, and put on Aaron the coat and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastpiece, and gird him with the skillfully woven band of the ephod. And you shall set the turban on his head and put the holy crown on the turban. You shall take the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him. Then you shall bring his sons and put coats on them, and you shall gird Aaron and his sons with sashes and bind caps on them. And the priesthood shall be theirs by a statute forever. Thus you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.” (Exodus 29:4–9, ESV)
· The anointing oil was poured over the heads of kings like David and Saul
The prophet Samuel poured anointing oil upon David’s head, indicating he was God’s choice to be leader over Israel, instead of the people’s choice, Saul
“And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the ” (1 Samuel 16:12–13, ESV)
· Notice that when Samuel anointed David’s head, he did it differently than he did with Saul

He used a “horn of oil” as opposed to a “flask of oil” – 1 Samuel 10:1
Why? I'm glad you asked!
· A flask is a man-made object used to carry oil, just like Saul was a man-made leader
· He was everything the people of Israel wanted in a king
Outwardly, he was impressive, but inwardly, he was corrupt and insecure
“There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. And he had a son whose name was Saul, a handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.”
(1 Samuel 9:1–2, ESV)
· Saul was the people’s choice, not God’s
· He was a mirror selection of their own carnality and insecurity
Yes, there was empowerment, but the smearing of power and authority could not cover the fear and lack of integrity in his heart
· In fact, the only time that we know of when Saul prophesied was when he ran into a school of prophets
There is a distinct difference between an individual anointing upon a person and a corporate anointing upon a people
· More on this later
“Then he himself went to Ramah and came to the great well that is in Secu. And he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” And one said, “Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.” And he went there to Naioth in Ramah. And the Spirit of God came upon him also, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he too stripped off his clothes, and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night. Thus it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?””
(1 Samuel 19:22–24, ESV)
It was the spiritual environment that had been created in the Spirit by the school of prophets that influenced Saul’s messengers before him, and ultimately the king himself

David was everything that Saul wasn’t
· He was not the popular, out front, obvious leader-type in the eyes of men
He was even overlooked by his own father when Samuel came to inspect Jesse’s sons to select God’s chosen leader

“But the ”
(1 Samuel 16:7, ESV)
After turning away each of Jesse’s other sons, Samuel finally saw David as he came in from keeping his father’s sheep
· Immediately, the Lord spoke to Samuel's heart to anoint him
“And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the ” (1 Samuel 16:12–13, ESV)
· The horn is significant in this story
· A horn is a supernatural vessel
· Crafted by God’s magnificent design of the animal
· Usually, Ram’s horn
Just as the Lord at creation formed every part of an animal uniquely to reflect His wisdom and artistry, He uses His anointing to enhance His unique design for each person that it comes upon

When Samuel used the ram’s horn, it was a picture of God’s sovereign choice of David for His purposes
· As we read, the Spirit rushed upon David
· We do not see this when Saul was anointed
When we talk about the connection between the physical smearing or pouring of oil upon someone and the tangible Presence, power, and purpose of God, one doesn’t always guarantee the other
· It is possible to go through the motions externally without the empowerment of God’s favor spiritually
It isn’t oil that makes something holy or acceptable
· It is the purpose of God intersecting with the faith of God’s people
· This results in a physical demonstration of faith and worship
David’s life had been shaped all those years, faithfully keeping his father’s sheep
· No audience or accolades
· Fending off predators and honing his skills with the sling and the lyre
The psalmist of Israel learned to access the Presence of the Lord in worship in the obscurity of a shepherd's cave

Three Levels of the Anointing

An Individual Anointing
In the OT, the Presence of God dwelt in an earthly tabernacle
· In the NT, His Spirit dwells in the holy of holies of our hearts
Our bodies are the temple of the Lord
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV)
“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:12–13, ESV)
At the moment we are born again, God gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit to seal us as belonging to Him
· Affirming our sonship as well as leading and guiding us into the deeper Truth of God’s Kingdom
· He also empowers us with supernatural power and releases spiritual gifts through each of us
· This is part of our inheritance as children of God

The apostle John wrote about this
“But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.”
“I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.”
(1 John 2:20, 26–27, ESV)
First, every Christian has an anointing – It is the Presence of the Great Helper, the Spirit of Truth Himself
Secondly, the purpose of this individual anointing is to lead and instruct us in our relationship with Jesus, the Head of the Body
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would lead us into all truth and reveal Jesus to us in a deeper, more intimate fashion
· Jesus doesn’t just save us and keep us for heaven
· He comes and gives us His anointing as the divine Comforter and Counselor to lead us and guide us
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
(John 14:16-18, 26, ESV)
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:12–13, ESV)

If we don't see ourselves as changed or empowered but merely sinners saved by grace on our way to heaven, we will live far below our birthright
· We need a revelation of the Greater One dwelling in each of us
· We each have a measure of the anointing
· In the Spirit, heaven sees the same oil dripping off you as was present upon Jesus of Nazareth
None of us has the Spirit without measure, but we each have a portion
“But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (Ephesians 4:7, ESV)

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;”
(Romans 12:4–6, ESV)

The Specific Anointing
An anointing is different from just talent or a natural gifting
· Talents are natural in their orientation
· They are like seeds that can be developed and grown
· Part of our natural personalities or abilities
An anointing is supernatural in its orientation
· Remember, anointing means to smear or rub
· There has to be contact for the anointing to take place
The laying on of hands is a doctrine that conveys a transference of blessing, strength, or power – Hebrews 6:2; 1 Timothy 4:14
· It requires contact with the Holy Spirit and confirmation by others in Apostolic leadership
· An anointing is something we receive from God that isn’t ours in the first place
· It is given after contact is made
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.”
(1 Corinthians 12:12–18, ESV)
Whether fivefold leadership gifts, vocal, revelation, or power gifts, the Lord distributes as He wills – Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:11-16
· Each gift is unique and important
· God has called each of us unto a holy calling
· Being part of a Body helps you and others recognize the gifting on your life
“who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”
(2 Timothy 1:9, ESV)
The Cooperate Anointing
“On the holy mount stands the city he founded; the ”
(Psalm 87:1–3, ESV)
· In general, Zion is speaking of Jerusalem
· Yet more specifically, a specific hill just outside the central city
When David ushered back the Ark from the Philistines, he didn’t return it to Gibeon and the tabernacle of Moises
· Instead, he brought it to where David built his palace
· David had a new tabernacle (tent) built there
· One side of the tent was left open for all to see the ark
· He also appointed musicians to minister around the clock
· This is known as the tabernacle of David
· God enjoyed David’s decision
This is also a foreshadowing of Jesus, the Tabernacle of God, which now includes the members of His Body
“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,” (Heb 12:22–23, ESV)
Paul, writing of the corporate anointing, describes the mystery of what takes place in the Spirit when the Church gathers together, in proper order to worship Him in Spirit and truth
“in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
(Ephesians 2:21–22, ESV)
· This is a powerful image from heaven's perspective of what happens when we gather corporately
· Together in all of our parts represent Christ back to the heavenly realms as well as the world
I have walked into a worship service, feeling discouraged, not wanting to worship or preach
· When I have been picked up and carried by that corporate anointing, refreshed, encouraged, and rejuvenated
“The ”
(Zephaniah 3:17, ESV)
· The anointing breaks the heavy yoke! – Isaiah 10:27
· God is enthroned upon the praise of His people – Psalm 22:3
· This is what happened on the day of Pentecost – Acts 2:1-4