Floyd & Sally McClung

By Floyd McClung, February 10, 206

“Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for me the one I name to you…12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 1 Samuel 16:3

Anointing comes before appointing - God anoints and people appoint - Acts 6:3 “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business…” The use of anointing oil in the Old Testament signified those God had chosen to serve is various leadership roles. See also 2 Samuel 6:1 “… David gathered all the choice men of Israel…”

Anointing is for different giftings, roles and offices - 1 Kings 19:15 “Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint … Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.”

Se also Romans 12:4-6 “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us…”

See also Exodus 40:15 “You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”

In the New Testament order of things God has anointed people for five leadership gifts/roles:

1. Apostle
2. Prophet
3. Pastor
4. Teacher
5. Evangelist

Anointing brings spiritual order – God uses leaders to appoint leaders - Titus 1:5 “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you…”

Disorder and disarray occurs when leaders do not appoint leaders, leaders rebel against leaders and leaders do not lead by the word of the Lord.

Anointing is for empowering - Isaiah 10:27
    “It shall come to pass in that day
    That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder,
    And his yoke from your neck,
    And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.”

See also Exodus 29:7 “And you shall take the anointing oil, pour it on his head, and anoint him.” Also see Exodus 30:31 “And you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘this shall be a holy anointing oil to me throughout your generations.”

Anointing is for recognizing spiritual authority - Leviticus 21:10 “He who is the high priest among his brethren, on whose head the anointing oil was poured and who is consecrated to wear the garments, shall not uncover his head nor tear his clothes…” See also Numbers 4:16 “The appointed duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest is the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the daily grain offering, the anointing oil, the oversight of all the tabernacle, of all that is in it, with the sanctuary and its furnishings.”

There are three kinds of authority:

1. Task authority
2. Teaching authority
3. Spiritual authority

Anointing is for consecration – Leviticus 8:12 “And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him.” It is to set apart for a purpose.

Anointing is for wisdom and revelation - 1 John 2:27 “But 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, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” See also Revelation 3:18 “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”

Anointing signifies the blessing and presence of God - Psalms 23:5
    “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
    You anoint my head with oil;
    My cup runs over.”

Anointing is conditional - It can be lifted off a person’s life through disobedience and unrepented sin - 1 Samuel 15:10 “Now the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, 11 “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night.” See also Acts 5:32, “the holy Spirit, whom God has given to them that obey him…”