How anointed is the man of God?

“ How 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.” (Act 10:38).

There is noise everywhere. Churches, ministries are springing up here and there like mushroom and also leaders who claim to be anointed for the work of ministry. Some of these people are happy to be referred to as “anointed men of God”. Of course, God knows those who are His. However, in the midst of noise, there are still some genuine men of God who are in the field because they have the stamp of authority to do so.

Notice, in the sermon Peter gave in Cornelius house before the Gentiles; he did not mince words when he acknowledged how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and Power. Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, we saw a manifestation of God’s power as He went about doing good and healing all manner of sicknesses and diseases. He gave a magna Charter of His ministry when He noted thus “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord”, Luke 4:18-19.

The work of ministry requires anointing for result to be recorded on the mission filed. The word “anoint” that is used primarily in the Old Testament Septuagint and the New Testament Greek, comes from the Greek word ‘Chrio’. This word originally denoted the smearing or rubbing of oil or perfume upon an individual. It also means to set someone apart, to authorise and equip him or her for a task of spiritual importance. Necessarily, in Bible times people were anointed with oil to signify God’s blessing or call on that person’s life, Exodus 29:27. Whether as a Priest or a King or a Prophet it is this special anointing that changes everything in someone’s life and ministry. You can observe that with its presence somebody behind can come forward, overtaking the other with greater speed.

Among the orthodox or established Churches, particularly in the Anglican Church, she recognises the importance of anointing men who present themselves for the work of ministry. It is not done for doing sake, but it is acknowledged that one truly called and anointed for the work of ministry will go and represent her Lord in the field. Definitely, he follows in the footsteps of her master whose anointing culminated according to Luke on the bodily descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove at His baptism, Luke 3:22.

It is unfortunate today, some gospel merchants, in order to seek relevance and attention claim to be anointed men of God. To a reasonable extent they go extra mile in acquisition of power to make it look as if it is from God. They may have large flowing congregations, but God is not deceived. However, like the parable of the wheat and the tar, both would be allowed to grow together, but a separation is imminent and people will receive their rewards according to their deeds.

Remember, it is God that equips His people by way of anointing and such motivates one to perform accordingly. The scripture says: “you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you”, Acts 1:8. We have about 76 verses on anointing with oil or rubbing or unction in the Bible. With anointing, it breaks every yoke, (And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing), Isaiah 10:27.

Therefore, it is a reminder to all men and women who serve the Lord that they need His anointing in order to make a difference in ministry. Anybody labouring without this anointing may discover that he or she will keep on struggling with the work of ministry. We need the anointing as the anointed men of God to perform at all times and in all places backed up with signs and wonders, which is a manifestation of God’s stamp of authority in our lives and not the other way round. Yes, the case of Jesus of Nazareth is highly appreciated here.

Ven. Ernest Onuoha
Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical
Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.
www.ibrucentre.org