David Diga Hernandez - The Anointing CLEARLY Explained

What is the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and what does it do in our lives? Let’s take a look at the Word of God for answers. The word «anoint» means to smear or to rub. In the Old Testament, there was something called the anointing ceremony, in which a prophet of God would pour oil over the head of an individual or, in other cases, they would smear or rub oil onto certain items. This pouring of oil represented the Holy Spirit of God coming upon someone for a specific purpose. For example, when David was anointed to be king, this is how it looked: 1 Samuel 16:13. So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with oil, and the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah. This is an example of the anointing ceremony. In this specific instance, David was being marked by God as the next king of Israel. When the prophet poured the oil on David, God was smearing His nature and rubbing His nature onto David so that he could be set apart to fulfill a purpose, thus receiving divine backing and authority for sanctification. The prophet marked David as the next king, and in doing so, the power of the Holy Spirit was released—not because there was power necessarily in the oil, but because there was power in that symbolic act. As David was being marked with oil, he was also being marked with the Holy Spirit. This is again a mark of sanctification. When God anoints someone, or when someone in the Old Testament underwent the anointing ceremony, it was a sign to everyone that this person is marked, this person is set apart, and this person has been purposed for a specific task that God has given to them. Not only that, but they are being given divine authority to carry out that task.

So, as we just saw in the Old Testament, kings were anointed (see 1 Samuel 16:1 and 13), prophets were anointed (see 1 Kings 19:16), priests were anointed (take a look at Exodus 28:41), and special holy items and places, such as altars, were anointed (see Exodus 29:36). In the Old Testament, whenever God wanted to set apart an individual or an item as being holy or purposed for something divine, that person or item would be anointed or have oil poured or rubbed on them. This was a symbol that God was marking them or smearing His nature on them.

Now, let’s take a look at how this looks in the New Testament. In the New Testament, we actually still use oil (see Mark 6:13). «And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.» James 5:15 says, «Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.» Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well; and if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

So we see that in the New Testament, we still use oil. We use oil when praying over someone and commissioning them into ministry. We use oil when praying over the sick. We can use oil when praying for people to be delivered from demonic power. So the oil still works. But why does it work? It’s not because there’s power in the oil itself; it’s because there’s power in the act of obedience or the act of faith in using oil. You don’t have to use oil to pray for the sick. You don’t have to use oil to cast out devils. You don’t have to use oil for anything. However, when you do use it and there’s faith involved, God will back that. Why? Because the oil represents something; the oil is symbolic of something or rather someone (see Acts 10:38). «And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.»

Notice here that the Scripture says that Jesus was anointed, not with oil, but with the Holy Spirit. God anointed Jesus with Holy Spirit power, and you and I are anointed in the same way. That Old Testament ceremony, that smearing of the oil, is symbolic of God marking His people with the Holy Spirit. Just as an anointing ceremony would set someone apart, the Holy Spirit sets us apart. When God pours out His Holy Spirit on His people, He’s setting them apart for a purpose; He’s backing them with divine authority, marking them and saying, «This one is Mine, set aside for a special purpose.» When we’re marked with the Holy Spirit, we are set aside as holy. We are sanctified; we are put into places of authority and power when God pours out His Holy Spirit upon us. Therefore, the Old Testament shadow, namely the oil, represents the New Testament substance, which is the Holy Spirit.

It’s not charisma or good preaching or an exciting personality; that’s not what the anointing is. The anointing, quite simply, is the power of the Holy Spirit. The anointing is the power of God in our lives used to do mighty works. So, what does the anointing do? Before I answer that, let me make this clear: there’s only one anointing. Now, that anointing can affect your life in many ways.