When we become vessels possessed with nothing other than the Tree of Life – watch out. This is known as anointing. The fruit comes naturally in its season and it works the work of God. His love and will is expressed through us. His mind is shared with us. Those things that normally tempt us lose their attraction. Religious activity does not attract us; it repulses us. Instead, we are obedient to Christ’s command: we wait, we are filled, and then we act.
Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” {He said,} “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now;…but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. Acts 1:4-8
Finally, the knowledge of good and evil has met its match: the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In water baptism our carnal nature suffers death; we are born-again. In Holy Spirit baptism God’s Spirit is born within us. The inner, eye-opening voice of knowledge gained in Eden, that knowledge which plagues us, is now eclipsed by the very voice and power of God. Now, when we know and do, it is by the Spirit of God revealing, directing and empowering us.
For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14
Along with the blessing of being led and used of God, we experience something new: the fruit of the Spirit. In our fleshly state, we could only produce that which was natural to it:
Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21
Now, the glorious difference is that God’s Spirit within us can only produce the fruit that is natural to God:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
The effects of anointing are without bounds. The very hand of the Creator easily overcomes the time and place restrictions of the natural world. Let us not seek “signs” but if we see the supernatural working through us let us humbly submit to His purposes with no agenda of our own.
When we understand our place of vessel status we do not worry that there are normal fluctuations to this filling. Anointing is not under our control. Anointing has one purpose: to work the will of God. When we begin to believe our anointing requires certain formulas to be met, we have once again been deceived by the temptation to be as gods.
Please Note!
Our two natures still compete and co-exist even in the midst of anointing. We may find the two at war with each other. Between the two is the voice of the knowledge of good and evil giving bad counsel. It tells us to protect the flesh’s love of power and dismiss the voice of the Holy Spirit’s demands of purity. The knowledge of good and evil will reason with us that we are as god until we begin to believe the serpent’s lies. Finally, the serpent uses God’s own, loving nature to deceive us to give in to sin: God is merciful; God will forgive you.
Many men and women who experience anointing shock their brothers and sisters with expressions of the carnal nature. When these sins are exposed and become public knowledge, the Church suffers a season of confusion and disillusionment. Those who cause their brothers and sisters (the Body of Christ) to suffer face a long and painful road back. Most will choose to continue in their sin.
When you have seasons of anointing, be on your guard. Pray daily, hourly that you will not be led into temptation. Those around you should be watchful on your behalf. No one should rejoice or be excited about their season of anointing. It is a time of serious business – God’s business and whenever God is at work to bring life, Satan is there to bring death.