Unction of The Holy Spirit

 “we have the unction”1John:2:20

The Greek word translated unction is Charisma it means to “smear” as anointing oil it can mean an endowment.

This same word is used a bit latter in St. John’s 1^st Epistle but here it has been rendered as anointing

In verse 27 same word is translated anointing.

“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.”(27)

What is the unction? Do Christians today have it? Have you had “unction” of the Holy Spirit? How would know? What form does it take?

Does This Happen Today?

While preaching pastors or teachers might have the “unction” of the Holy Spirit and it can be experienced as a sudden burst of understanding or insight in regard to a subject or a verse which they had not previously considered nor planned in the preparation to address or information that presses into the speaker’s stream of conciseness.

Or it may be experienced as a strong prompting from within to speak on a subject or to address a particular person. Or it can a persistent thought which is recurring and seems that it will not fade,  or maybe something just stays on your mind until you do or not do the subject of the prompting.

We can receive the “unction” to pray for a person or situation or find our prayers to be very intense regrading a person.  This may come upon us suddenly at unusual times, we may find ourselves awoken suddenly for no apparent reason  from sleep with a person, a friend or pastor “heavy” on our heart or to get up and prayed for the person

During Bible Study whether alone or in a group setting or hearing a sermon a verse will suddenly take on a “highly personal meaning” that it seems to be speaking directly to us, or understanding will surface in minds which we had not known.

How to Discern

How can we know if such “unction” or “prompting” and leading are of God or Satan or just the self? Is there a way for us to know?

The first thing is, that if an “unction” is coming from the Holy Spirit it will never lead us to do anything which is contrary to what we find revealed in the Holy Word of God. 

The “unction” will always be “edifying” and will build up rather than tear down, it will augment rather than diminish a person and will be for the good, it will challenge our human nature and will be opposed to the pulls of the flesh.

St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Christians at Roman that we are led by the Holy Spirit but we are not “forced” by the Holy Spirit, that is, God will not usurp our own personal sovereignty.

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.  The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship” Rom: 8:14-15

St. Paul also even in relationship to the “gifts of the Spirit” they are exercised under our own control. The Holy Spirit somehow does not displace us, but rather we are able to choose to or not to respond to the Spirit’s prompting, which in most cases is gentle

“Spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets” 1Cor:14:32-33

Over time as we grow in Christian maturity and gain experiences with our Lord we will come know if it is God or not, because we know and recognize his voice. That does not mean that we will hear an audible voice, but that is not to say that God cannot or has never done spoke in such a way   with a believer. 

The voice of God which we come to recognize is that of a calm, gentle, patient and understanding, yet filled with a passionate love toward and for us all.

“the Sheep know my voice” John:10:27

This knowing the voice of our Lord is what we come to read in the Psalms when the Psalmist wrote.

“be still and know that I am God” Ps:46:10

We hear God speaking to us through Bible Study and counsel with God’s ministers and fellowship through the brethren and prayer and worship in our local assemblies

Glorifying Jesus

 If it is the “unction” of God which is set upon us by the Holy Spirit, the prompting will glorify God through Jesus Christ. Will set our minds and heart to always look to and trust Jesus for the Holy Spirit will always point us to Christ and in always in all things seek to give us a deeper revelation of who Jesus is. If the sources of the impulse which has arisen in our hearts is anything else it will seek to glorify the self and satisfy the flesh in some form.

The “unction” of the Holy Spirit will strengthen or reconcile a relationship with God and others binding each closer together in Christian fellowship and or set stage for future reconciliation. That calls upon us to grow in our own maturity as children of God.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”Eph: 4:2-3

 Conditions for Unction

There are times some may believe that they are acting on an “unction” from God, but in truth, they have a personal agenda that is being undertaken. There are times when, at the very moment the “unction” occurred, it was from the Spirit but then the flesh wants it way and a personal agenda develops, the person in a moment of immaturely looks to uses the situation to their advantage and advancement,   this something we must guard against.

We can take on the protection preventing from the flesh from detracting from what God wants to do in and through a believer. We need to keep our minds and hearts stayed ever on Jesus and all things relation to Saviour.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Col: 3:1-2

Through a singular view upon Jesus and steady intake of the Word of God then our minds will be transformed into the mind of Christ.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete “.2Cor:10:5

We are to look ever to our Lord Jesus, the deeper of a relationship with Jesus we have the more familiar becomes his voice and the clearer we can perceive the “unction” of the Spirit.

 “Fix your eyes on Jesus” Heb:12:1-2

This will ensure that we serve our Lord and God all for the glory of Jesus.

 Benediction: May we each and all ever respond to the gentle unction of the Holy Spirit so that we might serve our Lord ever more effectively, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.

Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor
The Fountain of life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion 2101 Old National Pike,  Washington, Pennsylvania, 15301     www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard  on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com

You can follow the Fountain of Life on Face Book - Click on our Face Book link : https://www.facebook.com/Fountain-of-Life-Church-349595355088375/

"If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"