Unction

Unction

But ye have an unction from the Holy One. Ye are anointed with the Holy Spirit. – 1 John 2:20 (KJV)

Acts 16:12-15

 12 From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days.

 13 On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there.

 14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.

 15 She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.

What is electricity and how does it work?

Electricity is made up of atoms. These atoms are a secondary energy source generated from the conversion of “primary sources” of energy such as coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power, solar power, and so on.

Electricity travels in closed circuits. It has to have a complete path before electrons can move through it. When you turn on a light by flipping a switch, you close a circuit. Of course, this means that by flipping a switch off, you open a circuit. Electricity flows from the electric wire, through a light bulb, and back into the wire. The same concept applies to your television or your appliances – when you turn them on, you close a circuit for electricity to flow through the wires and power them (https://justenergy.com/).

You can have a fantastic light bulb. It is capable of producing light and warmth, but without electricity, it remains dark and cold.

The unction of the Holy Spirit is like electricity. People without unction are just like light bulbs without electricity. The unction or anointing of the Holy Spirit is the power that enables children of the King to serve Him and bring light and warmth to a dark, fallen world.

Biblical understanding and communication begin with the factual knowledge of the objective Word of God. But spiritual understanding is also essential. How do we acquire knowledge and understanding? We need the Holy Spirit to receive, comprehend, appropriate, and communicate divine truth (Grant Richison).

The story of Lydia illustrates how the Holy Spirit works. The Father opened her heart to understand and accept what she heard. It is the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit that ultimately draws people to the Lord Jesus Christ.

REFLECT & PRAY

The enemy of our souls does not want the glorious light of salvation to shine into people’s hearts. As the god of this age and the prince of this world, Satan is at work to keep us in the dark (Wiersbe).

Father thank You for providing the unction of the Holy Spirit. Thank You that my heart was opened to understand and accept the Truth of the Word of God.

INSIGHT

During the Old Testament period, anointing involved both recognition and empowerment. Kings and priests were physically anointed with oil. Being anointed with oil was analogous to an inauguration ceremony. Anointing empowered many individuals to carry out the Father’s tasks. The Old Testament prophets were anointed as needed by the Holy Spirit to receive the Father’s revelation and pass it on as prophesy.

Ezekiel 11:5 the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me . . ..

Old Testament prophets needed power from the Holy Spirit to speak and communicate the Father’s message. They were like lamps capable of illuminating and bringing light and warmth. but required energy to function. The power came from their unction.

The Greek term translated as unction or anointing is chrisma. Charisma comes from chrio, to anoint. Chrio literally meant to spread or pour oil or ointment. Chrisma was also used for commissioning and empowerment.

During the Old Testament period, special anointing oil was prepared. It was referred to as chrisma hagion – holy oil. In the New Testament, chrisma was also used for the empowering work of the Holy Spirit. 

The Greek word chrisma is used only three times in the New Testament 1 John 2:20, 1 John 2:27, and 2 Corinthians 1:21. The unction of the children of the King is not physical “oil of anointing” (Exodus 9:7). Rather, they were anointed with something vastly superior, the Holy Spirit – pneuma hagion.

The apostle John writes to the children of the King to remind them of who they are and what they already have. “The object of the apostle in writing was not to communicate fresh knowledge, but to bring into active and decisive use the knowledge which his readers already possessed” (Wescott).

Through the unction of the Holy Spirit, children of the King are given spiritual insight and the ability to communicate it powerfully. Prophets not only communicate, but they also stimulate reflection which often leads to a perspective transformation by the recipients.

1 John 2:20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One. Ye are anointed with the Holy Spirit.

Lydia was a woman of faith. She was a God-fearing Gentile. Lydia desired to be around the children of the King and hear God’s word. What motivated her behavior? The Holy Spirit was working within her. She felt the tug of the Holy Spirit in her heart. The Holy Spirit opened her heart.

Acts 16:14 One of them was Lydia . . . who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.

The opening of Lydia’s heart occurred in conjunction with the unction of the Holy Spirit empowering Paul’s words.

1 John 2:27 As for you, the anointing which you received from Him lives in you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true – it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

Feeling the tug of the Lord is common among children of the King. When we hear His voice, our response should be, Father, what would You have me do?

Pause for a moment and allow these words to sink in.

The ancient Greeks deduced that verbal proclamation would have the greatest force or influence if it had three essential characteristics – logos, ethos, and pathos. These three formed one inseparable whole. Logos referred to the intellectual and rational content of what was spoken. Did it make rational sense? Was it true? Did it correspond to reality?  Ethos had to do with the ethical element of the spoken word. Did the speaker affirm that which was morally good or right, and thereby beautiful. The union of logos and ethos resulted in pathos. Pathos was the passion with which the speaker spoke (https://www.placefortruth.org/blog/the-unction-of-the-holy-spirit).

What people hear, absorb, and react to is unique for each person. The Holy Spirit is responsible for all of these things. The unction of the Holy Spirit opens the heart and mind that the father’s message may be heard and accepted.

Is the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart?

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© Dr. H 2022