The Unction of The Holy Spirit  

The Unction of The Holy Spirit  

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

From there, we reached Philippi, a major city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony.  

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

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.

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 the movement of tiny, charged particles called electrons within atoms. For an electrical device to operate, the circuit must be continuous and unbroken. Turning on a switch completes the circuit, allowing electricity to flow through wires to the device, while turning it off breaks the circuit, stopping the flow. This simple process allows a light bulb to light up, a TV to function, or household appliances to work.

A light bulb may be well-designed and capable of producing light and heat, but without electricity, it cannot serve its purpose. Despite its construction, it remains dark and cold until electrical power reaches it. Therefore, electricity is not just useful but essential for the bulb to work as intended.

The Empowering Unction of The Holy Spirit

The term “unction,” derived from Latin unctio. Initially, the term referred simply to the application of oil. Over time, however, it came to signify “anointing with oil as a recognition of divine calling.” In the Old Testament, this practice was associated with the “setting apart of kings, priests, and prophets for sacred service.”In the New Testament, the meaning becomes more profound, emphasizing “the inner work of the Holy Spirit that empowers and consecrates believers for God’s purposes.”

At its core, unction refers to an anointing for divine service. It is the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit at work in a person’s life, turning knowledge into strength and words into conduits of divine life rather than mere speech.  

A child of the King may possess ability, education, and sincere intentions, yet without the Spirit’s anointing, there is no genuine spiritual power behind their labor. Human skill and knowledge, valuable as they are, can never substitute for the grace and empowerment that come from the Holy Spirit alone.

This relationship between the believer and the Spirit may be compared to electricity and a light bulb. A light bulb is designed to give light, but it remains dark without electrical current passing through it. In the same way, children of the King depend on the unction of the Holy Spirit to serve effectively. When His power is at work within us, hearts are stirred, minds are enlightened, and the truth of God is communicated not merely as speech, but as a life-transforming reality.

The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Understanding

Effective communication and accurate biblical understanding start with knowing the Word of God. However, mere knowledge isn’t enough. To truly understand, apply, and share the truth correctly, spiritual discernment and insight are essential. Believers must rely on the Holy Spirit for this deeper comprehension. The work of the Holy Spirit enables us to receive God’s truth, understand its meaning, apply it practically, and proclaim it clearly, faithfully, and convincingly.

REFLECT & PRAY

The enemy of our souls does not want the glorious light of salvation to shine in human hearts. As the god of this age and the ruler of this world, Satan works to keep people in spiritual darkness.

Father, thank You for providing the unction of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for opening my heart to understand and receive the truth of Your Word.

INSIGHT

Anointing in The Old Testament

During the Old Testament era, anointing signified both recognition and empowerment. Kings and priests were physically anointed with oil, much like a formal inauguration that publicly marked them for a sacred office. Anointing also equipped individuals to carry out the Father’s assignments. The prophets, in particular, were empowered by the Holy Spirit as needed to receive divine revelation and communicate it faithfully.

Ezekiel 11:5: “Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and he said to me, ‘Say this to the people: “This is what the Lord says…’”

Old Testament prophets needed the power of the Holy Spirit in order to speak and communicate the Father’s message. They were like lamps designed to give light and warmth, yet still dependent on an outside source of power in order to shine. That essential power was supplied through the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

The Meaning of Chrisma

The Greek term translated as “unction or anointing” is chrisma. It comes from chrio, which means to “anoint.” In its most literal sense, chrio referred to “spreading or pouring oil or ointment.” Over time, chrisma also came to carry the idea of “commissioning and empowering.”

During the Old Testament period, a special anointing oil was prepared and set apart as holy. In the New Testament, however, chrisma points beyond ceremonial oil to the “empowering work of the Holy Spirit.”

The Greek word chrisma appears only three times in the New Testament: 1 John 2:20, 1 John 2:27, and 2 Corinthians 1:21. The unction given to the children of the King is not a physical oil of anointing. Instead, believers have been anointed with something far greater: the Holy Spirit Himself.

The Unction of The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit enables children of the King to gain deep spiritual understanding and communicate divine truth with clarity, authority, and compelling force. Through the Spirit, believers are not merely informed; they are illuminated internally, spiritually strengthened, and prepared to speak in ways that engage both the intellect and the heart. His presence adds depth, conviction, and effectiveness.

This is particularly clear in prophetic ministry, where prophets, guided by the Holy Spirit, speak in ways that awaken the conscience, stir the inner life, and call listeners to thoughtful, serious reflection. Their words often serve as the means through which God reveals error, shows the true state of the heart, and facilitates a decisive shift in understanding.

Spirit-empowered speech is not just about sharing ideas; it acts as a channel for spiritual awakening. The Holy Spirit uses their words to reshape perceptions, strengthen convictions, and guide the mind toward deeper spiritual truths. What is heard is not only processed intellectually but also felt deeply with urgency. Consequently, listeners may experience renewed understanding, repentance, and a deeper grasp of God’s truth.

1 John 2:20: “But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.”

Lydia and the Opening of the Heart

Lydia stands as a compelling example of how the Holy Spirit prepares individuals to receive the truth of God. She is described as a worshiper of God, a Gentile woman; her heart was already inclined toward the Father. Her eagerness to hear God’s Word and join the King’s children was more than mere curiosity or intellectual pursuit. It signified the Holy Spirit’s gracious work within her, drawing her, sparking spiritual hunger, and readying her to embrace salvation.

Acts 16:14 records: “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.”

This verse reveals an essential truth about conversion and spiritual understanding. Lydia listened outwardly to the preaching of Paul, but inwardly it was the Lord who opened her heart. Though the Word was proclaimed by a human messenger, its saving effect was accomplished by God. This moment beautifully illustrates the harmony between the external proclamation of Scripture and the internal ministry of the Holy Spirit. Paul spoke the message audibly, but the Spirit made that message living, persuasive, and effective within Lydia’s heart.

Her story shows that genuine faith is never produced by eloquence, intellect, or human persuasion alone. Lydia did not come to understanding merely because she heard words; she came because God enabled her to receive those words with faith. The opening of her heart was an act of divine grace. It was the Spirit who gave her understanding, stirred her affections, and inclined her will to embrace the truth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lydia becomes a powerful example of how the Spirit draws individuals to Christ, opens their hearts to the truth, and leads them into saving faith. Lydia’s heart was opened as the Holy Spirit’s anointing empowered Paul’s preaching. This moment reveals the beautiful cooperation between the proclamation of God’s Word and the inward work of the Spirit. The message was spoken outwardly, but the Spirit made it effective inwardly.

The Unction Conjunction

In Acts 10:38, two great streams of divine truth converge in Christ. Peter declares, “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.”

He is anointed in the Old Testament sense of being officially recognized and set apart as the Messiah of Israel. He is also anointed “with the Holy Spirit and with power.” This points forward to New Testament Spirit-filled enablement. In Him, anointing signifies both “divine appointment to sacred office” and “divine empowerment for active service.”

The Old Testament concept of consecration to office finds its highest expression in Him. God anointed the LordJesus Christ as the promised Messiah, the highest office imaginable. He is the ultimate Prophet, the true Priest, and the eternal King.

Jesus was anointed “with the Holy Spirit and with power.” His preaching, healing, deliverance, and works of mercy were energized by the Spirit of God. Wherever He went, truth was spoken, the broken were restored, the oppressed were liberated, and the goodness of God was made visible. Peter summarized the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. He “went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

But there’s more: The Greek words chriō, chrisma, and Christos are closely related, all deriving from the same root idea of “anointing.”

Christos means “Anointed One.” This is the title translated into English as Christ. The term Christ is not Jesus’ last name, but His messianic title. It identifies Him as the One uniquely anointed by God to fulfill the offices of prophet, priest, and king.

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word translated as “Messiah” or “Anointed One” is māshîaḥ. This is the word from which the English term Messiah is derived.

In the Old Testament, “anointed” can refer to priests, kings, and sometimes prophets who were set apart by God for special service. Over time, however, the term took on a deeper prophetic significance, pointing forward to the coming Messiah, the ultimate Anointed One.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

© Dr. H