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Response
Certain Pentecostal and Charismatic congregations preach about receiving a “fresh anointing.” This new anointing is believed to be a renewed outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit upon believers’ lives, specifically to help them encounter more power, joy, and holiness. While the Bible contains teachings on anointing, instructing Christians to pursue a “new” anointing may not align with biblical principles, despite the good intentions and spiritual nature of the teaching.
When exploring the concept of a fresh anointing, let’s trace back to the Old Testament and progress towards the ministry of Jesus Christ and beyond.
In the Law, God provided instructions for creating “a sacred anointing oil” «and thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. », (Exodus 30:25). This oil was used to anoint the tabernacle, the Ark, the table and its utensils, the lampstand, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering, the laver, and Aaron and his sons (verses 26–30). Aaron and his sons were anointed to “consecrate them so they may serve [the Lord] as priests” «And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office. », (Exodus 28:41).
Throughout the Old Testament, we observe God commanding various individuals to be anointed as a symbol of their divine calling. The prophet Samuel anointed Saul with olive oil «Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? », (1 Samuel 10:1) and gave him this promise: “The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy . . . and you will be changed into a different person” (verse 6). Later, Samuel anointed David, with a similar result: “From that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David” «Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. », (1 Samuel 16:13). In these examples of Saul and David being anointed as kings of Israel, we also see that the Spirit of God came upon them. For this reason, oil or anointing is often seen as representative of the Holy Spirit.
Anointing did not always involve a literal pouring of oil. The term anointed is also used in the Bible to describe someone God chose for a particular task. For example, the Persian king Cyrus is called God’s “anointed” in Isaiah 45:1, although no one actually poured oil on Cyrus. That Persian king was simply being declared as set apart for service to God. Jesus bears the title Christ, which means “Anointed One”—Jesus was set apart for the ultimate service of God. After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the Spirit of God descended on Him like a dove (Matthew 3:13-16). “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and . . . he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” «how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. », (Acts 10:38).
Here is a wonderful truth: under the New Covenant iIn Christ Jesus, every believer is anointed by God for service. Every person who believes in Jesus Christ is forgiven and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. “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” «But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. », (1 John 2:27). “It is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).
The teaching of a “new anointing” following salvation is not found in the Bible. The Bible never tells us to ask for the Holy Spirit to come upon us for the simple reason that He has already come. All believers are supernaturally and permanently anointed by the Holy Spirit. We are declared holy by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Those who teach the concept of a “new anointing” tend to seek flashy supernatural experiences in their Christian journey. Individuals who claim to have encountered a new anointing may still question why they continue to face life’s challenges and why sin remains a formidable opponent. This is because every Christian encounters daily struggles, and no unique or fresh anointing will alter that reality.
