Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 9: 1-18
“Let they garment be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment” – Ecclesiastes 9:8 (KJV)
Anointing is to the Christian what oil is to engine and vehicles. Where there is no engine oil, there is friction, rust and roughness. This could lead to engines knocking or engine failure. As oil is needed to lubricate the engine for effective and free functioning so is anointing needed for Christian life and services.
Ministry is so frustrating without the anointing. People struggle to live a victorious Christian life and are often frustrated in their Christian service because of lack of anointing.
The anointing within, the indwelling Holy Spirit, enables character development and victorious living, while the anointing upon the believer enables Christian service. When a Christian walks in the anointing, service to the brethren and ministry to the outside world are enhanced. Such anointing is the unction to function or the oil that lubricates for service. The more anointing one carries the more fruitful and effective in service.
The believer is admonished to let the garment be always white. At new birth, one receives the righteousness of Christ in place of the garment stained with sin (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
However, it is the believer’s responsibility to ensure that the whiteness or purity of the garment is maintained. This is achieved by holy living and practical outworking of our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). Daily walking in obedience to the word of God will ensure that the garment, which is holy living, will enhance the anointing. The anointing is God’s presence and power in the life of the believer.
The Holy Spirit quickens the word in our lives to enable us walk in the anointing. As we give ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word, we ensure that our heads lack no oil. Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, unbroken communion and obedience to the spirit will enhance the anointing. However, we should note that the anointing depletes as we draw constantly to confront challenges of life, to overcome temptation and to minister and function in our place of calling. Hence the need to ensure that the head lack no oil. There is the need for constant filling.
To be under the influence of the anointing one will need to be constantly filled with the spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to constantly walk in the anointing.
Rev. Vincent Diolu