What Is the Anointing of the Holy Spirit? (Purposes, Power & Benefits)
If you have ever wondered what the anointing of the Holy Spirit really is, this Bible study explains its purpose, power, and practical benefits for believers today.
In Short: This message explains biblically what the anointing of the Holy Spirit is, why God anoints believers, and what the Spirit’s anointing accomplishes in their lives. In brief, God anoints believers with Holy Spirit power to empower them for effective witness and ministry, to proclaim the Good News of Jesus, to bring freedom, healing, and deliverance, to do good to others, to break spiritual bondage, and to help believers discern and hold to God’s truth as they grow in Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- The anointing of the Holy Spirit is God’s empowering presence upon believers for ministry and service.
- That anointing comes in the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
- The anointing gives power to witness for Jesus and to minister beyond natural ability.
- The Spirit's anointing opens the door wide to be used in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- Scripture connects the anointing with preaching the Good News, freedom, healing, deliverance, and doing good.
- The Holy Spirit’s anointing also helps believers discern truth and resist false teaching.
- This page presents the anointing not as mere symbolism, but as real spiritual empowerment for effective Christian living and ministry.
Key Scriptures: 1 Samuel 16:12-13; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Acts 1:5, 8; Luke 4:18-19; Acts 10:37-38; 1 John 2:20, 26-27
Welcome to Original Pentecostal
Sermons and Bible Studies
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.
Brief Bio: Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D., is a Pentecostal Bible teacher with more than 50 years of Spirit-filled ministry experience. His sermons and Bible studies are personally written and drawn from decades of service as a church planter, senior pastor, Bible college teacher and Dean, and as a trainer of ministers internationally in the Pentecostal tradition.
What Does the Anointing of the Holy Spirit Do? (The Short Answer)
What is the anointing of the Holy Spirit? What is its purpose, its importance, and its benefit in the believer’s life? In Scripture, The anointing of the Holy Spirit is God’s empowering presence upon believers for effective witness, ministry, and spiritual discernment. Let's see some details below.
The Anointing Brings Holy Spirit Enablement and Empowerment
In Scripture, the anointing signifies the Holy Spirit coming upon a person with power for God-given service.
- •• In the Old Testament and the New Testament alike, the anointing spoke of a special action and empowerment by the Holy Spirit.
- •• The future king David was anointed with oil by God's prophet. That was the outward expression. But what happened inwardly was far more important. That visible, outward act of anointing signified the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon him to equip him for the future God had for him.
- • So the question concerning the Holy Spirit’s anointing arises: anointed for what? Why does God anoint us and empower us with His Holy Spirit?
God Anoints "Us," His People, with the Holy Spirit
- •• First, let it be established that God anoints His people. “He anointed us” — King David, the apostle Paul, you, me, and millions more from then to now receive this Holy Ghost anointing from God and by God.
- • Let's investigate: for what purpose does He confer upon us this spiritual anointing, this "unction" of His Holy Spirit? To respectfully use a play on words, what is the function of the unction, of the anointing of the Holy Spirit?
The Anointing Imparts Power to Be Jesus' Witnesses
One central purpose of the Holy Spirit’s anointing is to give believers power to witness effectively for Jesus Christ.
- •• One central purpose, perhaps the main purpose, of the anointing of the Holy Spirit — which comes in the baptism with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5,8; 2:1-4) — is to give us power to “be [Christ’s] witnesses”. The Holy Spirit anointing brings the Lord's kingdom power into our lives and our ministries.
- • Many Christians fear witnessing because they think they have to do it with their own natural abilities, their own persuasive power, etc.
• No! — “You will receive power [to be His witnesses] when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” There are no powerless Christians when they are filled with the Holy Spirit and walking in the anointing power of God, having received their own personal Pentecost as the early disciples did in Acts 2.
• What does the power-imparting anointing of the Holy Spirit do in your life? It gives you Holy Ghost power that makes you a good witness. You are not limited by your own lack of skills or by your temperament. As Jesus promised, "you will receive power," an enablement by the Spirit of God to minister for the Lord beyond your natural capabilities.
In This Verse Are 5 Benefits and Purposes of the Spirit's Anointing
- •• In this verse five purposes of the anointing of the Holy Spirit, five aspects of the work, the role, of the Holy Spirit in us, five benefits of the anointing, the unction of the Spirit, are revealed:
- (1) to enable you “to preach [the] good news” effectively. The news we share about Jesus is “good”. The Holy Spirit's anointing will enable you to share it with impact.
(2) to make you a Spirit-filled messenger, a “proclaim[er of] freedom for the prisoners” — freedom from the prison of sin, of drugs, of depression, of life-dominating habits.
(3) You are anointed by the Holy Spirit to bring “recovery of sight for the blind” — both physical and spiritual healing, as Jesus did. Not only healing, but other gifts of the Holy Spirit begin to flow from the powerful anointing of the Holy Spirit of God in your life.
(4) You are anointed “to release the oppressed”. All around you are people oppressed by sin, by sickness, by demonic attacks, etc. You have a message of release for them.
(5) You are anointed by God through the Holy Spirit's empowerment “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” to people ignorant of the comforting message of God's grace.
The Holy Spirit Anointed Jesus While on Earth for His Powerful Ministry of Preaching, Teaching, Healing, and Overcoming the Devil
- •• The Holy Spirit anointing brings to you the power of God to go around “doing good”. Even our Lord Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit at the beginning of His ministry, and that sets a powerful example for us.
- • This Greek word root for “doing good” occurs only twice in the New Testament, and its meaning is that of a philanthropist or benefactor.
• Vine’s defines it as “to bestow a benefit...” The heaven-sent power to do good in ways even beyond our natural abilities is one of the benefits of the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit anointing is not just for healing, preaching, witnessing, delivering, and miracle-working power. Certainly the anointing of the Holy Ghost does impart spiritual gifts into our ministries. But it is also to empower us to be benefactors, doers of good, to needy people.- • Mother Teresa must have had a powerful anointing!
- •• On the spiritual side, the anointing gives you the Holy Spirit's power to break the devil’s yoke in people’s lives.
We Have an Anointing from the Great Teacher, the Holy Spirit, to Help Us to Hear, Discern, and Hold to God's Truths
- •• Finally, a major importance of the anointing of the Holy Spirit is that it empowers us believers to hear, discern, and hold to truth (vs. 20) — “You have an anointing ... and ... know the truth.”
- • This does not nullify the ministries of God-anointed pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11). Rather, the context (26) is in contrast to false teachers.
• The Holy Spirit's anointing will help you sort out false teachers and false teachings.
• “This anointing teaches you” — the believer is properly encouraged to read the Bible for him or herself. As they do so, the Spirit of God brings illumination and clarity.
Summary: 9 Scriptural Reasons to Seek the Anointing of the Holy Spirit
In sum, we are anointed by the Holy Spirit for many important and powerful purposes of that spiritual anointing, including:
- • Power to witness for Jesus
- • Power to share the Good News
- • Freedom for captives
- • Recovery of sight for the blind
- • Release for the oppressed
- • Proclamation of the Lord’s favor
- • Power to do good
- • Victory over the devil’s yoke
- • Discernment of truth
Frequently Asked Questions About the Anointing of the Holy Spirit
Below are clear, Bible-based answers to some of the most common questions about the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
What is the anointing of the Holy Spirit?
The anointing of the Holy Spirit is God’s empowering presence upon a believer for ministry, service, and spiritual effectiveness. In Scripture, anointing is more than a symbol; it represents the Holy Spirit coming upon a person with power to fulfill God’s purposes. The anointing, which comes upon believers in the baptism with the Holy Spirit, equips them to witness for Jesus, minister to others, and serve beyond natural ability. It is a real spiritual enablement given by God.
What does the anointing of the Holy Spirit do?
The anointing of the Holy Spirit empowers believers to preach the Gospel, witness for Christ, help people find freedom, minister healing, and do good in Jesus’ name. It also strengthens believers spiritually by helping them discern truth and resist false teaching. The anointing is not merely emotional excitement; it is divine empowerment for practical Christian life and ministry. Scripture shows that God gives this anointing for real spiritual results.
Is the anointing of the Holy Spirit the same as the baptism in the Holy Spirit?
The anointing of the Holy Spirit comes on believers initially in the baptism in the Holy Spirit and continues on with them as they walk with the Lord. Acts 1:5 and 1:8 show that when the Holy Spirit comes upon believers, they receive power to be Christ’s Spirit-filled witnesses. That empowerment is the very heart of the Spirit’s anointing.
Why does God anoint believers?
God anoints believers so they can fulfill His purposes with Holy Spirit power rather than mere human strength. Scripture shows that believers are anointed to preach the Good News, proclaim freedom, bring healing, help the oppressed, and point people to the Lord’s favor. God’s anointing equips His people to minister effectively in Christ’s name. It is given so believers can serve with spiritual power, truth, compassion, and fruitfulness.
What are the benefits of the anointing of the Holy Spirit?
The benefits of the anointing of the Holy Spirit include power to witness, strength for ministry, spiritual discernment, greater effectiveness in helping others, and empowerment to bring freedom and blessing in Jesus’ name. The anointing helps believers minister beyond their natural ability. It also helps them recognize truth, avoid error, and remain grounded in God’s Word. In short, the anointing benefits both the believer and the people to whom that believer ministers.
Does the anointing of the Holy Spirit help believers discern truth?
Yes. First John 2:20 and 27 show that believers have an anointing from the Holy One that helps them know and remain in the truth. This does not eliminate the need for pastors and teachers, but it does help Christians discern false teaching and receive spiritual clarity as they read the Bible. The Holy Spirit teaches, illumines, and guides believers into truth. One important purpose of the anointing is to help God’s people stay rooted in what is true.
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Read more on the anointing at our sermon: Anointing for Ministry by the Holy Spirit
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©2002, 2015-18, James H. Feeney.
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Pentecostal Sermons and Bible Studies
by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.