Anointing of the Spirit

From Anstey’s Doctrinal Definitions:

This is an aspect of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit—which the believer receives when He believes the gospel—that gives him the power to walk in the path of faith and the capability of discerning truth from error (2 Cor. 1:21²¹Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; (2 Corinthians 1:21); 1 John 2:20, 27²⁰But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (1 John 2:20)
²⁷But 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)).

The indwelling of the Spirit is an exclusively Christian blessing. Old Testament saints had the Spirit come upon them to perform special acts of God, but the Spirit of God did not reside in them as He does with Christians. In fact, Christians have the Spirit’s presence in both ways (John 14:16¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16); Acts 2:1-4¹And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ²And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. ³And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. ⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1‑4)). The difference may be illustrated in a motor-boat and a sail-boat. One has its source of power from within and the other gets its power from the wind from without. The Old Testament saints are like the sailboat; they were “moved by the Holy Ghost [Spirit]” (2 Peter 1:21²¹For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:21)) when the Spirit came upon them. But like the blowing wind, this was intermittent. Those saved today in these Christian times have His divine presence within them at all times. Like the motor-boat, they are “led by the Spirit” (Rom. 8:14¹⁴For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)), and this is dependent on the believer’s surrender to the control of the Spirit who dwells within. This has to do with being “filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18¹⁸And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; (Ephesians 5:18)). (See Filled with the Spirit.)

The anointing of the Spirit of God was given to the Lord Jesus for the purpose of empowering His ministry. Scripture says, “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” (Acts 4:27; 10:38²⁷For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, (Acts 4:27)
³⁸How 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); Heb. 1:9⁹Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Hebrews 1:9)).