Communion With the Christ:: The Unction of the Holy Spirit

“we have the unction” 1John: 2:20

Some Believers can mistake hyper emotionalism or unorthodox behavior for the Unction of the Spirit, or they may behave in a way which they have been told they are expected to behave in ecstatically or flamboyance or unusual ways, or that the Unction of God is only manifested in a specific way in the life of Christians.

The Greek word translated "unction" is Charisma , it means to “smear” as anointing oil would be applied. It can be viewed as setting a part to receive an endowment which is bestowed upon us for the fulfillment of a role.

This same word Charisma is used in St. John’s 1st Epistle, but here, it has been rendered by translators as anointing.

In verse 27 the same word is translated anointing.

“As for you, 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.” (27)

What is the unction? Do Christians today have it? Do Christians have the “unction” of the Holy Spirit? How would we know? What form(s) does the unction of the Spirit take within the lives of Christians?

Does The Unction Happen Today?

While preaching, pastors or teachers might have the unction of the Holy Spirit. The unction can be experienced as a sudden burst of understanding or insight in regards to a subject or a verse which they had not previously considered nor planned for in the preparation of the sermon.

This unction, can lead to addressing information which presses or emerges into the speaker’s stream of consciousness in such a way that it cannot be ignored and must be spoken. There is a gentle but powerful persistent compulsion to speak which is experienced.

The unction may be experienced as a strong prompting from within to speak on a subject or to address a particular person(s). Or , it can be a persistent thought which is recurring and seems that it will not fade, or , it could be something that just lingers on our minds until you act or do , or not do the subject of the prompting.

We can receive the “unction” to pray for a person(s) or situation(s) or we find our prayers to be very intense regrading a particular person(s). The unction, may come upon us suddenly and at unusual times. We may find ourselves awaken suddenly for no apparent reason from sleep, with a person, a friend or pastor “heavy” on our heart leading us to get up and pray for the person or situation.

During Bible Study, whether alone or in a group setting, or hearing a sermon, a verse or section of Scripture will suddenly take on a “highly personal meaning” to us so much so that it seems to be speaking directly to us. Or understanding will surface in our minds which we had not previously known or understood.

How to Discern

How can we know if such “unction” or “prompting” and leading are of God or Satan or just the self? Is there a way for us to know?

The first thing is that if an “unction” is coming from the Holy Spirit the "unction" will never lead us to do anything which is contrary to what we find revealed in the Holy Word of God and the “unction” will always direct us to the person of Jesus Christ.

The unction will always be “edifying” and will build up rather than tear down. The unction will augment rather than diminish a person and will be for the good not for someone’s personal agenda.

The unction will challenge our human nature and will be opposed to the pulls of the flesh.

St. Paul, tells us in his letter to the Christians at Rome that we are led by the Holy Spirit but we are not “forced” by the Holy Spirit; that is, God will not usurp our own personal sovereignty and make us do something.

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship” Rom: 8:14-15

St. Paul also, even in relationship to the “gifts of the Spirit”, tells us that the “gifts” are exercised under our own control. The Holy Spirit does not displace us, but rather, we are able to choose to or not to respond to the Spirit’s prompting, which in most cases is gentle and loving in it's intensity. The unction of the Holy Spirit is never forced upon us.

“Spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets” 1Cor: 14:32-33

Over time, as we grow in Christian maturity and gain experiences with our Lord Jesus we will come know if it is God or not, because we know and recognize his voice. That does not mean that we will hear an audible voice, but that is not to say that God cannot or has never spoken in such a way with a believer though it maybe seldom that he does so.

The voice of God which we come to recognize is that of a calm, gentle, patient and understanding, yet filled with a passionate love toward and for us all.

“the Sheep know my voice” Jhn: 10:27

This “knowing” or recognizing the voice of our Lord is what we read of in the Psalms, when the Psalmist wrote.

“be still and know that I am God” Ps: 46:10

We hear God speaking to us through Bible Study and counsel with God’s ministers , fellowship through fellowship , prayer and worship in our local assemblies.

Glorifying Jesus

If it is the “unction” of God which rest upon us by the Holy Spirit, the prompting will glorify God through Jesus Christ. The "unction” of the Holy Spirit will set our minds and heart to always to look to and trust Jesus for the Holy Spirit will always point us to Christ and in always and things seek to give us a deeper revelation of who Jesus is.

If the sources of the impulse which has arisen in our hearts is anything else it will seek to glorify the self and satisfy the flesh in some form.

"However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you. Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you."Jhn:16:13-15

The “unction” of the Holy Spirit will strengthen or reconcile a relationship with God and others binding each closer together in Christian fellowship and or set the stage for future reconciliation which calls upon us to grow in our own maturity as children of God.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Eph: 4:2-3

Conditions for Unction

It is unfortunate but there are times when believers may think that they are acting on an unction from God, but in truth, they have a personal agenda which is being undertaken.

There are times when, at the very moment the unction occurred, it was from the Spirit, but then the flesh wants it's way and a personal agendas develops. Such a person in a moment of immaturely may look to uses the situation for their own advantage and advancement, this is something we must guard against.

Believers must be on guard so as to keep the flesh from detracting from what God wants us to do. We need to keep our minds and hearts stayed ever on Jesus and all things which are relating to our Savior.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Col: 3:1-2

Through a singular view upon Jesus and steady intake of the Word of God then our minds will be transformed into the mind of Christ.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete “. 2Cor:10:5

We are to look ever to our Lord Jesus, the deeper of a relationship with Jesus we have, the more familiar becomes his voice and the clearer. We can perceive the “unction” of the Spirit.

“Fix your eyes on Jesus” Heb: 12:1-2

This will ensure that we serve our Lord and God all for the glory of Jesus.

Benediction: May we each and all ever respond to the gentle unction of the Holy Spirit so that we might serve our Lord ever more effectively, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.