Peter Tan The Anointing The Book By Peter Tan OTHER BOOKS BY PETER TAN • The Anointing of the Holy Spirit • Understanding the Grace of God • Understanding Worship • Understanding the Love of God – Visualizing in the Spirit • Foundational Truths Series Vol. 1 : Meditation on God’s Word Vol. 2 : The Three Baptisms Vol. 3 : The Laws of Healing Vol. 4 : The Laws of Health Vol. 5 : The Laws of Prosperity Vol. 6 : Demonology Vol. 7 : The Laws of Prayer Vol. 8 : The Gifts of the Holy Spirit Vol. 9 : Knowing the Ministries of God Vol. 10 : How to Be Led by the Holy Spirit Vol. 11 : Growing in Agape Love Vol. 12 : Developing Your Devotional Life Vol. 13 : The Doctrine of God Vol. 14 : The Second Coming of Christ • The Family Series Vol. 1 : Family Relationships Spirit, Soul and Body Vol. 2 : How to Find Your Life Partner Vol. 3 : Bringing Up Children • God’s Meditation Food DEDICATION This book is dedicated to our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, the name above all names, to whom all glory, honor and worship must be given. I would also like to express thanks and appreciation to my beloved wife, Amy, and beloved children, Chrismin and Jedidiah for their love, prayers and spiritual support. Acknowledgements and thanks also to the lovely congregation of Tabernacle of Glory for their love, prayers and support. Contents Preface Introduction Chapter 1 – Defining the Anointing…………………..………………………. 1 Chapter 2 – The Anointing Upon Jesus………………………………………. 3 Chapter 3 – The Believer’s Anointing………………………………………… 7 Chapter 4 – The Tangibility of the Anointing………………………………… 10 Chapter 5 – The Substance of the Anointing…………………………………. 13 Chapter 6 – The Glory of God………………………………………………… 15 Chapter 7 – Falling Under the Power…………………………………………. 17 Chapter 8 – The Ministerial Anointing ……………………………………….. 19 Chapter 9 – The Preparation for the Anointing……………………………….. 22 Chapter 10 – The Limitations of the Anointing………………………………. 24 Chapter 11 – Operating in the Anointing……………………………………… 26 Chapter 12 – Fluctuations in the Anointing…………………………………… 29 Chapter 13 – Moving in the Anointing ………………………………………. . 32 Chapter 14 – Increasing the Anointing ………………………………………... 34 Chapter 15 – Maintaining the Anointing……………………………………… 37 Chapter 16 – The Person of the Holy Spirit…………………………………… 39 Preface There are many books written on various Christian subjects today but rarely is there one on the anointing. This book is written out of deep prayer and a desire that all of God's beloved people would grow to understand the operation of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is divinely ordained by God that nothing should be done without the anointing. Every man whom God used in the Bible has always received an anointing for the work God called him to do. It was the anointing which equipped our Lord Jesus Christ for His three-year ministry on earth. It is the anointing which will equip the Church of Jesus Christ to do what He calls us to do in these last days. There were many things I did not understand fully when Jesus spoke to me about the anointing on January 17th, 1986 when He graciously manifested His presence to me. Through time, the Holy Spirit has patiently shown more light and all the little jigsaw pieces of truth have been placed together to form the whole picture. I encourage you to read this book slowly and meditatively as it takes time to allow these truths to sink into the depths of our beings. There are no shortcuts to operating in the anointing of God and never will be. My prayer for you as you read is that it may help you, and make it easier for you to operate in the anointing of God in your life. May the understanding that this book brings expedite the work of the Holy Spirit in your life and ministry. Glory be to our wonderful Father in heaven and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Peter Tan Introduction The following are some definitions and ministries that you would need to bear in mind as we study on the anointing of the Holy Spirit. A. The nine gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:7-11) 1) The revelation gifts: a) The word of wisdom - a revelation of the future to guide believers in a wise course of action. Agabus had a word of wisdom regarding a coming famine (Acts 11:28). b) The word of knowledge - a revelation of facts present and past. Peter had a word of knowledge regarding Ananias (Acts 5:3, 4). c) Discerning of spirits - a revelation or discerning of the spirit world. Paul saw an angel of God with him (Acts 27:23,24). 2) The power gifts: a) The gift of faith - a supernatural infusion of God's faith to receive a miracle. Daniel was protected from lions by a gift of faith (Dan. 6:10-24; Heb. 11:33). b) The working of miracles - a supernatural infusion of God's power to work a miracle. Samson through the working of miracles tore the lion apart (Judges 14:6). c) The gifts of healings - a supernatural infusion of God's power to bring about healing and wholeness. 3) The vocal gifts: a) The gift of prophecy - a message given by God to people in a known language through human vessels (Acts 15:32, 21:9). b) The gift of tongues - a message given by God to people in an unknown language through human vessels (1 Cor. 14:27). c) The gift of interpretation of tongues - an interpretation of the message given in tongues (1 Cor. 14:27). B. The fivefold offices (Eph. 4:11, 12) 1) Apostles: These are individuals called and sent by God to a nation, tribe or race to establish churches. Paul was called to the Gentiles whereas Peter was called to the Jews (Gal. 2:8). They must exercise the power gifts of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:19; 2 Cor. 12:12) and the revelation gifts of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 3:5). 2) Prophets: Prophets complement the ministry of an apostle in establishing churches (Acts 11:2-30; 15:32). They must exercise the revelation gifts of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 3:5) and the vocal gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 14:31, 32; Acts 15:32). New Testament prophets, unlike Old Testament prophets, do not direct or guide a church but rather confirm direction or guidance already received by the church or individual believer. 3) Evangelists: They go to places especially where the gospel has never been preached to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. They work together with apostles to establish a church (Acts 8:4- 25). They must exercise the power gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:6; 1 Cor. 12:28, 29 - workers of miracles). 4) Pastors: These are the local shepherds of the church. In the New Testament, they are known by the ministries of elders and bishops (Acts 14:23). Bishops, as defined in the Bible, appear to be the leaders of a group of elders but the words "bishop" and "elder" are used interchangeably (Titus 1:5, 7; 1 Tim. 3:1, 2, 5:7; Acts 20:17, 28). They need to have the ability to administrate (1 Tim 5:17; 1 Cor. 12:28, 14:40), be spiritually matured persons (1 Tim. 3:5, 6), be able to teach (1 Tim. 3:2), and know how to pray the prayer of faith for the sick (James 5:14). As the vocal gifts are prominent at the grassroots level (1 Cor. 14:26, 31, 39), they need to be skillful in the vocal gifts of the Holy Spirit. 5) Teachers: They are those who stay and teach the whole counsel of God to believers. Paul and Bamabas taught the Antioch church for one year (Acts 11 26). Among the fivefold ministries to the church, their ministry is so important that Paul places them third, after apostles and prophets (1 Cor. 12:28). C. The nine body ministries (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:28-31) These are the ministries of the body of Christ that the fivefold help to perfect (Eph. 4:12). 1) The deacons (Rom. 12:7): This is a ministry to the believers who are widows, poor or needy. The seven deacons were chosen to serve tables and make sure that no widows were neglected (Acts 6:2,3). They must be filled with the Holy Spirit and have a good Christian testimony (Acts 6:3; 1 Tim. 3:8-13). 2) The prophesying believers (Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 14:6, 24, 31, 39): This is not the office of a prophet but rather the gift of prophecy bestowed and manifested regularly in an individual's life to the edification of the whole body of Christ. 3) The teaching believer (Rom. 12:7): This is not the fivefold office of a teacher. The fivefold teacher ministers to the whole body of Christ whereas the teaching believer ministers to the local body of Christ. Paul was called to be a teacher to the Gentiles, a fivefold office (2 Tim. 1:11), but he told Timothy to train and commit the sound doctrines to teaching believers, i.e., faithful men who are able to teach others (2 Tim. 2:2). Teaching believers are a key to the maturity of the individual members of Christ (Heb. 5:12 - the teacher here refers to the teaching believer). 4) The exhorter (Rom. 12:8): Bamabas was called the son of consolation, (Greek word - exhortation - Acts 4:36). It was his exhortation ministry that brought Paul to be accepted by the Jerusalem church (Acts 9:27) and helped Paul into an open door of ministry (Acts 11:24-26). This includes the ministry of the psalmist (Col. 3:16). 5) The Christian entrepreneur (Rom. 12:8): Paul describes this as the ministry of giving. These are those with a special gift to do business and channel the riches into the kingdom of God. They have a special ministry in the body of Christ (1 Tim. 6:17-19). This is also the ministry of helps (1 Cor. 12:28 "help" - "antilepsis" means to aid or support). 6) The Christian administrator (Rom. 12:8; 1 Cor. 12:28): This is the gift of governments, admin- istrations or leadership. It includes wisdom in coordinating and organizing all aspects of ministries decently and in order (I Cor. 14:40) yet with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. 7) The Christian welfare worker (Rom. 12:8): Paul uses the word "mercy" to describe this ministry; it has the same root word as the Greek word for "alms". This speaks of a Christian welfare ministry to the unbelievers who are poor and needy. 8) The speaker of various tongues (1 Cor. 12:28): This is a believer endowed with a ministry of speaking in various tongues. 9) The interpretation of tongues (1 Cor. 12:30): He has the gift of interpretation of unknown tongues and conveys its message in a known language. CHAPTER 1 Defining the Anointing We often hear the phrase that God does not event happened in his family, he was not even look for our ability but for our availability. This is allowed to cry! (Lev. 10:6) The anointing is holy! true a hundred percent. However, it is only half the Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, died because story. they offered strange fire (Lev. 10:1, 2). It probably The other half is that when we avail had something to do with their drunkard conduct ourselves to Him, He puts into us His ability to do because immediately after that. God warned Aaron His work. The impartation of His ability into our and his sons not to drink wine or intoxicating drink lives to do His work is called 'the anointing'. (Lev. 10:9). All through the Bible, we read about God The anointing that God places on His vessels calling and anointing people to do His work. is so holy that God warned others against touching Aaron and his sons were anointed to the His anointed ones (1 Chron. 16:22). God takes no priesthood (Ex. 30:30; Lev. 8:12). Moses had an Pleasure in those who disrespect His anointing upon anointing of God's Spirit upon him (Num. 11:17). His vessels. Miriam learned it the hard way (Num. Joshua had the anointing imparted upon him through 12:1-10). It is one sure way of making God angry. the laying on of hands (Deut. 34:9). Saul was God watches closely over His servants anointed to be king (1 Sam. 10:1). David was because of His vested interest upon them - the anointed to be king (1 Sam. 16:13). Jesus was anointing of the Holy Spirit, a most precious anointed to manifest His Messiahship (Acts 10:38). substance and holy heavenly commodity. A study of each man of God in the Bible would reveal very clearly that God expects every one THE MANIFESTATION OF THE ANOINTING He uses to receive of His anointing whether the work We can define and understand the anointing is that of a workman like Bezaleel, a deacon's by watching its manifested work upon the lives of ministry in the church or an apostle like Paul (Ex. those it comes upon. Bezaleel and Aholiab received 31:2, 3; Acts 6:3; 2 Cor. 1:21). special skill in metal works, jewelry and embroidery On the other hand, every work done by men (Ex. 31:1-6). Note how God attributes their ability without the anointing has been rejected by God. Saul, and those with them to His anointing (Ex. 31:6). who was anointed only as a king, was rejected by Moses and the seventy elders received special ability God when he offered the burnt offering because he to govern and lead Israel (Num. 11:16,17,25). Joshua was not anointed as a priest (1 Sam. 13:9-14). He had received special wisdom (Deut. 34:9). David's special no anointing to function as a priest. King Uzziah also ability as a mighty soldier and warrior came from the tried to be a priest and judgment fell on him because anointing upon his life (2 Sam. 22:33-35). It was not he did not carry the priestly anointing a natural ability but it was a supernatural impartation (2Chron.26:18). that trains his hands for war and his arms to bend a bow of bronze. THE ANOINTING IS PRECIOUS AND HOLY Elijah and Elisha received the power to work The anointing that God puts on His servants miracles through the anointing upon their lives (2 is such a precious commodity that God expects Kings 2:9,14). Daniel received supernatural consecration from His vessel before He puts it upon understanding and wisdom through the anointing them. Aaron was told that the anointing he received upon his life (Dan. 5:11). was so holy that he could not leave the tabernacle for Jesus began His miracle ministry after seven days or he will die (Lev. 8:33-35). When a sad receiving the anointing upon His life (Acts 10:38). By now, it should be very clear for you to see above their ability. How important then it is for all of that the anointing is a tangible measure of God's Holy God's people to receive His anointing to do His Will. Spirit imparted upon those He has chosen and this anointing gives them the special supernatural ability THE NEED FOR GOD'S ANOINTING to fulfill God's call on their lives. If the Church of Jesus Christ today would All of those men whom God used had no seek to do His work by His anointing, we could turn ability in themselves. But when the anointing came this world upside down and right side up for Jesus. upon their lives, they could do things beyond and 1