Church Jargon: What Does That Mean?: Devotions From Time Of GraceSample

Anointed

It’s a high compliment to a church worker. “Pastor, you were anointed this morning!” By these kind words the hearer means to say that the message was so unusually interesting and powerful that the Spirit of the Lord must have injected extra energy and wisdom into the delivery. But I doubt that you will ever hear the word "anointed" at the warehouse or office on Monday morning. It’s Christian speak.

The word "anoint" referred originally to the special oil put on the heads of high priests, kings, and some prophets to identify them publicly for their leadership roles and to power them up for the big challenges they faced. “Anointed One” is the meaning of Jesus’ special names Messiah and Christ, for he was anointed by the Father and the Spirit in the River Jordan.

But it is fitting to use the term also of us, for when we were baptized and brought to faith, the Spirit came to live within us as a sign of God’s claim on us: “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 1:21,22)

Let your anointing thrill your heart, for it means that God cared enough about you to pursue you, find you, change your heart, and declare you his child and kingdom agent.