THE POWER OF ANOINTING

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

Once, Israel was drought-hit due to the idolatry of King Ahab and his subjects. After 3 years, God told Prophet Elijah, "Go and meet King Ahab. I will soon send rain." Elijah went up to Mount Carmel and prayed for the rain. He sent his servant repeatedly to look for a rain cloud with little result but received a positive answer for the seventh time.

Immediately, Elijah told his servant: “Run to Ahab and ask him to prepare his chariot and reach his palace at Jezreel before the rain stops him.” Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.” (1 Kings 18:44,45).

Elijah girded himself with his mantle. He ran and overtook the chariot of King Ahab and reached Jezreel ahead of him. The mantle signifies the Holy Spirit. “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord.” (Psalm 20:7). In tune with this verse, Elijah, remembering the power of anointing in the name of the Lord, girded himself with his mantle. Another time, Elijah threw his mantle on Elishah and anointed him as a prophet. When the mantle fell on Elishah, he received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9). Once when Elijah rolled up his mantle and struck the water of the river of Jordan, the waters were divided; Elijah and Elishah crossed over on dry ground (2 Kings 2:8).

Yes, that mantle which signifies the power of the anointing of the Spirit, divided the waters this way, and made a path for Elijah and Elishah. That is why, Elijah girded his waist with his mantle considering the mantle to be the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the anointing put into him, a physical strength which broke and destroyed all yokes through supernatural means (Isaiah 10:27). He overtook the chariot and horses of the king.

Once, we conducted a Jesus Calls Meeting in London. The auditorium was filled to the brim with people. When the call was given for witnesses, a North Indian man came rushing to the dais. He rapturously gave this witness: “For ten years, my legs were functionless due to Osteoarthritis. My right hand had no strength because of asthenia. But today, God’s anointing came upon me. Both my legs and the right hand have received a new strength. See how I walk. I have been healed perfectly.” All of them glorified God.

Another witness given by a father who came with his child, stunned all. The child, from birth, could not move its legs and walk. But during the prayer time, the father was shocked to see that his child was swaying its legs. He cried out with tears. The child’s legs had acquired perfect strength.

Similarly, many young men came to the platform and joyously said, “Sir, we were waiting to receive this divine peace. Our hearts had been shattered by many problems. We languished in solitude. But today, the Holy Spirit filled us with His anointing. We saw a bright light descending from above. Now our minds are filled with divine peace and joy.”

Dearly beloved, only this anointing made Elijah to run and overtake Ahab’s chariot. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Let us also receive this anointing. God will break all yokes in our life with His anointing, remove all barriers and make us run in a supernatural way.