The Believers Anointing

                                   

                                               THE BELIEVER’S ANOINTING

There are three areas of anointing: the believer’s anointing, the ministerial anointing and the corporate anointing. The believer’s anointing is the anointing within an individual. The ministerial anointing is the anointing upon an individual and the corporate anointing is the anointing upon a gathering of believers.
The believer’s anointing is the primary anointing. By this anointing all other manifestations of the anointing are judged.

But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him - 1 John 2: 27
In fact I would say that the believer’s anointing is the most important anointing of all. All other anointings are built about and around this anointing. This anointing was not in manifestation in the Old Testament. It is a special anointing available only to New Testament saints.
Old Testament saints had the anointing upon. The ministerial anointing of prophet, priest and king was the only anointing available in the Old Covenant. The common people had to depend on the prophet, priest or king for guidance. Sometimes prophets deceive prophets (1 Kings 13). The only protection the people had was the written law: that what the prophet says must come to pass, and even then it must not lead to idol worship which is against the written law (Deuteronomy 13:1-4).
Today we have three tests for a manifest ministerial anointing: the Word of God, the fruit of the ministry and the believer’s anointing. New Testament prophets are not to lead God’s people any more; they are only instruments to confirm what God has already spoken by the inward witness.


The Anointing within can be increased


The inward witness is a spiritual sensation in our spirit man telling us whether something is right or wrong. This capacity to perceive rightness or wrongness is a working of the believer’s anointing.
This capacity can be increased and trained (Hebrews 5:14). There are some who say that the believer’s anointing cannot be increased but that it stays at only a predetermined measure. However, we can grow in faith, grace and glory. By doing so, we grow in the believer’s anointing. We all receive the same predetermined measure of faith, grace and glory when we were born again. From then onwards those of us who are faithfully growing in the Word, prayer and worship will definitely grow in faith, grace and glory, thus growing in the anointing (Romans 1:17; 2 Corinthians 3:18; John 1:16).

Growth in faith produces an increase in the believer’s anointing

Surely we are not to remain at the faith level of the born again experience all of our Christian lives. All of us receive the same predetermined measure of faith when we are born again (Romans 12:3). Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). If we spend more time hearing more Word, we will have more faith. Our faith can grow exceedingly (2 Thessalonians 1:3). Faith can be increased (2 Corinthians 10:15).
The anointing we operate in is proportional to our faith level (Romans 12:6). A man full of faith is also full of power and anointing (Acts 6:5,8; 11:24). The reason the disciples could not tap on the anointing Jesus gave them to cast out a devil was because of their lack of faith (Matthew 10:1; 17:20). If we expect a baby Christian to grow beyond the faith level they received at conversion, then why do we expect a believer to remain at their first level of believer’s anointing? It is ridiculous especially when the anointing level is proportionate to the faith level.
There is not a single verse in the Bible to say that the believer’s anointing is to remain stagnant at the same level. Contrary to that, there are many, many verses to prove that the believer’s anointing can be increased. As we have shown, when faith increases, the anointing increases.

Growth in grace produces an increase in the believer’s anointing

The operation of the anointing is also related to the operation of grace (Romans 12:6). We all received a salvation measure of grace when we were born again (Ephesians 2:8). Paul was anointed according to grace (Ephesians 3:7). The apostles perceived the anointing upon Paul’s life, which they referred to as the grace of God (Galatians 2:8-9). The grace of God and the anointing of God are directly related.
Grace can be multiplied and increased through the knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:2). We can grow in grace (2 Peter 3:18). When we grow in grace we grow in the anointing of God. We are to grow from grace to grace

(John 1:16). If we are not to remain at the grace level we receive at conversion, then we are also not to remain at the anointing level of our born again experience. Especially when a growth in grace would definitely produce a growth in the anointing.

Growth in glory produces an increase in the believer’s anointing

The glory of God and the anointing of God are directly related. When the anointing of God fills a place, the glory of God as a cloud is sometimes manifested (Exodus 40:34; 2 Chronicles 5:14). In fact it is the glory of God that causes people to fall under the power of the Holy Spirit. An increase in glory in our lives would definitely produce an increase in the anointing. Now if we are exhorted to grow from glory to glory, and since growing in glory produces growth in the anointing, then we should realize that we can grow in the anointing (2 Corinthians 3:18).
That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you may be rooted and grounded in love. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
Ephesians 3:16, 17, 20
Paul prayed for the Ephesians who were already born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit to be strengthened with might (Greek word ‘dunamis’ – which means ‘power’ and is related to the anointing - Acts 1:8) in their spirits according to the riches of His glory. He was actually praying for an increase in the anointing within, which is the believer’s anointing.
We have therefore come to see scripturally that the believer’s anointing which we received at conversion can be increased. The principles for increasing the believer’s anointing are the same as for the ministerial and corporate anointing. This we will consider in a later chapter and show how we can increase the anointing in our lives.
Let us now see what the believer’s anointing can do. Five signs which follow all believers:
1. Casting out demons
2. Speaking in new tongues
3. Authority over serpents when preaching the gospel
4. Immunity to poison when we are preaching the gospel
5. Recovery of the sick through laying on of hands
- (Mark 16:17, 18)

The Importance of the Believer’s Anointing
It also works within the believer producing the Christlike character and all the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23). About 95% of all God’s leading of His people is through the inward witness, the anointing within. Even those called to the five-fold ministries are led 95% of the time by the inward witness.
Just because we are called to be apostles or prophets does not mean that we sit around waiting for a spectacular vision or manifestation to lead us. We are not living in the Old Covenant. We are living in the New Covenant. The primary way by which God leads His people today is by the anointing within.
In fact the spectacular manifestations of the anointing upon have to be checked by the anointing within. The devil can give dreams, visions, impressions, or thoughts which are not from the Hoy Spirit. The realm of the spectacular is subject to counterfeit. However, one manifestation that the enemy cannot counterfeit is the anointing within because it is inside our spirits. We should thus flow in the ministerial anointing using the anointing within as a steering wheel.
For example, when I stand to minister before great congregations, I sense the tangible anointing upon me to minister in the spiritual office that God placed me in. While under the ministerial anointing, I sometimes receive a vision, an impression, a word, etc. Now how am I to know whether what I am receiving is of God or of myself? By the anointing within of course! It is important to add here also that the anointing within will never, never, contradict the written Word of God. In fact the anointing within is developed by meditation upon the Word of God and prayer.
As I receive a manifestation in the spirit realm, I check within my spirit and see if it confirms with the inward witness – the anointing within. Sometimes, I receive a tangible confirmation in my spirit man and when I proceed to act according to the impressions I received under the ministerial anointing, I see miracles take place and the glory of God manifests.
All impressions need to be checked by the inward witness
However, when the impression brings no confirmation in my spirit, I ignore it as a stray dart of the enemy or my own desire to minister ahead of God. Here is where many ministers make mistakes by simply obeying every impression they receive without checking within their own spirits.

One minister I met pulled a man out of his wheel chair and forced him to walk. The man’s condition grew worse after the meeting and he was hospitalized. In that same meeting, healings also took place. I asked the man why he did it and he said he had a ‘strong impression’ to pull the man up while he was ministering. Then I asked him whether he had a ‘check’ in his spirit and he said ‘Yes’. Now what happened was that the minister received definite impressions and leadings from the Spirit which produced healings but there were some that came from his own fleshly desire and zeal.
Another minister I met prophesied that a member in my church who was pregnant would have a son. The lady was even slain under the power of God when the prophecy was spoken. Guess what? It turned out to be a girl! Under Old Testament laws, he should have been stoned!
The question is why do devout and sincere men of God make mistakes in their so called ‘leadings of the Holy Spirit’ even when they are functioning under powerful ministerial anointings?
The problem, I believe, is because people do not differentiate between the anointing within and the anointing upon. The manifestation of the anointing upon must be checked and subservient to the anointing within. This is what I meant by the anointing within is the most important anointing and all other anointings revolve about and around this anointing.
I believe this is what Paul meant when he said that he served God with his spirit (Romans 1:9). Although great signs and wonders were taking place under his ministry (Romans 15:18, 19; 2 Corinthians 12:12), he was sensitive all the time to the anointing abiding in his spirit.
If you have a great desire to be used by God powerfully in the ministerial anointing, it would pay you well to develop the anointing within first. Develop the anointing within and learn all the tangible spiritual sensations of the spirit man. It is a mark of spiritual maturity to have our spiritual senses trained to discern right and wrong (Hebrews 5:14).
The increase in the level of the believer’s anointing depends upon what you do with your spiritual life. The responsibility to increase it is yours. In fact you can increase it to the level that you, as a believer in Jesus, could do the works He did and greater works (John 14:12).

And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. But now bring me a musician.” And it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him - 2 Kings 3:14,15
The background of this story is a battle. The king of Israel, the king of Judah, and the king of Edom were marching against the king of Moab. They came to a place where there was no water for them or their animals. It looked as though they would perish in the wilderness.
Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, suddenly remembered Elisha the prophet. Elisha was called for. Elisha made it clear that he would not come if it had been the king of Israel, an idolater, who called. Apparently, the presence of some people can hinder the anointing of God from functioning.
Here is the picture we have: Elisha was called and anointed by God in the prophet’s office; demands are now being made on the prophet to function in his office. He was called by God to be a prophet but the anointing is not there to function. At this point many ministers would have made up with talents and intellect what only the anointing can produce. But not Elisha! He knew how to draw on the anointing. He knew how to tap on the anointing to stand in the prophet’s office.
The Anointing is perceivable to our senses.
The remarkable thing about this is that Elisha knew the anointing was not there. If he knew it was not there, then he must also know when it is there. How did he do it? By knowing the tangibility of the anointing.
The word ‘tangible’ means perceptible to the five senses. If it is perceptible to the five senses, then it is feelable and knowable. It was not just a natural feeling but it was a supernatural feeling impressed and manifested upon his physical body. Elisha had learnt to distinguish his natural feelings from the supernatural manifestation of the anointing to the extent that when the anointing was not manifested, he knew it!
Jesus on the way to Jairus’ house knew and felt the anointing leaving His physical body when the woman with the issue of blood touched His robes (Mark 5:30). The woman felt in her body that she was healed (Mark 5:29).

The anointing is tangible! Many times I have stood before great congregations and perceived that the anointing was not there to minister. I would either pray or lead in worship until the anointing came and then I would minister. Without the anointing there is no power. It would have been mere empty words.
Paul said that his speech and preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power (1 Corinthians 2:4).
We are not called by God to give great eloquent speeches. But rather we are called by God to break the yokes of the devil over people’s lives and destroy the works of the devil like Jesus did (John 3:8). It can only be done by the anointing. Only the anointing can break yokes! (Isaiah 10:27)

We must learn to feel the Anointing

The anointing is real! The anointing is tangible! We must learn what it feels like for the anointing to be upon us. In the natural it feels different to be in water to being in air. We must realize that there would be definite differences of feeling under the anointing, from the times when the anointing is not in manifestation.
Elisha knew how it felt without the anointing. He also knew how it felt with the anointing upon him. When he was asked to function in the prophet’s office, he knew he did not have the anointing upon him. What did he do? Give up? No! He also knew how to flow into the anointing. Alleluia!
Elisha called upon the musician. As the musician played, he sat back and listened. We do not know how long it was but the Bible says ‘it happened, when the musician played’. There was a happening. The Spirit of God came upon Elisha and he knew that the anointing was now upon him!
When the anointing was upon him, he spoke and there was power. He spoke and there was a miracle of provision. God’s Word spoken through men under the anointing of God carries the same creative force as if it had been spoken by God.
That day the three kings saw a great deliverance. All because there was one man who was called and who knew how to tap on the anointing for his office.

We grow in perceiving the tangible Anointing

When God calls, God anoints. With the calling of God to the ministry comes the anointing for the ministry. However, the anointing is not something automatic. We have to grow in it and learn to move in it.
Elisha did not become an expert in the anointing overnight. He had observed Elijah for about ten years (1 Kings 19 to 2 Kings 1). He did menial tasks like pouring water for his master, Elijah, during this period (2 Kings 3:11). He developed a hunger for the anointing.
Remember that he was already called by God to be a prophet (1 Kings 19:16). Don’t try to be what God did not call you to. One of the laws of the anointing is to know the limitations of the level and type of anointing God called you to and not to overstep your boundary. For example, if you are called to be a prophet and you try to be a teacher, you enter the permissive will of God. The enemy will kill you off. William Branham was called by God to be a prophet but he tried to be a teacher and died suddenly in an accident. He went into unscriptural teachings of serpent seed (where Cain was a by product of Eve and the serpent) and calling himself the last day prophet Elijah (which is unscriptural because this prophecy is not for the Gentile church age period but for the Jewish dispensation). If God had not allowed him to be removed from the scene, he would have undone all the good he did and would have destroyed himself personally.

Elisha grew to perceive the tangible Anointing

Elisha was called by God to be a prophet and yet for about ten years he waited on God. He had the opportunity to observe Elijah closely and knew that it was the anointing that made him the man that he was. By the time Elijah was to be taken up, Elisha had made up his mind that he was going to seek after that anointing. Four times he was tested.
When Elijah asked him what he wanted, he did not need to think it over for a day or two. A double portion of Elijah’s anointing was the object of his quest. As the chariots of fire came to take Elijah, Elisha saw and cried after him. Elijah dropped his mantle – a symbol of the anointing – and Elisha took it and wore it (2 Kings 2:13).
Now notice very carefully here, at this point Elisha had the double portion anointing upon him. This was the first time on record that the anointing had now come to rest upon him. What did he feel the first time? What tangible manifestation did the anointing have upon his body?

Actually, that first time he felt nothing supernatural, except that the physical mantle was upon him. He did not even get slain under the power of the double portion anointing. Some of us under that kind of anointing would have been knocked out for days. How do we know that he felt nothing? The key is in the following verse:
Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.
2 Kings 2:14
The question Elisha asked gives us the clue. Where is the Lord God of Elijah? Question mark! It was not a bold confession of faith. There was an uncertainty about the anointing upon him. There was no note of confidence as we saw in Second Kings chapter three.
Well, don’t jump on him! That was his first time functioning under the anointing. Some of us wouldn’t fare as well in our first move.
Like all of us, Elisha had to learn the tangibility of the anointing. He had to distinguish his natural feelings from the supernatural feelings of the manifested anointing upon his body. Through time and experience, he learned the difference between the anointing upon and the anointing absent. The tangibility of the anointing increased upon his life.
Jesus our Master and Lord knew experientially when the anointing flowed out of Him (Mark 5:30).
There are differences in the perception of the Anointing
The anointing is tangible! It is feelable, knowable and touchable. Every one of us would have to wait on God to learn of His Spirit. Through ministering under the anointing, we would also gain experience in the tangibility of the anointing upon our lives. For some of us it would feel like a heat, for some like electricity. Others say it is like a tingling sensation, while to some it is as if a hand is laid on their shoulder.
We should not limit ourselves to the experiences of others. As each of us has different thumbprints and different voices, there is also a wide range of individual perceptions to the tangibility of the anointing. Learn from others all you can but realize that you have your own unique way of experiencing the anointing. All of us love and know the same lord Jesus Christ. But all of us experience Him differently. In like manner, the tangibility of the anointing will be experienced differently by different people.
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Of course there are some similarities in experience but yet all are personally different. The following are some variations and descriptions of how the men of God in the Bible experienced the anointing:
1. Jeremiah
Jeremiah 5:14 I will make My Words in your mouth fire.
Jeremiah 20:9 But His Word was in my heart like a burning fire
2. Daniel
Daniel 10:10 Then, suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands.
Daniel 10:11 …I stood trembling.
3. David
2 Samuel 23:2 The Spirit of the lord spoke by me, and His Word was on my tongue.
Psalm 45:1 My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
4. Ezekiel
Ezekiel 3:14 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.
5. Saul
1 Samuel 10:10 …then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
6. Samuel
1 Samuel 3:21 For the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the Word of the Lord.
7. Two Disciples
Luke 24:32 Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road…?
8. Paul
Acts 18:5 Paul was constrained by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
As can be noted, there are many variations to the manifested tangibility of the anointing. Learn how the anointing operates through you. It is of the
© Copyright 2014 Johann Melchizedek Peter. All rights reserved.
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utmost importance that you know and are acquainted with the anointing of God upon your life so well that you know when it is upon you and when it is not. When it is upon you, minister by the gift of His anointing upon your life. When it is not, minister by personal faith in the written Word of God. Also when it is not in manifestation tangibly, seek God’s Will if He wants to manifest the anointing of the spiritual office or offices you stand in. Should His answer be affirmative, learn like Elisha the principles of drawing upon the anointing.
Remember that the tangibility of the anointing increases gradually as you learn to yield more and more to the Holy Spirit.

THE SUBSTANCE OF THE ANOINTING

In the Old Testament, when a person is anointed, oil, a symbol of the Holy Spirit, is used. The Hebrew word for ‘anointing’ is ‘mischah’ which means ‘smearing’. Literally the oil flows down from the head to the garments (Psalm 133). It takes a lot of oil to do that. This is for the recipient to release his faith as he tangibly feels the oil upon him believing that the Holy Spirit’s anointing is now upon him.
The Greek word for ‘anointing’ is ‘chrisma’ which means ‘a rubbing in’. There is a ‘rubbing in’, a tangible impartation of the substance of the anointing upon a person when he is anointed.
The Anointing can be stored like a battery
The anointing in itself is a substance of the power and presence of God. It can be stored and transmitted. The substance of the anointing was so ‘rubbed into’ Elisha that even after he died, his bones still contained the substance of the anointing. When a dead man touched his bones, the dead man was resurrected! (2 Kings 13:21).

Elisha was dead and so was the man. Neither of them could be exercising faith. Nor was the resurrection of the man prayed for by others. This miracle took place solely based on the power inherent in the substance of the anointing which was still present in Elisha’s bones.
When the apostle Paul was preaching in Ephesus, God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul (Acts 19:11). Handkerchiefs and aprons were brought from his body to the sick; and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them (Acts 19:12). The substance of the anointing was transmitted from Paul’s hands into the handkerchiefs and aprons which were ‘charged’ with the power of God. Upon contact with the sick and demon-possessed, the power of God was discharged from the cloths to them. The marvellous fact is that Paul was not present but only the anointing that flowed from his hands. No one can deny from a close study of these Scriptures that the anointing is of a ‘heavenly materiality’ and can be stored or transmitted like electricity. Many times in Jesus’ ministry, the anointing would be so great that His clothing was literally charged with the power of God. Those who touched His garments received miracles (Mark 5:27-30; 6:56).
nointing determines its conductivity

There are those who say that just as electricity needs good conductors, the anointing of God can only flow through natural materials like clothing but not through wood, paper or stone. However, they neglect to understand that even electricity would flow through bad conductors like water if the voltage and current are strong enough. It has even been scientifically demonstrated that electricity will flow (or more accurately, leap) through the air between two points if the current and voltages are extremely high. Nature’s demonstration of lightning bolts has shown how a strong current will flow through the air.
The ability of the anointing of God flowing through any substance is dependent on the level of anointing imparted rather than on the materiality of the substance. Moses’ rod was transformed into a supernatural rod by the anointing of God. It was even given the title ‘The Rod of God’ (Exodus 4:20). What an honour to be God’s rod! Surely if the power of God is so great as to transform old dead wood into a living snake and then into a miracle working rod, then the same power of God can flow through any inanimate object. If man can believe God for creative power, how is it that man cannot believe that God’s power can flow through any object? It is pure unbelief to limit God’s power to certain substances.
We must first understand that all earthly substances and materials are made up of certain basic elements from hydrogen, the lightest element, to the heaviest natural occurring element, uranium. Basically all elements have atoms with the same building blocks, i.e. electrons, protons, neutrons etc., but in varying numbers (i.e. atomic weight). Therefore, even if plastic and wood feel different from cloth, they are still made up of the same building blocks of electrons, protons and neutrons. It would be as easy for the anointing of God to flow through plastic and wood as it would to flow through cloth.
The Anointing flows through stones, bones and shadows
John G. Lake in one of his books, talks about how one African preacher sat on a rock to pray and afterwards got many people healed by making them sit on the same rock to receive the anointing. Elisha’s bones were channels for the anointing of God although by 2 Kings 13:21, the bones would be merely calcium and phosphates.
The anointing of God even flowed through a shadow (Acts 5:15). We all know that a shadow has no natural materiality yet God’s power flowed wherever the shadow of Peter fell. I believe the Holy Spirit records this for

us, so that we would be able to have the anointing flow through practically any substance or non-substance we can believe God for. The problem is not in the ability of the anointing but on the level of the anointing.
In Acts 19:11,12 and Acts 5:15, the anointing of God was flowing at an especially high level. There are levels or degrees of the anointing. We must be sensitive to the level and type of anointing flowing at each meeting so that we can be better instruments of the Holy Spirit. According to the level of anointing, we can use different materials. We need a higher level of anointing to flow for inorganic substances than for organic substances.
In the law of electricity, when we want more power in our homes, we must rewire our house to take the extra load of power. Otherwise, the wires and fuses will melt and fire and explosions can occur. Some people are only wired to function at a low level of anointing because they do not pay the price to be better conductors. They need to be rewired and spend their time in the presence of God fasting, worshipping and praying. All who do so move into a higher level of anointing.

                                                  THE GLORY OF GOD

The word ‘glory’ in Hebrew comes from the word ‘kabod’ translated ‘glory’ one hundred and fifty-five times. The word ‘kabed’ from the same root word has been translated ‘heavy’ seven times (Exodus 17:12; 18:18; 1 Kings 12:4,11; 2 Chronicles 10:4,11; Psalm 38:4). The root meaning of the Hebrew word ‘kabod’ means ‘weight’ or ‘heaviness’. In the New Testament the word ‘glory’ is translated from the word ‘doxa’ which means ‘appearance, manifestation, magnificence, splendid array, radiance, dazzling lustre’.

The glory of God is the presence of God

It is sufficient to see from a study of Hebrew and Greek words that the glory of God has form, shape and materiality. In other words it has substance. Paul speaks of the eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Basically, the anointing of God is a manifestation of the power of God while the glory of God is a manifestation of His attributes. However, the power of God and the presence of God are inseparable because God does not demonstrate His power without His presence. When the Holy Spirit has come upon you (His presence), you shall receive power (His anointing of power - Acts 1:8). Mark 16:17 reads – And these signs (His power) shall follow those who believe in My Name (His presence).
The relationship of the Anointing to the glory of God
The anointing of God is the tangible manifestation of God’s power while the glory of God is the manifestation of God’s person and attributes. Both are manifestations. Both are touchable. Both have degrees or levels of manifestation. Both are of a heavenly materiality. Both are manifested together inseparably, just as God’s attributes and power are inseparable parts of His being. The manifestation of the anointing of God is in direct proportion to the manifestation of the glory of God.
When Moses asked to see God’s glory, God showed His divine attributes of mercy, grace, longsuffering, goodness and truth (Exodus 33:18; 34:6). God covered Moses with His hand and showed the back parts of His glory (Exodus 33: 22, 23). There is a direct relationship between the glory of God and the attributes of God; the attributes of love and mercy. To move in the glory of God is to move in love and mercy.

Anyone who desires to manifest in God’s glory fully must develop the attributes of God in his life. As we behold in a mirror the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). Moses’ face shone like a light bulb after he saw just the back parts of God’s glory (Exodus 34:30).
The most marvellous fact is that when Moses’ face was shining, he was not aware of it! (Exodus 34:29). His whole consciousness was so consumed in the glory of God’s presence that he forgot himself! Only when we are a hundred percent conscious of God can a hundred percent of God’s glory shine through us. The amount of the glory of God we issue forth is directly proportional to our consciousness of God.

The degree of Anointing manifest is proportional

to the degree of glory manifest

The glory of God can manifest in degrees (2 Corinthians 3:18). In the dedication of Solomon’s temple, the glory of God was so strongly demonstrated that they could not continue to minister (2 Chronicles 5:14). The presence of God was so strong that all stood in awe. After King Solomon prayed, the fire of God cane down from heaven and the glory of God increased to such a level that everybody had to vacate the temple because of the glory of God was so thick that nobody could get in (2 Chronicles 7:1-3). The glory of God manifested and increased in degree.

We should learn to be sensitive to the varying levels of the glory of manifested. According to the level of God’s glory manifested, we can function easily in the anointing. Sometimes in a meeting, everyone’s concentration is so perfectly upon the attributes of God that the glory of God comes into manifestation. When the glory of God is in manifestation, it is easier to function in the ministerial anointing. Do not function beyond the level of God’s glory manifested. Each meeting, for various reasons which we will cover later, has a different degree of manifested glory and anointing. There is a limitation for the functions of an anointing set by the manifested glory in each meeting although in the fivefold calling we may actually carry a greater anointing than we are allowed to manifest at that time.
The Holy Spirit moves as He wills and not as we will. The Holy Spirit has also been equated with the glory of God. In Romans 6:4, it is mentioned that the glory of the Father raised Jesus from the dead but in Romans 8:11, it is the Holy Spirit mentioned. In order to move in the glory of God, we need to move in the love of God. In order move in the anointing of God, we need to move in the power of God. Both are directly related.

Moving in love and power

We should learn to move in the realm of God’s glory just as we learn to move in the anointing. We should learn to develop in glory as we develop in the anointing. We have to develop the ‘love’ side as we do the ‘gifts’ side. Paul told the Corinthians to develop in the ‘love’ side so that the gifts present in them may edify, i.e. be more powerfully beneficial; otherwise, it amounts to wasted effort (1 Corinthians 13). It is like having firewood without the fire.
However, some develop in the ‘love’ side but have no understanding of how the gifts operate or manifest. They would fit Paul’s description of those ignorant of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1). It is like having the potential for igniting a fire but not having any firewood.
On the other hand, when we develop both sides together, we discover that there are many realms and degrees in the development of both together. We could have a stick on fire, a camp fire, a bonfire or a forest fire. There are many degrees and realms of moving in the glory of God and the anointing of God.
The development of the glory of God in our lives would ultimately have to do with the alignment and tuning of our nature and attributes with the nature and attributes of God. Attributes of love, mercy, graciousness, truth, etc.
Conditions for developing in the glory of God
There are no short cuts to the development of God’s glory in us. It means spending time in His presence beholding Him (2 Corinthians 3:18). It means reading and meditating on the Word of God that we may be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). And many times it means taking Christ’s suffering meekly the way He did without retaliation, until our flesh life is completely dead. Suffering for Christ means persecution for His name’s sake. (It does not mean suffering sicknesses nor suffering for our mistakes. Some people bring persecution on themselves because of their own foolishness, sin and error. Suffering for Christ is when you receive persecution for being Christ-like or for obeying and acting on His Word). For tribulation brings forth perseverance, and perseverance, character and character hope (Romans 5:3, 4). For our light afflictions and suffering, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).
If you are reproached for the Name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you - 1 Peter 4:14.