1 John 2:20, 27 (NKJV) But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things….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 is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
When the Apostle Paul said that he could do all things through Christ who strengthened him in Philippians 4:13, he was not referring to his strength but a divine strength that enabled him to do what he was called to do. Likewise, every one of us is anointed by God to fulfil our callings in life. We will have God’s strength or the unction to function to fulfil the calling that He has assigned to us, even when we are persecuted in the process.
The biblical definition of anointing refers to the Spirit of God upon and within a person’s life. It is an unction to function in serving the Lord by being led and empowered by the Holy Spirit, enabling us to fulfil the callings and roles of our lives. It is a spiritual enablement that comes upon us and flows from within us. The Holy Spirit is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. He is the Creator who brought everything into being through God’s spoken Word. King Solomon was anointed by God. Hence, the wisdom of God was applied in the natural realm through his governance of the kingdom. Similarly, we are also given an edge over others, especially unbelievers.
The grace of God is made available to us when we walk in the calling of God. Grace is an inner strength that enables us to do the work despite challenges and not crumble when the going gets tough. We will be resilient, able to bounce back after being hard pressed on all sides. When we are anointed for His purpose, spiritual gifts are given to us to be effective for Him in the marketplace and ministry.
However, there are limitations because the anointing is confined to what God has called us to do. Unfortunately, many Christians are functioning and working outside of God’s calling, in areas of what they want to do rather than what God has called them to do. Therefore, it would be wise to align ourselves with what God has called us to do. This way, our burden will be light and the yoke will be easy. If Jesus, who is the Son of God made it a choice only to do what God has called Him to do, all of us should do likewise.
The Holy Spirit’s work is not limited to helping us understand the Scriptures. He also helps us with the anointing to function well in our callings. However, to live out God’s callings in our lives, we also need to remain humble, teachable, and have faith. Most importantly, we must abide in Him (1 John 2:27)as it can’t be done without deep fellowship with God, particularly the Holy Spirit.
Sermon Series：The Unction to Function
从那圣者受了恩膏
约翰一书2:20，27 你们从那圣者受了恩膏，并且知道这一切的事。你们从主所受的恩膏常存在你们心里，并不用人教训你们，自有主的恩膏在凡事上教训你们。这恩膏是真的，不是假的。你们要按这恩膏的教训住在主里面。
当使徒保罗在腓立比书4:13中说，他靠着那加给他力量的基督，凡事都能做时，他并不是指自己的力量，而是来自那使他能胜任所蒙召之工的神圣力量。同样，我们每个人都蒙神的膏抹去完成我们生命的呼召。即使我们在这个过程中会经历患难，我们也将拥有上帝的力量或活出呼召的恩膏，以履行祂赋予我们的使命。
圣经中对恩膏的定义是指神的灵临在并内住在人的生命中。这恩膏是一种神圣的膏抹，使我们能随从圣灵的带领与赋能来事奉主，得以完成生命的呼召与角色。这是属灵的赋能，它降临在我们身上，并从我们内心流出。圣灵是全知、全能、无所不在的，是藉着神的话语创造万有的那一位。所罗门王被神膏立。神的智慧透过他治国的才能显明在自然界中。同样，我们在其他人，尤其是不信者中也具备了优势。
当我们行在神的呼召中，就有神赐的恩典。这恩典是一种内在力量，使我们在艰难中不致崩溃．我们将保持韧性，在四面受压之中却能够反弹．当我们为神的旨意受膏时，神会赐下属灵恩赐，使我们在职场和事奉中事半功倍。
然而，恩膏的运行范围仅限于神对我们的呼召。可惜许多基督徒在按自己的意愿而非神的呼召行事。因此，明智之举是顺服神的呼召，这样担子就轻省，轭也容易。连神的儿子耶稣都选择只做父神呼召祂做的事，我们更当如此。
圣灵不仅帮助我们理解经文，还通过膏抹帮助我们在蒙召而行时无往不利．然而，为了活出我们生命中神的呼召，我们需要保持谦卑，受教和有信心，最重要的是，我们必须住在神里面（约翰一书2:27），因为如果没有与神—尤其是圣灵–紧密的团契，这是无法做到的。
讲章系列：领受恩膏 活出呼召
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