Project – THE RELEVANCE OF THE ANOINTING IN THE LIFE OF A MINISTER
ABSTRACT
The relevance of the anointing in the life of a minister is of utmost importance since it validates the power of God in the life of a minister and grants him/her ministerial effectiveness. The life of Arch Bishop Idahosa was considered in this research as a great example of the impact of the anointing in the life of a minister. The research work adopts library/field based approach; this includes the study of related materials, books and the use of oral interview. Data were collected and analysed and finding observed among which were the fact that through the anointing, Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa came, saw and conquered in his walk with God as a minister of the Gospel. In order to continue to the transgenerational trend of the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the researcher hereby recommends that there should be times for impartation from the older, anointed and experienced men of God on the younger ministers.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The subject of anointing and living the anointed life is closely related to the historically taught doctrine of holiness or sanctification. Authors often interchange these two terms of holiness and sanctification. Christians receive justification from Christ at salvation, but sanctification is a lifelong process. Therefore, there are degrees of sanctification. Moving up in the degrees of sanctification is the process of living the anointed life.
The anointed life practices the Christian spiritual disciplines. God’s plan for all Christians is to be like Jesus. To be like Jesus is to grow in godliness because Jesus is God. “Disciplines are things you do — such as read, meditate, pray, fast, worship, serve, learn, and so on. The goal of practicing a given Discipline, of course, is not about doing as much as it is about being, that is, being like Jesus.” In Hebrews 12:14 Christians are commanded: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” All Christians will pursue holiness because of their anointing with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will cause the believer to have a holy hunger to be like Jesus. The principles of the anointed life, as this project presents them, can only be practiced with spiritual disciplines. The spiritual disciplines saturate every principle of this project. Living the anointed life requires Christians to master themselves for the purpose of godliness (1 Tim 4:7).
Anointing is what God has been doing throughout all of history. Anointing has always been God’s way of moving and touching lives and has been true in the Old Testament times and the New Testament times. For example, in the Book of Judges, the Holy Spirit took possession of four men for the deliverance of His people. These four men were Othniel (Judg 3:10), Gideon (Judg 6:34), Jephthah (Judg 11:29), and Samson (Judg 13:25). Another Old Testament example is when Samuel anointed David with oil to be king, “the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward” (1 Sam 16:13).
The gift of the Holy Spirit in every believer’s life is strictly a New Testament blessing. Christians are not in this world or Christian ministry alone. Elmer Towns states, “God’s method to overcome obstacles is a Spirit-filled person—always has been, always will be—a unique leader, fearless and driven to get the work of God done.” God is working, and Christians can join Him in what He is doing. This anointed life is God’s plan for all of His children to live in His power and not in their power. Zachary Taylor Sweeney put it like this:
Christianity is differentiated from all the other religions by the fact that it offers its followers a spiritual dynamic in living up to its precepts. That dynamic is the Holy Spirit, that sets the word of God on fire, warms the church from coldness to enthusiasm, and strengthens the Christian with a power not his own in the great battle between the flesh and the spirit.
The term anointed or anointing has been used by others for a ministry filled with power. Stephen and David Olford use this term in their book on expository preaching entitled, Anointed Expository Preaching. In the Forward to this book, Adrian Rogers uses the term anointed as well, “We need God-called men who will take the Book of God and preach the Son of God with the anointing of the Spirit of God. We need men with warm hearts, wet eyes, clear heads, and tongues aflame.” This project will use the term anointed to apply to the believer’s entire life. This project is presenting a description of an anointed lifestyle especially of that of Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa, founder of Church of God’s Mission International who lived between 1938 -1998.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Living the anointed life in its fullness is a blessing that is missing in many ministers lives. Many believers in Jesus Christ are living their lives with less than God wants them to have. The most tragic element is that many Christians understand a non-supernatural life to be normal for the Christian life. They have trusted Christ as their Lord and Savior. They have received the Holy Spirit into their lives, but there is no evidence of the power of God in and around their lives. These Christians do not sense God leading them daily. It does bother them, but they do not know what to do about it. They have not been taught or challenged to a life in which God moves in real and observable ways. This project stands on the conviction that this is due in a large part to a lack of understanding of the anointed life God has given all believers, according to First John 2:20, 27. The anointed life encompasses both the Holy Spirit’s presence and His potential power within all believers’ lives. Therefore, the anointed life is living daily in the manifest presence and power of God (1 Cor 2:4-5). Christians’ lives are so affected by His presence that they live in daily expectation of His intervention in their life.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
This research work will specifically address the following issues:
1) Emphasise the importance of anointing to a minister
2) The impact of the anointed minister on church growth
3) Outline the peril of ministering without the anointing on the minister and his ministry.
4) To serve as source of persuasion for intending ministers to wait on God for the release of the anointing before commencing the ministerial assignment.
5) To provide biblical principles to increase the understanding of the anointed life of a minister of the gospel.
6) To present concise and accurate data of the life and ministry of Idahosa and to establish the relevance of the anointing to his ministry.
1.4 Significance of the Study
This project work will be relevant to all believers and ministers who want to express the fullness of anointing of the Holy Spirit in their lives and ministry. It is also relevant as a resource material for any other researcher making research on the subject.
1.5 Delimitation of the Study
This study will limits its research investigation on the life of Arch Bishop Benson Idahosa, founder of Church of God’s mission International on the relevance of the anointing in the life of a minister for effectiveness.
1.6 Limitation of the Study
Every research work has some shortcomings which arise as a result of problems encountered by the researcher in the course of the work. The researcher encountered some difficulties in getting the questionnaires to those concerned, some leaders and members given questionnaire were hoarding relevant information. Hence, these limitations did not hinder the researcher to present reliable compilations of the research work.
1.7 Research Methodology
Embarking on this research work, the researcher adopted the following methods:
- Historical method of research: The research employed more of library and less of field work.
- The Library of’ LIFE Theological Seminary and documents from archives of Church of God’s mission international were also consulted for materials on the relevance of anointing and its impact on the ministry of Benson Idahosa.
- Analytical and descriptive method were also be employed.
- Internet Sources were also consulted with adequate reference.
1.8 Definition of Terms
For the Purpose of this research, the following definitions of this terms will be employed:
Minister: Person ordained to office of leadership in a local church after fulfilling certain conditions of training and vows. A minister’s functions include presiding at public worship, the administration of the sacraments, and other services, such as weddings and funerals, pastoral care, and the general oversight of the congregation.
Anointing: According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, “Anointing is to choose by or as if by divine election. Nelson Bible Dictionary gives a concise definition as “Ceremonial pouring of oil on a person to consecrate him or her to the Lord.” It is Infusion of a person with the Holy Spirit to symbolize sanctity. In the New Testament usage, anointing is part of the rites of baptism, confirmation, and ordination as well as the dedication of churches and altars. Anointing is also used as a means of Charismatic healing and combined with prayer in extreme unction. Anointing was the characteristic ceremony of consecrating to an office, and of furnishing the candidate with the power necessary for its administration. It is used of priests, Ex. 29:7, 40:13 (15); Lv. 6:22; Nu. 35:25: of kings, 1 S. 9:16, 10:1, 15:1, 16:3, 12; 1 K. 19:15, 16: of prophets, 1 K. 19:16; Is. 61:1.
Project – THE RELEVANCE OF THE ANOINTING IN THE LIFE OF A MINISTER