The Anointing of the Holy Spirit by Peter Tan Pt2 [Summary] 

Main Summary: The Anointing of the Holy Spirit by Peter Tan explores the anointing of the Holy Spirit—what it is, how it operates, how it can be transferred or increased, and its essential role in ministry and daily Christian living. It highlights biblical examples and teaches believers how to walk in God’s power and presence.

Lessons You’ll Learn From This Post 

• Preparing for the Anointing
• Limitations of the Anointing
• Operating in the Anointing
• Fluctuations in the Anointing
• Mastering and Moving in the Anointing
• Increasing or Growing the Anointing
• Maintaining or Preserving the Anointing
• The Person of the Holy Spirit

Also read The Anointing of the Holy Spirit by Peter Tan Pt1 [Summary] 

Preparing for the Anointing

• Ministerial growth is progressive. The anointing develops within the boundaries of God’s will and calling. We can see that Paul grew from a teacher to an evangelist and apostle. And then Philip progressed from a deacon to an evangelist.
• Ministry is in phases; it’s God’s design to have different phases in each believer’s life and ministry. These phases serve as plateaus to rest, learn, and develop spiritual maturity. Paul spent years in Arabia and Tarsus before stepping into full ministry.
• These plateaus allow believers to test and apply new spiritual insights. For example, David training with a sling before facing Goliath symbolizes how early battles prepare you for greater assignments. So growth in the anointing and office happens measure by measure, phase by phase.
• Obedience and faithfulness are what lead to promotion. Your faithfulness in one phase leads to elevation in the next. Many ministries stagnate because of disobedience or a lack of growth. Each level of obedience brings a greater measure of anointing.
• Promotion is God’s decision and happens in His timing. Faithfulness, patience, and worship prepare believers for greater anointing. Paul and Barnabas were promoted when they remained faithful in Antioch.

Limitations of the Anointing

• Every calling has boundaries you must understand. As a minister, you must recognize your specific calling and office. Ignorance of these boundaries can lead to stepping outside God’s anointing. King Saul lost his throne because he trespassed into the priest’s office (1 Samuel 13:9-14).
• Trespassing the boundaries of the anointing you carry has dangerous consequences. King Uzziah became proud and attempted to function as a priest, leading to his downfall (2 Chronicles 26:16-23). Success in one area does not automatically grant authority in another.
• Moving outside God’s will ultimately results in spiritual failure and the loss of anointing.:
• You must beware; not all good ideas are God-ordained assignments. Korah sought a higher office without God’s approval and was destroyed (Numbers 16:3, 31-32). Ministry effectiveness comes from obedience, not personal ambition.
• David wanted to build the temple but recognized it was not his calling (2 Samuel 7:2-13). He prepared resources for Solomon, understanding his role in God’s plan. God anoints each person for a specific function; overstepping leads to inefficiency.
• Paul focused on Gentiles, Peter on Jews, and Philip on Israel (Galatians 2:8, Acts 8:5). As a minister, you weaken your anointing when you try to do everything. True power comes from functioning faithfully within God’s assigned office.

Also read The Believers Authority by Kenneth Hagin [Summary]

Operating in the Anointing

• There are three keys to operating in the anointing. First, you must receive the manifestation: This means that the anointing must be tangibly perceived to be used effectively.
• Next, you must discern the type of anointing: This means different anointings serve different purposes (e.g., healing, teaching, prophecy).
• Thirdly, you must learn how to channel the anointing. The anointing must be directed properly according to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
• Knowledge of this isn’t enough. Knowledge without experience is empty; experience without knowledge leads to error. For balance, you must combine both knowledge and experience.
• Receiving the manifestation of the anointing requires spiritual growth. Prayer, worship, and meditation increase sensitivity to the anointing. However, the anointing manifests as the Holy Spirit wills (1 Corinthians 12:11). But praying in tongues helps in sensing the anointing more effectively.
• The Holy Spirit manifests in various forms, such as the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, and prophecy. Different anointings produce different results (e.g., healing anointing for miracles, teaching anointing for wisdom).
• Sitting under specific ministries (teachers, prophets, evangelists) helps you recognize different anointings. If you are a minister or not, you should be open to learning from others to expand your anointing and avoid becoming stagnant.
• The Holy Spirit directs how an anointing should be released (laying hands, anointing with oil, speaking the word). Jesus used different methods (e.g., spitting on clay, speaking a word, touching) based on the Holy Spirit’s leading. As a minister, you should avoid becoming rigid in your methods and remain open to fresh instructions from the Holy Spirit.

Fluctuations in the Anointing

• Fluctuations in the anointing can be caused by the minister’s private life (prayer, fasting, Word study, consecration). Or the faith and expectation of those receiving the ministry.
• Even though God predetermines different measures of anointing for different phases. The anointing can fluctuate based on personal spiritual discipline.
• Lack of prayer, fasting, worship, and meditation on the Word can reduce the anointing.
• As a believer or minister, you must continually wait on God to maintain peak anointing.
• Faith and Expectation of the Congregation Impact the Anointing. Jesus’ anointing manifested differently in different locations due to faith levels.
• In a meeting, five factors influence the level of anointing. 

1. Hunger for God: A deep desire for God draws His presence (e.g., Cornelius, Elisha).
2. Prayer: Corporate prayer increases anointing (Acts 4:31-33).
3. Love and Unity: A church in unity experiences greater outpouring (Acts 2:1,46).
4. Faith and the Word: Hearing the Word builds faith, allowing people to receive the anointing (Romans 10:17).
5. Worship: True worship ushers in the presence and power of God (2 Chronicles 5:13).

• The end-time revival will see the full manifestation of the anointing. When all five factors align, healing and miracles will become common.

Also read The Price of God’s Miracle Working Power by A. A Allen [Summary] 

Mastering and Moving in the Anointing

• There’s a difference between operating and moving in the anointing. Operating in the anointing involves understanding its manifestations and fluctuations. Moving in the anointing focuses on flowing with the anointing within a specific meeting.
• In a congregation, the anointing level fluctuates based on their response. A united, prayerful, and expectant congregation can experience an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
• In a meeting, the anointing often begins with one person or a small group before spreading. Testimonies of healing and miracles also raise faith, which in turn increases the anointing level.
• The anointing builds up progressively; as a minister, you must recognize its timing. The methods of channeling the anointing vary based on its intensity (e.g., laying on of hands vs. spoken word).
• The anointing manifests based on the needs present (e.g., healing anointing won’t manifest if no one needs healing). Avoid trying to force the anointing, but instead follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

• These guidelines will help you to move in the anointing:

1. Recognize the breakthrough point.
2. Discern the level and type of anointing present.
3. Be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s instructions and limitations.
4. Stay sensitive to the inward witness to avoid operating in the flesh.

Increasing or Growing  the Anointing

• Anointing Levels Differ. Some ministries are more anointed than others (e.g., Elisha vs. Elijah, David vs. Saul, Stephen & Philip vs. other deacons). The difference comes from both God’s sovereign will and spiritual principles.
• However, God gives to those who ask (2 Kings 2:9, Luke 11:13, Acts 4:29-31). Eg. Moses asking to see God’s glory.
• Faithfulness in little leads to more anointing (Luke 16:10, Matthew 25:16-30). Obedience attracts the Spirit (Acts 5:32) and is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). Elisha’s faithful service to Elijah for years came before receiving the double portion.
• Anointing is tied to God’s grace (Galatians 2:8-9, Ephesians 3:7). God gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5), and humility brings spiritual promotion. If you lose humility, you will stagnate in your anointing.
• Anointing increases through association (e.g., Elisha with Elijah, Joshua with Moses, David’s mighty men). The apostles’ anointing was recognized because they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). And can also be depleted by wrong association.
• True worship attracts God’s presence and anointing (John 4:23, Psalm 22:3). Worship will transform you from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18).
• Remembering past anointing experiences helps cultivate familiarity with its flow (2 Timothy 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21). Paul always recalled his initial encounter with God (Acts 26:13,19).
• Faith is essential for moving in the anointing (1 Corinthians 2:14). More Word = More Life (Hebrews 4:12, John 10:10). Prayer also, especially in tongues, builds spiritual strength (1 Corinthians 14:4,18). The apostles prioritized the Word and prayer, leading to multiplication (Acts 6:4,7).

Maintaining or Preserving the Anointing

• Fasting and prayer are essential for maintaining the anointing. Fasting alone is not enough, but when combined with faith and prayer, it releases great spiritual power.
• Modern Christians sacrifice less compared to tribal believers. In tribal areas, people travel long distances with great expectation, which enhances their faith and the miracle factor. In cities, people often attend meetings casually.
• Jesus’ disciples experienced a decline in the anointing. Despite being given power over demons, they failed to cast one out due to unbelief. Jesus prescribed fasting and prayer to restore their spiritual strength (Matthew 17:21).
• Fasting intensifies spiritual hunger, vision, and desire. It does not change God but changes the believer, making them more sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
• Jesus’ own life demonstrated the power of fasting. Before His 40-day fast, He was filled with the Spirit; after the fast, He returned in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14).
• The anointing is associated with ‘dunamis power.’ This Greek word refers to the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit, which manifests through yielded lives.
• Biblical examples confirm fasting’s power. Scriptures like Isaiah 58:8-9, Acts 13:1-2, and 2 Corinthians 11:27 highlight fasting as a means to spiritual breakthroughs, healing, and guidance.
• Many ministers lose the anointing due to a lack of fasting. It is one thing to receive the anointing but another to maintain and increase it. The key is to live a fasted life.

The Person of the Holy Spirit

• Knowing the Holy Spirit is the most important preparation for ministry. Bible training is useful, but real success comes from an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit is a person, not just a power or force. He has feelings (Ephesians 4:30), speaks, and teaches (John 14:26). Many Christians fail to relate to Him personally.
• Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to continue His work. Jesus was the disciples’ Helper, but after ascending, He sent the Holy Spirit as “another Helper” (John 14:16, 16:7).
• The early church treated the Holy Spirit as a person. The book of Acts records how believers interacted with Him directly, receiving guidance and instructions (Acts 5:3, 8:29, 13:2).
• The Holy Spirit empowers believers for ministry. Even Jesus did not start His ministry until He was anointed by the Spirit (Acts 10:38). If He needed the Spirit, so do we.
• God’s power operates through the Holy Spirit in yielded vessels. The power seen in Moses, Elijah, Paul, and Peter was not theirs, but the Holy Spirit working through them (1 Corinthians 4:19-20).
• We must fully yield to the Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus and the apostles relied on Him, we must also surrender completely to experience His power today (Zechariah 4:6).

As I conclude this summary, after reading this, take a moment to evaluate your spiritual journey. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into greater faithfulness, sensitivity, and obedience. Don’t just admire the anointing—press into it through worship, prayer, and humility. Share this with someone hungry for God’s power as well.

Finally, here is a question we’d love you to answer.

Are you walking within the boundaries of your spiritual calling or trying to function in a place God hasn’t sent you?

We would love to hear from you. Please leave your answer and comment in the comment box below.

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