A Second-Hand Anointing?

Are You Living on a Second-Hand Anointing?

by Lonnie Lane

Yeshua told the following story of the Ten Virgins. Where do you see yourself in the story?

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.  And at midnight a cry was heard:  “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!”  Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise answered saying, “No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell and buy for yourselves.” And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.  Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us!” But he answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, “I do not know you.”  Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matt. 25:1-13)

Every generation has been “watching” for Yeshua’s return, including the first century Believers.  Yet His return is contingent upon the many prophesies concerning Israel taking place. Israel is God’s clock, with each hour being an event or series of events that must take place before He comes.  With all the fulfillment of prophesies unfolding today, it would seem that we are in the eleventh hour. That would put us in the time of the Ten Virgins who were preparing for the return of the Bridegroom.

While many things can be said and much revelation gained through this story, the aspect of having enough oil seems paramount. Oil in the Bible is representative of the Holy Spirit and anointing. From the time Aaron was anointed with oil as high priest to the use of oil for healing in the New Covenant, oil is symbolic of anointing, that is the ability to do the tasks that God would have us do by His Spirit. This could mean being the High Priest in Israel or praying for healing as Believers.

Each of the Ten Virgins had a lamp. Psalm 119:105 tells us that the Word is a lamp to light our path. Lamps then are the light of the Word in their lives, which is the only way they would know of the Bridegroom and His return — through the Word.  All ten had the Word of God and Bible knowledge of His coming. But even with all ten having the lamp of the Word, half of them were foolish because they had no oil with them. However, the wise “took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” Our physical bodies are considered as “vessels.”  For instance, we are to “possess our own vessels in sanctification and honor.” (1 Thes. 4:4) and husbands are to live with their wives giving honor to them as the weaker vessel, (1 Peter 3:7) meaning physically, not spiritually. 

Notice it says the wise virgins “took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” It does not say they had oil in their lamps. As we are vessels, then it appears that the oil, being representative of the Holy Spirit, was indwelling their vessels, or their beings. In other words, the wise virgins were filled with the Holy Spirit.

While the Bridegroom was delayed, “they all got drowsy and began to sleep.”  (Matt 25:5 NASB)  This has been likened to apathy or a slumbering spirit in the church that is without a heightened awareness of the critical hour they were in, that the time of the return of the Bridegroom could be at hand and He was not to be welcomed casually.

“At midnight a cry was heard:  Behold the Bridegroom is coming; go out to meet Him!”  A lot of significant things happen at midnight in the Bible. Sixteen of them, in fact. For instance, God struck the first born in Egypt at midnight bringing a great judgment. (Ex.12:29); Boaz discovered Ruth laying at his feet on the threshing floor at midnight which led to their marriage and keeping the blood line alive which produce David and eventually Yeshua. (Ruth 3:8); and at midnight an earthquake happened when Paul and Silas sang hymns in jail, resulting in a supernatural deliverance for Paul and Silas and the jailer and his family being saved (Acts 16:25). These events at midnight signify: judgment, prophetic fulfillment, and supernatural deliverance leading to salvation, each of which can be seen in the story of the Ten Virgins, judgment for the foolish and prophetic fulfillment, supernatural deliverance and salvation for the wise.

When each of the Virgins heard the cry, they all arose and went out to meet Him. They’re fully awake now. The only problem is that a shocking 50% of them didn’t have the anointing needed to enter into the presence of the Bridegroom. Half of this supposedly Christian population were unprepared for His return. What Word they had, without the anointing, was insufficient to bring them into the glory of His presence.  It would seem that it is not faith in the Word alone, or an intellectual apprehension of what the Word says, that enables us to stand in the presence of the Bridegroom. But it is the anointing that comes from a real and intimate relationship with and dependence upon the Spirit of God that enables us to enter into the ultimate end-time powerful presence of the Lord of Glory as His bride. 

Just as Yeshua Himself could do nothing without the Holy Spirit, so He is coming for a Bride who is likewise walking in relationship and obedience with His Spirit.  As Jesus did all that He did only under the anointing of the Spirit, so He is coming for a bride that is so conformed to His image, so much a proper bride for Him, that she too functions in and by the Spirit just as He did.  He is not returning for a bride with whom He has little in common experientially.  For someone to have read the Manual (the Bible) but to have ignored significant parts, is to be unequipped for what the Manual intended – to be able to truly fellowship with the One who is the embodiment and expression of this Word.

There’s an insight into the five foolish Virgins in that they wanted to borrow or take from the wise the oil they needed. “Give us some of your oil,” they say.  I have the feeling that this is not something new to them, for they seem to expect to receive it.  I believe the Lord showed me that there are many people who live off of what they glean from other people in the Lord. It could be from the pastor or their favorite Bible teachers, or from books, TV or CDs and DVDs, but they are looking to what they learn from others and yet not developing their own relationship with God, hearing from His Spirit on their own. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with gleaning from other anointed men and women, but if that is your major source of “oil” or anointing, then it is borrowed and you may not make it to the end on someone else’s anointing.

I have noticed that some of the people who do the most listening to others are sometimes the most confused Believers.  They go for one minister’s ideas and revelation to another’s but they aren’t really sure what they believe, deep inside. Their faith is in someone else’s faith rather than knowing what God has spoken to them personally. They don’t seem to have their own revelation, that they have gotten from the Holy Spirit themselves. That aspect of their relationship with God is lacking and though they may quote others, their words lack the authority that is evident when someone receives direct revelation and direction from God themselves. Having the Lord speak to your inner being and bring you insight into His Word is one of the greatest treasures of being His. Yet, many forfeit this joy because they don’t expect the Lord to speak to them. He said, “My sheep hear My voice.”  If we are His sheep, He will speak to us. Listen!!

It is not somewhat without fear and trembling that I write these words for it is also easy to speak a word to others and think it’s not for you. But God sometimes speaks a word through a teacher or preacher that is first for them. Just as it’s possible to receive your ‘oil’ from others primarily, it is also possible to speak to others and not receive the word for ourselves.  I once heard a significantly convicting message from a pastor whom I knew well enough to ask, “How did you work out these issues in your own life?”  His answer surprised us both, I think. He said, “It never occurred to me to do so.” He saw it as a good message others needed, but not him. So I submit this fully aware that I too must be accountable to the word. 

It is obvious that there are many valuable teachers and preachers from whom we can learn much, whom God sends to His Body. He does provide those who do equip the saints for the work of the ministry. (Eph. 4:11, 12) Many of Sid’s guests provide significant insight into areas of the Kingdom that we may not have experienced. It would be wise if we would take what we hear from these guests back to God for Him to enlarge on it, to gain even more insight for your own life or how to put it in practice. That’s why Sid provides mentoring tools from each guest, to help you make it yours, so that you — by His Spirit — can have it come alive in your own life. But to rely primarily on the revelation of others and not have the Lord impart to you what He wants to say to you in it would not be wise. It would be like having all the ingredients for making a bread except the oven.

I believe this is a warning that we must get our oil, our anointing, directly from the Holy Spirit ourselves and not count on someone else’s anointing to get us through in the end.  Now is the time to seek the Lord for the oil of His Holy Spirit for yourself. What this might mean to each of us, is for us to find out from God. It may mean the power to pray for healing and do miracles, or the power to walk in the fruit of the Spirit. Are we in need of more love, joy, peace, patience, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self-control in our lives? (Gal 5:22) It could mean walking in more unity with our brothers and sisters (Ps. 133:2) which is far more than just getting along nicely but laying down our lives for one another, preferring one another above ourselves. It may mean choosing to “serve the Lord with gladness” lest we be disqualified for not doing so (Deut 28:47). These are some challenging issues.  I ask myself periodically if these are abstract doctrines to me or my way of life in the Lord.

In order to be living by the Holy Spirit I would suggest that praying in tongues to allow God to do the work of edifying and building up our spirits is an important aspect of walking by the Spirit. (1 Cor. 14:4)  If you do not speak in tongues at this point, be aware that this is for everyone who responds to the Gospel and names the Name of Yeshua:  “When they heard, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Yeshua and when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”  (Acts 19:5,6) Tongues was a normal part of coming to salvation. It’s for all Believers today as well.

I believe we sometimes make receiving the Spirit more difficult than it is.  When I was less than a month old in the Lord I had been praying and said everything I could say to the Lord — twice! But I wanted to stay connected to Him in prayer. I had heard about a prayer language and had read a book that said it was for all Believers so I prayed, “Lord, if this prayer language would enable me to commune with You more, could I please have it? ”  The book said to open your mouth and speak but not in English.  How do you do that?  I felt so self-conscious even though I was by myself, but I did begin to speak, to praise the Lord, but not in English and voila! I was speaking in tongues.

What happened to the unwise Virgins? They shouted, “Lord, Lord, open to us!” But He responded with terrifying words, “Most assuredly, I say to you, ‘I do not know you.'”  It seems that it is possible to know the Word and yet not have sufficient relationship with the Lord personally so that He doesn’t even acknowledge knowing you! Could anything be more tragic? In these prophetic days in which we live, we would be wise to seek to be filled with His Spirit so that we are equipped to enter into His presence. No flesh can stand in the presence of the Lord of the Universe. We cannot enter into His eternal presence except by the Spirit of God. That God has extended a proposal to us to be His own, to share eternity in intimate fellowship with Him leaves us awed and overflowing with gratefulness and love. Words are inadequate! We can only bow before the brilliance and privilege of being His own, and an acute awareness of living to please Him and to share in His life in the Body.

Lord, fill us with Your Spirit, give us godly wisdom that will see us through into your eternal presence. Amen. 

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright ©1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.