Understanding the Anointing: Part 2 The Corporate Anointing

Have you ever wondered:
• What is a Corporate Anointing?
• What Does it Mean to be Anointed?
• What is the Anointing?
• Who Is Anointed?
• How Do I Know if I am Anointed by God?
• Are There Different Kinds of Anointing?
• What are the Different Anointing?
• How Do I Receive an Anointing?
• Why Does God Anoint People?
• How Does God Anoint People?

Brothers and Sisters,
These are the questions that so many people are asking? And the answer to all of these is found in Scripture. Find out what the Bible says about the anointing and discover for yourself how to be used by God in a powerful way!
 

Scripture Study:

• "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;  So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God." [2 Chronicles 5:13-14]
   

• "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." [Acts:2:1-4]
   

• "...they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness" [Acts 4:23-31]

Understanding the Anointing,
In part 1 of this series we learned that the first thing we have to recognize is that God anoints His people - for a purpose! He anointed Jesus, and he anoints His children. If you have not yet read part 1 I strongly encourage you to do so before you continue with this portion of the study.

We also learned that there are many different kinds of anointing, but that there is both an individual anointing and there is what is commonly called a corporate anointing.

The Corporate Anointing: 
In the simplest terms, a corporate anointing is what happens when more than one believer is in the same place and there is a singleness of purpose between them.

The Scriptures seem to indicate that not only is this somewhat different from the individual anointing in the sense that it affects more that one person - but also that the corporate seems to be one of greater power.

Perfect Unity:
"It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;  So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God." [2 Chronicles 5:13-14]

Notice in the above passage, that the first key we see is that all of the priests (120 of them according to verse 12) were in the same place - and just as important - they were acting as one - and making one sound. There were in unison and in perfect agreement as to there purpose and intent.

There weren't some who were praying or singing about one thing while others were praying and singing about something else, nor were some off in another place while others were gathered together here. They were all in one place - and they were all doing the same thing - with the same purpose - acting as one.

Now notice the similarity in the passages in Acts:

• "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." [Acts:2:1-4]
   

• "...they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness" [Acts 4:23-31]

Did you notice that just as in the account given to us in Chronicles, in both of these instances the people were all in one place - and they were acting in one accord (with one purpose and intent)

And, although many more examples could be listed here as well, notice that in each of these instances, when there was a gathering of believers together acting corporately (as one) - that great power was released.

• The Temple of God as filled with the Glory of God so much so that the priests couldn't even stand up to minister [2 Chronicles 5:14]
  

• There was a sound like a might rushing wind and the fire of God appeared and those present were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. [Acts:2:1-4]
  

• The place was shaken (the whole building shook) because of the power that was released! [Acts 4:31]

Even a small gathering of believers who are together in one place and acting together with singleness of purpose can generate a release of this power!

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." 
[Acts 16:25-26]

Here we have only two believers - assembled together in one place and singing and praising God together as one - and the result was that there was such a release of the power of God that it caused an earthquake that shook the very foundations of the prison!

And even more notable is the fact that not only were Paul and Silas freed - but ALL of the prisoners had their  shackles thrown off! ("and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing." Isa:10:27]

The corporate anointing is so powerful that it can affect not only you, but everyone in the vicinity!

Assembling Together:
Can you see now why it is so important that we as believers come together regularly as the Word of God instructs us to? You see, there are things that can only be accomplished when the people of God assemble together as one.

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." [Heb:10:25]

I have personally seen manifestations of incredible power and miracles when believers are assembled together in one place. And, the power released and miracles performed far outweigh anything I have ever seen accomplished in any other setting.

Nowhere in the Word of God are we told to forsake being a part of a local body - no matter what the justification is. Christians are instructed by the Lord to be part of a local body and to come together regularly and often in one place to pray, to worship God, and to be taught the Word of God.

Christian television is great - online ministries such as this one are a great source for fellowship and growth - books, tapes and CD's are awesome tools of learning. But none of these produce the results that can be manifested when believers assemble together in one place (as instructed) and come into agreement with one purpose - even if it is simply singing and praying together (as in the case of Paul and Silas).

I have seen people healed miraculously and instantaneously just by being in a gathering of believers who were singing and praising God! No hands were laid on them - no prayers were offered - it was just the release of power that comes when there is a corporate anointing - and the Word of God shows us example after example of how the corporate anointing is far greater than that of the individual anointing.

Brothers and Sisters, this message is so important that I have made the complete teaching absolutely FREE. Details on how to receive your FREE CD are provided at the end of this study.

The Temple of God:
"It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;  So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God." [2 Chronicles 5:13-14]

Notice here that there is another result that occurs when there is a corporate anointing: The temple (house of God) is filled with the Glory of God.

Keep in mind that under the Old Covenant (Old Testament) God dwelt in the Holiest of Holies located in the Temple of the Israelites. And even under the Old Covenant the Temple was filled with the Glory of God when there was a gathering of believers in one place and acting in one accord!

But God no longer dwells in temples made of stone and wood! So where does God dwell now? Where is His temple on Earth?

• "Know ye not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" [1 Cor:3:16]
  

• "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" [1 Cor:6:19]
  

• "In whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." [Eph:2:22]
  

• "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house we are..." [Heb:3:6]
  

• "You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." [1Pt:2:5]

In this New Testament day where we have a better covenant built on better promises (Heb:8:6) - God no longer dwells in houses made of wood and stone - He dwells in Us! 

We are the temple of God through the Holy Ghost.
Now then, if God filled the temple made of wood and stone under the old covenant - and we have a new covenant based on better promises - how much more should we expect to be filled with His Glory seeing as we are His temple, His dwelling place on Earth, His holy habitation!

Even Jesus Himself told God the Father that he was giving to us the SAME glory that He had! 
"And the glory which you gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:" [Jn:17:22]

And, just as in the Old Testament, when the people gathered together in one place - in one accord - and the glory of God filled the temple made of wood and stone - that same glory becomes more and more tangible, it becomes more and more present, it manifests itself to a greater degree when we come together as one - in one accord - in one place - with one purpose! 

It's the corporate anointing that manifests only when there is a gathering of believers in one place and in one accord!

The Power of Unity: [Genesis 11:1-6]
"And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."

Notice in this account of our ancestors that at one time the whole earth spoke one language. And according to the Word of God, there came a time when the whole earth traveled together to one place and dwelt there together.

Furthermore, not only were they all gathered together in one place- but they decided to stay together - and to work together with one purpose and with one intent: to build a city and a tower.

And look what God himself said about this: "now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."

Brothers and Sisters, it is important to realize that this account is not some fairy tale or allegorical picture. It is a factual account of what happened on earth during this period, and it is important to note that God Himself recognized what can happen when people come together in one place and with singleness of purpose - even if it doesn't include Him!

"now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."

There is so much power in unity that had God not done something about it there would be nothing that they would not been able to accomplish! Nothing! 

Did you get that? 
God Himself stated that man, even by himself (and without God) has the power to accomplish the impossible when there is unity and singleness of purpose.

Now imagine what we can do when God is involved - and He anoints us with HIS power! And that power is far greater in a corporate setting then as individuals. The power, and the glory of God is available in a much greater degree when the people of God come together in one place and with one accord (singleness of purpose).

And that is why it is so important for us as believers to "forsake not the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." [Heb:10:25]

There is an individual anointing -and there is great power available to the individual because of it. But there is a greater anointing, and that anointing is only available when we as believers come together as instructed and do so with one accord - and with one purpose.

Read Part 1

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