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    Just because one is a Christian counselor does not make his or her counseling effective.  Just because one knows the principles of the Word does not make his or her counseling effective.   Just because one is a dynamic or charismatic counselor does not make his or her ministry effective.  Education, knowledge, and experience are important, but none of these make one's ministry effective in the kingdom.

    "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6).   The word "might" means strength, wealth, or force.  The word for "power" refers to human ability.  The answer is the anointing!

    The prophecy found in Isaiah 10:27 is a prophecy concerning the coming of Jesus and the anointing which is to rest upon him. Isaiah 11:2 gives us further insight.  "And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD"  (Isaiah 11:2).  Here we see the seven facets of the Spirit of God:

1. The Spirit of the LORD.
2. The Spirit of wisdom.
3. The Spirit of understanding.
4. The Spirit of counsel.
5. The Spirit of might.
6. The Spirit of knowledge.
7. The Spirit of the fear of the LORD.

    When we come to the New Testament, we see Jesus applying the Scripture to himself.  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,    To preach the acceptable year of the Lord"  (Luke 4:18-19).  Luke in the book of Acts also explains, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him"  (Acts 10:38).

    Again, it is the anointing that breaks the yoke!  Human wisdom can not heal emotional wounds.  Human knowledge can not set free those who are spiritually bound.  Traditions and church rituals can't cast out a demonic spirit.  Human whit can not restore those who have emotional bruises (blows to his or her identity).  However, the anointing that was on Jesus can heal all those who have been oppressed of the devil. "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him" (Acts 10:38).

    We should understand that the ANOINTING did not cease when Jesus ascended into Heaven.  Joel prophesied concerning the anointing.  "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit" (Joel 2:28-29).  Please note the expression "all flesh" which means that is available to all Believers.

    The door to the anointing is open to all Believers, male and female, both young and old. "And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him"  (Acts 5:32).  Jesus told the Believers right before he ascended, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).   Sure enough, the anointing came on the day of Pentecost.   "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4).

     Here are several other examples of the anointing.  "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 4:31).  This occurred some time after the outpouring on Pentecost. Paul wrote, "Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God"  (II.  Corinthians 1:21).  Again see the anointing, "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people" (Acts 6:8).   Stephen was not an apostle, but rather a faithful deacon.

    James wrote "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord"  (James 5:14).  Church elders should have the anointing.  However, it should not be limited to those is full-time ministry.

    If you are a Believer, you need the anointing to minister!  Every Believer should ASK for the anointing.  "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13).  However, yesterday's anointing is not sufficient for today, nor today's anointing sufficient for tomorrow.  We should seek to be anointed daily, even twice daily.    "And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.   And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations" (Exodus 30:7-8).  The lamps were to be filled twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening.

    Remember, it is the anointing that breaks the yoke!  Now, some will declare that since they are already Believers that automatically gives them the anointing.  However, there is a big difference in the earnest of the Spirit and the fullness of the Spirit.  "That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,   Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory" (Ephesians 1:12-14).  This speaks to the "earnest" of the Spirit that one receives at the time of the rebirth which is an earnest of his inheritance. "Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts" (II Corinthians 1:22).   "Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit" (II Corinthians 5:5).    However, now look at how Paul prays for these Believers who already have the earnest of the Spirit.  "Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,  Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: " (Ephesians 1:15-21).  Paul is praying for these Christians to be anointed with the HOLY SPIRIT of wisdom and revelation.  This can be directly cross referenced to, "And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD" (Isaiah 11:2).  Since both passages refer to the HOLY SPIRIT the word "spirit" should be capitalized as I have indicated.

    Another purpose is that the Holy Spirit may become our spiritual teacher and to bring to our memory also what He has taught us.  "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26).  I can be counseling or witnessing to someone and the Holy Spirit can bring to mind a Scripture or truth from Scripture to me which I have not thought of in years.

    The Holy Spirit also will give greater insights about Jesus to those who receive the anointing.  "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:" (John 15:26).

    One primary purpose of the anointing of the Holy Spirit is that one may be a witness unto Christ. One is not just to be a his witness, witness about Jesus, or witness for him, but to witness UNTO him.  "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).   This means that when others see the person who is anointed with the Holy Spirit, they should be seeing Jesus.

    The anointing will also bring conviction to the "world" through the Believer.    "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.    And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:    Of sin, because they believe not on me;    Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;    Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged"  (John 16:7-11).  The word "reprove" is demonstrated when the prosecuting attorney brings proof into the court that the crime has been committed by the defendant.