Anointing with Oil – Anointing with the Holy Spirit : 1 Samuel 16:12–13; 1 Samuel 10:1; Psalm 45:1–4; Acts 2:33, Sermon by Father.Mungamuri Devadasu

 

Sermon . Anointing with Oil – Anointing with the Holy Spirit
Scripture References: 1 Samuel 16:12–13; 1 Samuel 10:1; Psalm 45:1–4; Acts 2:33

Joyful and devoted fellow believers, I greet you with heartfelt gratitude for your continued participation. You may have heard about Saul’s anointing with oil. But before that anointing took place, the people of Israel desired a king, and they asked God for one. That was their first need—they longed for a king. Later, another need arose. A seemingly unrelated event occurred: the donkeys of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin, the youngest of the twelve tribes, went missing. So, Kish sent his son Saul to go in search of the donkeys. That became the second need.

1.      The first need: the people had no king, so one needed to be brought forth.

2.     The second need: the donkeys were lost, and someone had to bring them back.

Following both of these needs, Saul eventually came to Samuel the prophet. The full story is quite long and cannot be told in its entirety here. But when Saul came to Samuel, the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, “The people of Israel desire a king, therefore anoint Saul with oil.” And so, Samuel anointed Saul with oil. There were three involved in this moment: God (the Triune God), Samuel, and Saul. Only then did the anointing take place.

Before the anointing, what had to happen? The need for a king had to be felt, and the donkeys had to be found—the resolution of these needs paved the way for the anointing. What else took place before the anointing? Let us reflect. Father Devadasu Ayyagaru mentioned this before—there had to be a divine arrangement in heaven. Without heavenly arrangement, no earthly anointing can occur. And without genuine need, there can be no anointing. Only when heaven authorizes and prepares, does anointing manifest on earth.

This is the story of Saul’s anointing—a narrative not merely about oil and kingship, but about divine preparation, human need, and heavenly appointment. Without both a need and a heavenly setup, there can be no true anointing.

After Saul, comes the story of David. Since Saul’s reign had come to an end, a new king was needed. Before David, Saul himself was the new king, and now David would become an even newer and greater king. The Lord Jesus once said, “Disciples, you are now fishers of fish, but I will make you fishers of men.” In the same way, God was saying, “I will make David king.”

David was once a shepherd of sheep, but now he had to be transformed into one who shepherds the people of God. Why? Because there was a vacancy in the kingdom of God’s people, and David was anointed to fill that vacancy. Before David could be anointed into God's kingdom leadership, he had to remain a faithful shepherd of lambs. And before both roles, there had to be a divine arrangement from heaven. That is why David received the anointing with oil.

Later, when the 120 disciples were gathered in Jerusalem, they too received an anointing—but not with physical oil. There, it was the anointing of the Holy Spirit—the divine oil from heaven. This spiritual oil is greater than the first anointing with earthly oil. All the servants of God may receive oil anointing, but they must also receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

I was once invited by the Lutherans to take up the role of a pastor, but I replied, “I’m not able, and I don’t feel the need for it.” But later, in the Sannidhi gathering at Barampur, the Triune God ordained me for pastoral ministry. This was 40 years ago. The Lord said to me, “Since you declined to be the pastor over the Rajahmundry congregation, I now ordain you to serve as a pastor over many congregations.” And the Lord anointed me accordingly.

Lord, I praise You, for You have fulfilled Your word. All glory and thanks to You!

Now, whenever there is no pastor present in a place, I am able to administer baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Though no man anointed me, God Himself has anointed me. Through the Spirit, I am being seen by many, in many different places. Among those sitting here on this very veranda, I am being seen by 52 people in their own villages. Therefore, through this spiritual manifestation, the word that I am ministering to many congregations is being fulfilled. Compared to others’ anointing, the anointing upon me (Ayya’s anointing) is unique and extraordinary.

When I first heard about this state of spiritual translocation, it made my heart tremble. Without shoes, without an umbrella, without new clothes or a bag in hand, without even taking a bath—the Holy Father is sending me to many places in all holiness. There is not even the slightest strength of my own involved in this. Though my body lies on a cot, my spirit is being carried to different nations, ministering and returning. The Lord told me, “In a single minute, your spirit goes to seven places and returns.” The Lord is taking me to the earth, to heaven, and to the depths below. I am not going by myself.

Even coming to this meeting today was not my desire. Why? Because when I get into and out of a car, my heart begins to shake and my body trembles. Like a little child being lifted, two people lift me and help me into the car. This is simply due to old age and physical weakness. I, being in such a condition, am not capable of traveling to many countries. Yet, the Lord is taking me in this spiritual manner and accomplishing His work through me.

I experience frequent fainting spells, and it is through these very episodes that He is taking me. Whether I am sitting in a chair, eating, or preaching, the Lord is carrying me away spiritually. What can stand against His power? Nothing! Step by step, I am being led into the original purpose, the inner chamber, and the true wisdom. This is not my work, nor is it under my control, nor is it my mission—it is the arrangement of God in heaven. Without that heavenly arrangement, nothing on earth can take place.

Prayer: O God of infinite grace, we give You thanks and praise! Though we are unworthy and of no use in ourselves, You are preparing and purifying us—through suffering and the foundations of comfort—to be useful in every way for Your purpose. We offer You our heartfelt thanks for this merciful work. Satan, knowing that he has but little time left, is aggressively targeting believers. Do not allow his plans and schemes to succeed. Frustrate and destroy his strategies. Just as You bound the four evil spirits near the River Euphrates, likewise we ask You now to bind the works of the evil spirits that are roaming throughout the world today. Recently in Guntur, as a believer woman was about to attend a Sannidhi meeting, she was struck with confusion and disorientation. She didn’t know how to walk or which direction to go—this was clearly the work of a demonic force. Similarly, in Chirala, another was overcome by a stupor and bondage—that too was the work of the devil. Lord, You said, “I will hear your prayers”. So we ask You: do not allow the devil to bring spiritual confusion to any of us. Disrupt his work and make it ineffective. Tonight, protect us from all the activities of the wicked one—from rain, lightning, thunder, insects, false visions, evil dreams, demons, and spirits. Let no harm come to our bodies, knowledge, souls, conscience, or devotion. Surround us with Your angels as guardians, and grant us peaceful sleep. We pray that You bless this entire gathering, be with those who are traveling or returning to their homes, and help prepare us for Your Second Coming. We ask all this through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sermon delivered by Father Devadasu Ayyagaru on August 10, 1959 at the Guntur Christ Congregation.

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