by Wade E Taylor
“It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:63
Each Scriptural word, when anointed, becomes a “vehicle” in which there is a cargo of “spirit and life.” The fuel is the anointing, which enables the change from the “letter of the word” to the “spirit of the word,” so the spoken, or written word, becomes a “living word” that imparts spiritual substance and life.
A language is made up of words that project a picture image, with other words that amplify, modify, or connect these images. As we hear the sound of a word, we form a picture of an object, action, or idea, and thereby we are able to understand its meaning.
Thus, if the word “motorcycle” is spoken, an image for this word is formed in the mind of the hearer and the word is understood. But Jesus said the words which He spoke were more than this, they were “Spirit” and “Life.”
This indicates to us that the words which Jesus spoke contained much more than just the impression of an object, action, or idea. Notice that neither the word “Spirit” nor the word “Life” conveys a picture of its meaning. Rather, their meaning is found in the resultant power that is conveyed through them.
When the words that Jesus spoke are repeated by us, they must be anointed, if they are to convey the original purpose for which they were intended. This is true of the entire Bible, which is uniquely different from any other book that has ever been written.
Thus, there is more than just the facts and information that is made known in Scripture. “Spirit” and “life” are to be conveyed through these words as well. Therefore, whether or not there is an “anointing” upon Scripture when it is either spoken or read, becomes very important.
“But to them which are called… Christ (the anointed one, or the anointing) the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” I Corinthians 1:24 (comment added)
The emphasis is upon the Anointed One, or the anointing. The Lord has established a principle that the “Anointed Word” is to be the “vehicle” through which He will both edify and meet the needs of His people.
Therefore, each word within Scripture can be considered as being a vehicle that carries a cargo of “Spirit and Life.” The fuel that transports this vehicle with its cargo of “Spirit and Life” to the listener is the anointing. Without this anointing, all that is received is an intellectual concept of the word.
“Who also has made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” II Corinthians 3:6
If the Word that is ministered to us is anointed, we receive Spirit and Life. We can listen to a good message and not necessarily remember much of its content, but still be fed and satisfied. This happens because it is not the “Word” alone that ministers to our spirits, but the “Spirit and Life” that it contains.
Therefore, a principle can be established.
“For the ministered Word to become spiritual food, it must proceed from the presence of the Lord through an anointed ministry, in an atmosphere of the anointing.”
As His anointed word is quickened within us, and we receive an impartation of “spirit and life,” we will grow into the “fullness of His image and stature.” If we stay in a Church where there is no anointed ministry for reasons such as, “our friends or family are there,” we will not receive spiritual food and we will remain spiritual babies.
The Word of God is never fully understood through study, but rather by revelation. We will be amazed at how much we know about the Lord and spiritual things, as we respond to the anointed Word. As our spirits are open to receive, the Lord has much to impart to us.
For this to become a reality in our lives, we must listen to the “Anointed Word,” and spend time “Waiting upon the Lord” in His presence.
“Who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 13:9This exhortation refers to our spiritual hearing. As we respond to His anointed Word, knowing that He made us to be spiritually sensitive, we can begin to receive and understand the things of His Kingdom.
How marvelous are His ways, for He has made “His Anointing” available to us, that we might truly know and experience a personal, living relationship with Jesus.