The Bible tells us we anoint to make something Holy before The Lord. In the Old Testament, the book of Exodus, they anointed the tabernacle and all the things in it. There was always anointing oil at the Alter and it was used to consecrate, declare sacred and to dedicate to Gods purposes. Anointing oil was poured on heads, alters, utensils, clothing, thresholds and more. Oil keeps a lamp burning. It allows for fire to remain in the lamp, giving light in darkness.
In the New Testament, in the book of Luke Chapter 7, Jesus was anointed with perfume. Verses 36-39 tell us, " ... Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them and anointed them with perfume..."
Mark 6:13 tells us " They drove out demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them."
These New Testament verses remind us that anointing was not just an Old Testament practice, but that purpose remains in it. Oil keeps the light, the fire of the Spirit, burning in our hearts. Anointing is an act of faith, like the woman in Luke 7, who by faith anointed the feet of Jesus. Anointing proclaims that the person or space belongs to the Father and makes it Holy!
Making something Holy is just as much about the state of a heart as it is about the act of anointing. With sin, you can go through the act of stopping the sin, but until you burn the bridge to the sin by repenting and seeking God's path to righteousness, you'll remaining in the consequences of the sin. Similarly, if you rub oil on things without a state of heart that is truly surrendering to God, you'll remain in a place separated from Gods will until your heart state changes.
There is power in anointing! The act of designating your ministry, your home or your family as a place for the Holy Spirit to reside, thrive and bless has tremendous spiritual significance, binding that place or person to the Almighty in a way that we can't see, but the enemy can. Its like it creates an invisible hedge of His protection over that place and then pours blessing into it.
If you have never anointed anything or anyone, or have never been anointed, pray about it. When your faith is in the Lord and you are totally surrendered to Him, it's a powerful way to demonstrate your commitment to His will. It may just transform your life!