What is the anointing?

 Last night, at the Grammy awards, Beyonce performed a rendition of "Precious Lord, Take My Hand." Immediately, many began to comment saying that her performance was "dry," that it lacked "oil" and that it wasn't "anointed." As I thought about the anointing, I realized that we get it completely wrong. We associate the anointing with hype, how well someone can sing or how well they can preach. In other words, we associate the anointing with talent or how well someone can do something. I didn't expect any anointing from Beyonce's performance, simply because she is not anointed. Someone who has not been anointed by God cannot minister to others because they just have not been called by God to do so.
   There are 5 different types of anointing, according to Smith's Bible Dictionary. First, the ordinary anointing which refers to anointing the body or the head with oil, according to Jewish customs. It was also a sign of respect that a host gave to his house guests. (Daniel 10:3) Next, there is the official anointing, which is linked very closely to the last two types of anointing. The official anointing was done as a rite of inauguration into the office of either, prophet, priest or King of Israel. (1 Kings 1:39) Next, the Ecclesiastical anointing, which has to do with the recovery of the sick. The sick would be anointed with oil and then prayed for so that they could be healed. (James 5:14) The Spiritual anointing refers to the Messiah or the Anointed, which is Jesus Christ. He is anointed as Prophet, Priest and King. (John 1:32-33, Acts 10:38) Lastly, there is the Spiritual anointing with the Holy Ghost which is given to Christians by God. This is also an expression of the "sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit upon Christians who are priests and kings unto God." (1 John 2:27)
   Luke 4:18 says "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..." This specific anointing described refers to commission by God. Luke was sent by God to preach to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to captives, to heal the blind and to set free those that are bruised. As Children of God, we have a commission. It's specific and it's not the same commission that God has given to your friend or your neighbor. An anointed person is sanctified and set apart for God's purpose. 
    When God sent Samuel to anoint David as King, God was setting David apart for purpose. His purpose was to lead. In 1 Corinthians 1:17, Paul says that God did not send him to baptize but to preach the Gospel. Paul's purpose was to preach. In Exodus 40:13-15, we see that Aaron was anointed and sanctified to minister to God as a priest. Aaron's purpose was to be a priest. 
   When I contemplate what it means to be anointed, I realize that to be anointed means to have a specific assignment or purpose from God. It's not about how well you can shout, how well you can sing or dance or how many people stand to their feet while you're ministering. It's okay if you sing and no one stands to their feet. If you have been anointed to sing, God will allow your ministry to encourage and to break chains. In Isaiah 10:27, the Bible says that the yoke will be broken because of the anointing. The anointing breaks the yoke. The anointing breaks chains and barriers that hold down the people of God. If you are anointed, your ministry will break chains and set prisoners free.  
    Beyonce's performance was not anointed. It couldn't have been. She is a great singer but she is not a minister of the Gospel. She has not been set apart by God to minister. She is a performer and a performer only.