Did people get "goosies" when Hitler spoke?

What makes something "anointed" and what exactly do people mean when they use that term to describe preaching? Someone commented recently that they thought my preaching was much more "anointed" the last few times they heard me. I must admit, this is a strange comment to ponder. Was I louder or more emotional, maybe, more accurate in my teaching, I don't think so, does that mean the person was evaluating my message for "anointing" by my emotional delivery, style or volume?

I will give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they were moved by the word and Spirit of God and I am pleased if I played a part by delivering the word accurately!

I would certainly not want to use the style, passion or volume of delivery as the test for whether a sermon was "anointed". Jenifer Lopez (of American Idol) often evaluates a performance by whether she gets "goosies" (goose bumps I think) in response. Should we evaluate preaching in a similar way? I am sure people walked away from many of Hitlers speeches with the 1930-40's German version of "goosies" and many preachers today proclaim completely contradictory messages and are hailed as "anointed" by their respective followers - how do we sort this out?

Consider a few biblical principles -

Elders, who are the ones charged with teaching and preaching in the church, are not required to speak in any particular style, with elevated emotions or increased volume. Rather, Elders are to be: Tit. 1:8 "...sober minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, to exhort and convict those who contradict." 

There is even a warning to Timothy about people being led astray by other "deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons" (1 Tim. 4:1). Is it possible these deceiving spirits would have those they work through preaching their messages with emotion, good style and a loud voice? Do people get "goosies" when those filled with deceiving spirits preach?

Later in 2 Timothy we read more on the problem of people being impressed and led by things other than sound doctrine:

2 Tim. 4:4 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Notice Timothy is not told to deliver his messages with a certain style, high emotion or increased volume, rather he is told to get the message right and know those with more "ear tickling" messages and/or style will in fact lead many astray!

So, how do we know if preaching is "anointed"?

First, don't trust our "goosies", unless they are in response to God/truth and not the style, volume or emotion of the message!

Next, test the message against the word of God, no matter how exciting or dull in its delivery:

1 Thess. 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.

Prophecy, preaching or teaching that is an outflow of the Holy Spirit is a great gift, but we know the Holy Spirit will not contradict itself and did not come to bring an emotional change, but truth!

John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

The Holy Spirit is not primarily concerned with emotion but truth! The Holy Spirit did not come to give us "goosies", but to glorify Jesus Christ!

I like sermons delivered with good style and emotions, but Lord help us all if we leave impressed with the speaker rather than the Lord Jesus Christ!

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."